My Recovery Journey

Coming off the high of successfully defending my doctoral proposal before my surgery, and then finally completing my research and full dissertation writeup (I’ll defend this August/September), I was quickly reminded of a fundamental truth I often share with my clients: our bodies ultimately dictate our pace.

Recently, I underwent major surgery, specifically, a hysterectomy, a bowel resection, and a unilateral oophorectomy. For any high-achieving woman, stepping away from the helm to undergo a significant medical procedure and face a prolonged recovery can feel daunting. But rather than viewing this period as a setback, I approached it as the ultimate opportunity to practice exactly what I teach. With the support of my family, especially my husband, I was able to step back and focus on healing.

Through Flourishing Vitality, I equip leaders with strategies to optimize their well-being and longevity. Navigating this complex surgery required me to lean entirely into those same methodologies, utilizing my Six-Pillar Vitality Framework (TM) and somatic resilience practices to manage my healing process like an expert.

Here is a look at the reality of major surgery recovery, and how I approached healing not as a passive patient, but as an active participant in my own vitality.

1. Preparing the Mind and the Environment

Recovery begins long before you enter the operating room. Just as I would advise an executive preparing for a major organizational transition, I approached my surgery with strategic preparation. This meant regulating my nervous system in the weeks leading up to the procedure, journaling my progress, optimizing my environment for rest, and clearly communicating boundaries. Mastery over stress isn’t about avoiding difficult situations; it’s about entering them with a fortified, resilient foundation.

2. Somatic Resilience in the Hospital

The immediate aftermath of a hysterectomy and bowel resection is intensely physical. In the hospital, my primary focus shifted to somatic awareness. Instead of fighting the pain or the discomfort of the hospital environment, I used targeted breathing techniques and body-scan practices to signal safety to my nervous system. By staying connected to my body rather than dissociating from it, I was able to manage stress effectively and advocate clearly for my medical needs.

3. Healing as an Active Strategy

There is a profound difference between simply resting and strategic recovery. I didn’t juggle a million tasks during these weeks; I gave myself permission to fully pause. However, I remained intentional about my nutrition, my incremental physical movement, and my mental intake. Healing from multi-organ surgery requires immense energy, and every choice I made was designed to support cellular repair and reduce inflammation.

Watch the Full Journey

I recorded a 20-minute video, 3-weeks post surgery (April 17th), detailing the entire experience. Although I couldn’t get everything, I share a few insights from the initial diagnosis and hospital stay to my recovery process. If you are preparing for a similar procedure or simply navigating your own health transition, I pull back the curtain on the honest reality of what to expect.

🎥 The Reality of Major Surgery Recovery (Hysterectomy & Bowel Resection)

Having the right tools makes a significant difference in how smoothly you transition from the hospital to home. I’ve curated a specific list of the comfort items, mobility aids, and healing tools that I personally used to optimize my recovery.

My Surgery Recovery Essentials

🛍️ Shop my exact Recovery Essentials on my Amazon Storefront HERE

Tracking the Return to Vitality

As I continue to transition back into my full routine, I am relying on the same systems I build for my clients to ensure I don’t rush the process. If you are looking to build better habits, manage your stress, and track your own daily wellness metrics, you can use the exact digital tracking application I use to measure my progress.

📱 Start tracking your wellness with my custom Base44 app Join HERE (Beta Version, please allow 48 hours to be accepted)

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about moving forward with deeper wisdom and strength. If you’re facing a health hurdle of your own, remember that you have the power to architect your recovery.