Hysterectomy & fibroids

[dawny0107]

Hi
Im new here but last month i was told i need an hysterectomy for a large fibroid 5x7cm. Im 55yrs old. Periods are all over the place but woke up this morning with really heavy period and gushes, especually when standing. Is this normal and has anyone elsecbeen through this?

This was me eleven years ago. Hysterectomy was straightforward and changed my life! I didn’t want to take HRT so haven’t (even though the surgeon was keen to persuade me) although I did a lot of research about diet and changed to soy milk and heavily seeded (home made) bread amongst other small changes. Whether it made a difference if not I’ve no idea but I’ve had virtually no menopause symptoms at all so I think I’ve been lucky!! Good luck to you too.

I had a hysterectomy at 50 for a large fibroid. It's one of the best decisions I ever made. No more periods was worth the inconvenience of an operation. I recovered really well. I was off work for 12 weeks. I could easily have gone back after 6 weeks but as someone with an exemplary sickness record, I took the opportunity to swing the lead! I went straight onto HRT as I had my ovaries removed, but my dose was halved after a year and now I just use the lowest dose oestrogen patch.

Yes I had a robotic one last year and they took everything (ovaries, cervix, lymph nodes), similar reasons plus a cancer scare. Off work for 8 weeks, all fine now. I can’t take HRT so waiting to see what happens with the menopause, this is likely to be the downside of the hysterectomy. But to be honest my periods were so bad they ruled my life so each month I am thankful I don’t have to deal with that but am ok so far. And no smear tests too. 🙂

If you are under the age of average menopause and have lost your ovaries, make sure you are monitored for your bone density, ideally ever 2 to 3 years.

40 and an operation to remove the fibroid turned into a hysterectomy, as the one fibroid was grapefruit size and had junked my uterus. A month later, back at work and feeling better than I had in 15 years!

I also had fibroids and a hysterectomy, 14 years ago now, I was 45/46

Recovery is tough if it’s abdominal surgery, 3 months to feel ok and 6 months to feel back to normal, but definitely worth it.

Best thing ever, no more periods or smear tests. Menopause was ok, nothing horrendous and I’m not on HRT

Thank you everyone love all this positivity.
So the heavy gushingbis normal then? I think this is the heaviest my periods have been. Butvhave inky got to waut a nonth I am having to have my tubes and ovaries taken out too. I had biopsy and they said no cancer. Thankfullt.

Sorry that has only posted half of my post and the unedited version

I had mine 3 years ago for the same reason. It was absolutely the best thing for me. They took the whole lot, womb, ovaries, cervix. I went straight into surgical menopause which is dealt with using HRT. I wish I’d done it way sooner.

I have several fibroids, and yes they do give very heavy periods. I have had to use incontinence pads to cope with the flow, and have had blood pouring down my legs in the past.

Mine are only small but multiple and have been advised to avoid hrt as can make them increase in size, hysterectomy has been mentioned but am hoping they will disappear once I hit full menopause.

I was the same but as I'm 45 I went for the hysterectomy, actually this week last year. I was having flooding periods up to half of every month. Also found significant endo which my surgeon was able to remove at the same time. Womb, tubes and cervix out, ovaries still there but I was on hrt anyway. It's been life-changing for me.

Bless you x not good its horrible isnt it. Im nervous about hysterectomy as have nvr had operation before but i am using mibd over matter, as this is for my health and although there is no cancer they say it can turn into cancer in the future. So for my health i know i need to have it done x

Mid 40’s fibroids came back so had an abdominal hysterectomy. Best decision I made. Off work about 6 / 8 weeks. 4 nights in hospital. More keyhole is done these days so less invasive surgery.

Thanks JSB I am 55 so on target but will mention.

How long was the wait for your hysterectomy? I'm on the waiting list (England) for a large fibroid and they said it's at least a 12 month wait!

It was thee years from the point of being put on the waiting list to being called for the pre-op. I went private after a year because things got so bad that I could no longer work.

From my ultrasound which showed a fibroid dec 2024. To consultant about 3 months later who did biopsy there an then. To veinging told in dec i would need hysterectomy eith everything out i am booked in 19th feb

Thanks, it's good to hear from others who've had the same situation. I had an ultrasound in March 2025 and then the consultant put me on the waiting list and told it's at least a year wait for the hysterectomy in June 2025.

Having my womb out in my late 30s due to a giant fibroid was the best thing I’ve ever done! I wish every woman was offered it when they are done having kids. We don’t need it, it just bleeds, causes pain etc. I’ve been so free since

I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago for the same reason as you @dawny0107 . I had several small fibroids and polyps and was anaemic due to the sheer blood loss, the lowest my ferritin went was 3. I was nervous about the op but it all went smoothly and I was pretty much pain free afterwards and didn't have any of the shoulder pain I'd heard about. I felt like a new person once I'd recovered. I had my womb, ovaries and cervix removed and so far so good, I just needed to get my hrt sorted and tweaked as I went as I've had a few irritations that aren't quite under control still

Bless ya. The amount of ppl who are saying its the best thing they have had done is huge!
I thought the tenderness in my belly was from ibs but now im wonderingbif its fibroid n if the tendernous will disappear..can hope 😁
How may of ypu with fibroids the size as mine 5 x 7 x 4cm have had keyhole? Thats what im hoping for tbh but the doc said he will try but if unable to do keyhole he will do abdominal and i wont know which i have had until i wake up x