Not going to graduate this year

[AnyUser]

It’s been going really well, I’m officially a runner according to Laura and I’m on schedule to graduate on Christmas Day.

Except this morning I’ve had a call from the hospital, and there’s a cancellation available for my abdominal surgery listed for April.

I’ve been working hard on my fitness/weight all year (have lost 23.5 kilos) knowing that this op would be coming sooner or later.

The new date is a week tomorrow. This means I can get to W8R1 before I go in. I know I’ll need to take it easy after the op and build myself up again. Does anyone have any experience of returning to running after a total laparoscopic hysterectomy? If I can’t run for 6-8 weeks, will I have to start all over again?

I was going to surprise my best chum by turning up at her usual park run on Christmas Day, ostensibly to cheer her on but really to do my first one myself. Ho hum!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Hello AnyUser, great you're now on wk7 and brilliant weight loss.

I had this operation in 2013 best thing I ever did regarding my health.

You will need those weeks to recover and when you're feeling fit enough lots of walking is great for recovery.

You might not need to go back to wk1 but if you do don't worry you can always build up your running again. Good luck 🤗🤗

[Jacca Graduate]

good luck with the op I’ve not had it so not sure what the recovery time is. When you are well enough to run why not start at week 4 see how you go and take it from there. Go further back if not comfortable. Take it steady no rush hope all goes well 🙂

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Great progress with your runs and wonderful weight loss, surely that will really help in recovery. You will need the recovery time, concentrate on that then see how you are when the time comes. As buddy says, walking is great to start with. Best of luck

[AnyUser Graduate in reply to Grannyhugs]

ThanksG2B and everyone.

At least I won’t be worrying about icy pavements first thing in the morning!

[Grannyhugs Graduate in reply to AnyUser]

As timings go, this could have been worse, the days will be getting longer and warmer for you getting your fitness back

[Lfd72 Graduate]

Hi. I had a hysterectomy this time last year ( total and not by key hole). I graduated the couch to5k at the end of October.

You need to be aware of several things.

Your whole pelvic floor will be compromised after the op and they say running is the worst thing for your pelvic floor. However the physios all agree that the mental and health benefits of exercise like running can out weight the risk of prolapse. I didn't start the C25K until i was completely recovered ( in May .... then i had an ankle injury in Aug). I made sure i only ran on an empty bladder ( morning after your first pee) is the best ( an afternoon or evening run requires my pelvic floor to be like steel !!😂

You will find your energy levels will be comprised as you body adjusts to hormone levels and recovers. But you will get there!!! I promise. Do keep active but don’t start running until your body is completely ready. I walked a lot to build my strength back up. Did every physio exercise they gave me.As well as having a holiday.

There is no denying during the recovery period it was a good 5 months for me you gonna feel sluggish and bloated and feel like you weigh heavier than you ever have. But believe me you know you’re a runner now and getting back to you peak performance will be a lot easier.

I find 2-3 runs a week are my limit and then have to have 3 days off to recover but you energy levels may be different. Listen to you body!!! 20 odd years ago you would spend weeks in hospital After this OP. So take it easy. You may fell like you will never recover but after 25 odd years of endometriosis and then a hysterectomy. I bounced back to become a runner again (last ran in my teens!)

[AnyUser Graduate in reply to Lfd72]

Thanks so much - this is really useful. I hadn't realised it would be so long to get back to the me I am just now.

[Amerynthe Graduate in reply to Lfd72]

Thanks, this is useful (if slightly upsetting!) advice! I'm going in for a total hysterectomy in 10 days' time - like you, not by keyhole, and it has to be a vertical incision rather than the 'bikini line' cut. I have had so much conflicting information about recovery time and time until I can start running again, so your experience is the most helpful to me because it's real. I had hoped to get to 60 park runs before my 60th birthday (in August) and I have got to 40 now, but if I use your 5 months recovery as a benchmark it looks as if I'll only be starting to run again by about August.

Ah well, it is what it is, and I'm glad you've got over your op and are running again now.

[Lfd72 Graduate]

Oh PS. Good luck. And enjoy your time off from lifting cooking and running 😘

[Amerynthe Graduate]

Hi, I do hope you're well on the road to recovery after your surgery. I'm about to go into hospital for same (open procedure though) and, like you, I've been working on my fitness and weight loss. Having managed 40 park runs since graduation, I'm upset I'm not going to make it to 60 by my 60th birthday (in August) which had been the original plan.

It would be good to know how you are getting on now, if you're walking to build up your strength, and how far you're managing to go when you walk. Even if you're not well enough to do a park run as a runner, they are open to everyone, even if you just want to walk - and if you need to walk slowly you can volunteer as a tail walker - they *have* to walk at the back behind all the other runners and walkers!

Good luck when you do run again!

[AnyUser Graduate in reply to Amerynthe]

Thanks Amerynthe.

They withdrew the slot so I haven’t had the op yet. I had a call from the hospital this week in fact, to tell me I’m top of the list and will be scheduled in April some time

I graduated on Christmas day and am now running 3,4,5 or 6K (as the mood takes me) 3 mornings a week. I noped out of parkrun after my second - it was so busy I really didn’t get on with it at all. Happier doing my own thing!

I’ve now lost 27.5 kilos so still making progress - I had promised them when they listed me that having lost 5 BMI points to that point, I would be able to lose 5 more before surgery this year. Another 3 kilos and I’ll be 10 points down in total, so the delay hasn’t been in vain.

I’m sorry that I don’t have the updates you were after. I wish I did! All the very best with your surgery - please let me know how it goes.

[Amerynthe Graduate in reply to AnyUser]

Congrats on graduating! I know what you mean about Park Runs getting big and busy - my local is Southampton and we regularly get over 1300. Good luck when you finally get in for your op, I'm sure all the work you've done on your fitness and getting your BMI down will help a lot with how quickly you recover. I'll let you know how I get on and will look forward to hearing how you are.