This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission. For more info, please see my disclosure on my Connect page.

If you couldn’t tell from the title, I’m about to talk ALL things hysterectomy/BSO. Ovaries, estrogen, and blood, it’s included below. So if female talk makes you uncomfortable, consider yourself warned. This probably isn’t your post. Check back later for some DIY & fewer hormones.

With that out of the way, here we go…
Starting with a huge pic of my nervous, makeup-free old lady face. I’m really putting myself out there and being vulnerable with this post. Oye. No these photos aren’t pretty, but you know what? Nothing about this experience is.

The last few years have been life-altering. After over a decade of being sick, my body just sort of shut down. I was bleeding well over 20 days a month. It got to the point where I couldn’t even leave my house for sometimes 5 days at a time. Estrogen dominance, fibroids in my breasts/cancer scares, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, edema, weight gain, freezing all the time, headaches, mood swings, overwhelming emotions, and so much more. I was exhausted, in pain every single day, and had to work incredibly hard to be happy. I’ve struggled with different health issues most of my life, but this felt insurmountable. All the lights went out.

With my BRCA2 mutation, my doctor felt the best course of action would be a total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Removing my uterus, cervix, both fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

In October of 2021, I went in for surgery.

I am so grateful for the awesome women who gave me tips and tricks to prepare before going under the knife, and for the many wonderful friends and family members who helped me recover after. I had a hell of a time. The doctor found things a lot worse in there than he had planned and my poor body didn’t handle it well. What would I have done without all that love and support prepping me beforehand and helping me through the healing after? A surgery like this can be painful, scary, and overwhelming when you’re in good health. It’s absolutely brutal when you aren’t.

With some of my girlfriends out there prepping for a hysterectomy & oophorectomy in the near future, I wanted to put together some of the advice my friends and nurses gave me that I found helpful or comforting. With my own experience behind me, talking to dozens of other women, and hearing their stories, I need you to keep in mind that this surgery is going to be unique to YOU. There isn’t a right way to prep, heal, or an exact date for when you’ll be out buying paint to redo the kitchen or taking kids to the zoo. Due to an undiagnosed autoimmune disease wreaking havoc inside me, I was down for nearly 2 1/2 months. And yet, my cute neighbor friend was up and back to normal life 6 weeks after hers. I tell you this so you understand that everybody is different.

And bodies are weird.
It just is what it is, and it’s ok.

I guess what I’m struggling to say is, this is going to be a very personal experience so go easy on yourself. No judgment here. You may love some of these suggestions and find them super helpful, or they might not be your thing and that’s alright. Do what makes you feel most comfortable and confident.

So without further ado, here are the tips, products, and tips that helped me cope.

For Hospital:

• Schedule your follow-up appts BEFORE surgery so you aren’t left high and dry when the doctor’s office is overbooked and can’t get you in. So you don’t end up crying for days on the bathroom floor. What? Bitter? I’m not bitter! Ok, maybe a little. Seriously though, learn from me! Get it all scheduled on your calendar before you even check in. I wish I would have thought to do that at my pre-op appointment. Would have saved me a whole lot of pain
• Bring some gum to chew after waking up from surgery- my nurse friends taught me this one! Believe it or not, chewing gum can help relieve the gas build-up from the surgery + it relieves jaw tension. Throw in a pack of gum and have it easy to access once you wake up. Plus, you won’t be able to get up to brush your teeth, so you know, there’s that.
• Speaking of packing, you don’t need to pack a ton of stuff for the hospital. There is a good chance you’re going to be so out of it and sleepy that you won’t even use it. Eyelash curler? Leave it at home. I mean, sure, bring your phone & a favorite book, but know that it’s totally cool if you don’t wear makeup and all you want or can do is snooze. You’re allowed to take it easy!
• Pack a very comfy dress or soft, loose clothes to go home in
• Bring a loved one to drive you back and forth, hold your hand, cheer you on, and fill your prescriptions. Besides, somebody has to be there to laugh at you coming out of anesthesia!

For Home:

• Compression underwear– yes, they are ugly but, girl, do they help with the crazy intestines about to fall out feeling! Doesn’t make sense now but when you know, you’ll know!
• Nightgowns– so you don’t have a waistband digging into your stitches
• Alllllll the pillows for propping you up into a somewhat comfortable position. All. The. Pillows. I think I even ended up sleeping in a recliner a few nights because that was the most comfortable I could get. Laying flat on my back was excruciating those first few days.
• A nightstand or bedside table within arm’s reach to put all your stuff
• Soft blankets or quilts to snuggle
• Ice packs or homemade frozen rice packs– they’ll send you home from the hospital with some ice packs, but if you have a couple more to rotate in the freezer, its handy
• Neck/back massager– for the shoulder pain that comes with getting blown up with air like a balloon. No freaking joke. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but boy howdy! When it does, it is not fun!
• Active Skin Repair for wound care- this stuff is amazing! And once your wounds heal up, you can use it for dozens and dozens of other first aid needs. It’s like old Gus’s “windex” but medical grade & actually works! 😉
• A avorite water bottle and tons of water to drink so you stay hydrated
• Snacks by the bed to eat with meds (& to bring a little joy!)
• Some meals in the fridge and freezer + a stocked pantry
• Someone to help you get the food in your fridge. I wasn’t allowed to go up and down my stairs for the first 10 days. I tried once when the hubs had a work emergency and it did NOT end well
• Good books, magazines, & movies- just know that it may take a few days to get over the dizzies first. Anesthesia can be a real trip sometimes!
• Roku/streaming services. This is a great time to binge all the shows!
• A journal/gratitude journal/notebook & pen
• A big stash of panty liners & period pads + friends you can call if you run out
• Soft, comfy wireless bras (Only when the bra is a must! Otherwise, be free! This is a great excuse!)
• Did I mention friends and family? Having someone to check in on you is a must. Please please please don’t try and muster through this on your own
• Long charge cord for your phone & laptop/tablet
• Medications
• Set recurring alarms on your phone to remind you when & how to take meds- such a helpful tip!
• Hormone replacement, if advised by your doctor
• Stool softeners, suppositories, and lots of fruit- trust me!
• Essential oils to diffuse & roll on
• Vitamins, herbs, and homeopathics, if you are into those. I wasn’t allowed HRT so I relied heavily on supplements and homeopathy to help get me through that first month. I was not prepared to go from estrogen dominance to nothing overnight. My body absolutely freaked out. But I know some ladies who did awesome, I hope that’ll be you!
• Pressure points for headaches. Without HRT, the migraines were intense. If you are allowed HRT, hopefully, you’ll cruise along better than I did. If you are losing your ovaries and aren’t allowed HRT, learn those pressure points. It is in no way perfect, but it can take the edge off.
• Meditation/deep breathing- not kidding. Soak in that oxygen and some calming vibes. THIS is a great podcast if you need a little guidance!
• A whopping ton of patience
• So much rest
• Very low expectations
• Lots of sleep
• Self-love & self-compassion

Obviously, this isn’t the end-all beat-all list, but at least it can get your brain turning. I think the best advice is to seek out and talk to several women in your life who have been there and had a hysterectomy. If you know some nurses, ask them too! Though it isn’t talked about a lot, the more I asked the more women around me I found who had experiences and thoughts to share. I had no idea so many women I knew had gone through this! No clue. (Also, why are we so embarrassed to talk about this?) While every woman and recovery is different, hopefully after chatting with some females you trust, you’ll at least have a better idea of what to expect.

Hysterectomy/BSO is not easy and the decision isn’t made lightly. Things gotta be pretty darn bad to get to this point. Girlfriend, I am so sorry that you are facing this! Like Brene’ Brown says, “It is ok to be brave and afraid at the same time.” Feel your feelings and have a good cry. You are allowed to mourn what you are losing. And then, breathe deep, get up and move ahead. Yes, this absolutely sucks. But you will get through it.

You are strong, capable, brave, and beautiful with or without those broken reproductive organs. Healing will come. Repeat after me, I am woman. I am worthy. I am whole.

And, hey!

If you’ve stumbled on this post, had a hysterectomy/BSO, and think of something you found helpful, please share in the comments below!