HYSTERECTOMY: QUESTIONS OFTEN ASKED
How long will I need to be in hospital?
This varies from three to seven days and may be extended by a couple of days if complications occur.
Why are antibiotics necessary?
Doctors in countries such as Australia routinely prescribe antibiotics after surgery to reduce the risk of postoperative infection.
Why am I having bowel pain after my hysterectomy?
Many women experience significant bowel pain two to four days after a hysterectomy. The sensation and the site of the pain is different from that occurring in the first day or two after surgery. The cause of the pain is temporary paralysis of the bowel which leads to constriction or swelling. As it recovers and tries to eliminate the accumulated gas and waste materials, it contracts more violently than usual.
I am still having a discharge three weeks after a hysterectomy. What is the cause of the discharge and when will it stop?
The discharge may be the result of vaginal wound healing, a wound infection, or a vaginal infection such as thrush. It usually stops one to four weeks after surgery. Occasionally it continues for a longer period of time and if this applies to you, see your doctor.
Why am I so tired since my operation?
Most people who have major surgery feel very tired in the first few weeks afterwards. This is related to the stress of the medical condition for which they had the surgery, the anxiety associated with having an operation, and the demands of surgery, anaesthesia, drugs and any postoperative complications such as anaemia or infection. If the tiredness persists for two to three months, it may be associated with a depressive reaction to the surgery. In such situations, a visit to a caring doctor is in order. Make a long appointment so that you can discuss the problem fully. If tiredness persists, it may be due to depleted oestrogen levels caused by damage to, or removal of, the ovaries at the time of the hysterectomy.
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