If you’ve had a hysterectomy but kept your ovaries…

[MaybeAMoaner]

Can you tell me how you have been since?
Particularly how many years ago it was and how long your ovaries lasted before menopause kicked in? Also your age!

I am having one soon and have read that your ovaries can fail in the first 5 years. Which fills me with dread.

Also, any tips on what to take in the hospital for while I’m there? And after care advice? Any advice at all related to hysterectomies will be great fully received.

(I know there’s a dedicated health topic but it seems very quiet over there)
Thank you

I had a hysterectomy 3 weeks ago. I was due to keep my ovaries, but the day of the surgery the surgeon met with me and advised they removed the lot, for the reason you state plus it saved going back in if there were to be any issues in the future. So it was laparoscopic and they took everything.
I went down at 2, back on the ward (and awake) by 9. Couldn't eat as my throat was sore and dry from the tube, catheter and drip. Was given a morphine pump, apparently I only topped it up 4 times all night. I ate breakfast the next morning, they removed the catheter, I went for a wee and they sent me off - I was back home by 2pm with some paracetamol, codeine and 10 days of blood thinner injections.
The trapped wind is a fucker - they inflate you to get good access and the wind took a while (days!) to disperse. Peppermint tea helped as did Deflatine.
Constipation is still a bit of an issue. I tried Dulcoease but it gave me the opposite problem. I have found liquorice helps, so eating lots of all-sorts under the guise of natural remedy.
I slept propped up the first couple of nights as I was a bit like a stranded earwig. Roll onto your side and push up with your hand rather than using your stomach muscles.
I was walking relatively normally the following day, walked to the chemist to pick up my HRT a week later, 15 mins each way. They didn't give me a sick note and I was back in work exactly 2 weeks later.
Stitches have dissolved now. I'm aware of my limits so taking things easy. I can't lift or stretch. I'm bloody knackered and for the first week was like a toddler - 3 hours up, go for a nap.
My stomach is still swollen which is apparently normal. I'm in big pants and elasticated waistbands. I'm spotting but no bleeding at all. No paracetamol needed after day 4.
Re things to take: I took lots and used little. I stayed in a hospital gown as I was barely there. Took a thin dressing gown to cover up the back of me when off to the toilet. I charged my phone fully and took my power bank. I joined Audible on a free trial which was handy during the night to put headphones in and listen to a book when I woke and couldn't get back to sleep. I took lots of mini toiletries and a small bath towel, but obviously didn't have time for a shower even!
Day 2-4 I felt pretty battered but not in pain. By day 5 I was quite perky. I'm not driving yet and not going to try, but can do a half hour walk without bother.
I had a C-section with DC so was fully expecting it to be hellish as I had found my recovery after that, but I was very lucky that I bounced back well and not having a full abdominal obviously helped with quick recovery.
The blood thinner injections sting like a bastard. Needle in, count to 10, needle out. Do not rub the site. They did one in my leg and rubbed it and I have a massive lump still.
Apologies for the essay. I was utterly petrified of having the op, but it was SO much better than I expected and I am so relieved it is done. 3weeks in and it has already changed my life, as the problems I had pre op are all gone. (The medical ones at least!) Wish you well with yours

I had a hysterectomy six months ago. I kept one ovary, but suspect the other bailed on me immediately, as I had acne, hot flushes, insomnia - the full menopausal works TBH. This didn't settle after 3months so I'm now on HRT, which is fine.

The recovery from the OP was so much better than I expected. I was back at work in physically demanding job after 5 weeks, some gentle slow jogging after 6 weeks. Glad I had the op even with the ovarian failure as it's bliss to be pain free.

Like Youcancallmeval was very bloated for a good while afterwards, so needed a couple of cheap pairs of trousers in with elasticated waists to see me through the first few weeks at work. All fine now though.

7 years ago I had a total abdominal hysterectomy due to repeated cervical excisions - kept ovaries, but cervix, tubes and uterus removed. Now 42, no menopause yet.

Currently in hospital after a significant vaginal repair and hysterectomy. I think I've kept my ovaries but forgot to ask 🤦
I'm quite sore and can't move due to the Catheter but I actually feel okay. I've had some more oramorph and paracetamol which has helped. I'm on oxygen as for some reason my sats kept dropping. I am also not in the slightest bit sleepy. I'm hoping that changes. I am a pretty poor sleeper as it is!

The Dr was happy to sign me off work for 12 weeks but I don't want that long.

I wish I'd bought a battery pack for my phone. I'd also take some bottled water with a sports cap and some lip balm.

I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago. I had a vertical huge scar from above my tummy button to below the pubic bone and it took me a long time to recover. I kept my ovaries and started with menopause two years later, menopause caused me no problem except extremely dry skin. Definitely phone charger and lip balm.

I had a total hysterectomy but kept my ovaries 5 years ago at 42. I believe I've just started the peri-menopause recently (must get checked out!) as getting hot flushes, sleep is a bit disturbed and my mood is quite changeable. It's odd because, obviously not having periods, you have no clear indicator that is what's happening! Either way, it's going to come to us eventually at some point and the benefits from the op far outweigh anything else. I had pelvic floor repair too and complications, so had a fairly long and drawn out recovery, but definitely worth it in the end.

Just do not over do it and make sure you have lots of help in the early days. How old are you op and what's your biggest concern?

LonesomeMask how long do you think it took you to recover?

I had a hysterectomy 4 years ago aged 36. No signs of menopause yet, but was told that it will come earlier than most women.

I found the journey home quite hard, especially going around corners. Took me a good few weeks before I felt fine, felt like my insides were going to fall out for the first 3 weeks whenever I stood up.

Take it easy and do as the physio says. Take all the help offered and don't go back to work unless you feel ready, everyone is different.

I had abdo hysterectomy kept my ovaries and cervix. Immediately after I suffered hot flushes and night sweats for a few weeks until my hormones stabilised. Went through menopause with 5 years and the main side effect was mental health, anxiety and panic attacks and low level depression.

Definitely take moisuriser and lip balm, comfy clothes your stomach will be very tender and the constipation is no joke, aside from the constipation cures and plenty of fluids I kept a little step stool I the bathroom 5o put my feet on when on the loo TMI but it really works! I felt like an old woman when I first left hospital. Take it easy and pace yourself and you'll soon start feeling better.

No lifting or stretching in your first weeks, its very easy to tear your stitches or get a hernia and I've heard so horror stories of women deciding to just put the washing on the line or strip the bed while they're bored. Not a good idea. If you like a brew it might be worth getting a travel kettle.

Had mine at 34, now 38 and no signs of menopause yet. I'm slightly paranoid it may happen any minute!

Excellent advice from all posters above. My top tips for recovery are to make sure you've got laxatives and the strongest painkillers you can obtain legally in your house when you get home! Start taking the laxatives immediately, don't wait til you're constipated - learn from my mistake on this one.

Take it much easier than you think you need to, you won't realise you've overdone it until it's too late. Do the physio. Pay attention for signs of infection and go to gp immediately if you're worried at all, it's better to be over cautious than under. Be kind to yourself and don't rush to get back to work.

Hope all goes well for you

Yellowbowlbanana I was a good 12 weeks to really feel anything like normal, and felt quite vulnerable for the first year, but I did have 2 ops and lost a lot of blood. I'm kind of worst case scenario really, many recover a lot more quickly than I did, but I don't regret it at all.

I had my hysterectomy keyhole, was advised to have remaining ovary removed as I suffered from horrific PMT, went down at 5.30pm, was back on ward sat watching soaps with dp by 8.00pm, had catheter & drain removed at 5 30am next morning & was home by 9.30am. No morphine needed, walked 5 minute walk to & from shops at lunchtime managed to go to the pub for lunch two days later & drove home, was doing school run a week later.

I was eating & drinking within a couple of hours of coming back from theatre, I had taken trays of mango & melon & a big bottle of Lucozade, the lovely nurse who was looking after me brought me peppermint tea for the wind & I had taken Rennie Deflatine & peppermint oil capsules with me & arnica tablets for the bruising. The only other pain relief I had other than the stuff they give you in theatre was a diclofenac suppository at midnight, they sent me home with paracetamol, codeine, diclofenac, lactulose & antibiotics for 5 days. I was discharged by my consultant 7 days later, I was given a prescription for HRT but only used the bare minimum, I had mine done when I was 45 & haven't used any HRT for at least 5 years, it is still on my prescription if I need it, I had patches & never had any problems with them, I only had a few hot flushes in the first few weeks, nothing else & the PMT stopped straight away.

Thank you very much for your replies, they’ve all been so helpful and nice to read.
I’ve noted down the tips too!

I’m 37 and my main concern is if I go through the menopause despite keeping the ovaries as I’ve heard they can fail.
And also the recovery time as I know I will absolutely hate resting or not being able to leave the house. Cabin fever always sets in really early for me!
Glad everyone on here is ok !

I had an abdominal hysterectomy in 2007. Kept my ovaries. I'm not sure when menopause started. I began to get hot flushes in 2016/7. When I started HRT I realised that some other symptoms that I hadn't really associated with menopause had disappeared. Mainly aching joints and brain fog. Lookong back that all started a couple of years before so I probably went 8ish years before starting menopause. However, I was 43 when I had the hysterectomy so menopause would probably have started around then anyway.

My mother had a hysterectomy at 36, and kept her ovaries. She never had any peri-menopausal issues, and went through menopause when she was 54.

I had an abdominal hysterectomy in 2000, aged 36 and kept my ovaries. There were problems with my wound which meant a nurse had to come every day to pack it. That was a bug bear and kept me stuck in the house. I was in hospital about 6 days I think. Def take some laxatives. The general anaesthetic caused constipation issues and it was hellish when I finally managed to go.
I started having hot flushes about 4 years later and I still have them now so I don't think I'm fully through the menopause.
Just take things steady OP, and be prepared to tire easily for the first couple of weeks.
Best of luck

I had a laparoscopic/vaginal hysterectomy 3 years ago at 44. kept one ovary. The other hurt so I asked for it out at the same time.
Started menopause signs after about 18 months - flushes mostly, some weird anxiety on and off and fogginess but both could be down to general life. I had some acupuncture and now manage it with an assortment of herbal medicines and supplements which I know work as when I run out I get the flushes back.
Only other sign is it is totally impossible to lose any weight despite diet/caloriess

I had mine 5 years ago!and I’m 50 in February.

I started HRT about a month ago after I started overheating a lot and wasn’t sleeping well. Women in my family generally go through menopause in their mid 50’s so a bit earlier.

I had a hysterectomy age 37 - kept my cervix and ovaries. Initially I had menopause symptoms - flushes etc... but then they settled - docs said my ovaries had gone into "shock" but that this was normal. The symptoms did ease. I'd say the physical and overall hormonal and emotional recovery took about a year all in - but the immediate surgical recovery was pretty smooth - first 2-3 weeks were hard - it gradually got easier - but your body will tell you when you're doing too much - in no uncertain terms!

Then all went quiet and it's been fine - have enjoyed the last 10 years of peace - but now things have kicked in. I'm 47 now - and started HRT about 6 months ago - mainly due to hot flushes and joint pain. Happily the HRT seems to be controlling both and all seems calm right now.

The thing is that because you're not having periods, you may not immediately recognise menopause symptoms - you'll put them down to other things. It was only when the flushes kicked in that I thought about it and realised I'd had symptoms for a while - it was gradual.

The menopause symptoms immediately after surgery threw me a bit - but they DID settle to be fair. The worst part for me actually was post-surgical depression about 3-4 months after the operation - hit me like a train and I wasn't prepared for it - they don't warn you about things like that. The physical part was okay - much as one would expect - it was the emotional part that knocked me off my feet and that took longer to recover from.

Ultimately though - I've been more or less 10 years without menopause - but it's started to show up now.

16 years ago, had a radical hysterectomy, kept my ovaries. Only in the last year do I feel like I am having full on menopause symptoms. Need to find a menopause specialist to discuss HRT. I’m 47 now.

I had a tough recovery but had very small children at home that didn’t understand why mum couldn’t pick them up and the surgery was for cervical cancer. Took me a couple of years to feel myself again, didn’t really get any mental health support which looking back, I really did need.

Things have been fine for many years though until the menopause symptoms kicked in.

Good luck with the surgery, hope you recover well💐

@CosmicComfort
I’m in that position. Young kids who won’t understand and it’s due to cervical cancer.

Thank you all again, every reply has been interesting to read and very helpful to me.

I agree with you won't necessarily notice straight away - I think I thought I was getting older, achier, more allergic itching, less satisfied with life then I started to get much more weepy, lots of brain fog (forgetting to pay for things in shops etc) and had a hot flush and I realised what it was. At 45, about three years after same op as yours - which I think was well worth it btw - I have a picture of me looking ancient and needing to use walking poles on a hike we were doing. In three weeks time at 49 I'm about to run a marathon. Mid life sucks. I just use oestrogel 4 pumps a day, avoid too much sugar and I am fine now. But please be aware of the impact of early menopause on your health - HRT can somewhat protect bone health by replacing the lost hormones, advice is to take it until at least 51.

[quote MaybeAMoaner]@CosmicComfort
I’m in that position. Young kids who won’t understand and it’s due to cervical cancer.

Thank you all again, every reply has been interesting to read and very helpful to me.[/quote]
I’m so sorry to hear that Maybeamoaner it must be a very stressful time💐

DH took 4 weeks off work to look after the dses when I had my surgery, work eventually gave him 2 weeks compassionate leave after a bit of a battle and he took 2 weeks annual leave. That helped a lot. IIRC my mum then stayed for a bit but I was getting stronger by then.

I did not have a sympathetic GP and when I went back to extend my sick note after 5ish weeks, I was told I could get another week but I needed to get back to work! My Consultant Gynecologist was amazing though and told me I needed at least 12 weeks off which I really did.

It was a really rough time but I came through a stronger person, although it did take a while. I’m now 16 years post surgery and have had no further issues. Had to have vault smears for a few years but then that stopped as well.

Happy to chat over PM if i can be of any help or support.

All the best💐

I had a chat with my Mum about this very topic the other day. She had a hysterectomy and kept ovaries at the same age as you OP. Never took HRT (not sure it was even a thing back then). I asked her when she went through menopause and she said she must've slept through it. Never had any symptoms that she can recall, her period just stopped and that was it. Wouldn't that be nice??

Best of luck for your recovery.