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

It goes into the vagina, gets no further and then, in my case, comes straight back out as soon as I stand up (see my previous comment about bath water)! 🤣

If they leave the ovaries they can become cancerous. My surgeon insisted on removing them. I was I. My 49 s and delighted with the op. You go onto HRT straight away

Because once the ovaries pack up, to my mind they just become a bit of a ticking time bomb
I'd rather remove the risk of cancer

This is what I was advised and why I had mine removed.

I had a partial hysterectomy (kept ovaries & cervix).

I struggled with endometriosis and adenomyosis for years and in the end I was in constant pain and could not leave the house because of flooding during endless periods.

The operation gave me my life back and I have not had any issues with the recovery or any complications.

I’m almost 33, have a long gynae history of heavy periods since age 9, multiple methods of hormonal contraceptives which haven’t helped. I’ve had miscarriages in double figures with no known cause and 2 healthy pregnancies/children. I’ve had 4 D&C’s for miscarriage and 2 x laparoscopy to remove endometriosis prior to having my children and in the midst of my miscarriages.

I’m 5 months post partum and my periods and pain are worse than ever. I spoke to my GP last week who has refused a referral back to gynae for another lap until I’ve taken the contraceptive pill for 3-6 months.

I’m so fed up, I bleed for 7 days, 4 of those days I have to wear incontinence pants and if going out in public I have to put one of my 2 year olds nappies in the incontinence pants so once I’ve filled that (within a couple of hours) I’ve then got about 2 hours until I need to go home or strip off my bottom half in a public toilet and put a clean pair of incontinence pants on and my cycles are short at 21 days.

This thread has inspired me to ring back and push for the referral. We are 100% done having children. We are lucky and grateful for the 2 we have given out history of loss and I dream of being offered a hysterectomy. It would change my life but I’m struggling to even get a referral for another laparoscopy. Any advice?

OP, my Nan, Great Nan and my cousin all had hysterectomies in their 30s and not one of them regretted it.

Gosh, now I really feel I absolutely do not deserve or even need a hysterectomy compared to your situation. That honestly sounds awful.

I’d just started to accept this decision but now I’m starting to really doubt my need for this having read some things here.

My periods last 4-5 days, come on average every 23 days (the odd 19 or 25 day cycle). I use temping so I know when I’ve had a drop, my period is coming. Sometimes they’re hideous heavy and painful, sometimes they’re really manageable.

Back to thinking…

I had that age 45, it was a breeze, had it done Friday evening, went to theatre at 6.00pm, was back in bed watching soaps with dp by 8.00pm, had my drain & catheter out at 5.30am & was on my way home by 8.30am. I managed a walk to our local shops that day & went out for a pub lunch on the Monday, I was back driving by the Friday & back on the school run 10 days after the op, the only thing I couldn't do was lift anything heavier than a kettle for 6 weeks.

Unfortunately I had a bit of a nightmare with my TAH with BSO. April 2016 I had a DVT started on Warfarin and stopped the pill. Second period I had end of May/start of June very heavy and wouldn’t stop. Hb fell from 16 in April to 8. No pain but became weak, tachycardiac and short of breath. Decided to go to ED. Couple of scans later, stopped Warfarin and vitamin K injection given to try and stop bleeding. Still bleeding after this. 5cm fibroid found. TAH, BSO, loads of enlarged lymph nodes and cervix removed at 9.30pm after 2 units of blood beforehand and a further unit on the table. My eldest was just starting her Leaving Cert and had to mind her 13 year old sister. She did very well in the LC considering she was also very ill with hyperthyroidism and worrying about me nearly dying! No cancer, thank god, as my paternal aunt died of ovarian cancer aged 52. Recovery was very slow and difficult for me. My phosphate was very low and I felt worse after the operation than before I had it! And I developed a DVT in the other leg 3 weeks after the operation! Eventually in August I was told I had possibly primary hyperparathyroidism which I had unsuccessful surgery for in June 2017. This disease explains why I had low phosphate and high blood calcium levels and dehydration which probably caused the DVTs. Finally nearly 9 years after the first operation for primary hyperthyroidism during which half my thyroid, two parathyroid glands and my thymus gland were removed I’m finally scheduled to have another operation with a specialist surgeon in England who will hopefully find the rogue parathyroid gland or glands which so far have caused severe osteoporosis, tachycardia, severe bone pain, chronic insomnia and more symptoms for the last nearly 9 years. The most scary of which was blood phosphate level of 0.29 (normal range 0.8 to 1.5) and blood potassium level of 3.1 (normal range of 3.5 to 5). Luckily I went to the ED as I could have had a heart attack! My BP was quite high and my heart rate was over 130 bpm I felt a good bit better after IV and oral phosphate and potassium supplements. Sorry for long rant but as you can see a hysterectomy can be life saving and life altering as I would probably not have been diagnosed with the phpt if I hadn’t had the hysterectomy!!

Forgot to say I had the hysterectomy when I was 46!

@rainsbowsmy periods aren’t heavy like some have described, but I do have a nagging focal pelvic pain daily and heaviness down below. Plus I’d say 20+/31 days there is some blood stained discharge.
My GP is still happy for the referral and I would like hysterectomy so we will soon what Gynaes say.
Just because your symptoms aren’t as bad as others doesn’t meant they’re not affecting you daily. Do what you need to

@rainsbows it wouldn't have been offered to you if it wasn't needed
Everyone's story is different but all seem to be saying having the op was the best thing they ever did.

So sorry you’re dealing with this, and that your GP is so unhelpful. I’d ask them to write their reason for refusal into your notes, and then either ask to see another GP or look for a private appointment with a gynaecologist who can give a recommendation that you can then use to push for NHS referral. I understand that might be unaffordable though.

This thread is really helpful for me as I’m now on day 21 of bleeding. I was on Prostap for almost 3 years but just wanted to feel how I felt without all the drugs. I have two submucosal fibroids, the type that grow more into the muscle than into the cavity. They’re not big but they are motherfuckers. My consultant is great and has offered a hysterectomy but, like @rainsbows , I’m scared of the finality. I don’t have children (can’t because of the fibroid position) but I’m also late 40s now so either way I’m not losing that opportunity. It just feels so… final. Like signalling the last part of my life. Good to hear so many positive stories though, and I hope your recovery starts to speed up soon @otherstories .

I hope this thread keeps going as a support group. As a sort of Womb Sisterhood!

I had a hysterectomy for adenomyosis at 41.

cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes taken by robotic keyhole surgery.

in and out the same day!!!

best thing I ever did!

I understand what you’re saying and you still have about 6-8 months to decide. At your age it’s standard practice to retain the ovaries, which isn’t ideal if you have adenomyosis or endometriosis but not much you can do about that. That’s why I waited until I was 45 but you cannot wait that long. See if they will remove your cervix though, no more smear test or risk of cervical cancer. DH can’t feel any difference and orgasm are the same (someone else was asking). It’s a bit drier so now use lube but that can happen with age anyway.

It’s not just about your periods though - until you’ve had it done, you don’t truly appreciate how bad you were feeling overall. Your body’s constantly fighting itself and you simply keep adapting and convince yourself it’s not so bad. Frankly once it’s done your life will be completely transformed! I had one night in hospital. I then had two weeks’ rest with short walks every day followed by two weeks of working from home with more walks and light housework jobs, then two weeks of hybrid working before returning to work full time in an active job. Took a few months to get HRT right but you won’t have to worry about that. My only pain was constipation so take movicol as soon as you start eating after the op, it was honestly the worst pain I had!!

I had a total hysterectomy at 46, best thing I ever did.

I can remember sat crying in hospital as I had trapped wind. A lovely nurse said, just remember when you're better you can wear white trousers!

She was right, my summer wardrobe is full of white trousers 😊 before I'd flood everywhere, I'd be in pain, and then I'd have horrendous ovulation pain as well.

I won't lie, I felt grim for three weeks, then I felt much better. You just have to potter around, rest and sleep.

If you've been offered it and your family is complete. I'd go for it.

I was also cared of the finality of it and experienced those "signalling the last part of my life" thoughts, despite being young.

However I can honestly say that the years since have been a new, much better chapter of my life that at no point has felt like the "last part." Not having to plan my life around periods, not having to miss out on things because I was too unwell, not being constantly scared of the effect my periods were having on my work sickness record and yes, the white trousers thing too!

I was sobbing as I was being pushed down to theatre and the young nurse said 'Are you scared you're going to come out of this like an old crone? Because you're not '. She was right. That's what I was worried about and it didn't happen, quite the opposite.

Thank you,
🙏🏻

This. This is what I’m afraid of. Like my youth(!) is being taken in an instant. That I won’t recognise myself . I’m not scared of the physical recovery. I’ve had two sections and a horrific third degree tear. I’m scared of the impact on my mental health.

Im a teacher so imagine id be in the middle of the range in terms of time off work.

Oh and I know this sounds weird but in a really odd way I like the arrival of my period. I like the reassurance that my body is still working as it should and that the day it starts any pmt disappears with it. I can’t fathom the cyclical emotions when you still ovulate but don’t bleed.

No. Why would you 🤷‍♀️