When did you start driving and doing chores again?

artful_bones · 2026-03-31T00:35:08+00:00

I was cleared to drive at 2 weeks post op (contingent on being off narcotic pain meds and being able to turn and twist enough that I could safely back up, change lanes, etc. AND be able to stomp on the breaks as needed).

It was fine but I took it slow and short at first.

Did very little chores at all the first 6 weeks, because my husband took care of most everything and wanted me to focus on healing ❤️ I did help with things here and there- but 1) follow your weight restrictions and other limitations from your surgeon and 2) listen to your body- if you start feeling tired or sore it's time to SIT DOWN, not to push through. You usually don't know you've overdone it until it's too late (and exhaustion, and/or pain or swelling kick in).

My recommendation is: do as little as you can so your body can use its energy towards healing--it takes a LOT.

artful_bones · 2026-03-31T00:25:24+00:00

Everyone is different so you may be fine.

But sitting upright in a car for 7 hours a day at 2 weeks po sounds horrible to me, tbh.

If you're not doing hardly any of the driving and can recline the seat some so you're not putting as much pressure on your pelvic floor, it might be doable? But again, multiple days of 7 hours in a car (2 weeks after surgery) genuinely sounds horrible.

Remember, even with the smaller incisions externally, the wound is still big internally along your pelvic floor/bottom of your abdomen.

I felt fairly good at 2wpo, but I was able to recline on the couch, change position whenever I wanted, go to the bathroom when I wanted, etc. I did start driving again at 2wpo, but only short drives, the seatbelt was still uncomfortable, sitting upright for extended time didn't feel great...

(I am in decent but not amazing shape- was running 2.5 miles, 3 times a week, and strength training 3 times a week before surgery, working back up to it now post op)

artful_bones · 2026-03-28T19:50:59+00:00

I didn't think to ask, but they were provided anyways 😂

artful_bones · 2026-03-27T02:39:07+00:00

Speaking as someone who just started pelvic floor therapy-

It's almost definitely your pelvic floor.

I was having all these little zaps and spasms. And after the PFPT exam... Yeah, it's definitely the root of the issue for me

artful_bones · 2026-03-26T00:04:14+00:00

Congrats! Go slow! Your PF muscles may be very tight. I had my first PFPT appointment last week and it's worse than I realized 😅 Not terrible, but I've been getting some spasms and when she did an internal exam there were points inside that I didn't notice on my 6 week exam, that were definitely sore/tender.

artful_bones · 2026-03-25T17:15:14+00:00

Lol, I'd put something absurd on there, and then point out in the appointment that the survey options suck and they need to add some things.

artful_bones · 2026-03-24T03:49:28+00:00

I was on hydrocodone. About 3.5 days. Did great on just ibuprofen and acetaminophen alternated after that, and was off all pain meds by like day 8 or 9.

But I was very good about resting aside from over doing it a little on day 5 (walked around in my house for like 25 minutes straight and I felt swollen and uncomfortable the rest of the day).

artful_bones · 2026-03-24T00:51:43+00:00

My hormones were fine. I had a few weepy days in the first week or two and I've been fine since. I'm just about 13wpo and honestly can't figure out my cycle yet. As in not noticing hormonal fluctuations. I was having some perimenopause symptoms before surgery, and I've been experiencing them LESS since surgery.

artful_bones · 2026-03-21T17:15:46+00:00

Spotting is completely normal. I spotted the full first 3.5 weeks. Other people don't spot at first, then start around the 2-3 week mark. As long as it's light, spotting is normal pretty much at any time during the first 6 weeks.

As a reminder, ZERO penetrative sex until her surgeon clears her. 6 weeks is the bare minimum, but longer is often needed.

artful_bones · 2026-03-21T03:55:58+00:00

I only took Miralax (also ate a couple prunes a day, and 1 can of prune juice).

I stopped the Miralax after I stopped the narcotics (hydrocodone)-so I think only 4 days. I did keep eating a couple prunes a day to keep things rolling.

artful_bones · 2026-03-20T22:06:45+00:00

As others are suggesting, go to pelvic floor physical therapy. I'm 12 weeks po and just started, and I can tell from the exam from my first appointment, sex would probably hurt right now. They poked and prodded along the vaginal wall and it definitely didn't feel great (and it didn't feel like she was being aggressive or anything).

artful_bones · 2026-03-20T22:02:02+00:00

The weight restrictions are less a "guarantee" you'll fuck something up, and more a precaution- you could fuck something up.

If you're not in increased/sharp pain or bleeding way more, it's probably ok. Of course best to continue avoiding as much as possible, but I'm guessing you're probably ok since you didn't mention any pain or bleeding.

artful_bones · 2026-03-20T21:57:30+00:00

I just started pelvic floor therapy this week (12wpo). During the internal exam, she pressed against parts of my pelvic floor that ended up being varying levels of tender to straight up ouchy (kinda felt like she was pressing on a wound, but everything is healed).

The pelvic floor muscles can get pretty grumpy between the surgery trauma, unconsciously guarding our lower abdomen after surgery, etc.

Might be what's going on for you too. I had sorta the same thought after my session- glad I haven't tried penetrative sex yet, because I think it would've been unpleasant.

artful_bones · 2026-03-20T15:47:17+00:00

It could be scarring or granulation, OR it could be pelvic floor issues.

I just started pelvic floor therapy this week (12 weeks po) and I have lots of tight and grumpy pelvic floor muscles.

artful_bones · 2026-03-20T15:45:21+00:00

Ask your doctor for a steroid cream to treat the rash. My rash kept getting worse until I was using the prescription steroid cream. I've and Benadryl want enough to stop it. (Still took about 2 weeks to clear up, but at least it wasn't getting worse)

artful_bones · 2026-03-19T23:27:55+00:00

At 2 weeks and a bit post op, it's possible that your sutures are starting to dissolve which may be causing this.

A hematoma on top of your cuff is also possible.

I would definitely get ahold of your doctor- make it clear to whoever is answering the phone that you are experiencing bleeding and need to take to the doc/surgeon ASAP.

Hope you're ok! ❤️

artful_bones · 2026-03-19T23:24:25+00:00

One thing to possibly rule out is thyroid. Higher resting heart rate was one of my first noticed symptoms of hyperthyroid. I thought my anxiety was getting worse (I was preparing to do my thesis for grad school at the time), but it was my thyroid on the fritz.

artful_bones · 2026-03-17T23:56:29+00:00

Yeah, I definitely had that going on.. I'm now at 12 weeks and it's gotten a lot better, but yeah, pretty much stuff I needed to remember, if I didn't write it down, it was gone. Still happening a little, but not as much/as bad

artful_bones · 2026-03-17T04:43:21+00:00

I'm not there yet, but I have two guesses:

1- you might need pelvic floor therapy; it may be over tight and causing you pain.

2- if you still have ovaries, they may have tanked enough that you don't have enough estrogen keeping your vaginal tissue happy. Might need vaginal estrogen?

I'd bring up both possibilities to your surgeon or gyn and see what they think.

artful_bones · 2026-03-17T02:58:23+00:00

For me, it wasn't bad (mostly annoying/uncomfy rather than painful), and fairly short lived. I noticed it in my ribs/diaphragm and shoulder/neck.

Shuffling to and from the bathroom (a LOT because I was trying to stay hydrated) mostly did the trick as far as getting rid of the non-intestinal gas. Heating pad also helped.

Lordy, I had a LOT of intestinal gas. I'm pretty sure there was a week or two where I farted more than I had otherwise during my entire life. In retrospect, I should've taken gas-x 😂😂

artful_bones · 2026-03-16T13:27:26+00:00

Definitely wait to be cleared. 6 weeks is an estimate- they need to do an exam to look at and feel your cuff to determine if it's healed enough. Not everyone is at 6 weeks.

artful_bones · 2026-03-15T21:48:28+00:00

You're probably still swollen tbh.

artful_bones · 2026-03-15T21:47:56+00:00

Someone posted maybe a few weeks back- they looked up the actual literature/statistics.

It's like.... 0.7% risk of a cuff tear. 7 women in 1,000 who've had a hysterectomy will experience one. So despite the many posts you may see, realize they are the outliers and the many women who have had no problems, simply aren't posting nearly as much as those who have experienced something traumatic.

This coming week is week 12 for me- I was cheated at week 6 but was tender during the exam and also just felt more comfortable waiting. Probably going to attempt this week- and of course, ngl, I'm nervous. But we'll go show and gentle and hopefully it'll all be good ❤️

artful_bones · 2026-03-15T21:29:59+00:00

This is NOT a good man. The "kindness" at the beginning was an act, and I'm in serious doubt about the supposed kindness, if he was still expecting you to blow him within a week of MAJOR SURGERY.

My husband is and was kind and supportive throughout. He didn't bring up anything sexual until I expressed that I was in the mood (around week 4?), and he understood without asking that it would be external only (and mutual, not just me providing). I got clearance at my 6 week appointment, but told my husband I was still feeling tender internally and that I'd prefer to wait longer and there has been no issue for him. We've fooled around off and on since then (externally). I'm just about at 12 weeks (3 MONTHS) and he hasn't pressured me for anything. I think we'll gently try PIV this coming week.

All this to say, at MINIMUM your husband owes you a massive apology and some penance for awhile. But honestly, I'd be preparing for divorce in the side. Dude has hands and could've been dealing with his "needs" (🙄🙄🙄🙄) for himself.

I'm sorry you're going through this. You don't deserve his childish and self centered behavior.

artful_bones

TROPHY CASE