Have you had a hysterectomy?

[MunchBunchYoghurt]

I have to make a decision on having a hysterectomy.

If you have had one can you tell me all about it?
Anything from how it went, how you decided, how you felt afterwards, if you regret it, any bad points to having one?

It will help me decide by hearing from others who have had one.
I will add- I don’t want anymore children.

Thank you

Yes. I had had horrendous periods for years and nothing had helped. When I started bleeding between periods they found pre cancerous cells and I had one. Best thing I ever did as they found cancer and removed it. I went straight into menopause which is hard but still better than the periods. Mine was a full hysterectomy. I needed a few months off work as my job involves heavy lifting. It’s still so wonderful not be having periods and flooding through pads and mattresses.

Yes, and it was the best thing I've ever done (well that and learning to drive ) First 48 hours were'nt too much fun but then a whole lifetime of not having to worry, get anaemic, you can wear light coloured clothes and have no more pain.

I had one 20 years ago after a few years of horrendous periods due to fibroids. It took a while to recover (6" scar on my belly) and I always feel groggy for ages after a GA but a couple of months later I felt better than ever. I did all the physio suggested and my abdominal muscles are as strong as anybody's, probably stronger than most.

I had a full hysterectomy 2016 because of Adenomyosis, I had it done keyhole and was sent home from hospital early next morning before Drs did their rounds and actually emailed my consultant to ask if he’d actually done it as I had no pain at all, the only difference I noticed from first arriving at hospital was that I wasn’t menstruating

Had full abdominal hysterectomy almost 8 years ago, best thing ever. I had horrendously heavy and painful periods due to fibroids. Yes the recovery takes a while, but after the first 4-6 weeks it gets better quite quickly

No regrets or negatives at all

I have to make this decision too. I was offered one due to a prolapse, but I'm worried it will make things worse for the other organs. Also MIL says she has osteoporosis because of hers.

@Telephoneaddict

I have to make this decision too. I was offered one due to a prolapse, but I'm worried it will make things worse for the other organs. Also MIL says she has osteoporosis because of hers.

I had HRT after mine as I had my ovaries removed at the same time. This gives some protection against osteoporosis. I also take vitamin D.

I had one when I was 33 due to health complications. I also had to have a bowel and bladder prolapse repair at the same time. It's the best thing I ever did - no regrets at all. I definitely don't miss my periods!
The hardest thing for me was the recovery time as I had 2 very young children and little family help so the no lifting for 6 weeks was virtually impossible for me.

Mine was an emergency hysterectomy during childbirth so can’t help on the op/recovery front but - no periods. Bloody marvellous.

The only thing is that doctors tend to still say “so Mrs Jelly, when was your last period” and I say April 2007 and they look a bit startled 😃

The no lifting for 6 weeks is a joke. When you have a hysterectomy, you apparently get told a load of stuff about the recovery period that’s you’ll need. When you have a CS, no one thinks you might need a recovery period. It’s business as usual, isn’t it? I had a vertical CS, crash surgery, GA, hysterectomy. I got a couple of days being looked after in intensive care and then it was all “right Mrs Jelly you’ve got a baby to look after, there’s the breast pump”.

Oh wow all these “best thing I ever did” comments are good to read!

Mine is due to cervical cancer- it has been removed but there is the chance it could return.
I’m 35

So my options are regular check ups to watch for cancer OR full hysterectomy.

The menopause part is probably the scariest thing to me. I’ve never heard a good thing about the menopause.

I definitely like the idea of no periods though.

I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago, aged 51. It was a vaginal procedure not an open one, they took my ovaries as well.
I had fibroids and was bleeding very heavily every month. I was getting very anaemic and it was affecting my quality of life.
1 night in hospital, no problems with my recovery. I went straight onto HRT. I had been trying to have the surgery for a couple of years. In the end I had to change my GP and get referred to a different hospital.

As others have said, best thing I ever did, no regrets at all.

The menopause part is probably the scariest thing to me. I’ve never heard a good thing about the menopause.
I hardly had a menopause. HRT immediately (age 45) which I was on for 10 years then came off it very, very gradually. I hardly experienced any menopause symptoms.

Ok great, thanks for the responses and advice so far.

I’m not good at making decisions for myself (!) so I’m gonna have to have a good read up on all things hysterectomy and menopause.

Can anyone tell me how long they waited to have one? For all I know it could be ‘we’ll fit you in next week’ or ‘ok we’ll see you in April 2023’

I had one a few years ago. It’s the worst thing that happened to me. It was done for emergency medical reasons and saved my life so I suppose I should be grateful. The menopause has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s not just the hot flushes. It’s the hair falling out, the horrific mood swings (I could easily kill), the insomnia, really awful joint pain (I hobble about like I’m 90 some days and struggle to lift a saucepan). I am a completely different person to the one I was before and I absolutely hate it. HRT has not helped. It has cost me my relationship.

I had one 2 years ago after horrendous bleeding and a few blood transfusions, I was 46 at the time. Best thing I ever did, recovered really well, tiny tiny scar. I've had a few hot flushes recently but nothing horrendous.

@eyedontknowwhattodo

Aw shit no. I’m sorry for you.
This sounds like a nightmare. Have you been to see someone about it?
I suppose one good thing for you is you had no choice- so at least you can’t regret it.
Sorry if that sounds insensitive as it’s not supposed to be.

Mine was when I was 48. I had developed prolonged periods, for which I had a mirena coil fitted. The coil got infected 4 weeks later and I had a pelvic abscess and septicaemia. So hysterectomy was offered - and accepted - as I had finished my family, and I was so poorly. I went straight into menopause, which was not as bad as I expected, except for the night sweats. Don't miss my periods at all. They were a major nuisance!! Good luck op.

So, if you work at a desk, how long would you have to take off work?

I'm on progesterone only pill for really heavy periods (flooding) but at 50, I'm less averse to the idea than I once was. Just curious really. I'd do it if I felt like it were the easiest thing.

Best thing I ever did. Stupid uterus. I felt a million times better after the recovery. I had a total hysterectomy and am on HRT. The supply issues of hrt has caused me a few challenges, but I've been able to muddle through thanks to a flexibe gp. I started back at work part time after 3 weeks, and was back properly by 6 weeks. I have a desk job at home.

@MunchBunchYoghurt Not insensitive at all, I’m in this situation because I had no choice. I’ve had counselling due to PTSD from it all. I honestly had no idea how much the menopause would impact every day life for me. As silly as it sounds I had absolutely no idea how important hormones are for day to day wellbeing and the effect it would have on me when they were no longer there.
My physical recovery from the surgery was a breeze compared to the rest of the effects. I was back at work 3 weeks after.

@eyedontknowwhattodo

Aw bless you. I think you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. And in your case it was hormones. None of us realise what they do until they are no longer there.
Sorry you’ve had such a shitty time.

Had mine 20 years ago. Op and recovery went fine. Was booked off work for six weeks and after 3 weeks thought I would never be fit enough in another 3 weeks to return to work as I was still sore and moving quite slowly. Sure enough though I was ready at six weeks to return. Have never looked back. DSis had hers around 10 years ago and things went equally well for her. No more sanitary wear! No more smears!

I had a sub-total hysterectomy 10 years ago - aged 37 (so kept ovaries & cervix). Best thing I ever did - although at the time it was a bit of a shock (didn't expect to need one - was on health grounds - had no children - so had to deal with that side of it). But in terms of hellish periods and all that - best thing ever and once I'd recovered, physically and emotionally - I didn't look back. I'm only now getting mild menopause symptoms - (suspect my ovaries are now failing) and am going to see about it - but I'd still rather take the mild menopause symptoms over the hell that was my periods before hysterectomy. The initial recovery wasn't as bad as I expected but do give yourself time... don't rush it.