Touée Medical Group

Success Road, GEM City, R1007.

(01)123-4567 | info@toueemedical.com

Patient Information
Hysterectomy
What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the

uterus. It is the most commonly performed
gynaecological procedure. It may be complete,
involving the removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes,
ovary and cervix or it can be partial, leaving the
cervix intact. The type of hysterectomy you will
have will depend on your personal circumstances
and will be discussed with you by your
gynaecologist before your operation.

How is a hysterectomy performed?

Before the procedure

A healthcare provider will explain the procedure in
detail, including possible complications and side effects. He or she will also answer your questions.
 Blood and urine tests are taken
 An enema or bowel prep may be given to cleanse the bowel
 Abdominal and pelvic areas may be shaved
 An intravenous (IV) line is placed in a vein in your arm to deliver medications and fluids

During the procedure

An anesthesiologist will give you either:
 General anesthesia in which you will not be awake during the procedure; or
 Regional anesthesia (also called epidural or spinal anesthesia) in which medications are placed
near the nerves in your lower back to "block" pain while you stay awake.
The surgeon removes the uterus through an incision in your abdomen or vagina. The method used during
surgery depends on why you need the surgery and the results of your pelvic exam.

There are different ways to perform a hysterectomy:

 Abdominal hysterectomy - the womb is removed through a cut in the tummy
 Laparoscopic hysterectomy (keyhole surgery) - small cuts are made in the abdomen (tummy) and
the womb is then removed through the vagina
 Vaginal hysterectomy - the womb is removed through your vagina and there is no external scar
Depending on the condition(s) that led to the need for a hysterectomy, you may need to have other parts
of your reproductive system (such as the ovaries, cervix or fallopian tubes) removed as well as the womb.

How long does the procedure last?

The procedure lasts 1 to 3 hours. The amount of time you spend in the hospital for recovery varies,
depending on the type of surgery performed.
Pre-operative advice
A month (or more) before the surgery
 Gather information. Learn as much as you can about having a hysterectomy.
 Lose weight, if you’re overweight.
 Stop smoking.
 Discuss your medication with your doctor.
 Make sure other medical conditions are well-controlled.
 Plan to take time off work to fully recover.

A Week Before a Hysterectomy Surgery

 Drink lots of liquids.
 Get your post-op prescriptions filled.
 Don’t worry about your menstrual cycle.
 Plan ahead for an easier recovery at home.
 Make arrangements for someone to drive you home after the procedure.

A Day Before a Hysterectomy Surgery

 Eat light.
 Gather your medical information.
 Follow your doctor’s instructions for eating, drinking, and bowel preparation.
 Relax the night before your procedure.
 Make sure you get plenty of rest, and if you’re very anxious, try deep breathing and positive.

The Day of a Hysterectomy Surgery

 Skip breakfast. Don’t eat or drink anything unless you have been specifically told by the
anesthesiologist that it’s OK to do so.
 Don’t wear jewelry to the hospital
 Reschedule the procedure if you’re sick. Minor problems like having the sniffles shouldn't be a
problem.

Hospital Stay
Your hospital stay will depend on the type of hysterectomy and any complications. On average, most
people can go home the next day if the surgery is done through the vagina or if robot-assisted. If a larger
surgical cut is made through the abdomen, you may need to stay in hospital from 1 to 2 days for recovery.
Immediate Post-Operative Care
What can you expect once you’re home?

Vaginal Bleeding
You can expect vaginal bleeding for 1-2 weeks after the operation. It will seem like a light period and may
be red or brown in colour. It is best to use sanitary towels instead of tampons as they can increase the risk
of infection.

Pain and Discomfort

For the first few days after the operation, you may have some lower abdominal pain and discomfort. This
can be treated with painkillers you receive from the hospital. These painkillers may have codeine which
can make you feel sleepy, cause stomach upset and constipation. If you are taking these medications, try
to eat more fibre to reduce the chances of being constipated. It is important to reduce pain and discomfort
so that you can get out of bed sooner and move around – this will speed up your recovery and help prevent
the formation of blood clots.
Trapped wind
Your bowel may slow down after the operation, causing wind to be trapped which may cause some
discomfort until it has passed. Getting out of bed and walking will help. Drinking peppermint water may
also ease the discomfort.

Washing and showering

Don’t worry about getting your scars wet - just pat them dry with clean disposable tissues or let them air
dry. Keeping scars clean and dry helps healing.

Reducing the risk of blood clots

After any operation, there’s a risk of forming small blood clots in your legs and pelvis (deep vein
thrombosis) and they can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which is an emergency. You can
reduce the risk of clots by maintaining your mobility and do exercises while you’re resting. Your physician
in the hospital may decide to give you daily heparin injections (a blood thinning agent).

Follow up and long-term care

Following a hysterectomy, you should seek medical advice if you experience any of the following:
 Burning or stinging when you pass urine
 Frequent passing of urine
 Vaginal bleeding that becomes heavy or smelly
 Red and painful skin around your scars if you have had a keyhole surgery
 Increasing abdominal pain
 A painful, red, swollen, hot leg or difficulty bearing weight on your legs.

Special considerations:
Driving
Before you drive you should be:
Free from the sedative effects of any painkillers.
Able to sit in the car comfortably and work the controls.
Able to wear the seatbelt comfortably.
Able to make an emergency stop.
Able to comfortably look over your shoulder to manoeuvre.
This can take two to four weeks post hysterectomy.

Exercise
There is no evidence that normal physical activity levels are in any way harmful and a regular and gradual
build-up of activity will assist your recovery. It is recommended however that contact sports and power
sports should be avoided for at least 6 weeks post-surgery. Also, it is important to avoid heavy lifting for
the first two weeks.

Having Sex
You should allow four to six weeks after the operation before having sexual intercourse to allow the scars
to adequately heal.

If you have any queries, please contact Touée Medical Group at (01) 123-4567 between 9:00 am and 5:00
pm.