Hi everyone, I wanted to share my recovery timeline because I remember reading posts here from women who’d been in bed for weeks, and it made me terrified going in. My experience has actually been really good, so I wanted to share in case it helps someone feel less scared.

Quick context: I’m 30 (turned 30 two days before surgery), always been active, gym and pilates 3 to 4 times a week. Surgery was for cervical cancer 1B2, and my incision is a C section style cut, horizontal (they originally said it might be a vertical laparotomy but ended up going horizontal). I also had lymph nodes removed.

**Day 0 (Wednesday):** Surgery.

**Day 1 (Thursday):** Able to stand up, walk a little, have a shower, then back to bed.

**Day 2 (Friday):** Got outside for a walk, got dressed, still had the catheter. Had my first small 💩 trial that afternoon, not big enough yet so they said let’s wait till Saturday.

**Day 3 (Saturday):** Did a big 💩 in the morning, catheter removed. Then had to do bladder scans twice over about 4 hours to confirm I was emptying properly (fill up, get measured, scan, repeat). All good, so they said I could go home, but I chose to stay one more night since I was still a bit weak.

**Day 4 (Sunday):** First shower and getting dressed by myself. Left hospital and actually went to IKEA for two hours, relying on the trolley to support myself while walking around. Went home and slept the rest of the day.

**Day 5 (Monday):** Drove 12 hours home (we live far from the hospital and had pets to bring, so flying wasn’t an option). Stopped every 2 to 3 hours to walk a little and let the dogs stretch too. This is also around when I stopped needing painkillers.

**Days 5 to 9 (Monday to Friday):** Stayed home, resting, sleeping about 10 hours a night. One 10 to 15 minute walk in the morning, one longer walk in the afternoon (15 to 30 minutes) with the dogs, who are lucky enough to go off leash through the fields near us. My partner has been a huge help through all of it.

**Day 7 (Wednesday):** Steri strips removed at the hospital, everything checked out clean. Started using 100% cold pressed jojoba oil on the scar, seems to be working well so far. Open to other scar healing recommendations if anyone has them.

**Day 9 (today, Saturday):** Did a bit of light mopping at home (with Dyson submarine, not real scrubbing) while my partner did the yard. As soon as I feel tired I stop, sit down for an hour, and only keep going if I feel up to it. Not pushing myself.

The main thing I’m staying consistent with is walking, especially since I had lymph nodes removed. I don’t want to lose the active habits I’ve built over the years.

One random thing: my bowel movements have changed a lot since surgery, I used to go once a day and now I’m going 2 to 3 times a day. Has this happened to anyone else? Any theories on why?

The scar itself sometimes makes me emotional when I look at it, but I try to remind myself it’s also what saved my life.

Wishing everyone a smooth and speedy recovery, and for those of you taking longer, please don’t compare yourself to anyone else’s timeline. There’s no rush. This is a time when life gets to slow down, so let it.

My hysterectomy recovery experience (cervical cancer 1B2), sharing in case it helps someone