Research does suggest a link between hysterectomy and an increased risk of weight gain, but it affects some women more than others. Several factors can affect how much weight you gain after a hysterectomy, including what you do during and after the initial recovery period.
This is because removing their uterus, ovaries, and cervix triggers surgical menopause. Women who naturally go into menopause typically gain around five pounds. So it's to be expected that if a hysterectomy triggers surgical menopause, you'll gain about five pounds.
It's almost impossible to lose belly fat after hysterectomy through moderate exercise. It takes a large amount of exercise to incur an energy deficit and during your hysterectomy recovery your exercise capacity is reduced.
Because your uterus is removed, you no longer have periods and cannot get pregnant. But your ovaries might still make hormones, so you might not have other signs of menopause. You may have hot flashes, a symptom of menopause, because the surgery may have blocked blood flow to the ovaries.
After your uterus is removed (hysterectomy) all the normal organs that surround the uterus simply fill the position previously occupied by the uterus. Mostly it is bowel that fills the space, as there is lots of small and large bowel immediately adjacent to the uterus.
Maintain a healthy diet during recovery
Plan a healthy diet for after your procedure to help with the recovery and prevent weight gain after a hysterectomy. By choosing a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains, it's even possible to lose weight after your hysterectomy.
He adds that many women scheduled for hysterectomy also happen to be obese. Especially following the birth of a last child, women may opt to have excess abdominal fat and skin removed in addition to their reproductive organs.
A hysterectomy is a major operation. You can be in hospital for up to 5 days after surgery, and it can take about 6 to 8 weeks to fully recover. Recovery times can also vary depending on the type of hysterectomy. Rest as much as possible during this time and do not lift anything heavy, such as bags of shopping.
Benefits and risks of a hysterectomy
If you have cancer, a hysterectomy may save your life. It can relieve bleeding or discomfort from fibroids, severe endometriosis or prolapse (sagging) of the uterus. But, you may want to look into options other than surgery for problems like these.
About half a million hysterectomies are performed each year in the U.S. It is the second most common surgical procedure for women, after cesarean delivery (C-section). Most hysterectomies are performed between the ages of 40 and 50.
3-6 Months After Surgery
Research has shown that fatigue is the most common, debilitating, and longest-lasting symptom that women have after a hysterectomy. On average, women experience fatigue for three months after surgery, but some women have reported feeling tired for up to six months after the operation.
Vaginal Cuff
After a woman has a total hysterectomy done, her cervix that once was the "closing" at the top of the vagina is no longer there. As a means for the vagina to remain closed, it is sewn together at the top which is then referred to as the vaginal cuff.
A tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) is routinely performed after a hysterectomy. At times, these two operations are done during the same operation. If your hysterectomy was performed laparoscopically, it would be unusual for you to have prolonged abdominal swelling.
Tummy tuck pain is similar to that of C-section or laparoscopy. A hysterectomy is definitely more painful than a tummy tuck.
Being overweight increases the risk of complications during surgery, such as breathing problems, blood clots, infections, slower recovery and longer hospital stays. So you may be advised to lose weight before the surgery.
This is followed by the release of cortisol, which hangs around much longer because it helps us replenish the energy we lost after the stressful event has passed. When cortisol remains elevated, appetite increases, explaining why eating becomes stress-reliever for many women during their recovery.
Fruits smoothies made with low-fat milk or low-fat yogurt should be part of your diet. Low-fat foods will help you maintain a balanced body weight and prevent you from gaining weight. Lean meat and some fruits such as oranges, strawberries, or blueberries should be part of your hysterectomy recovery period as well.
Risks include anaesthetic complications, blood transfusion, DVT, and injuries to other organs. Since hysterectomy is a major surgery, it's associated with the risks of any major operation, including those associated with general anaesthetic, blood transfusion, infection, wound healing, and deep venous thrombosis.
Your uterus is about 3 inches from top to bottom and 2 inches wide at the widest part. It's about 1 inch thick and weighs around 1 ounce.
A pessary is a device that can be inserted into the vagina to support the bladder. Internal measurements of the vagina are taken to determine the size of pessary needed.
Does a hysterectomy cause rapid aging? Having a hysterectomy is a big change for your body. Depending on where you are in your menopause journey, this type of procedure can cause hormonal changes resulting in different side effects. A hysterectomy by itself usually doesn't affect your hormones and aging as much.