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Original poster

please tell me about hysterectomys, good and bad!

11 replies

Meglet · 19/03/2009 13:54

I am probably having a hysterectomy sometime in the next few months. Ovaries will be left in though so I won't have to have a rotten early menopause.

I have had 2 CS's so have experience of abdominal surgery but even the consultant said that a hysterectomy was harder. Can anyone tell me any idea how bad I will feel, will walking be really hard for some time, how long off work... etc. Thank you in advance MNetters!

OP posts:

JackBauer · 19/03/2009 14:02

My mum and my friends mum both have had hysterectomys.
My mums was a few years ago and was a full hysterectomy through a large cut (like a cs)as she had already been through menopause, she couldn't lift anything for a few weeks or push a hoover, and she found it hard to sit herself up as all her stomach muscles were 'weird' (her words)
She was told to take 6-8 weeks, my sister moved in and did all heavy stuff, cooking cleaning etc, mum couldn't carry a casserole dish across kitchen at the start so she did all her shopping online and arranged for man to bring it into kitchen for her. After the first few weeks she was fine, but she still says how shocked she was at how much you depend on your stomach muscles to do things.
4 months after she flew to Australia for a months holiday!

My friends mum had a keyhole hysterectomy, it was much faster recovery although she still had a few weeks where she needed help and couldn't/wouldn't lift anything heavy.

Original poster

Meglet · 22/03/2009 21:08

Back again! Bumping!

OP posts:

clayre · 22/03/2009 21:12

my mum and my aunty both had one, my mum had a vaginal one but then heamorraged and had to be taken back into theatre and cut open and then spent time in intensive care, her recovery took a while i remember her not being able to move much for the first few weeks.

My aunties was fine and normal, she had previously had her overies removed and she said she felt much the same.

nickschick · 22/03/2009 21:15

A retired nurse I knew swore by them she was an absolute advocate that the womb was for growing babies and once your child rearing days were done to get rid it was in her opinion a load of old used tissue that just messed around with the female body.

She herself felt a renewed sense of life after her op and was forever saying if people realised this they would have theirs out too.

Original poster

Meglet · 23/03/2009 07:18

nickschick I've never heard of such enthusiasm for them, especially from a nurse. Hopefully mine won't be too stressful.

OP posts:

nickschick · 23/03/2009 07:44

She truly thought it gave her a new lease of life -I know shed worked with cancer patients but when I asked her she herself hadnt suffered heavy periods/fibroids or anything she just thought it was a bad idea to hang onto a tired used uterus

JackBauer · 23/03/2009 07:57

Oh my mum thought hers was great, she fought for 15 years to have one as she had bad problems that meant she had to have D and C's every few years to clear clots (or something, I didn;t pay much attention )
She booked and went on teh holiday as she said she felt young again after she got over the op!
She is super smug about it when I am on as well!

Original poster

Meglet · 02/05/2009 20:39

just ressurected (sp?) this old thread as I am definately having an abdominal hysterectomy this July . Its being done as a preventative measure against cervical cancer, I keep getting abnormal smears and theres not much left of my cervix to cut out. But I've had 2 gorgeous dc's so its not the end of the world.

Any more advice / anecdotes / scare stories gratefully received!

OP posts:

BellaNoir · 02/05/2009 21:55

meglet: can I suggest you dip into this forum which has lots of info and a busy forum including monthly support groups. These can give you an idea of how people have coped.
Personally it was a bit scary having an op but a year later I feel so much better, that I don't think I would change it.
HTH

poshwellies · 02/05/2009 22:23

Good luck Meglet-I had mine nearly 2 years ago and all is well here.I feel soooo much better (and no more periods YAY! ).

Try the link that Bella posted.I got alot of information and help from there.

ShowOfHandsNoLongerKissesKunes · 02/05/2009 22:28

My Mum had a vaginal hysterectomy after years of fibroids and D&Cs and eventually a 'growth'. She discharged herself on day 2 (sadly her Dad had died and she needed to get to her Mum) and you wouldn't have known she'd had surgery. She took things slowly but physically recovered quickly.

Also, she's healthier, has more energy, happier, skin's better, no more migraines, hair's shinier and she feels like a new woman. It's been amazing for her.

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