Hysterectomy Information and Resources

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Weight Gain after Hysterectomy

Posted on January 11th, 2010 admin | Leave a Comment

Weight gain after hysterectomy is one of the most common complaints women have after undergoing the procedure. Hysterectomy is a major operation that is performed to remove the uterus for the treatment of certain conditions such as cancer, fibroids, uterine bleeding, and others. Aside from the uterus, the cervix, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries may also be removed during a hysterectomy. This is to avoid a disease such as cancer from spreading to the other organs.

There are various types of hysterectomy and various techniques for performing the surgery. A complete Hysterectomy immediately causes menopause to begin. In addition, a woman who has undergone hysterectomy may no longer bear a child. There are other risks and complications that may occur after hysterectomy. However, incidents of these have been low.

Weight gain after hysterectomy can result especially when the ovaries are removed. Weight gain is most noticeable around the waist, and the explanation for this is that if the ovaries are removed during a complete hysterectomy then the body stops producing estrogen and progesterone. As estrogen levels decrease, the androgen (male hormones) levels in the woman’s body increases. While women usually gain weight around the hips and thighs, men usually grow heavy around the waist. With the androgen levels increasing in a woman’s body after undergoing a hysterectomy, she becomes prone to gaining more flab around the waist.

Another reason for the weight gain after hysterectomy is slowed metabolism, and the lack of exercise. A woman who has undergone hysterectomy has restricted movement after the surgery, which in effect can slow down metabolism. In addition, most women who undergo hysterectomy are in their forties and fifties, and with age a woman’s metabolism decreases significantly. Women in these age groups are less active than women in their twenties or thirties, which can further contribute to the weight gain. Still, another possible cause for the weight gain is a hormonal imbalance-too much androgen.

To cope with the weight gain after hysterectomy, it would help to maintain a healthy and low-fat diet. There should also be regular exercise as soon as the body has recovered enough from the hysterectomy. If the cause for the weight gain after hysterectomy is a hormonal imbalance, a doctor can be consulted about undergoing hormone replacement therapy.

Abdominal Hysterectomy

Posted on January 11th, 2010 admin | Leave a Comment

Abdominal hysterectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the uterus through an incision on the lower abdomen. The cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes may also be removed if the patient’s condition calls for it.

A woman who undergoes hysterectomy will no longer menstruate and can no longer become pregnant. The woman can still engage in sexual activity, though, and will no longer need to use contraception. A hysterectomy does not cause a woman to age prematurely, and neither does it leave a space in the abdomen, as the bowels occupy the space the reproductive organs once occupied.

It’s important to note, however, that a hysterectomy may be all you need for the treatment of your condition, or you may need additional treatment even after the surgery.

Types of Abdominal Hysterectomy

The following are the three types of abdominal hysterectomy: subtotal, total, and total with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

In a subtotal abdominal hysterectomy, only the uterus is removed, and the cervix is kept. Some of the advantages of this procedure are a faster operation; lowered risk of organ damage; lowered risk of vaginal prolapse; less blood loss; less chance of getting a fever; and shorter hospital stay. This type of abdominal hysterectomy, however, can still result in spotting after the surgery due to residual endometrial tissue in the cervical canal. Furthermore, there is a risk of acquiring cancer from the cervix that remained in the vagina.

A total abdominal hysterectomy is when both the uterus and the cervix are removed, while a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is when the ovaries and the fallopian tubes are removed along with the uterus and the cervix.

When Abdominal Hysterectomy is Needed

The following are some of the common reasons for an abdominal hysterectomy:

• Cancer of the cervix or the uterus
• Fibroids
• Excessive bleeding

What to Do Before an Abdominal Hysterectomy

It would help to go to a hysterectomy prepared and in the proper condition. Here are some things you should do to prepare for the surgery:

• Make arrangements at home or at work for the time you’ll be away.
• Quit smoking, or at least stop smoking a week prior to the surgery in order to reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia.
• It is recommended that you stop taking NSAIDS or any other blood thinning medications 5 to 7 days prior to surgery.
• You should stop using contraceptive medication at least four weeks before the surgery. These can actually trigger blood clotting related to surgery. Consult your doctor on the other medications you need to stop prior to the surgery.

What to Do Right After an Abdominal Hysterectomy

Here are things you can do right after the operation:

• You can expect vaginal bleeding right after the surgery. Refrain from using tampons, and use sanitary pads instead.
• If you still experience bleeding and have smelly secretions after you go home, consult your doctor.
• Use pain killers as prescribed by your doctor to deal with the pain and discomfort caused by the surgery.

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Hysterectomy Complications

Posted on January 11th, 2010 admin | Leave a Comment

As with any major surgery, a hysterectomy can result in some hysterectomy complications and risks. Although the incidences for hysterectomy complications are low, it still helps to be aware of them in preparation for a hysterectomy.

Early menopause. Women who undergo hysterectomy without their ovaries removed are likely to go into the menopause stage around four years earlier than they normally would.

Blood Clots. Blood clots are common among hysterectomy complications as with most surgeries. Blood clots can form in the patient’s legs and lungs. To counter this, the patient wears stockings on the legs, or takes a blood thinner. Blood thinners may be taken from 3 to 6 months after surgery, depending on the severity of the blood clot.

Organ Damage. This is rare among hysterectomy complications, but one that can still occur. It is possible for some pelvic organs to be damaged during the hysterectomy due the proximity of these organs to the uterus. There are times when the hysterectomy is difficult to perform due to large fibroids or adhesions, and other organs in the pelvis may be unintentionally affected. Some of these include the tubes that connect the bladder and the kidney (ureters), the bladder itself, and the bowel. These damages can usually be repaired easily when they occur.

Infection. Despite taking preventive antibiotics, infections are hysterectomy complications that can still occur in the incision, inside the abdomen, in the bladder, or in the vagina. Infections occur in ten percent of hysterectomy incidents, but these can be cured with antibiotics. Rarely do these hysterectomy complications develop into an abscess.

Bleeding. Bleeding is another common complication among surgeries. Excessive bleeding may require blood transfusion, or may even result in the patient returning to the operating room.

Anesthesia-related complications. Hysterectomy complications can include those caused by adverse reactions to anesthesia. In particular, these can mean breathing or heart problems. Patients who have a lung or heart disease, are obese, or who smoke are more prone to these complications.

Aside from these complications after hysterectomy, other complications can include pelvic pain, constipation, weight gain, and reduced sexual drive.

Exercise After Hysterectomy

Posted on January 11th, 2010 admin | Leave a Comment

Although undergoing a hysterectomy will limit your activity for a while, it is still important that you exercise after hysterectomy, as this will condition your body to get back to its normal function. However, be sure to consult your doctor on when you can start exercising, and what exercises you can perform. Your doctor’s advice on your exercise after hysterectomy is especially important if you have a heart problem, excessive bleeding, another type of medical condition, or if you are undergoing chemotherapy.

You may have to wait for two weeks after the surgery before you start any exercise. You should also avoid exercises that would involve any weight training or heavy lifting. In addition, you should exercise after hysterectomy only if it is comfortable. You should discontinue the exercise if you experience any discomfort or pain.

Why You Should Exercise After Hysterectomy

There’s no question that exercise is good for the body. Even when your body has just gone through a major change, an exercise after hysterectomy can still do wonders for your body, especially in aiding in your recovery.

In particular, the following are the benefits of an exercise after hysterectomy:

• Exercise can strengthen your immune system.
• It can reduce the pain caused by the hysterectomy.
• It can help you lose excess weight.
• Exercise can make you feel more upbeat. It keeps you from going into mood swings.
• It helps keep your blood pressure in check, reducing the risk of heart attacks.
• It can prolong life.
• It can help you sleep better.
• It improves blood circulation.
• It can reduce muscle tension.
• It can reduce stress.

Quick Tips for an Exercise After Hysterectomy

• Start with 10-minute exercises.
• After your body has adjusted, it’s best to maintain 30-minute exercise routines at least five times a week.
• Make exercise after hysterectomy more fun by joining friends, teams, or sport clubs.

Hysterectomy After Menopause

Posted on January 11th, 2010 admin | Leave a Comment

Hysterectomy is the procedure performed to remove the uterus of a woman. The removal of the uterus may be required in the treatment of certain medical conditions such as cancer, fibroids, and excessive bleeding among others. When there is cancer, for instance, it may be necessary to remove the uterus, or even the cervix, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, in order to prevent the cancer from spreading to the other organs. The removal of the uterus and the other reproductive organs may also be necessary to stop bleeding.

Undergoing a hysterectomy with removal of both ovaries will trigger menopause in a woman, and it would also make the woman unable to bear children.

But what about hysterectomy after menopause? How would the effects of hysterectomy be different for the post menopausal woman? Well, women who undergo hysterectomy after menopause may or may not experience great changes in their body.

When a woman undergoes a complete hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes) during peri-menopause or menopause, the woman becomes post menopausal. In this case, the body stops producing estrogen and progesterone, which in turn increases the levels of testosterone in the body. This could cause the development of some masculine features such as increased hair growth on the chin and upper lip. Also, women can experience increase body fat deposition along the abdomen, hips, and thighs. Osteoporosis risks increase as well. Some women may continue to have significant vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and require some sort of hormone replacement.

Hysterectomy after menopause can cause immediate psychological effects on the woman. These can include transient bouts of mild depressive symptoms, and/or anxiety. Furthermore, the woman who undergoes hysterectomy after menopause rarely undergoes physical or psychological changes because the ovaries have already stopped functioning by this time, and their removal does not make a difference to the woman.