To regret a Hysterctomy

[AiryFairyUnicornRainbow]

The above basically

Anyone else, wish they had not had it done?

But surely that was a medical decision?

Performed in your best interests?

Yes I regret mine. You trade one problem for another.

Following with interest! I possibly may need one!

Can I ask why you regret it?

I don’t regret mine at all. I made the decision in haste without much medical need but when I think about periods and the discomfort and smell etc I soon realise I much prefer things now.
What is it in particular you regret? The side effects? The finality of not having more children?

Watching as getting referred to gynae for likely return of endometriosis and GP mentioned hysterectomy. My endo isn't bad enough tbh and I feel I'm too young even though I don't plan to have any more children but who knows what's around the corner.

Best thing I ever did!

Oh bloody hell - I never thought, of course ladies waiting for the OP are going to read this...but ill crack on for now...if anyone finds this triggering PM me, and ill message MN and ask for it to be removed - I promise, as don't want to upset anyone - just fancied a girlie chat

I am member of a fantastic supportive FB group if anyone wants the details BTW

You trade one problem for another - I could not agree with this more. Long term physical changes that mean my sex life is not what it used to be - nearly six months later

For me, nothing to do with not having more kiddys (am happy not to) more the physical change.

I know a lot of ladies say, it is the best thing they ever did....and I completely respect that, we all have our own reasons and recoverys

.but FOR ME if I am honest....I would say ''unless there is no alternative'' as in life saving....and even then, it will change your life (but obviously be worth it to save ur life)

That is how it was for me

I’ve just backed out of having it done. I very much felt that when I asked about future complications the surgeon was totally bullshitting that there weren’t any! He was recommending a total hysterectomy and no lateral oophrectomy for severe endo recurrent after previous surgeries. He was totally blasé about the hormonal aspect and basically said whatever when I asked him about hrt 😱

I understand. I don’t regret having it done (2 years of none stop heavy bleeding and horrendous flooding + anemia)but I crashed straight into hot flushes, weight gain, aches, sleepless nights. HRT kinda worked for hot flushes, but warned I could only stay on it for a certain number of years. I’m in the states now, they also give you testosterone. Which is working lovely.

Can I ask, anyone who had it done , have a real shit sex life now?

In terms of pain, discomfort?

Hellbentwellwent - how are you doing now?

OP it didn’t change my life? Other than to deal with symptoms I previously had. I have HRT patches, that combats the hot flushes. My skin is a bit drier but I’m lazy with moisturiser anyway. Can’t comment on sex life as single but no problems when dating a couple of years back.
Otherwise i’ve no other side effects to report so not sure what’s life changing.

OP I had no pain or discomfort during sex. Everything was how it was before. As I said, can’t comment on libido as was only dating so not in the humdrum of relationship.

Airy, much better, I’ve gone on an anti inflammatory diet and see a huge improvement in my symptoms. Think I’ll try and stick it out a few more years!

Sorry to hear that you’ve not had the best outcome. Have you been back to have everything checked, is there any reason you’re in pain? Scar tissue? Did they use mesh?

I have scar tissue and when I sneeze my insides explode in pain from it pulling. If they used mesh they sure didn’t tell me. I sure hope not! I’m older had my surgery in my thirties but you can’t stay on hormones forever. Now I deal with vaginal atrophy and a rectocele. I had surgery for a fibroid and heavy bleeding which at the time a hysterectomy was the treatment. I kept my ovaries but almost immediately began having ovarian cysts which were awful! Had two surgeries getting them out because the first try they couldn’t get all of one because of scar tissue from the hysterectomy. I regret it terribly. Nice to end periods and chronic cervicitis I endured. but I really feel it cause my fibromyalgia. Made me feel older with dry skin. Sex is not what it once was. It all sucks.

AiryFairyUnicornRainbow did you have your ovaries removed?

I had a hysterectomy but I decided to have my ovaries left in. No regrets at all.

I want to hear OP. It's only just been mentioned and I think it's too extreme for my symptoms, which are bearable. I want to hear truthful stories so carry on.

I had mine done about 2 years ago, no regrets at all. I’ve still got my ovaries and haven’t got menopause symptoms. Sex life is about the same, no pain or discomfort. I had non stop heavy periods for a year with flooding and huge clots so i’m very thankful to be period free.

I had one - no choice as had advanced ovarian cancer in my early 30's. I'm alive but the after effects from the surgical menopause have all but destroyed me. Incredibly painful sex, no sex drive, massive weight gain, self esteem in the toilet etc etc Very little empathy or practical help from any of the many medical professionals I've seen and poured my heart and symptoms out to. Can't take HRT due to the cancer.

As I understand it they are starting to do fewer hysterectomies and also starting to leave more behind.

As far as the former, they're starting to recognize that the uterus actually has value in terms of things such as supporting abdominal organs. Women can have trouble if they have a hysterectomy.

As far as the latter, the traditional approach was to take everything - uterus, Fallopian tubes, ovaries, and cervix. They're now recognizing more and more that outside of a problem such as ovarian or cervical cancer, it's actually better to leave some of these things in place. If you remove a woman's ovaries you'll put her into immediate menopause - and it's often accompanied by more severe symptoms than regular menopause. In regular menopause your body progressively secretes lower levels of hormones so you usually have time to become accustomed to it. In an oopherectomy you suddenly don't have those hormones anymore at all. It can increase your risk for osteoporosis, as well. Removal of the cervix can decrease sexual pleasure. Now they try to only take what they absolutely must and leave what they can, if possible.

I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago, removed cervix, uterus and one ovary, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever had done. No negatives, everything is just as it was before without the horrendous painful, flooding periods

I’m sorry it hasn’t worked out like that for you, op

I hope you don't mind if I share an alternative experience - this is not in any way intended to detract from your bad experience, OP. Mine was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It freed me from almost constant pain.

I was lucky in that I made a good recovery. I have suffered no lasting ill-effects other than menopause symptoms because I lost my ovaries. Sex was almost impossible before the operation because of the pain I was in; so that has improved for me.

However, before my operation, I did lots of research on forums, reading the stories of women who had regretted the operation and decided that most of the ill-effects described would still be better than the situation I was in.

I think anyone considering a hysterectomy (where it's not an unavoidable life-saving operation) should assess their quality of life without the operation, and base their decision on how severely their conditions are affecting daily life - ask yourself, how much worse could it get, versus how much better it could be even with possible ill-effects.

I'm sorry you regret yours OP, and I do think it's important that people like you who do regret the operation speak up, because the more information there is out there, the better other women are able to make an informed choice.

Pointless thread

Well I have no need currently for a hysterectomy but am reading this with interest so don't think it's pointless at all!