What do I have to do to get a hysterectomy?

[Hordratha]

Apologies to all of you ladies who are not peri menopausal for the graphic content but I'm sat here bleeding like a bastard, woke up to clean myself up and I've got to leave for work in four hours.

I can't go on like this, it's not sustainable.

To give you an idea of it I had two pairs of knickers on, three pads in each, with a towel underneath me, and I've woken up and gone through the lot. It is literally pouring out of me, I can't stand it.

I'm on utrogestan and oestradiol gel , take the utrogestan for 14 days out of 28 and bang on as soon as I stop this happens. I am debilitated for five -seven days. I tried the coil previously but it had a bad effect on my mood, and utrogestan+oestradiol is much better for that but CHRIST these periods. My GP says give it six months, but there'll be nothing left of me by then. I can't function. How do I get this troublesome body part removed?

Who the fuck is voting that I'm being unreasonable?

Trolling twats.

I've finally been told I can have a hysterectomy at 40, but not peri menopausal. I've had heavy periods since I started menstruating. After I had kids it got worse. I flood through the biggest tampon and pad within an hour.
They've exhausted every option medically. I've tried every form of contraception, and other medication usually prescribed to help with heavy periods.
It was only when they agreed that nothing more can be done without surgery, that I was put on a waiting list for a hysterectomy.
Recently I've been diagnosed with adenomyosis and have fibroids, but they had already agreed to it by then.

Tranexamic acid has been a saviour for me and my ridiculously heavy periods. I’m only 38 so not sure it’s peri but by god they have got heavy. Tranexamic acid, iron tablets, cup and period pants makes it somewhat bearable. I think I’ve probably got fibroids tbh.

Are you able to see someone privately? Happy to give you a name if you PM me? They’re based in London and have an NHS list too. Might be worth an initial appt with them which would be a couple of hundred quid, or you can ask your GP to refer you to them (or another surgeon/ consultant) then you’ll be placed on their waiting list for initial appt.

Have they done any investigations to see if something other than peri is causing the heavy bleeding?
I had awful periods due to fibroids and had a full hysterectomy 6 months ago aged 42

I'd go back and see the GP and tell them that you can't manage as you are and explain the impact. I ruined my new bedroom carpet and that's what tipped me over the edge

Have you tried Triptorelin? To shut down ovaries? Chemical menopause. Has its own side effects obviously, but I’m on this until I get my operation and I haven’t had a period since I started it.

have you been referred to a gynaecologist? I think that is who you talk to about a hysterectomy, not your GP.

I couldn’t get one despite begging for one even when bleeding as you describe in my early sixties (though on a different form of HRT). I did have a Mirena coil fitted, said I’d try it, and it and Oestrogel work fine. I intend to stay with this as long as possible, have had the Mirena replaced once, and my consultant and GP seem fine with it.

Declare yourself to be a transman & the heavy bleeding triggers dysphoria.

Have you been to the go asked to see a gyne who would do full hormone panel and US on the uterus and ovaries? This is something a gyne would deal with.

I have always been a heavy bleeder, 3 towels which can leak within seconds as i passed fist size blood clots etc- for me it was untreated hormonal disease and pcos, now as my endocrine disorder is being medicated and i am on low carb/no processed food/no dairy or gluten diet it has improved a lot, periods are quite regular when i used to bleed up to 3 weeks in row one week off and then it would start again.

still anaemic tho and on iron tabs too so over the 5-7 days when i have periods its heavy but managable.

I went private. Best thing I ever did. NHS gynaecology at my local hospital was terrible.

😡

Join benenden healthcare at 11 quid a month.
After six months of being a member you can see a specialist and for some weird reason, they FULLY fund hysterectomies.

They don't ask about pre-existing conditions when you join cos it is not full private healthcare.
But you can get GP appts for you and your family over the phone too. I've been a member for four years, and for the first time EVER this year I've used the GP function for three of my grown up kids. It's amazing.
NHS contacted me for my FIRST appt with a Gynae a full YEAR after benenden saved me with a quick hysterectomy.

Go to see your GP and insist on a referral to a specialist.

Just go private the NHS wait lists are horrendous

Loads of empathy from me OP. Mine were always heavy but horrific when I stopped breastfeeding - double super plus tampons side by side plus thick pad, whole lot drenched/wooshed out by the time I'd get down the stairs. Lived 2 mins walk from school and had to sit down when I got there for dizziness. Just horrendous. I don't know how I could have worked, I could barely leave the house. Mirena coil took 6 months to work (and daily effing bleeding ffs!). Eventually my uterus prolapsed so badly there was really no other option but to have it removed, so I guess I was lucky there. In a manner of speaking!

I don't know what to suggest for you, other than to just keep going back and telling them you cannot cope. How are they supporting you at work? Can you take time off each month and just constantly pester? See a different doctor? Female doctor? Tell them it's affecting your work.

I don't know if it's an option for you but I really wanted a hysterectomy some years back but actually ended up having an endometrial ablation. Was a day case operation and quick recovery. Went from ridiculously heaving long periods to a slight bleed that last half a day x

Go to the GP and insist on a referral to gynae.

I had similar periods (not peri, just always been horrific and got worse after kids) I pushed for an ablation which I had done a year ago. Best thing I ever did. I still have periods but they are the lightest things you could ever imagine. I still bleed for about a week but it's either brown discharge or a very light flow.

You can take the mini pill alongside the oestrogel and utrogestan (all it means is that the HRT becomes continuous so you take the utrogestan every single day like the mini pill, but 100mg instead of the 200mg every 2 weeks). I have lupus and my periods were awful, lots of clotting etc but doing this means I don’t have any bleeding at all, no periods, nothing. It’s worth a try. Lots of women do still bleed on the mini pill however and it can take months to settle completely.

I do think if you’re bleeding that much I’d consider going to a and e. That actually seems quite dangerous.

I've heard good things about ablations too. If my prolapse hadn't got worse and if the mirena didn't work, that's where my gp was heading. Keeping banging on the door and be kind to yourself - you shouldn't be expected to just carry on as normal

You need a referral to a gynae consultant. GPs are very often clueless and minimise the impact this has on a woman's daily life.

You also need to have proper tests because there could be specific reasons for your heavy bleeding (fibroids, adenomyosis). They will do scans and if needed a hysteroscopy (they put a little camera in).

Then when you have a proper diagnosis (not just ''it's your age, and you have to put up with it''...) then they will look at options.

That could be a mirena coil, endometrial ablation or hysterectomy.

Consultants are reluctant to go for hysterectomy as the first choice though so be prepared to have to try other things.

My tests showed I had adenomyosis and some signs of endometriosis. The adeno had also caused a (benign) tumour to form at the top of my womb. Mirena coil and hormones/pill did not work to stop the misery so in the end I had a hysterectomy thankfully.

It did take a few months of battle though to get that sorted and I had to complain about my first consultant, I was then given a second one who agreed to the operation and I finally got my life back.

Go back to your GP as many times as it takes and insist on a referral. I started my journey 2 years ago - there are a few options available to you but they are all under the care of a gynaecologist.
I'm 1 year down the line on a waiting list for surgery and think I have another to go.
Tranexamic acid works for me and that's 1 thing the GP can help with.
For what it's worth I'm 42 with fibroids. I've been through a chemical menopause and had the fibroids removed twice as a day case. They just keep coming back.
If I wasn't working from home I would have paid to go private now but my standard of care has been excellent on the NHS and my circumstances means I can work from my toilet if need be.
Best wishes, it's awful. I secretly seethe when I hear people complain of a one off heavy period or tiredness. My worst episode was when a hairbrush sized clot appeared in a restaurant. I was with my 8 year old and bless her, when the waitress asked if everything was ok while I was in the toilet she said "mummy has bad nose bleeds". Now on dog walks etc I bring an extra jumper that I can tie round my waist in case I flood but tbh the tranexamic acid cuts my bleeding in half. Doesn't shorten my 2 week periods but helps massively.

Get your bloods done. You may well be anaemic.
Push for gynae referral
Probably have an ablation. It's brilliant.

Uterine ablation?

See a different GP. You do not have to comply with this 6 month bs. It is you who is suffering so you get to call the shots.

Sounds bloody awful!