Well polar, I had a partial hysterectomy, leaving my ovaries in april of this year, and I am 26 years old. I have heard for any surgical procedure, it is a harder recovery when you get older. I can however share my experience. The reasons for hysterectomies are so great I don't think I can list them all, but I can try to help you understand. I had the procedure b/c from having my first and only child, I was left with a mess inside, if you will. My right ovary was over with the left, as was my uterus...Which was about to fall out...Literally. When my uterus was sent to pathology, as all removed parts are in my area, they discovered that I had adenomyosis. (similar to endometriosis) it was weighing down my uterus, causing me to have debilitating meunstral cramps, and was making my uterus so heavy that it probably would have come out sooner or later. We were also thinking that having a hysto would solve some of my terrible back problems; yeah right...They are still there and worse. Some women have alot bigger issues than I did, such as cancer, or reoccurring cysts. (i've had ovarian cysts before as well and they hurt like hell-especially when they rupture...Ouch!) I can tell you that after my surgery, I was hurting so bad that I was begging my mother, an rn of 30 years and the nurse to kill me. My crying was what brought me out of my sedation. Come to find out they had inserted the catheter wrong and my bladder was about to pop! Talk about some pain. I couldn't push that morphine pump enough. It sounds like you are a great friend and that your other friend just doesnt' want to upset you or make you go out of your way for her. (sometimes women are just like that) I know it would make her feel better if she did wake up from surgery and see something that you had sent her. By the next day she should feel a lot better and by her third day, she will be very sore, but she will be a whole new woman!Feel free to ask if you have any more questions. Jenn

Just be there later if she needs you. Some women are very imbarased when it comes to things like this. Tell her you have studied up on it and let her know she has no reason to be imbarased about it around you, and that you are there to help in any way. I was very sore afterwards and needed a lot of help. Running errands and doing chores is very helpful. Maybe thats something you can do so she wont have to worry about those kinds of things. I had Cancer. So I had no choice in the matter of having the Hyst. done or not It has been about six years now, I am doing good. Try to keep her spirits up. This kind of thing can really mess with the mind of a woman. Some think they are less of a woman or less desirable,which brings on depression. Just be as nice as you can. After what she will have gone through she will deffinatly diserve it. It relly takes a few years to fully recover from everything,and sometimes there are problems that last longer which I surly hope she does not have. Don't think it will all be over in a few weeks. Getting over the operation takes a few weeks, but sometimes there are other issues later. She may not want to talk to you about problems she may be having. This is a nice forum, and There is also a very good forum called Hyster Sisters that she can also join and they have a lot of help too. If she does not know about these forums please let her know and incourage her to get on them . They really do help, and answer so many questions women have. I think you are a very good friend to be on here.
Please be there for her, not just after the operation ,but stay for the long run.