What Recovery Really Looks Like
As a follow on of Mindful May, Jacqui from our team wanted to share something personal.
Earlier this year she went through surgery, and over the six weeks that followed she kept a diary of her recovery: the good days, the hard days, and everything she learned in between.
She's sharing it here in the hope it helps someone else. If you're recovering from surgery yourself, or supporting someone who is, we hope Jacqui's honesty offers a bit of comfort and a few things worth knowing. Over to Jacqui.
My Recovery Journey
By Jacqui Gray
When I went into hospital on 17th April 2026 for a robotic-assisted total hysterectomy, I thought I knew what recovery would look like. I had read the leaflets, listened to the advice, and prepared myself for six weeks of taking things easy. Life, however, had other plans. As it turned out, my body had apparently been collecting unexpected medical conditions like Tesco loyalty points.
My surgery involved far more than expected. What started as treatment for a large ovarian cyst revealed additional cysts, a fibroid, and previously undiagnosed endometriosis. Alongside the removal of my uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries, it was discovered that my cyst had grown into my bowel and it ruptured during surgery, so they also took more than forty biopsies to determine if I had cancer.
Looking back now, six weeks later, I realise that recovery wasn't simply about healing my body. It was about learning patience, practising self-compassion, and accepting that healing rarely follows a straight line.
Week One: Survival Mode
The first week was simple: Snack. Sleep. Pain relief. Repeat…
The pain was intense, particularly around my pelvis. At times it felt as though I had given birth all over again. My appetite was poor and after bowel surgery, normal meals were out of the question. My world became very small, measured in medication times, short walks around the house, and carefully managed rest. Yet beneath the discomfort was a sense of relief.
For years I had lived with symptoms that were gradually becoming my normal. The dragging sensations, the discomfort, the unexplained fatigue. Although recovery was difficult, I knew the source of so much pain had finally been removed.
Sometimes healing begins with relief before it brings comfort.
Week Two: The Emotional Storm
No one prepared me for the emotional side of recovery.
Physically, I was still sore. Mentally, I felt as though I had been hit by a train.
I woke up crying. My joints ached. My emotions seemed completely beyond my control. At one point I was convinced my husband would divorce me if I presented divorce papers. I was a total basket case.
What I learned during this week was that recovery isn't just physical. Surgery places enormous demands on the body and mind. Between the effects of anaesthesia, hormonal changes, surgical menopause, uncertainty around biopsy results and exhaustion, it's no wonder many women feel emotionally overwhelmed.
The hardest lesson came from my GP.
I was doing too much. In my mind, walking a mile every day felt like progress. My body disagreed. Pelvic bleeding quickly reminded me that determination is not the same as healing.
The prescription I needed most wasn't medication — It was patience!
Week Three: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
By week three, my pain levels had improved significantly.
I was sleeping through the night again and beginning to feel more like myself. Naturally, I assumed I had turned a corner. Then came a urinary tract infection.
There were good days and bad days. Moments when I felt optimistic, followed by moments when fatigue settled over me like a heavy cloud. What helped most was stopping the daily assessment of whether I was "better yet". Healing became easier when I looked at progress over weeks rather than days.
Week Four: The False Finish Line
This was the week I thought I'd cracked it. I could wear jeans again. I could potter around the house. I felt useful. Then I overdid it with a bit of cleaning here. A bit of laundry there. A couple of walks. Nothing dramatic. Within days, I was sore again and reaching for stronger pain relief.
It was frustrating. I was annoyed with myself and disappointed that recovery seemed to be moving backwards. But perhaps this was one of the most important lessons of all — Recovery isn't a race. Our bodies don't care about our plans, our schedules or our impatience. They heal at their own pace.
The sooner we learn to listen, the easier the journey becomes.
Week Five: Finding Myself Again
Something shifted during week five. The pain was minimal. The fatigue started lifting. My sense of humour returned. More importantly, I recognised myself again.
Anyone who has experienced major surgery will understand this feeling. There comes a point where you stop thinking about recovery every minute of the day. Life starts to creep back in. You realise you've gone several hours without thinking about pain and that feels like freedom.
Week Six: A New Beginning
Six weeks after surgery, I feel better than I have felt in a very long time. The most surprising part is realising just how unwell I had been beforehand. I had adapted to years of symptoms so gradually that I no longer recognised how much they were affecting my quality of life.
Today, I can walk, work, socialise and enjoy everyday activities without paying for it the next day. I'm still rebuilding my fitness and stamina, but for the first time in a long while, I feel hopeful.
The road wasn't easy. There were tears, setbacks, fears and frustrations, but standing where I am now, I can honestly say it was worth it.
What Recovery Taught Me
This experience reminded me that mindfulness isn't about staying positive all the time. It's about accepting each moment as it comes. Some days that meant celebrating progress. Other days it meant accepting disappointment. Sometimes it meant resting when I wanted to push harder. Most importantly, it meant showing myself the same kindness I would offer to anyone else facing a difficult recovery.
Healing isn't measured by how quickly we bounce back. It's measured by how gently we treat ourselves along the way.
My Top Recovery Tips
Bring a small cushion for the journey home to place between your abdomen and the seatbelt.
Measure your recovery week by week rather than day by day.
Wash your hair before surgery and embrace dry shampoo during the first week.
Use a lightweight hairdryer when you're ready to wash your hair again.
Give yourself permission to focus entirely on your own recovery for the first couple of weeks.
Have simple activities available, such as puzzles, games or gentle television. Concentration can be surprisingly difficult.
Don't compare your recovery to anyone else's. Your body has its own timetable.
Try listening to 528 Hertz. I found the high-frequency music helped me relax.
Rest before you think you need to.
Ask for help when you need it.
Remember that healing is productive, even when it looks like doing nothing.
Find joy in the small things, like when the sun comes out or your favourite meal (or in my case cheesy toast and lots of dark chocolate).
If you're reading this while recovering from surgery, be gentle with yourself.
The corner will come. Perhaps not today. Perhaps not this week. But it will come and when it does, you'll appreciate your strength far more than you ever realised.