Exercising after a myomectomy
If there’s any question I get most often, it’s “when can I exercise and what exercises can I do after my surgery?”
I know this is the most frustrating answer but… it depends.
There are 3 main types of myomectomies:
Hysteroscopic: surgery is performed vaginally. These are usually performed only for fibroids that are within the uterus.
Laparascopic: surgery is performed through small incisions the surgeon uses to insert tools and remove fibroids.
Open: surgery is performed through an abdominal incision, usually horizontal. The tissue is stretched open for surgery to be performed.
Each of those surgeries can also be performed in different ways.
Was your laparoscopic surgery robotic or performed traditionally?
How many incisions did you have?
Did your surgeon use a nerve block?
What tools did they use?
How much blood did you lose?
How did they close your incision?
Then there are many ways to have fibroids.
How many did you have? More fibroids can mean more trauma during surgery.
Where were they? Harder to reach fibroids can mean more surgery time and again, more trauma.
Did you have adhesions? Your uterus is not in a bubble. Sometimes, surgery effects your muscles and other organs.
Did they have to enter your uterine cavity to remove any fibroids?
Did you have any signs of endometriosis?
The next consideration is your activity level before surgery…
Had you been unable to exercise for months or years because of your fibroid symptoms? You’ll need to start slower than someone else.
Did you have a strong core before surgery?
Were you having any symptoms related to the pelvic floor like urine leaking, pain with sex or constipation? This can change which exercises are right for you after surgery.
Were you able to exercise all the way up until surgery? You might be able to get back to things sooner.
Finally, we have to know how your healing is going!
Are you in pain?
What is your strength like? Can you sit up out of bed? Stand easily from a chair?
What other injuries, aches or pains do you have?
What is your energy level like?
How much did the surgery impact your core strength? (different for everyone)
Did your pelvic symptoms resolve with the fibroids out? Or do you still have them?
… there are SO MANY factors.
I get it. It can be incredibly overwhelming.
Here are some things that hold true for everyone:
We should ALL start exercising at some point after surgery. It’s essential for a full recovery.
You should rebuild your core strength to the point that you can at least do stability exercises like planking, squatting, and have the ability to keep lifting things in your daily life.
Strength training is priority #1.
Walking is NOT enough in the long term.
Any pelvic floor symptoms should be addressed. They can get worse with time.
NO ONE achieves all of this in 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, we are only getting started.
Want help knowing exactly what’s right for you, your body and goals? Schedule a free discovery call to learn how I can help.