Please tell me positive things about life after hysterectomy

[personalsummer]

Just had the news today that this is my next step, so apart from the shock of this diagnostic I would be grateful to hear your story that life is ok after this op

TIA

Diagnosis not diagnostic!

No periods - freedom!

No need for contraception.

I had a total hysterectomy in April due to Adenomyosis, endometriosis and fibroids. I did keep my ovaries so I wasn’t menopausal immediately but I have been peri menopausal for a few years anyway.

Life is more than ok, I feel so much better. I’m not in constant pain any more, I don’t have to suffer the horrific pain and flooding during periods, I’m no longer anaemic and I actually have a sex life again.

You will be fine I promise.

Are you suffering with symptoms now?

I had my ovaries out at the same time so was put on HRT straight away. I was 45 a nd took it for 10 years then tailed it off very gradually. I hardly experienced any menopausal symptoms.

The only downside to the op is that I have a long vertical scar on my belly. My abdominal muscles are fine, I do pilates and am quite strong.

Thank you for your responses, it is good to know some positives as it has been quite a day.

Thank you MeganChips that's good to hear and glad that you're feeling much better. The only symptoms I had were spotting with dark/pink discharge over the last few months which prompted visiting my GP recently.

Unfortunately the news today was it was as dreaded and have endometrial cancer so the next step is total hysterectomy. I haven't yet reached the menopause but at 54 am a bit late but have had the night sweats, brain fog, high anxiety for a while which is why I wasn't worried too much about the spotting as I thought that it was just another menopause symptom.

However on the bright side (if there is such a thing) it looks like I am in the early stages (they think) and a hysterectomy is the best course.

Don't think HRT is going to be an option as that is something that I asked so guess I will have to see how things transpire. Trying to be as positive as I can and hope that dates for the op are asap

Thank you CaptainmyCaptain the scar wasn't something that I had expected to have but guess that is something I should have. Good to know that pilates helps.

Following as think I'm in this situation too and having scans and an internal tomorrow to find out what's next. I have endo, pcos and I think a cyst for the second time. Cannot use the pill, mini pill or injection.

personalsummer I'm so sorry you are facing this, it's tough😢

I had a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer 14 years ago. I have a hideous stomach overhang from the scar but I had no stomach elasticity following 2 big babies and I was always wobbly. I have never missed periods. From diagnosis to surgery was 5 weeks and that included having an MRI. I hope your surgery is equally speedy.

I'm not quite sure how to word this without sounding odd but it was a huge relief for me to know the cancer had gone after my surgery. It's quite powerful in terms of moving forward if they can get all the cancer.

I'm not going to lie, mental recovery was tough but I'm fit and well 14 years down the line and hopefully you will be too💐💐

All the best for tomorrow Kanga83, its a worrying time. I hope that your results are nothing to worry about.

Pay attention to the physios and do your exercises religiously but don't overdo it - it was very important to me to get my fitness back. Doing the physio made me feel in control.

Doyouthinkhesauris, thank you - it is good to know that your op was so quick and hopefully that I will be too!

I get your thinking knowing that your surgery has been successful was a relief and so far I am strangely a bit relieved that the uncertainty has gone but hoping that I can stay positive mentally as I go on this journey.

Thank you CaptainmyCaptain that is really good advice and something that I want to do and especially be in control and not scared, this is not going to beat me!

I had a hysterectomy 30 years ago when I was 34. I had a very large fibroid so my womb was the size of a 6 month pregnancy.

They managed to leave one of my ovaries so I never had to go on HRT. Because my womb was so large I had to have an abdominal hysterectomy.

My surgeon was brilliant and believed that woman are usually in hospital far too long and the advice to take it really easy is not a good idea.

I went in Friday morning, had the op in the afternoon, got up and showered Saturday morning and then went home! I didn't need painkillers (I do have a very high pain threshold though).

My surgeon said not to take it easy but to go for a walk every day and said I could do light housework such as dusting, some cooking etc. I was not to hoover or change beds though.

Me and DH went to the British Grand Prix 2 weeks later and camped there. We did quite a lot of walking. I went back to work after 5 weeks although I am pretty sure I could have gone back after 4.

No more heavy periods, no more worrying about getting pregnant - we didn't want children so have a hysterectomy fairly young was great.

@personalsummer I've just read your posts properly and seen your diagnosis (I must have missed it when typing earlier). I wish you all the very, very best with your surgery and health x

I too had a hysterectomy many moons ago - the scar is lost in the forest and totally invisible. The relief of not bleeding painfully and heavily for 2 weeks out of 4 was an indescribable relief.

The reasons for your operation are bound to add to the anxiety of all this for you; but the surgery itself is really not a major deal.

I hope that everything goes smoothly for you and that the operation will effect a cure.

Thank you Mydogisthebest - that is really good advice and something I need to factor in. I have 2 dogs that I regularly walk and was a bit apprehensive that this was something that I would have to factor in getting them walked and am so glad to hear that this will aid my recovery. 30 years ago I was at the British Grand Prix too!

Thanks Kanga83 that is much appreciated

Thanks Mishappening appreciate your response, the op is my main concern strangely and life after it. I have had many years of suffering with PCOS and nearly losing the ability to have children so to have some control I think will come as a relief if that is possible

I had a keyhole subtotal hysterectomy 8 years ago for endometriosis, I was only in hospital overnight, home by just after breakfast the next morning 14 hours after coming out of theatre. Within a week I felt almost back to normal, I was still a tiny bit bruised & sore but felt much better not having the op hanging over me. I didn't have any hot flushes even though I had my remaining ovary removed & started HRT a month later, the consultant discharged me a week after my op.

@personalsummer, I think I started off by walking for about 20 minutes but fairly slowly and gradually increased so as long as your dogs will walk nicely and not pull you may well be ok.

I also made sure I moved around at home. My surgeon said often the advice was (not sure of it still is) to literally do nothing and just sit on the settee for a couple of weeks but, in his opinion, this made recovery longer. Of course I was only 34 so he said the advice would have been different if I had been, say, in my 50's or 60's.

Total hysterectomy nearly 4 years ago at age 42. Best thing I ever did. Had had 20 years of terrible PMT, very heavy periods and headaches which caused all kind of problems. Ovarian cysts too.
No I don't have to think about and plan going somewhere, I don't have to look at the calendar and count days to decide whether I do something or not. I feel free.

very heavy periods and headaches
I had this too before the op. I started getting crippling migraines when I was pregnant, these continued every month until I had the hysterectomy.

The recovery time and size of scar will depend on individual circumstances. I had a long,vertical scar because the fibroids were inside the uterus and also wrapped round the outside other people will have a smaller bikini line scar or have it done pv. That will make a difference to how much exercise you can do straight after. I took my time over it and had a couple of months off work because my job involved a lot of bending over and carrying things. I also, personally, take a long time to get over general anaesthetic. Don't feel obliged to push yourself too hard.

Thank you all for your responses and kind words. You have all made this news so much more less daunting than I had dared to hope.

This morning I feel in a positive place to tackle the next few months and only can hope that anyone else in a similar situation can take some comfort from this post.