Uterine fibroids: hysterectomy or not?

I found my post surgery recovery was greatly helped in the first few days by taking one of those pre op carbohydrate loading drinks, like Nutricia. I usually respond very badly to GA but it was OK this time.
I was also advised to take Movicol for a bit after surgery.

I've got a gynaecologist appointment tonight (been waiting 4 months) after being diagnosed with a 9cm fibroid back in October (after a scary few days waiting for cancer bloods to come back). Very anxious to hear what they will say....GP and OH nurse both mentioned hysterectomy as I am 45 and don't want more kids, large fibroid etc...would rather just have it all out and not have to suffer the symptoms anymore.

After decades of being fobbed off (usually by female GPs), I finally got a (male) GP who actually listened and referred me for a scan. I was told my womb was a 'car crash' with fibroids, polyps, cysts, and endometriosis which probably explained my significant issues!

I had a total hysterectomy in my mid forties and it was the best thing I ever did. I do not regret it for one single second.

I had a subtotal hysterectomy at 45 due to massive fibroid. Happiest day of my life.
They left my ovaries. I was told by the surgeon that they would pack up after 5 years. I went on hrt after 4 years.
For me, it was a no brainer.

I am due to have a Vnotes hysterectomy at the end of March. I have a 10cm fibroid that is squashing my bladder along with other symptoms. I’m not looking forward to the op particularly but hope the recovery goes well and I can get back to normal quickly. Any advice for post op recovery?

Because it has made me feel awful. I don't feel 'whole'.

I had a hysterectomy for the largest fibroid the surgeon had seen in a while and also a 10cm ovarian cyst, so basically lost the lot including cervix. Plunged into menopause at 53 and had six months of hot flushes and then it settled. But not having anemia every month and being permanently on iron tablets made a huge difference and I would highly recommend a hysterectomy. Wish I had been offered it 20 years earlier.

This was my reason for rejecting one. Didn’t matter in the end as I never ended up having kids but at that time did not want to completely give up hope.

Still not having a hysterectomy though. Making the surgeons job easier is not my problem.

I have just done research on surgeons that handle complex fibroid cases and will get a referral to one of those.

Two years?!? Holy Moly!

I had a post menopause hysterectomy, which is a different ball game from having one in your fertile years. I am quite relieved it's all gone.

Hysterectomy just over a year ago at age 45. Best thing ever. I kept ovaries and everything else removed.
I actually look better now and my hair is growing again as I'm not anemic anymore.
I had tried many things pre op but none of them worked brilliantly.

I had hysterectomy a year ago.

Best thing I ever did

I'm like a new woman (suppose technically no longer a woman lol)

I had an embolisation. It worked really well for me.

I had a hysterectomy because of one large fibroid which was the size of a 5-6 month pregnancy. I retained my ovaries and yes they packed up probably quicker than they would have done otherwise. But your ovaries are going to pack up when you hit menopause - they do not keep going forever.

My fibroid was so huge that my hysterectomy had to be a full open procedure as it was too big for vaginal or keyhole. However, I am SO glad I had it done. No more sleeping on towels, flooding through multiple tampons and towels, no more being wiped out because of anaemia, no more planning my life around toilet visits and not swimming or anything else which might cause a flood.

The NHS does not recommend hysterectomy for fun. If you are being told that is the best course of action, take it seriously.

I have had two separate fibroid removal procedure, both times pre-menopause. I had no pain with mine, just heavy heavy bleeding. I also had very heavy bleeding after menopause due to regrown fibroids but I declined a hysterectomy when offered. If the mass bleeding had continued or if I had a lot of pain then I would have gone ahead and had a hysterectomy.

I had Uterine Arterial Embolism (UAE) in Oxford with my second lot of fibroids when I was around 30. I had a myomectomy when I was around 26 and the bggrs grew back. Not had any problems with fibroids since.

Why do you regret it may I ask?

Next week will be one year since my hysterectomy. It's wonderful. I have my life back. I have a sex drive, I can leave the house without pads, I don't feel ill all the time. Was absolutely miserable before.

See I have two large fibroids and had equally awful periods so had an ablation to stop the heavy bleeding
Gyne said as I'm near menopause he'd rather not do a hysterectomy as they shrink away

Total abdominal hysterectomy (kept ovaries) over a year ago at 48 for large fibroid (and endo). Was on low dose hrt for peri before op - have stayed on same dose since. One of the best things I ever did - haven't felt this great in a long time.

I had adenomyosis, fibroids. Heavy periods. Anemia (required regular iron infusions).

I regret the hysterectomy. If I had my time again,I would not have had the operation.

I had a sub total hysterectomy aged 50 for a fibroid the size of a 7 month foetus. Ovaries were removed and I went straight onto HRT. It was life changing for me. I’d had a UFE which was unsuccessful and was supposed to have a hysterectomy earlier but COVID hit and I was stuck with it continuing to grow for another two years. It became quite difficult to get a deep breath and sit comfortably behind the wheel of a car towards the end.

I was 50 and had kept my ovaries. It was like my life had been returned to me. Menopause came and went without me noticing. My only regret is I didn’t do it sooner.

I had a full hysterectomy at 45 for Fibroids, Adenomyosis and Endometriosis, like pp not detected until surgery and again, best thing I ever did.

My periods were so bad I couldn’t function, couldn’t leave the house on heavy days and was permanently anaemic.

I kept my ovaries and now at 51 have no idea if they are still functioning or not. If I am through the menopause it was gentle and had very few symptoms. Hopefully the worst isn’t to come!