Monster fibroid - is hysterectomy the answer??

[MrsBungle50]

Hi everyone. I have a fibroid dilemma and I'm hoping your experiences will help me decide what to do..

I have one 10cm fibroid growing on the outside of my womb. It doesn't cause excessive bleeding but it sits on my bladder and bowel and I'm just constantly peeing day and night. I have had to use a catheter at times as it can block my bladder completely. Bowels are all over the place, stomach is huge, back aches all the time.

I had an embolisation in January which worked for the first 3 months and I felt fine but now the bastard thing has sourced a new blood supply and is growing back with a vengeance.

I have 2 choices, another embolisation or a full hysterectomy. I'm 52 next birthday so don't need my bits any more!

My main worry is the recovery part of a hysterectomy. I have a disabled 14 year old son and I am his main carer. He needs full on care 24 hours a day and it is physically very demanding. I have a husband who helps a lot but can't have much time off work and I have no family. What is recovering from a hysterectomy really like and how long before I am back up to full speed??

Your experiences/thoughts much appreciated.

Yes I read your link and saw what it said. At least they do give people the opportunity to leave them if they want to. But not having them has not been difficult for me, but I accept for others it may well be.

I know how you feel!! I've just had a range of large fibroids removed! -open myomectomy- my recovery was probably a good 8 weeks but needed 3 months off work. Usual no lifting nothing heavier than a kettle business tho... I guess hysterectomy would be similar but depending on whether it was vaginal, open or laparoscopic. Good luck!

Re leaving ovaries, I suppose my judgement is swayed because I know of so many women who are having problems post-meno even when they DO have their ovaries! These are women who are also on HRT and some on testosterone too ( removing ovaries means no testosterone at all left) - so removing them if there is no risk of cancer seems very unnecessary considering the downside of doing that.

I know a friend of a friend who is almost 80 and still uses HRT- and she's not alone. She had a break from it after 20+ years, found life unbearable and is back on it.