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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
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After your operation| you’ll be encouraged to start moving about as soon as possible. This is an essential part of your recovery and, even if you have to stay in bed, the nurses will encourage you to do regular leg movements and deep breathing exercises. You’ll be seen by a physiotherapist who can help you to do the exercises.
This page is about recovering from a hysterectomy or trachelectomy. We also have information on pelvic exenteration|, another type of operation that is sometimes carried out if cervical cancer comes back.
When you get back to the ward you’ll have a drip (an intravenous infusion of fluid) going into a vein in your arm until you’re able to eat and drink normally. You may also have drainage tubes from the wound to drain off any excess fluid.
The drip and drains are taken out within a few days.
Usually a small tube (catheter) is put into your bladder to drain your urine into a collecting bag. You may have vaginal bleeding and discharge for a few days after the surgery.
After your operation you may need to take regular painkilling drugs| , which are very effective. If you still have pain| , it’s important to let the nurses know as soon as possible, so that your painkillers can be changed until you find a type and dose that is effective.
In many hospitals, epidural pain relief is used during and for a short time after the operation. This means that a thin tube is inserted into the epidural space (an area around the spinal cord) through which pain relieving medicine can be given. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area around the lower back where the epidural goes in. Your doctor can tell you more about this method of pain relief.
Most women are ready to go home about 6–8 days after their operation. This may be sooner if you’ve had laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. If you think you might have problems when you go home, for example if you live alone or have several flights of stairs to climb, let your nurse or social worker know when you are admitted to the hospital, so that help can be arranged.
Sometimes, after an operation it can take a while for bladder function to return to normal. In this situation, you may need to go home with a urinary catheter in place, just for a short time until your bladder function returns. If this happens, arrangements can be made for a district nurse to visit you at home to check how things are.
If you have any problems you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Before you leave hospital you’ll be given an appointment to attend an outpatient clinic for your post-operative check up. This will be a good time to discuss any problems you may have after your operation. But remember, you can usually ring your hospital doctor, specialist nurse or ward nurse at any time if you have any problems.
You will be able to go back to your usual sex life, but your doctor will probably advise you not to have sex for at least six weeks after your operation, to allow the wound to heal properly. Many women need more time before they are ready to resume a sexual relationship. This is an important part of your recovery so don’t be afraid to discuss it with your doctor, specialist nurse or one of the cancer support specialists on our helpline.
Being able to resume a sexual relationship is likely to take more time if you’ve had surgery and radiotherapy as well.
After a hysterectomy| you will no longer have your monthly periods or be able to become pregnant.
We have more information on sexuality and cancer| that you may find helpful.
After a hysterectomy it’s important to avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about two months. Your physiotherapist or nurse will give you advice about this. Some women also find it uncomfortable to drive for a few weeks after their operation and it’s probably a good idea to wait a few weeks before you start driving again. Some insurance companies have guidelines about this and it may be helpful to contact your own company.
Some women take longer than others to recover from their operation. If you find you are having problems, it may be helpful to talk to someone who is not directly associated with your illness. Our cancer support specialists are always happy to talk with you and they may be able to put you in touch with a counsellor or a support group in your area, so you can discuss your experiences with other women who are in a similar situation.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.