One for the ladies! Riding after hysterectomy

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Surreydeb

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Hi ladies, I'm due to have a total abdominal hysterectomy in July:(, and wondered how lng you were advised to wait/waited until riding again? I have a 4 year old cob, who is so good she's going on 20, so don't get bounced around!

Going to ask the surgeon, but wanted your experiences/opinions.
 
Hi, not sure about the riding but when my mum had a hysterectomy years ago, they just tock her womb out, she couldntp even lift a tea cup for a month.....it was at least 6 months before she was back to normal.

Hugs.
X
 
Hi, i had exact same thing, wasnt able to have key hole. Had it done end of Nov 2010. Was walking around okish after a week, but not far.
After 6 weeks, was back up doing bits around the yard, but couldnt cope with horse if they pulled being led, Could cope with good ones !! 6 months i think is the recommended time for getting back on.

I think i got back on after 3 months for a stroll, but still felt a bit of tugging. So left it for another couple of months.

I was back in work after 6 weeks

What i would say is dont push yourself to do anything, i pushed myself too hard and should have taken more time. Its a big op to recover from.

Enoy the pampering you should get from family and friends

Good luck

Also, its the best thing ive ever done, wish id had it done sooner x
 
Asha said:
Also, its the best thing ive ever done, wish id had it done sooner x
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Would agree with this 100%! Though I had mine done at the age of 32 so wouldn't have wanted it done any sooner!

I had just my womb removed by suction (through the vagina) so wasn't cut or had stitches, and I was back at work after 8 weeks. If you are having it done abdominally, they suggest 12 weeks before you are supposed to even drive. I would agree with giving it 6 months before riding again.

Good Luck. x
 
Thanks I was hoping you would say about 6 weeks not 6 months! Guess I should leave backing my 3 year old until next year then! Hopefully can do chores sooner or my sharer will get the hump!
 
I recently had open abdominal myomectomy which has similar incision scar/stitches and recovery times. Its a more risky op than hysto (bleeding control wise) but afterwards is similar. Was in hospital for 5 days.

I was thinking 6 weeks pre op as that was what I had read, but stern surgeon said (at least for me) much longer, no strenuous activity for min 12 weeks, and after that to follow what your body tells you. 2012 is a blinkin write off basically! Less strenuous stuff about 4-6 weeks but you need to be able to twist round to look over shoulder a la highway code and also to do an emergency stop.

I am now 4 weeks post surgery and am beginning to think about a very short drive next week (week 5) but am not even considering riding for ages. Scar is fairly well healed apart from one bit which might need antibiotics if it doesnt settle down.

We live on an isolated farm so have been having to pay a horse sitter to come in 3x a DAY!! as OH works away during the week. Not an ideal set up, we are a mile from the nearest road and 2 miles from the nearest bus so I am basically shut in for the week once OH leaves! So am very bored and very bankrupt (esp as my 'finger slipped' while bored and I bought a saddle :-) and a horsebox :-))))

The problem is even if the surface stitches have all dissolved or staples removed the internal stitches take much longer and you wont know if you are doing too much and damaging them so you have to take care.

It is good that your cob is an angel but the getting on and off by itself would be a no no for at least (bare min) 6 weeks I would think. Just edited to add I dont think you should consider backing the youngster this year for sure.

The op isnt too bad tho being in hospital tied to the bed by catheter, drips etc is not a lot of fun, much better once you are home.

Can I wish you all the very best of HHO support for the op, TBH the worst part is the build up and then the boredom afterwards, dont worry about painwise as they give you loads of drugs and while the morphine did make me rant at OH poor thing it really hasnt been as painful as, well, monthly periods! which did suprise me.

good luck :-)))
 
Thanks everyone not looking forward to the op and not being able to ride for some time but looking forward to getting rid of my current problems for good. Guess I'll have to be a good patient and not get back on board until completely recovered
 
Surreydeb said:
Thanks everyone not looking forward to the op and not being able to ride for some time but looking forward to getting rid of my current problems for good. Guess I'll have to be a good patient and not get back on board until completely recovered
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Think of it this way, its a bit of discomfort for a lifetime of freedom !

Being active will help with your recovery, plus if you dont work, think about all the extra hours you can spend watching your horse. Try not to worry, you will be fine x
 
Do as you are told, because if you don't, you may find you cause yourself more damage, especially internally, as you can't see what you are doing.
I didn't drive for 7 weeks, had 11 weeks off work. Started going back to the horses at 3 weeks, but you are not allowed to lift(buy a travel kettle so you can make yourself a cuppa, as a normal kettle is too heavy to lift) anything. Its meant to be lift anything EVER again, but having horses, that is pretty impossible, and I now have a prolapse as a result of lifting, especially because of throwing hay bales around:(
I started doing lighter duties with the horses after 7 weeks, but didn't muck out/poo pick etc until about 12 weeks,and then was careful to not do so through mud etc.
I think the biggest issue I had was fatigue after the op, and the fact the actual scar hurt for sometime, so I didn;t feel like lifting or doing much anyway.
Good luck with the op- I also wish I had done it sooner!
 
I was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer in Oct 2007 . (womb Cancer)

I had a hysterectomy 2 weeks after the confirmation. I had it done by keyhole surgery. It went fine though, I woke up in hot flushes two days after.
I was not allowed to ride for 3 months. Thats what they recommend and thats what I stuck too.

So the answer is 3 months :D Has its ups and downs, I could not have HRT because of the Cancer but

You keep warm on winter days by the hot flushes.:D
your leg and armpit and P***C hairs get soft, gr8 advantage if you have dark hair and need to shave often :D
 
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Listen to your body - no one knows it any better than you do.

I had a hysterectomy many years ago. I was bored after four days in hospital, went home got even more bored so decorated my house. If I felt any pulling I stopped and did not lift anything heavy.

I did get myself very fit prior, lots of sitting trot and tightening of the core muscles.

I also took comfrey tablets to aid healing. After a six week check up I was told that it looked as if I had been operated on six months not six weeks.

I went back to work and was both riding and breaking in a consignment of NH horses though I was careful as to being pulled around.

I was 32 at the time and as said, very fit. I did what I could, any pulling and I stopped. Riding was no problem.

I have never regretted having it done!
 
Thanks ladies so glad you are all glad you had it done very reassuring. My friend and I are partners in our horses so she will be doing them while I'm out of action and I'm teaching my husband and kids how to use the Hoover! The kids aren't young (21 and 15) so more than capable just mum has always done it all! Looking forward to no more really nasty monthlies when I can't ride for 10 days anyway! Thanks ladies for all the replies
 
Hope it all goes well for you m'duck :)

I had a bilateral oopharectomy(sp!), which was both ovaries out via keyhole surgery. Comparatively minor op, but if I remember right I couldn't ride for six weeks, and it hurt/pulled/was too uncomfortable anyway. I was in the process of buying a new horse, so did sit on her and walked around the school, but getting on and off was ouchy. Only did it the once.

You'll have to come and play on HHO whilst you recover :D. And get colouring books and pens - very therapeutic! :D
 
Surreydeb said:
Thanks I was hoping you would say about 6 weeks not 6 months! Guess I should leave backing my 3 year old until next year then! Hopefully can do chores sooner or my sharer will get the hump!
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Your hear horror stories about hysterectomies but do NOT listen - play it by ear. I had the full job done on the Monday, was out of hospital on the Thurday, and a week later was doing radio interviews and leading a demo at Shire Hall!:D (Much to the horror of a GP friend who knew where I'd been the week before!) I was doing 3 stabled horses the following week - carefully!! I didn;t ride for 3 months, admittedly, as my choices were all big, strong, fit hunters! And driving was (in theory at least) not permitted for 6 weeks.

it needs a good surgeon, a positive frame of mind - and a bit of luck!
 
I had both ovaries removed via keyhole surgery about 7 weeks ago, so it was no where near as invasive as a full-on hysterectomy.

Afterewards I was bored senseless, couldn't wait to get back to horses/riding etc. I had been told to take it easy and do nothing strenuous for 2 weeks.

I recovered quickly from the op, and I am quite fit anyway, so felt quite good all round afterwards, although I did have 'pulling' on the larger of the two scars.

I started riding again 3 weeks later and promptly managed to herniate the larger wound :eek: It was the canter work that finished me off!

So just be warned that although you may heal quickly and feel quite good on the outside, internally you do need time to recover.

Good luck with it - I can thoroughly recommend investing in a Kindle or the like to help you through it. Mine saved my sanity!
 
I had hysterectomy in October, cut straight through my cesarean scar.... In hospital 4 days, was doing an hours walking with the dogs 2 days later and back at work after 2 weeks, rode after 6 weeks and never looked back.
I am 38 with a 3 year old daughter and was fairly fit before.
Just listen to your body and do as much or as little as you need.
I'm not very good at sitting about and got very bored..... I even started baking!!!! Lol
Good luck and hope everything goes well for you x
 
Thanks to all who replied. My surgery went well I had the cut and shut version womb cervix ovaries all gone. Three months later and I'm all better! HRT kicked in so flushes all stopped and back doing horsey chores gradually building up the amount of muck i push in the barrow when poo picking! Best news of all I got back on board last weekend and went for a quiet toddle round the block.
Thank you to everyone who shared their positive experiences with me I am also so glad I've had it done!
 
Really pleased everything went well for you. Great to hear your getting out and about with the neddies, they really help you get better dont they !

Best wishes, just keep taking small steps, and dont over do it x
 
My surgeon told ne that there was no medical reason i couldn't ride two weeks after my hysterectomy but he said i might find it a bit uncomfortable i waited until week 4 and had a short pootle round the school with no ill effects. I started "proper" riding again by week 6. (flatwork and hacking - i dont jump). i did get someone else to lift the saddle on for me and i built it up gradually. I had a full hysterectomy with an abdominal cut not keyhole. My surgeon was very supportive of me riding, he came from a horsey family himself and therefore had first hand knowledge of what riding actually involved. I must add that i was very determined to get up and moving about asap. I took 8 weeks off work and made sure i took regular walks from day 3, starting with just 20meters from my front door and building it up over the first week until i could manage the usual 10 min walk (which took me 25 mins at that stage) to the stables. I had a very good recovery and my life has improved no end since the op. I cant say that i had a typical recovery but everyone is an individual and you cannot always compare yourself to someone else. Talk to your surgeon, ask lots of questions, prepare yourself well, if you are as fit and healthy as you can be before the op it can only aid your recovery. Above all listen to your own body. I hope all goes well for you.
 
So sorry op i didnt read all the thread before posting. So pleased all went well for you. Life with monthly problems and horses is a truly miserable combination. I still feel the urge to skip as i go down the supermarket aisle past the tampax shelves when i remember the huge quantities i used to get through before i was liberated!
 
maresmaid said:
So sorry op i didnt read all the thread before posting. So pleased all went well for you. Life with monthly problems and horses is a truly miserable combination. I still feel the urge to skip as i go down the supermarket aisle past the tampax shelves when i remember the huge quantities i used to get through before i was liberated!
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hahaha !! i do the same thing. Found a couple in my glove box today, and so enjoyed throwing them in the bin.

Plus have a secret giggle to myself when my daughter has her time of the month.
 
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