Hysterectomy.

[Beanfield]

Hurrah and Hallelujah. My uterus has been given an eviction notice!

30 years of being a complete bitch. Let me down twice (miscarriage and ectopic). Did what it should do twice (2 grown up DDs). Never officially diagnosed with anything but suggestions have been PCOS and endometriosis. 30 solid years of hideous periods. 30 years of being fobbed off by assorted GPs who told me it was normal to faint, vomit, incapacitate and take over my life for one out of every three or four weeks.
It’s got to the point where my cycles are just 18-20 days long, I bleed huge amounts for 5 days (emptying cup every 2 hours), overflowing, clots. Light bleeding on and off for a further 4 days. Bleeding on and off randomly mid-cycle. Puking and dizzy. Period diarrhoea, excruciating, labour style pain. Another 3 days of pain while i ovulate plus bleeding then too.
Tried everything. Mirena - I bled for 8 months then it fell out. Painfully. Pill - unhinged. Drugs - I’m allergic to the good ones and the others don’t work so well. Herbs, flowers, tea, homeopathy, diet - all bollox.

Finally saw a Dr who actually listened and agreed to whip the bugger out. Not sure how yet as apparently it's ‘bulky’ (like the rest of me) so need a scan to see how big it is. Also waiting on smear results and endometrial biopsy (which hurt like a bastard and is still hurting 4 days later).

So the point of this is to gather top tips, info, advice, ideas.

Things like:

How long? It’s routine so i’m Assuming months.
How long will i need off work?
Will my skin go wrinkled?
Will my (already problematic) facial hair get worse?
How long will I be in hospital? (This will depend on how they get it out I know)
How long can I use it as an excuse to not hoover?

Also I need somewhere for random musings so I dont drive my long suffering H and dear friends up the wall.

Congratulations! I was so relieved when my uterus and ovaries finally 'left the building'. It's the best thing I've ever done.

I hope your results don't throw up anything to complicate things and you get an early date for the operation. Your symptoms sound like endometriosis. You're right that painkillers never really touch it; or at least not in sensible quantities.

Oh. And fabulous consultant suggested possibly Adenomyosis. Which also makes sense.

Thanks Val. I’m so bloody relieved its nearly over.,

BEST Thing I ever did too! I had mine done this time last year. I can’t express just how fantastic I feel to finally be pain free. Recovery was fast but I made sure I rested and ate nutritious food. My skin looks great. No wrinkles yet! But that could also be down to my change in diet. I had endometriosis and became vegan at the beginning of last year to cut out hormones from animal products. I think it helps. Good luck OP.

How long? It’s routine so i’m Assuming months.

It depends on waiting times in your area. Months sounds likely.

How long will i need off work?

Official recommendation is between 6 weeks and 3 months, depending on the work you do and how your recovery goes. I was back after 7 weeks, on a phased basis, for my office job.

Will my skin go wrinkled?

Never heard of this happening! Mine hasn't.

Will my (already problematic) facial hair get worse?

Mine is no worse or better.

How long will I be in hospital? (This will depend on how they get it out I know)

I had an abdominal operation and was in for two nights, but everyone is different. 2 - 5 nights is normal. I had a horizontal incision; if you have a vertical one due to bulky uterus or previous incisions, it can take slightly longer to settle down. The keyhole op is supposed to be the least debilitating but not everyone is suited to it.

How long can I use it as an excuse to not hoover?

Oh, at least a year "to be on the safe side" . But if you are less cautious you should be OK to do it by six weeks!

Best thing in the world! Celebrated ever since by buying too many skimpy knickers.

Cervical smear result NAD. Phew!

Still hurting and bleeding from the biopsy taken on Tuesday.
Also wobbling a bit but feeling s bit PMTish.
Been reading up on adenomyosis. Why has nobody ever suggested this before? I’ve been back and forth to the GP forever.

Because it is simply not recognised by some GPs and they try and treat such problems without success or referring onto a specialist. It often takes women many years to get diagnosed with endometriosis for similar reasons.

True.

Will they let me keep my uterus in a jar? I’ll ask.

Hi beanfield, I have adenomyosis with two adenomyomas, and also have an eviction date!!

Hi gttia. Have you a date? How are you feeling about it?

I’m swinging from elation and relief to wibbling about pain and dying.

I’m on the waiting list so reading with interest. I thought it would just be removal of womb but gynae said if I left ovaries I would still get pelvic pain and if I left cervix, if any tissue was left attached I could still experience bleeding........I know it’s my decision but how do I decide when he’s made it sound so bad to leave ovaries and cervix? Surgical menopause doesn’t sound much fun but neither does still suffering with pain if I don’t have them removed.

He also said laparoscopic hysterectomy has a recovery of two weeks

Any advice appreciated
Thanks

Watching carefully, as I am considering this for heavy, debilitating flooding periods caused by fibrous. I have been told it is an option for me and I am tempted because I'm not keen on the mirena coil idea.

I can't answer your questions, but I'll wish you luck.

Tough one bear. I’m swinging between get everythough out in one go, to leaving an ovary or 2. Really dont know. Don’t fancy cold turkey surgical menopause but equally just want the buggers gone.

Beanfield have you got a scan date yet? Hope the biopsy pain settles soon but congrats on getting someone to agree to hysterectomy-I was equally thrilled to be told I could finally have one.

topseyt Mirena was a nightmare for me!

Hi I have a date, yes. I'm leaving my ovaries and cervix and been told six weeks minimum off work.
I have four weeks to go hooray!!

reading and following - I have had my presurgical assessment, and have been told it would be within 3 months of this.

I'm losing everything, cervix, ovaries, the lot.

I am quite scared. I'm also quite fat, and have been told to use the waiting time to lose weight.

What are you expecting from surgical menopause?
will you have HRT straight away from day 1?

so you expect to go grey?

I'm glad I've found this thread

I had the keyhole hysterectomy just leaving my cervix, I had it done NHS choose & book at a local private hospital. I went in at 5.00PM, went to theatre at 6.00PM & was back in bed watching soaps by 8.00PM, I had my catheter out at 5.00AM next morning & was on my way home by 9.00AM next morning. I waited a month before I started HRT, didn't have any problems with the operation, I was a bit bruised but took Arnica tablets to help reduce the bruising, I hardly needed any pain relief after the first day, was back driving 6 days later & was discharged 8 days after the op.

I haven't aged due to having it done, just the amount I would have done anyway & don't feel any different in myself to how I did before, just don't suffer the terrible pain & bleeding I used to have.

May. That’s really useful thanks.

Nat. Not may.

@clairetree1 within 3 months.....not long now then. Didn’t know it would make me grey. I only have one grey hair at the moment. I’m scared too, but then every month I can’t wait for an op date so the suffering will all be over.

@Nat6999 how long before you went back to work? (If you work) and how was the time without HRT? Sounds like you had a good recovery if you were driving so soon. Good to hear your experience. Thanks

My waiting list is an average of 12 months long. Ive been on the waiting since end of Feb.

@Beanfield did they say how long you would have to wait?

that should have said "do you expect to go grey? it was a question, not a prediction - I don't know the answer myself I was just asking

No idea what the wait is here. Might phone someone tomorrow and ask for a ballpark.