Question about hysterectomy and rehab

[John Velandra]

QUESTION to throw out there regarding hysterectomy and recovery...

I have a 49yo competitive athlete preparing for an abdominal hysterectomy in the next month or so. Currently involved in both pl & oly lifting as well as CF. I'm in the process of developing a post-rehab protocol for us to work once all is said and done. The problem is there is little to NO available info to the female athletes out there about this (or I can't find it).

Topics trying to find out...
1. Post rehab movements (once able to walk again, etc) or guidelines beyond common sense?
2. HRT consequences as it relates to healing?
3. Same, but as it relates to exercise and recovery?
4. Supplementation ideas for healing, training and recovery? She currently eats paleo / PZ with upwards of +4 fat blocks
5. Long term effects for competition?

[Garrett Smith]

Depending on the cause of why she needed the hysterectomy, three things come up:

She should likely avoid caffeine.

She should check her iodine, she probably has a deficiency.

Get her vitamin D levels tested.

Addressing those three things can have drastic impacts on hormonal levels (especially the second two), so they should be done IMO before any exogenous hormones are messed with.

[John Velandra]

Thanks for the posting.

Question on the caffeine... due to some serious neurological issues - tested for ms years ago - that are in place, we've experimented with small amounts and found them to be immensely helpful in recovery right after an intense wod OR m.e. lift when her system is overloaded. She doesn't have it all the time, just when extremely stiff and "locked up".

Side note, once we incorporated the oly movements, etc... her abilities went thru the roof! We just have to build in deliberate recovery days and weeks periodically. Been training hard w/ cf & ca styled wods fr about 3.5 years. Had only one period of set back and that was after 1 particular cycle bumped right into her competitive time. Rough three months but her best season ever (last year)!

That being said, what about keeping it till about two weeks from surgery and then get rid during this surgery-post op period and down the road, add it back in? Just wondering due to what we've observed thus far.

Will look into iodine & Vitamin D.

With these things, how can we track improvements, etc? What should we be looking for? What kind of positive effects might show up if eliminating NOW?

Thanks again!!

[Garrett Smith]

You didn't mention why the hysterectomy was done.

If she is stiff and "locked up" after high intensity (high cortisol and adrenaline dumps) exercise, with her history of competitive athletics, she may be suffering from adrenal fatigue--this will only be worsened after the stress of surgery.

She should take the Adrenal Fatigue questionnaire to gauge the severity of this issue, to see if it is something worth addressing. A 4x Cortisol saliva test may be of value as well.

[John Velandra]

The why? Not really sure...

With adrenal overload, what should we look at adjusting? Alkalinity, etc? She follows a pretty close PZ plan (~ 90%). Did go gluten free a while ago and saw major improvements...

[Garrett Smith]

www.adrenalfatigue.org . The book and website pretty much cover what you need to know.

Disclaimer--I'm their Product Support Representative.

[John Velandra]

Quick update - in racetrack pattern.... just holding at the moment.