"Essential Post-Hysterectomy Care: 14 Key Maintenance Tips to Keep in Mind"
The female uterus is the most crucial reproductive organ and the place where the fetus grows. However, due to gynecological diseases, some women have to undergo a hysterectomy to ensure their health. After hysterectomy, women experience a series of physical changes, so it is essential for them to promptly engage in proper care. Let's delve into how to maintain oneself post-hysterectomy. Here's a detailed guide for your reference.
Post-Hysterectomy Maintenance:
Avoid Provocative Foods: Abstain from consuming mutton, shrimp, crab, eel, salted fish, black fish, and other potentially aggravating foods.
Shun Greasy Foods: Avoid fatty foods as they can hinder wound healing and weaken the body's resistance to bacteria due to fat accumulation.
Steer Clear of Seafood: Refrain from seafood rich in hormones.
Evade Spicy Foods and Beverages: Avoid spicy foods and drinks like peppers, spicy peppers, raw onions, raw garlic, and liquor.
Skip Gassy Foods: Stay away from foods that cause gas, such as onions, cabbage, olives, and soy products.
Monitor Wounds Regularly: Check the wound daily for redness, swelling, heat, pain, or abnormal discharge. If any of these symptoms occur, seek medical advice promptly.
Consume Moderate Amounts of Vegetables and Fruits: As they are rich in vitamins and minerals, they aid in wound healing and boost immunity.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water daily as it is vital for health and replenishes body fluids.
Manage Weight: After hysterectomy, it's crucial to control weight to prevent hormonal imbalances caused by excess fat. Avoid abdominal pressure-increasing exercises for three months.
Increase Protein Intake: Consume protein-rich foods like fish, meat, beans, eggs, and milk to facilitate wound healing and increase energy. Opt for fish as it's easier to digest and absorb. Don't forget to eat the meat, not just the broth.
Stay Away from Cold Foods: As hysterectomy can lead to kidney deficiency, avoid cold foods that harm kidney qi, such as cold drinks, watermelon, herbal teas, mung beans, and seafood.
Rest Adequately: After 4 days to 1 week of hospitalization post-hysterectomy, rest appropriately at home. Start with indoor activities for the first week, then gradually progress to outdoor walks, avoiding overexertion.
Enhance Nutrition Post-Surgery: Consume protein, vitamin, and iron-rich foods to promote incision healing. Ensure adequate water intake daily, and include plenty of vegetables, fruits, and high-fiber foods to maintain bowel regularity and prevent vaginal bleeding caused by high abdominal pressure.
Mindset Adjustment: Some women may worry about aging after hysterectomy. However, female characteristics are maintained by estrogen secreted by the ovaries. The uterus is just one of the essential organs for gestation. When patients have no fertility requirements and only the uterus is removed while the ovaries are preserved, normal female physiological functions are still maintained, and aging is not accelerated.
These are the maintenance tips after hysterectomy. Women who are about to undergo or have already undergone the procedure should take note for better recovery and regained vitality.
