I’ve been offered a hysterectomy

[rainsbows]

I’d love to hear other women’s experiences. I’m only 37 but have three children. I have adenomyosis causing heavy painful periods and I also have short cycles. I’ve tried the mirena but bled constantly and I can’t take combined pills. I’m much better mentally without hormonal meds. I take mefenamic acid to help stem the flow.

Anyway…. Yesterday I saw a gynae consultant and she straight away offered me a keyhole hysterectomy, keeping ovaries and cervix.

I feel it’s so… final. Even though I’m done having kids.

Is the recovery horrendous? I’m on all ears please

I had my hysterectomy at 45, best thing ever. I kept my ovaries (going through menopause now at 53) but had my cervix removed (no more smear tests). Mine couldn’t be done keyhole, recovery was about 6 to 8 weeks of being careful not lifting heavy things and no driving for the first few weeks. Not having to deal with periods is absolute bliss.

Your natural hormones are no substitute for artificial ones.

Lots of positive stories! I guess I’m just worried because I’m deemed “young”!

Do you bleed a lot post op? I’m assuming like postpartum lochia for weeks on end?

6-8 months is good.
I was told 2-3 years on a waiting list 🫠

I certainly didn’t, not after the first day.

Total abdominal hysterectomy 10 days ago. Older than you and already on HRT.
fibroids way too big for laporoscopic- they were sucking teeth about a vertical incision ( much bigger op) but managed with usual lower abdo incision.

still in near full dose pain killers and lots of fatigue but walking ok for 30-69 min stroll on pavement . In and out of bath etc. had 2 night stay. The laptops optic ladies were home next day. Can’t lift anything which is frustrating but I’m trying g to behave ( normally lift weights at the gym). Going to have a post lunch nap now but I’ve been pottering / cooking lunch etc this morning.

forgetting myself and coughing / sneezing / stretching is a very bad idea . But otherwise I’m ok. Still some painful gut gurgles but less day in day.

just wearing normal knickers and no pads is a joy already - had huge fibroids that were like a rock inside me and constant low level bleeding . So winning already !

Well this is all positive and encouraging. Thank you all for replying. Annoying caveat is the info I’ve been given says no swimming for 12 weeks and I’ve got a couple of holidays booked this year so hope I can work around that. I know, first world problem

I had an abdominal hysterectomy over 30 years ago at age 36. They managed to leave one ovary.

Absolutely fine after. Got up morning after and had a shower then walked a little way along the hospital corridor. Didn't need any pain relief.

I only stayed in hospital 1 night. When I got home I took it fairly easy but didn't just lay in bed doing nothing. I went for a walk every day on my surgeon's recommendation. He also told me to move around and maybe do some light housework like dusting just not heavy things like hoovering, changing beds etc.

I went camping at the British Grand Prix 3 weeks after and walked round the track quite a lot.

Back to work 5 weeks after op.

I didn't go through early menopause. In fact I was 62.

I’ve had excision for endo and if it comes back badly again I’m having a hysterectomy
41 and on HRT anyway but I get you with the final bit
they asked me about removing my ovaries but I said I would rather keep them as long as possible

I was actually fine after about 6 weeks but took longer off work as I'd never been off in my life before. I was told, "You wont even be able to lift a kettle to make a cup of tea" but that wasn't my experience.

Was that keyhole?

I had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy on Tuesday - due to endometrial cancer. I am also 37.

I am personally amazed at all the above tales of super recovery, it’s not horrific but very limiting so far. I’ve got down to one codeine a day and round the clock paracetamol and ibuprofen, still need help with dressing and sometimes help getting up. Zero bleeding for me, which after daily bleeding since March I am very excited by.

Today I pottered around the house for about 20mins and I’ve been paying for it since. It’s not unbearable pain but I’ve been lying on the sofa for 5 hours!

I was terrified of the operation, I’ve never been unwell/had GA and I’m a nurse so being an inpatient is literally my nightmare. It went completely fine, less than 100ml blood loss, no damage. It’s also removed my endometriosis and adenomyosis.

I didn’t have a choice, but if bleeding and pain was ruling my life I would def consider it. I was told there’s a reasonable chance that preserving ovaries would lead to early menopause (due to disrupted blood flow) and cysts - though they really wanted to take them so this may have been persuasion rather than hard facts.

let me know if you have any other questions, happy to keep you updated in real time …

@rainsbows no it was vaginal suction method

This thread is giving me hope!

I’m speaking to my GP next week to ask to be referred to gynaecology to discuss a hysterectomy. I’m only 42 so I was worried that my age would be an automatic barrier but evidently not!

PCOS here. I don’t have children so I had to wait until I was 42 before I was considered for hysterectomy, despite asking since I was 25. Dread to think what contraception cost the NHS in the interim, versus one operation (I know they are expensive, but even so …)

I was in hospital 2 days, and was discharged once I proved I could poo. My incision was akin to a Caesarian, sewn up with one thread on a bead.

Had stitch/bead out on day 6 and a total of 5 weeks and 1 day off work.

Best thing ever, and it was about 4-5 more years before I got menopause symptoms. Now on 75mcg HRT patch.

I had one at 36, retained my ovaries but everything else was removed. I'd ask them to remove your cervix as well, that way, no more smears. it was the best thing for my body, I'm so glad I had it done.

Retaining your ovaries is important at a young age, as it helps you keep osteoporosis at bay until menopause or beyond.

WRT sex, it made no difference to me, apart from doing certain positions makes me fart 😳 so we avoid those.

Yes, I continued to ovulate, presumably until I went into menopause a few years later. However, I never really experienced PMS symptoms after the surgery other than occasionally being a bit randomly tearful for a few days every few months which I'm guessing was down to my hormonal cycle. I think one of my ovaries shifted slightly into the space left after the surgery as I occasionally experienced mild ovulation discomfort for a couple of years on one side, but not quite in the same place as I'd experienced it before the surgery. My GP told me that this can happen and it is nothing to be concerned about.

I do remember sitting with a friend a few days before my surgery and us suddenly wondering where the eggs that were released went if they didn't have a womb to go to and laughing at the idea of them just freely floating around the inside of my body each month! 🤣

I don't recall any post-operative bleeding. When I came round from anaesthetic I had some wadding packed into my vagina and a catheter. Both were removed the next morning and I think I wore a pad for a few days "just in case" but didn't really need it.

I had more bleeding, discomfort and discharge when I went through a LLETZ procedure following an abnormal smear than I did after my hysterectomy.

Interested as I have adenomyosis and would like a hysterectomy. I’m 45 and in perimenopause

This is exactly the kind of stuff I’ll be thinking!! Also with sex, where does the sperm end up ? Just swimming around a massive void?!

Get yourself to the GP! I went in May, had an ultrasound in August which diagnosed the adenomyosis, GP was happy to refer me to gynae off the back of that, saw consultant in January, op scheduled for 6-8 months. I’ve been impressed with the speed and quick decision making each time.

Mine really changed my life for the better - no more pain, planning my life around my periods - I recommend it to anyone whose quality of life is severely affected by gynae issues. Mine was abdominal, not keyhole, but even after the first three days or so, the pain of the surgery had diminished to less than the pain I'd been in before it.

I’ve been referred (back in November) and had a letter saying it’s 40 weeks wait for a consultation

Ironic wait time, being gynae

Wow another example of postcode lottery