Is the pain from a hysterectomy really that bad?

I am 29 and I need to have a hysterectomy. I have had several Laparoscopic surgeries, but I am extremly afraid of this one. It will be a complete abdominal hysterectomy. Do I really need to take two months off of work to recover?

Yes!
My mum just had one and went into it thinking that shed be out of hospital in a day and back to week in 2 weeks!
but no - she was in hospital for 3 days and has only just gone back to work - 7 weeks later!
For the first few weeks she wasnt allowed to do anything - she could only just make a couple of tea!
My mums always active and constantly doing things she never sits down for a moments rest and I dont think she really understood what it would mean for her!
Im also sorry to say that she said it was the second most painful thing she has gone through - after childbirth to the wonderful me - although that was obviously worth it! :P

Hope everything goes ok and you recover quicker than you hope - but do take it easy!

I had a hysterectomy a little over a year ago. I was in the hospital for 3 days, but went back to work 5 days afterwards, and regreted it severely.

Yes you will need to take the full 2 weeks off, and will need to be on light activities for about 2 months after that. If not you run the chance of the incision opening, or in my case having a fluid pocket forming. I had to have it drained every day for over 2 weeks, it was extremely painful and if I would have taken the time off of work and just rested and allowed my body to recover I wouldn't have had to go through it.

I wish you the best of luck and hope everything goes great for you. But definately take the time off and take people up on any offers of help, you will be sore.

You may feel better after the first 3-4 days, but once you get up and moving thinking you are fine, you will feel it the next day.