How long is long?

In August I had a full hysterectomy, omentum & large intestine removed & debulking. I still get really fatigued & tummy pain my consultant says ‘you had a massive op it will take time’ has anyone had a similar op and how did they find their recovery ? My friends assume I should be feeling normal now especially those who have had a hysterectomy due to non cancer reasons & I feel like a fraud when I tell them I’m not feeling up to some activities. How long is long?

[Lyndy]

Hello...it took me almost 3 months to get fully healed up and to be able to do the most basic things without wincing or feeling too stretched along my scar...after that it has taken ages to slowly regain the fitness I had lost. Take it slow...if you rush it you risk hernia is the area of the surgery. Do what you feel you can comfortably but no more and don't let anyone tell you that's not ok xx L

[Purple-iris]

Hi

Yes my surgeon said it would take double time at least to normal hysterectomy as had a long 8 hour op radicle de bulking . So around 3-4 months at least . So take it easy and dont rush , walking is good but no lifting . I did have some physio at Guys around 6 months which really helped ( your CNS or gp should be able to sort and have slowly got back to gym , Zumba etc over the last couple of months and it was a year since my big op a couple of weeks ago . So hang on in there you are doing well and are over the worst and each week should continue to feel more normal . I honestly felt at one stage I would never be able to walk again without feeling every twinge and movement but am now back to normal and probably doing more exercise than I did before diagnosis!

Friends are brilliant but have no idea what we have been through or sometimes forget because we put on a brave face .

Take care love and best wishes Kim x 💜

[Katmal-UK]

Hi Jan, as I said in my reply to your earlier post, you have the double whammy of chemo and operation, it's going to take time to recover from both. Mix both together and the recovery time is greater. By know means are you a fraud and nobody on this site would think that...... I just think that unless your friends have been through what you have then they just won't understand xx Kathy xx

[Caroles1]

No length is too long! I am nearly 3 years out and still get tired,wether that is down to the illness or old age I don't know,but I am making no apologies,you have been through a lot and no one understands unless they have been through it.

Just take it easy,at your own pace and please don't be hard on yourself, if they are true friends they will understand,

Love,Carole xxx

[Cropcrop]

It takes as long as you need it to take, your friends who ‘just’ had the hysterectomy have no idea really, it’s a whole different ball game having the surgery you had compared to theirs then factor in chemo and it’s a different league. Don’t feel rushed,take your time and get better at your own pace, you will get there. Love and hugs ❤️Xx Jane

[doodoolatrice]

It's difficult for anyone to understand unless they've been through it and debulking surgery is nothing like a hysterectomy. Just remind your friends you had much more than a hysterectomy as you had intestine surgery as well. During the op your surgeon would have had a good rummage around and disturbed everything so it will take some time for everything to settle down. I managed to get back on my feet reasonably quickly after my op (I was lucky as I didn't need chemo at the time) but it was a good few months before I regained my normal strength and everything settled back down. Take care of yourself xx

[Howick01]

It can take up to a year to recover from a hysterectomy alone so do not take any notice.

Anyway we are all different and have other things that could hinder a speedy recovery .

Take care x

[Nicky100]

Hi, all the ladies are right above and this could take for time. Your operation was far from small and the recovery will take time. Each person is different too so you need to consider that too, some people may heal faster and others slower. I would say I was ‘active’ eg walking , doing fine small chores etc by 2-3 months, but I should have rested more the first time. Also remember don’t lift anything heavy, this is really important!

Sorry you are having such a tough time. Be open with your friends and don’t put on a brave face - they are totally underestimating your op and recovery.

Lots of love and hope you feel better soon.

Nicky xx

[Bliney]

I still feel tired and in pain from operation in May. I am on a low fibre diet due to my bowel adhesions. The low fibre diet has really helped so it might be worth trying this.

[Jo-Jo1-UK]

Hi....it's still very early days after major surgery plus chemo. A few months on I was just doing gentle exercise and light jobs. I'm 18 months down the line now and still have to pace myself and get frequent fatigue. I've tried pushing myself but it just exacerbates things so it isn't worth it. You just have to listen to your body and rest when you can. Wishing you all the very best with your recovery. Jo xx

[Neona57]

Take things really slowly. My GP told me not to lift more than 4 pints of milk for a year. I was starting to feel ok after 2 months but then the chemo started so it's difficult to say.

[koffeekat99]

I think I was relatively lucky with friends understanding recovery. Many of them are health professionals and two work with a cancer charity. So friends told me to expect 3 -6 months for just general everyday stuff after treatment for cancer and about a year to be a bit more active.

Its been 3 years and I still have to watch my energy and how I exercise my abdominal muscles. Basically by pacing myself and factoring rest times to my routine.

I echo the comments above that I don't think its comparable to a non cancer hysterectomy for all the reasons stated. But additionally its recovery from cancer.

I was symptomatic for months pre-diagnosis and was visibly ill. So family, friends and I could see and feel the toll that cancer took on my body. Therefore no one was surprised that I allowed myself as much time as I needed to recover from the surgery and the cancer too.

I worry sometimes that society places too much emphasis on quick recovery from things. Whilst it may feel right for some people to get back into a 'normal' routine as quickly as possible it's not right for everyone. I think I changed my view on life post surgery and I have no problem at all saying that I'm not doing something because I want to rest.

Another thing is your friends have been lucky to recover well and quickly from their hysterectomies. Every op is different and even a non-cancer hysterectomy for someone could require a longer recovery time. That's ok too if they need the extra time.

Maybe your friends are trying to make sure you are included in things so you know that you can do stuff with them when you're ready. They've just not explained it very well!!