How to Recover and Thrive After a Hysterectomy

Learning how to recover and thrive after a hysterectomy. Never in my life did I dream of needing to know that, let alone actually having surgery. But I found myself in that position a couple years after being diagnosed with uterine fibroids (more about that here).

I had major relief with managing symptoms naturally. The large one didn’t grow while being pregnant (a surprise to doctors) and the small one disappeared. But there was still physical pain whenever the area was touched, which made enjoying certain aspects of life very difficult. So in the end, I decided focusing on quality of life was more important than being able to “beat them” using only natural means.

There is a time and place for everything. I’m grateful I had access to a talented OBGYN, who was wonderful to work with. I do not regret having surgery one bit.

Most of all, the mental and physical burden of trying to manage the remaining symptoms is gone. It feels like I have my life back. Thank you Jesus for both natural and modern medicine.

A hysterectomy is considered a major surgical procedure, where the complete uterus and cervix is removed. Recovery is expected to take 4-6 weeks. I’m thankful mine could be done laparoscopically and that I was able to keep my ovaries (prevents the onset of menopause). And when I found out a normal uterus weighs around 70g and mine was 240g, I thought, “Good riddance to bad rubbish!”

Since our family is so active, I wanted my recovery to go quickly, and was willing to do extra to help things along. (Can you tell I’m great at resting? Sheesh!)

The following are things I did before and after surgery to help boost my immune system and nourish the body while healing. Jump to a certain section using the quick links below or read through them all.

*This blog post contains various health information. Nothing is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any supplement(s) discussed and/or listed should be reviewed by your health professional before using. If you have a medical concern, please consult with an appropriately-licensed physician. If you think you have a medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately. Full medical disclosure here.

Pre-Op Plan

Having a strong body to start with is a huge bonus when facing any kind of surgery. Heading into the operating room exhausted, hyper-stressed, and/or just getting over an illness, is not a good recipe to recover and thrive after a hysterectomy.

There were several things I did in the two weeks leading up to my surgery. Not only did it set a “healthy tone” for my body, but it was also good practice in being disciplined.

Made sure to get around 8 hours of sleep each night: This was a challenge since most of the business and blog work gets done after the kids go to bed, but I certainly felt more rested. In addition, our body does the majority of healing while sleeping. Extra sleep never hurts!
Cut out processed sugar and alcohol: The sweets were hardest since we had a few family get togethers (I did sneak bit size pieces here and there!). It only takes 30 minutes for sugar to start suppressing the immune system and can stay that way for up to 5 hours. Small amounts here and there are not overly detrimental; however, I wanted my immune system at it’s strongest.
Took probiotics: I was unsure if antibiotics would be necessary. Just in case they were, I wanted my body filled up with as many good bugs as possible, since antibiotics wipe out both the good and bad bugs. I utilized both capsules and food (sauerkraut, kombucha).

KEEP MENTAL STRESS TO A MINIMUM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

My body can handle way more physical stress than it can mental stress. Several times, runaway thoughts would overwhelm me, along with the constant barrage of “what if” questions pertaining to surgery.

Praying throughout the day, chatting with my mom, and reading my Bible helped quell the nerves. My “Get Done Before Summer Surgery” list also keep my mind pretty busy. Maybe not the best thing, but it helped.

Recover & Thrive After Hysterectomy: Post-Op

I worked with my nutritionist to come up with a natural-based protocol using whole foods, herbs and rest. She reminded me food based supplements feed and nourish, while herb based ones act like a faster stimulant. Our plan was threefold.

The whole food supplements had higher dosages than the herbs, and taking the herbs with food decreased any tummy upset. The first two weeks after surgery I took supplements every couple hours and slowly weaned in quantity and frequency from there.

First – Heal from the trauma of the surgery (energetic grounding): The human body is so complex, and in many cases, it stores traumatic memories. Some we find out about; others remain hidden and can cause physical ailments. To help my body “release/regulate” any traumatic memories from the surgery, I used Physica Energetic’s Heart Song Milieu. A pleasant tasting, concentrated homeopathic tincture spray.
Second – Heal the tissues affected by the surgery: My surgery entailed 3 small external incisions, internal incisions to remove the organs, and utero sacral ligament suspension. Not to mention other organs getting pushed around to make room for tools! Standard Process’ Cataplex A-C-P and Medi Herb’s Gotu Kola Complex were essential here. These help stimulate tissue repair and reduce inflammation. I also used this low level light therapy Laseronix Laser on the external incisions to stimulate cell repair.
Third – Work on regulating/supporting the endocrine system: The body will continue to send signals to the uterus and cervix, expecting to get a response. Since the organs are no longer present, the endocrine system needs help re-regulating. I used Standard Process’ Symplex F to support the overall female reproductive system.
Detox any synthetic chemicals and anesthesia: I was surprised to hear anesthesia can remain in the body for around two months with detox, and around one year without detox. So it was important to support the liver. I started taking Standard Process’ Livaplex and Medi Herb’s Milk Thistle Forte a couple days after surgery.
Overall Healing: We always have a couple bottles of Standard Process’ Wheat Germ Oil in the cabinet. This one is good for many things. We use it most often when feeling physically strained and to rub over exterior scars on the skin. I also took naps, like almost daily for the first couple weeks. It was so strange! Lol

TAKE 6 FULL WEEKS TO REST! FOLLOW THE 10LB. WEIGHT RESTRICTION!

I listened really well the first two weeks and felt ahhmazing! Then, I slowly started doing more around the house, accidently picked up baby R a couple times out of reflex, and didn’t nap as often.

My body reacted negatively with spotting, cramping, and fatigue anytime I did more than light work in the kitchen. You must adhere to the restrictions to recover and thrive after a hysterectomy!

Long Term Maintenance Plan

As of today, I’m ten weeks post-op, and feel great. Since my ovaries were left, there will continue to be monthly ovulation. I have experienced minimal PMS symptoms (light bloating, mood change) and no spotting with this.

I haven’t lifted anything over forty-ish pounds yet, but am slowly working up. I’ve only snagged one nap in the past few weeks and hit or miss with getting to bed early. Being more active with the kids, garden, and cattle has been good for the soul. I am not the most patient patient (insert cheeky grin)!

I’ve continued the supplements listed in the second, third, and overall recovery points listed above. The dosages have reduced to just 2-3 per day. The low level light laser on the incisions is used periodically. I plan to continue the Symplex F until the end of the year since it will take time for the endocrine system to re-regulate.

Also on the forefront of my mind is paying more attention to how I feel physically. I’ve been more proactive with taking digestive enzymes, probiotics, and immune support knowing my body is going to be taxed with healing for a while yet.

Overall, the recovery has gone much better than I expected. I know there were many praying for me and the family, which was really appreciated, especially during the first two weeks of inactivity.

I’d recommend lining up help before hand. I had an amazing support system around me that literally kept the family spinning and busy so I could focus on healing.

Have you had a similar experience? Questions on something I didn’t touch on (hard to cover every minutia!)? Reach out with a comment or connect with me personally!