The Cascade Into Chronic Disease After Hysterectomy Is Real… What Can You Do About It?
Plug "hysterectomy + chronic disease" into Google, and you’ll get a scary list:
Cardiovascular disease
Osteoporosis
Diabetes
Depression and anxiety
Urinary incontinence
Sexual dysfunction
Weight gain
Cognitive changes
… I’m sorry, but WTF? Does having the uterus removed really impact all of this?
The short answer is yes. Research shows a mild to moderately increased risk for all of these health issues after a hysterectomy. Part of that is because hormonal changes can happen more abruptly after a hysterectomy, even when the ovaries are removed.
But in my experience, the real reason is this:
Women are having hysterectomies and receiving zero postoperative support.
They’re given a rushed 6-week follow-up and unclear instructions on returning to normal life. When they have symptoms like lower back pain, pelvic floor issues, or persistent swelling, they’re told to "give it more time."
Then what happens when people are left on their own in this way? Lack of activity Depression. Withdrawal from life. Worsening pain.
To spell it out further, let me tell you about "Linda."
Linda was a 50-year-old client who came to me 10 months after her open abdominal hysterectomy.
Before surgery, she was super active and had outfitted a full-home gym, where she exercised with her partner daily.
After surgery, she developed lower back pain and vaginal discomfort. Her doctors told her this was normal and that it was her fault for "overdoing it."
They said she needed to rest and give it time.
So Linda didn’t exercise at all for 10 months because every time she tried, it gave her pain.
During that time, all of her health markers got worse. Higher blood pressure means higher blood sugar. Pre-diabetes progressed to full-blown type 2 diabetes. Making healthy food choices got harder as pain and a lack of a normal routine manifested in depression and anxiety.
This is where chronic disease really comes from after surgery, and it doesn’t have to be this way.
Luckily… Linda signed up for my 3-month recovery program, and after just a few days of the right exercise, she was starting to feel a shift. All we had to do was target the right stuff.
By the end of 3 months, she was doing things like trap bar deadlifts, battle ropes, and following a full-blown exercise program again.
She was able to shift back into her normal routine, get stronger than ever, and get back on the path to improving her health.
Women could avoid all of this if they were referred immediately to a support network after surgery. That’s why I created my business.