Is there a hysterectomy support thread?

[ALemonyPea]

I had a laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy, retained ovaries but everything else removed.

Day 6 for me, and I have some questions and would like some support as freacking out about the thought of vault prolapse.

I am managing pain wise now. Some slight pulling on one side, but manageable. Belly button keeps bleeding, but not enough to run out, so just cleaning it twice a day.

I feel quite heavy down there, is that normal?

I thought I had read everything there was about hysterectomies before I had the op, but the surgeon mentioned vaginal vault prolapse just before the surgery and explained it briefly. I then googled, and the first page brought up an awful image and I can't get it out my mind. I'm terrified that it'll happen to me.

Can anyone offer any help and support.

They are hoping to go through my section scar too, however as I have been given a cancellation I will be operated on by a different surgeon so I need to wait and see what his preference will be.

daily thank you for taking time to post your positive experience, exactly what someone wants to hear when they have pre-op nerves (my op is Thursday). Glad its been so beneficial for you!

In all honesty gig, I think if you are ready for the op and go with an open and positive mind it wil help with recovery. I went back to work after 5 weeks from memory. That was too quick. I should have done a phased return but I was fine......just knackered.

How are you bearing up Gigha? Its horrid waiting isn't it. Time is going so slowly.

How is everyone else doing? Daily, that's good to hear :)

Hey Robots, thanks for checking in.
I have lots to keep me distracted fortunately (or unfortunately) as builders have just finished! Getting quite anxious (e.g. Tense/heart rate) when I think about it, which is not like me at all, so just keeping busy! Only two more sleeps!
How about you?

Best way to manage really. I'm pretty nervous, mostly because I'm convinced it will get cancelled! Mine is next wednesday. Last bastard period started today. Hooray for it being the last.

Thinking of you ladies who have your ops soon and hoping everyone else is recovering well.

My email complaining to PALs, didn't end up at the right place so I've had to send it again.

Oh BG :( that's rotten.

Aargh, BG, what a pain. I hope you hear something soon now it's gone to the right place.

Robots Last period, yay! I found it really satisfying during the last one to think I would never have to go through that again.

Gighas I felt very nervous in the few days before the op, but much calmer once I was actually at the hospital. I hope you can keep busy tomorrow - focus on getting your house recovery-ready for when you get home and the time will pass quickly.

It's very handy for confirming why I'm having the surgery Arch.

Good luck for tomorrow Gig, I hope you are ok tonight.

Gig - Wishing you the best for tomorrow .

Gig - check in when you can and let us know how you are.

Hi guys this is gigha here. Apologies for delay my mobile was locked away and no wifi. No idea about old user name!! Am sitting up having coffee and painkillers right now.
It went ok but surgeon said was tricky. Has sent me pics! Will
clarify later. Feeling just fine.

Great to hear from you Gigha and glad you're sitting up and feeling well.

Hope you're not in too much pain Gig, take it easy.

Good to hear from you Gig. I'm glad you are doing ok. Please don't share the pictures, save them for Christmas when you have relatives round

Can I join in please? I haven't had a hysterectomy but it's looking increasingly likely I will be having one at some point.

Last year I had an endometrial ablation to try and help with my nightmarishly heavy periods. It helped a little but not enough (think down to 1-1.5 days of flooding and large clots per month from 2-3) so it was agreed I'd have a second. I went in for it yesterday but was told when I came round from the GA that the surgeon had been unable to perform it because I've developed Asherman's Syndrome.

Frustratingly it's bad enough to prevent a second ablation but not bad enough to have significantly reduced my periods. Once again, thanks for nothing uterus

Anyway, I'm now feeling a bit stuck between the choice of living with pretty crappy periods still (and women in my family tend to hit the menopause quite late, oh joy) or having a hysterectomy at 33.

I honestly don't have a clue what I'm going to do at this point. The thought of living with my periods as they are for another 20+ years makes me want to cry but equally going for the hysterectomy seems a very extreme solution right now.

Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time cornflake. I had a failed abslation a year before my hysterectomy. As I said above, I have no regrets having a hysterectomy but I was 40 and ready for it.

You poor thing Cornflake. I guess the thing to remember is that just because you don't feel ready for a hysterectomy yet, doesn't mean you can't have one in the future. Has your consultant offered you any other options?

Hello Cornflake; I'm sorry to hear you're going through all this. It must have been incredibly frustrating to wake up and find the ablation hadn't been done .

I can understand why you feel conflicted about the idea of a hysterectomy at 33. I was 42, and this still seemed quite young, but I had endo, adenomyosis and fibroids and by the time I had the op, the pain I was in had become debilitating, and was affecting my attendance at work, so I didn't really have much choice. I couldn't face another 10+ years of awful periods. I don't have children so I felt my womb was just a useless burden, and I was glad to be rid of it in the end.

It sounds as though you need to start researching your options - have you discussed the possibility of a hysterectomy with your consultant?

Just another thought - do the BSGE endometriosis centres treat Asherman's patients - I know they are supposed to be the gold standard for endometrial ablations - would that be an option to explore if you haven't already?

It is a huge decision to make . There's lots of hysterectomy experience on this thread, so ask away if there are any questions which might make the decision easier for you.

Hi can i join? Not rtft yet working my way through. I'm having my ovaries and tubes out with an ablation. I saw the Dr in Jan after having a ovarian cyst burst in Oct and this is the recommendation. I got a phone call yesterday saying that there is a cancellation for 19th Wednesday. It's a day surgery apparently I'll go in at 7 for morning surgery and out in the afternoon which seems really soon. So slightly freaking out

Same day as me toto. Day surgery means you get your own comfy bed that night at least.

Hi robots 🤖
We can be op buddies. Are you freaking out too? Not the actual operation. I just don't like general anesthesia ( well who does). I'm just worried they'll want me to go home when i wont feel able.

Hi toto. I had a BSO at the same time as my hysterectomy . The hospital won't send you home if you're not fit for it - do you have someone at home to support you post-op?

Yes toto, constantly feel sick and rather freaked out. Mostly worried about the surgical menopause bit and the obsession that they will cancel last minute.