I had my total vaginal hysterectomy six days ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. It was performed as an outpatient surgery for fibroid tumors. I still have my ovaries, so I have no immediate hot flashes (although I had them occasionally before and will continue to progress normally through menopause). I went home the same day. My doctor was very thorough in explaining the procedure, what to expect before, during, and after. She recommended a stool softener to start taking three to four days before surgery and continue as long as prescribed pain meds were used. I took the pain pills for two days and one night only. The rest is just a general feeling of discomfort, but much more comfortable than having a period every month! Ladies, if you continue to go back to your doctor for pain, other symptoms, etc. and are told it's all part of the "healing" process ... run to another doctor. It's not normal ... you should feel more like yourself, and probably better than you've felt in months, in just a week or two after your surgery, even though you won't return to most of your normal activities for five to six weeks. The only regret I have is that it took four years to find a doctor who cared enough to listen and act!

It's a little after three weeks after my total abdominal hysterectomy. The first day, I had a pain pump that I was pushing every five minutes because the pain was so bad, but the next morning after they removed the catheter, I was feeling a lot better. I was getting Percocets in the hospital but ended up not being able to take them without getting sick. (It's not fun to throw up with all those staples in my abdomen.) I had some very good nurses who were helpful with any problems ...even with moving my bowels. I had ended up having an enema to get my bowels to move. I would rather do that than wait to have a “hard” bowel movement. I have still been taking a stool softener and herbs that help with my bowels. I would really like to know when my almost-three-inch belly overhang will go away! And it's still tender to the touch, but at my doctor appointment, I was told that everything is healing as expected. I've been taking Advil or Aleve for pain (What a joke, they don't really help.) and Tylenol PM to help me sleep. (Yeah, right, with the night sweats.) I'm going to check my local health food/herbal store for relief. Because I have a job where I can sit, I am going back to work next week part-time (four weeks after surgery). I have a very understanding boss who has been through several female surgeries and will let me take work home too. I had my hysterectomy because of my 30-day heavy periods (even at the age of 52!). I'm very glad that I did because the pathology reports showed that I had the precurser cell to uterine cancer. I thank God for my decision to have the surgery.

Four weeks ago, I had a vaginal hysterectomy and repair for a prolapsed bladder. The first few hours after surgery were quite painful, but by the next day, I no longer required any pain medication. I stayed in the hospital for one and a half days. I was released with a suprapubic tube in place for three more days. I was told to measure my urine output each time I voided, then open the valve of the tube and measure the residual urine. After three days, I returned to my surgeon for a post-op visit with my readings in hand. By then, I was slightly uncomfortable, but certainly in no pain. He checked me over, removed the tube, and I was told everything looked good. He then released me to fly back home to Maui where I live (surgery was at Kapiolani hospital on Oahu). I flew home, and by the next day, I was driving and "scooting" around town. In fact, a friend had to remind me that I'm not a 16-year-old girl! I had to stay off work for four weeks, and I really tried to follow my doctor's orders about not lifting or doing any heavy work. But I can honestly say that aside from the pain immediately following surgery, the whole experience went very well and pain-free. I saw my surgeon after four weeks, and he was pleased with my recovery. No need to see him again! My bladder is functioning perfectly fine. I do not have any issues with incontinence, pain, burning, etc. I was fortunate to have an excellent doctor.

I had my hysterectomy several years ago when I was 50 and had no complications at all. I had the surgery in the afternoon, vaginally, and went home the next afternoon. I had a little pain on the ride home and over the next few days. I had no constipation problems (and I have had them all my life). I never felt better than after I had the surgery. It has been several years, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I did take HRT for quite a while; the hot flashes were bad. Now, I am free of the HRT and still feel great.