Have you had a hysterectomy? Or awaiting one? Come hither!

[GissASquizz]

Three years ago I had very heavy periods and a lot of pelvic pain. I was referred and had an ultrasound and hysteroscopy. Surgeon removed 3inch polyp from top of the uterus. Periods continued to be painful and heavy. Surgeon then did laparoscopy, removed small amounts of endo. Periods still vile. So third time's a charm, I had a uterine ablation. This stopped the heavy periods, but not my periods full stop, but made little difference to the pain. I was then prescribed a 6 month course of prostap.

I felt amazing on the prostap. No brain fog, vile PMT, pain or crushing anxiety. Once the course finished, my cycle restarted and was well behaved for a year-18 months.

About 6 months ago my periods started getting a little heavier, lasted a bit longer. Then the cramping started. Then the hellish PMT and IBS symptoms.

I've been rereferred and offered a total hysterectomy and bilateral oopherectomy. Consultant believes this is the logical course of action to stop all my symptoms. Apparently I have a bulky uterus with a fibroid so lap surgery is out, it will be abdominal.

Now the surgery part doesn't worry me, but surgical menopause does. I'm also afraid our sex life will cease to exist and it will affect my marriage. I'm 40 and not ready to feel pushed to a later stage of my life iyswim?

Any experiences/words of wisdom?

I'm 4 weeks post LAVH at the age of 31. No medical reason but I have always had horrendous periods and this year bled for 5 months straight. They were unable to stop it and after many treatments had been tried and failed ablation/ TCRE I had it all removed except my ovaries.

I'm feeling much better than I was pre surgery already. My bleeding has stopped and they managed it as an LAVH despite a bulky uterus @gissasquiz mine was around 11cm if that helps?

I’m 6 weeks post laparoscopic hysterectomy (uterus, cervix and right ovary removed) for adenomyosis, fibroid, constant pain and bleeding.
I feel amazing. Quick recovery, no complications. No regrets.

Definitely ask about the ovaries and if you're not happy with the answer don't be afraid to request a second opinion.

I had to have my right ovary removed a few years ago due to a large cyst. At the Pre OP scan they discovered a second, smaller cyst on my left ovary.

Consultant (male) was very much inclined to the 'whip them both out and have done with it' approach, but when I went in for the surgery, I ended up with a female surgery who totally disagreed.

Still have my left ovary and no further issues nearly 4 years later.

My consultant is male and definitely seems to see ovary removal as no big deal.

My consultant is female and very pleased with my choice to keep ovaries, especially with research now pointing to CA ovary starting in the fallopian tubes and not the ovaries.

I’m on the waiting list having been diagnosed with a massive fibroid. Really pleased to read such positive posts here. I think I’m keeping my ovaries, that’s what the consultant recommended anyway. I’m a bit nervous as I’ve never had surgery ever, but I’m SO looking forward to no more periods.

Yes, waving goodbye to periods is a plus! The surgery doesn't phase me. It's the recovery I'm concerned about.

My mother had this done, but opted to leave the ovaries. 6 years later she developed ovarian cancer. Her oncologist now (15 years later) says with the benefit of hindsight, her history of hormonal migraines, and extreme LG heavy periods were early indicators this could be an issue. He said nowadays they would have taken everything at the first surgery.

Please ask why they have suggested removal of ovaries. Yes it is hideous for the first part until the HRT is balanced. But maybe worth is.

Just another perspective to consider.

I had everything removed 7 years ago..best thing I ever did. I was 44 I went into a very low dose hrt patch 6 weeks after and have never looked back. I’m fitter and healthier than I’ve ever been and my sex life is a million times better (that might be due to the new partner though !) my neighbour had hers 2 weeks after me and kept her ovaries she has terrible sweats and hot flushes really bad menopause symptoms ..I don’t have any at all. I’d originally been offered a hysterectomy at 36 and refused as I thought I was too young. All I did was give myself 8 years of hell.

Yes, recovery will be hard as I am not good at sitting still. I’m having an abdominal incision so no driving/lifting etc for a good while - I’m having a hard time getting my head round that.

Anyone got any tips for prepping myself for the op? I’m trying to lose a bit of weight, bit more exercise (although I’m relatively fit) and eat a bit better so I’m in reasonable shape for it.

I had a subtotal hysterectomy early 40’s and kept my ovaries. I had fibroids, adenomyosis and endometriosis. Pleased I kept my ovaries as would prefer to go through menopause and then decide whether to take HRT. I have a small discharge each month which is apparently a “period” from my cervix, so it helps me to keep track of my cycle. It’s so amazing to not have periods anymore, it’s totally improved and liberated my life.

I’m 33 and having the whole lot out next week. I’ve had breast cancer and my risk of ovarian cancer is very high. Add on to that I have already had 2 loop treatments on my cervix and I’m still coming back with dodgey smears. So the decision has been made to get it all out.

I am dreading the recovery as don’t deal well with being incapacitated

I had tah and oopherectomy when I was 38, now 43. Best decision I made. Menopause has it's issues but hrt has helped, it's nothing to the pain, flooding and hideous pmt I had before. My ovaries were stuck to my uterus due to endometriosis.

My sex life is ok, in some ways better than before as my surgeon said sex for women is usually in the mind, as long as you are ready and if necessary use lube too, it is good.

Surgery date in 3 weeks. Still dithering about the ovaries. Waiting to hear from consultant.

On the subject of recovery you may find that sitting around isn’t as bad as you think. Especially after major surgery. I broke the day into chunks. So get downstairs to kitchen sit have breakfast ..made by someone else or my then 13 year old left me a flask of boiled water and flask of milk so I could make tea and coffee because seriously I couldn’t lift the kettle !
Then it was make my way to the living room watch some tv
Make my way to the dining room (different sofa no tv and read a book look at the garden ) then back to kitchen for lunch and then back to bed for a few hours before kids came home and then I tried to get downstairs again with them. Your body will dictate how well you get about. I healed really quickly had the op on a Monday and was home on Wednesday but it took a good 3 weeks before I felt able to move reasonably comfortably. If it had been summer I’d have spent all my time in the garden but it was just before Xmas so I watched xmas tv and ate chocolates

After the first week I went for very slow walks everyday. I remember the 5 minute very slow shuffle to the post box on the corner of my street, I felt like an old lady but it got better each day.

I fell asleep a lot the first 2 weeks, apparently it's the anaesthetic doing that.

In a strange way I really enjoyed my 6 weeks at home recovering.

I had everything taken out when I was 44. The Consultant immediately put me onto HRT and I’ve never looked back. I’m in my late fifties now and contemplating coming off the HRT but the thought of those flushes is putting me off.

Thanks for all the responses. Been on touch with surgeon today and we've agreed that if the ovaries look healthy, they stay. It all depends what he finds now.

Bought some huge pants and a couple of nightshirts to pack for the hospital at lunch. The glamour!

Had my pre op today, ECG, bloods swabs and got given a bodywash to use for 5 days prior to op! Bloods were weird - they took a group and save from both arms... with a times difference - never heard of this and I work as a phlebotomist!
Feels real now....
I have also bought nightshift, some comfy jogging bottom style things to leave hospital in as I live in jeans normally and a couple of non wired bras in case I can't be bothered to take them off overnight for a couple of days.
The nurse said 6 weeks in compression stockings and 6 weeks no driving!!!
And would need help for at least 10 days at home. Hoping she was being on the cautious side as I went back to work and they were gobsmacked! ( GP surgerry)

Take your own pillow and an eye mask .

You’ll be pleased you did.

nothing no that sounds about right if your having an incision and not just key hole.

It's a lavh so no big incision..

My neighbour had that and it was two weeks for her. Maybe nurse thought you were having incision

Mine was a lap, I was back to normal within a week and driving by then. It’s not a problem with the DVLA, they just say when you feel you could brake sharply comfortably.

Did anyone use an abdominal binder to support their stomach after surgery?