OK … considering a hysterectomy at 42

[Perriwinkles]

Right … so … I’ve been in pain all day with day 2 of my period. All my plans for the day had to be cancelled apart from meeting a friend which I powered through.

I’ve had painful periods since my first period. I remember crying at the kitchen table when I was 12 but was told to just deal with it! I took myself to the GP at age 17 and I went on the pill from age 17 to 33 and that calmed it down. Once I came off the pill, slowly but surely it all came back: the intense period pain in my back, abdomen and thighs, severe bloating (I look 5 months pregnant right now, no exaggeration) and fatigue.

I have had normal smears and an ultrasound that only showed ‘functional cysts’ which I’m told are normal. Sex has always been painful in all but the missionary position and I told the doctor this when getting a smear but she didn’t say much. I never got any pleasure out of PiV sex.

Basically … I’ve had it!

I’m so fed up …

I never got to have children and don’t plan to now & have made my peace with that.

Have any of you done this? I’m not in menopause. I still have regular periods despite some spotting before and after my period.

I’m giving a hysterectomy serious consideration as my quality of life is just gone for half the month. I get PMS for at least a week before the period to the point that I can’t trust my own decisions in that time and had post-menstrual depression as a teenager.

Would a GP entertain this? Do you know anyone who has done this? Any info? Thank you x

Endometriosis can in some families pass down the female line.

I would seriously consider seeking an initial consultation with a gynae at a private based hospital like Spire or Nuffield.

It sounds like endometriosis on the bowel. I have this, in my case my uterus is adhered to my bowels completely, thankfully sex isn’t painful.

I had endometrial ablation and have been given IBS medications to take when I’m on my period (though I no longer bleed), so far it’s working ok.

A hysterectomy isn’t risk free and if it’s endometriosis unless they remove your ovaries it won’t help your pain.

@Perriwinkles
It’s fine to ask :)
Heavy painful periods constantly, cysts and fibroids. My mum was only 34 when she had hers (they left one ovary which has still cause issue with cysts) I have two sisters neither seem to have endometriosis but one has suffered with very heavy periods and my younger sister now 36 is now experiencing constant periods :( she thought she had escaped! When I was 20 I suffered 6 weeks of heavy period and had to take medication in the hope that it stopped!!

My aunt had the ablaition which made things worse for her and went for the hysterectomy.
My Mum has 5 sisters only one hasn’t had one - I had an aim to be at least 45 before I had to have one hoping now to get to 50 with the mirena!

I wish medical professional didn’t see these type of periods as ‘normal’ sadly it looks like my daughter (18) is beginning to follow the same path she had an ovarian cysts and now seems to have endometriosis pain :( she’s been on the pill since 15 as she was heavy, irregular & in a lot of pain. We’ve decided to pay privately for her if it gets worse.

I had one in my early 40's on the nhs. I had everything taken as I had previously had cancerous cells removed about a decade before.
The first Gynae I saw in hospital said no, try x, y and z.
Few weeks later another admission due to heavy bleeding and the Gynae agreed when I said I wanted a hysterectomy. And was done a couple a months later whilst they worked on me to be fit enough for surgery.

I had adenomyosis which is similar to endo.

@Mischance

It is so irritating that the problems that women go through month after month are trivialised and not taken seriously. It can be a blight on your whole life.

I had a hysterectomy at 42. There was only a tiny fibroid but my periods were awful. I flooded for 10 days or more each month and was in dreadful pain.

I always say that the day I had the operation was the best day's sleep I ever had. It transformed my life completely - I was not in pain; I could go out for the day without taking cumbersome supplies; I did not have to cancel arrangements because I was lying in bed in pain; I did not have to get up and change the sheets in the middle of the night when I bled through a large tampon + 2 large pads.........

There is one warning I would give however. Even if you only have your uterus removed and retain your ovaries, it still does cause you to have the effects of menopause, notably the start of osteoporosis. I was not told this and have osteoporosis problems now some years later. So .... please put yourself on calcium tablets as soon as you have had the op.

Good luck.

I don't agree about osteoporosis. I had my hysterectomy at 36 with 1 ovary left. I am now 67 and had a bone scan 2 years ago when they told me my bones show no sign of osteoporosis and in fact look like the bones of someone much younger.

They asked if I exercised regularly but I don't. I also have never taken calcium tablets and don't eat much dairy (never use cow's milk).

I had very few problems with menopause, which I didn't go through until late 50's, unlike my mum who had lots of problems.

Osteoporosis is a result of lack of oestrogen. Your body can manufacture oestrogen in other ways (fat women have more oestrogen for example) after your ovaries are removed. All smokers don't get lung cancer which doesn't mean lung cancer isn't caused by smoking.
If you have an early menopause eg surgical then you are much more likely to get osteoporosis when elderly.

When the osteoporosis came to light - unfortunately because of breakages - the consultant told me about how a hysterectomy even with ovaries preserved can cause this.

If you look this up you will see it relates to early ovarian failure that follows hysterectomy, even when the ovaries are both preserved. No-one seems to fully understand why this happens.

I would take the calcium and Vit D even if ovaries preserved.

It does seem like a big decision but I have done nothing but eat and sleep all day despite having a long To Do list & I’m not sure this is how I want to live my life! I have a long work shift tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday and it’ll be willpower that gets me through them!

That said, it sounds like a hysterectomy is not without its risks: a PP mentioned someone whose other organs started filling the gap left & of course, osteoporosis….the thoughts of no longer having periods, such mood fluctuations and the intense fatigue, diarrhoea & bloating & painful sex makes it seem worth it…tough call … I’ll see what gynaecologist says.

Hey. I'm recovering from a hysterectomy atm. I had it done as I had high grade abnormal cells. I also had my overies and tubes removed so am now on HRT.
I had the procedure done through key hole. It was a very positive experience. Very little if any pain, up walking the same day.
Taking the HRT has the added bonus of preventing PMT as my hormones are the same all the time.
Sorry havnt read the whole thread. But if it's the procedure your conserned about, honestly it was a breeze. I'm now able to live free of having cervical cancer and ovarian cancer which is amazing. I'm about the same age as you. I have several children but excepted I won't have more.

@Justmeandme19

It sounds like it was a very necessary procedure for you.

I guess I have many fears about getting it. I suffer with the extreme form of PMS (PMDD) and so, I could only imagine the relief of that being steady. It’s like I can’t trust my own decisions because of it.

Friends say I’ll change my mind and want a baby but I feel I’m running out of time as my FSH levels are high and I’m single!

I just think quality of life would improve tenfold without all these symptoms every month. I missed my period one month and instead of being worried about it, I was relieved to have a month off!

Wishing you a full and healthy recovery.

The bit about organs filling the space...........I had some post-op discomfort and consultant said that this often happens as everything resettles into a new place. It did not last long.

Thank you.
I have no idea what it's like to be in so much pain every month. But I think sometimes you have to weigh things up in life.
If you can make peace with not having children or maybe have some counciling. Your quality of life would greatly improved and I think that out ways everything.

@Justmeandme19

Hear hear! To be honest, I feel I have made peace with not having children especially since the chances are so low. I think my friend who has children worries I’ll change my mind - she’s the only one I’ve told about the hysterectomy idea. I don’t think I’ll change my mind. I love children but that does not mean I have to have my own. It would have been great if it had happened when I was younger but it didn’t. I have lots of nephews & nieces & I enjoy my friends’ children. That’s enough now.

@Mischance

Ah ok I see … the resettling makes sense. As long as it was short-lived, that’s the main thing.

I had a hysterectomy at 34 it was the best thing ever.
I had years of bother. I was told if you have children it will get better.
After I had children I was told it was probably because of that.
Tried coil, various pills. Had laparoscopy, d and c. Nothing worked. I had very irregular periods. Sometimes a 2 month break. Another time I bled for 9 months. I had ovarian cysts too.The last few years before I had the hysterectomy I had floods, large clots.
Got to the stage the doctor had to come out some months and give me pethidene (spelling)
Sex was very painful.
I saw a female gynaecologist who was intent on saving my womb. By that stage my life was a misery. My own doctor who was female said she was referring me to a different consultant. The examination was horrific. Extremely painful.
He and the nurse were lovely and he said the only thing to help me would be a hysterectomy. Was in within 2 weeks. Best thing ever. I kept my ovaries so no early menopause.

Did any of you take contraceptives after 40 that stopped periods?

I think I might look into that for the immediate future considering I’m still waiting for the gynaecologist appointment 1.5 years later.

Hi, I suffered with extremely heavy and painful periods which was due to having fibroids. I was 40 and trying to conceive, so I opted for abdominal myomectomy, it was life changing. My periods are no longer as painful or heavy, my periods are regular and no longer than 4 days. If your period issues are down to Fibroids this may be an option to consider. However , a good friend of mine had a severe case of fibroids and she was offered and underwent a hysterectomy at 42, that was the best option for her.

Thanks @Maze76

In the ultrasound I had a few years ago they said I didn’t have fibroids. I went private to get it done.

I did this last year at 43. I had a huge fibroid and was just over it- like you by then I’d made peace about not having kids and I was just over periods.

I’m in Australia and have private insurance so just had to pay for the surgeon and anaesthetist. I had tried other stuff so my GP referred me to the specialist I’d researched and chose, I saw her and she booked the surgery. They did it as laparoscopic surgery so recovery is fine. I have about five scars around my belly like I’ve been stabbed with a bread knife 😂. Plus they use your belly button.

I had my cervix out but kept my ovaries so no menopause yet. Recovery was easy, I stayed two nights, I was up walking around and showering the next day and I went home alone on public transport (1.5 hour journey) so I knew I’d be fine recovering at home alone . Very tired for a few days, and a bit sore but recovering from a hysterectomy was way easier than my periods were. Most of the discomfort is from all the gas they pump into you for the laparoscopic surgery. I had two weeks off then returned to working from home. I could’ve gone in to the office if necessary but it would’ve made me more tired. Hardest part was explaining to the cats I couldn’t carry them.

it’s been a year now and seriously the best money I’ve ever spent, wish I’d done it sooner.

It sounds very much like endometriosis. A hysterectomy will probably help but won’t necessarily cure the pain if that’s the case. You will need them to excise the endo at the same time as it has its own oestrogen supply independent of your ovaries/womb.

If you can afford a private consult find your nearest named consultant below (most will also work privately) & ask to be added to their NHS list.

www.bsge.org.uk/centre/

There was a woman in the news just yesterday that I read (maybe not national news maybe local can't remember). She's in her 30s and was recently told the wait list for a hysterectomy on the NHS is 2 years so she has taken out a bank loan/raised money to have it done privately - I believe it cost in the region of £13k though!

@twinningatlife private hysterectomy is about 7k all in where I am (South) privately.

Thanks for the comments. It’s good to hear this as that would be a concern:

I went home alone on public transport (1.5 hour journey) so I knew I’d be fine recovering at home alone

I’m gutted to hear that having a full hysterectomy might not get rid of the pain! I didn’t realise it had its own oestrogen supply. That’s horror movie stuff!

I’m going to talk to my GP again soon. I’ll be a little angry if I’ve had endo all these years and was just told to suffer it out!

£13k????

I just googled how much is a private hysterectomy beacon clinic dublin and it said €5000

Mine cost about £6k six years ago - that included removal of ovaries.

My insurers authorised some insane sum - I think it was about £200k - in case of complications, but there weren't any.

For some bizarre reason I had to pay a small charge for the pressure socks they gave me to wear during the op, as they weren't covered by insurance - I got a bill for them about three months later