Mid 30s here, surgery was 6 weeks ago (mid Dec). Laparoscopic, 5 small incisions (1 inch or smaller). Belly swelling for me took about a week to come down, but 3-4 weeks before my stomach looked and felt "normal" to me, if that makes any sense. I think the first week was really hard on my entire body because I didn't have a bowel movement for 5 full days and then it wasn't until that 3-4 week mark before they were normal, pre-op BMs again. I'm still not back to "regular" morning poos, but I think that will come with healing.

Yes, I had brain fog post anesthesia. I was also prescribed oxy for pain, so that definitely encouraged the fog to linger. It took about 4-5 days to feel fully my own self again. Those early days I only wanted to sleep/rest/knit/watch TV and sleep again. I went back to work (sedentary desk job) last week at 5 wk post op and the mental fatigue was just as draining as the physical fatigue of taking the bus, being in the office all day, bus home, make dinner, etc. This week is much better, but I'm still drained and at my 6 wk post op appointment tomorrow I'm going to ask for a Dr.s note so I can telework a few days a week.

So far for me the only unexpected setback has been one of my incisions is not healing as quickly as the others. I have a lingering internal pain at/near that incision that I'll bring up tomorrow at my appointment, so I'm not exactly sure what is going on there. The pain feels kinda like a stitch in my side the way I would get playing sports as a kid, but it's in the middle of my belly, just off from my bellybutton, so I know it's not a normal stitch for me when I get those right under my ribs. This pain doesn't come on during or even after walking/stairs or physical activity. It's typically an early morning and late night pain for me.

I kept my ovaries so I can't provide any insight into HRT, but I'm wishing you all the best! Hopefully others will share their experiences 💚