Hysterectomy support tips
A pre and post hysterectomy self care guide
I’ve got some notes I keep sharing after conversations with clients and connections who feel clueless about how to look after themselves or prepare for a hysterectomy.
And as I copy and pasted them for the 5th time I thought that maybe it was time to share them as a blog….as there’s a bit of a dearth of information ‘out there’ and it’s hard to know where to start.
The best person to speak should be your healthcare provider, but as this is women’s health, there’s often a bit of an information gap!
Pre operation
In pre-op conversations ask how the vagina will be suspended in surgery to reduce the risk of pelvic organ prolapse (i.e. you want to confirm that they will be doing this) there are two options as far as I'm aware - utero sacral suspension (central), or sacro spinous fixation (to one side) and it can be worth knowing which option just in case further down the line you have issues .
Also, will it be an abdominal hysterectomy or a laporoscopic vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy - all of these will cause scar tissue, and need recovery protocols, so ask what these are (and what to avoid exercise wise).
It will be worth seeing a women's health physio after the op ( you can self refer) to support good movement and strength training in the pelvic area. It can be a long wait on the NHS, but worth it. There are some great private providers out there too. The connective tissue repair can take up to 2 years, so it's definitely worth exploring this with a physio, especially if you want to add in exercise.
Consider how to make relaxation a part of the preparation and recovery phase - not just rest, but getting mind and body into a relaxed state - could be meditation, that early morning cuppa in the garden, reading a book, a gentle stroll. Delegate what you can and make space for it, it's a huge help to wound repair and overall recovery. Breathwork can be really helpful too - especially after abdominal surgery - take slow deep breaths and thing about breathing into the belly and down to the pelvic floor.
Wound repair and nutrition - vitamin A and C are really helpful to wound repair - from foods or supplementation as both help with the collagen production, and for skin cell repair. Alongside getting good quality protein into your diet. Getting enough protein is also important as well as reducing inflammatory foods (so reduce sugar, caffeine, alcohol). I like a smoothie with this protein powder https://wyldsson.com/en-gb/products/vegan-protein-choc-vanilla?variant=44219819884836 along with some frozen berries, spinach or frozen cauliflower and ground flaxseed)
Exercise - can be really helpful for healing, but gentle to begin with, especially given the location of the surgery - walking is key and probably helpful in the run up too. Think about incorporating pelvic floor exercises several times a day (the women's health physio will help with this).
Packing for hospital
Use a bag/case you can wheel as opposed to carry
• Noise-cancelling headphones
• Guided Meditation Audio
• Tablet/Kindle, Books/Audiobooks
• Relaxing Essential Oil like Lavender – Make a DIY Room/Pillow Spray
Eye Mask
• Earplugs
• Nightwear (add a nightdress if you don’t usually wear one)
• Bed Socks
• BIG BIG Knickers
• Sanitary Pads
• Personal Water Bottle
Also think about specific foods others could bring in if the hospital food isn't great. Protein balls, good quality snacks etc.
Post operation
Prepare your family - recovery might require more support from them - cooking, cleaning, laundry etc, might all need to be done by others for a bit. Could you invest in a cleaner for the short term to make things easier all round, for example, if you haven't already got one. Pre cooked meals in the freezer and healthy short cuts are great to have.
Coming home - here's a great video on getting out of bed as you recover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfBtmBfZEPo&ab_channel=JennyBurrell
Listen to your body and it's needs for rest, movement and support. Any pain then you should call your GP or the team in charge of the procedure.
I hope that’s helpful!