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).

Appin I'm so sorry you're facing this at such a young age. Will you be having your ovaries removed, too (if you don't mind me asking)?

Bean I hope you're still feeling ok.

Well done Bean! it is indeed done, and not a moment too soon. I am really pleased for you. Now, do all that they tell you and you shall be up and at 'em in no time. 🥂🍾💐

Appin sorry to hear your news. I know it is too early for you, missy be quite a shock.

I've said over and over, mine was like a spa day. Nothing to it. No pain after, to speak of, and quick recovery. I wish the same for you 💐

Must be, not missy 😳

Appin, sorry to hear your news.

The one positive thing is the fact that you are young and it's usually quicker and easier to recover from a hysterectomy if you are fairly young.

I was 34 and, as I said, had no problems at all. Only spent 1 night in hospital, no pain, no complications

App in. That must be terribly hard if you aren’t ready for it.

Came home yesterday afternoon.
Terrible diaphragm and shoulder pain last night but feel good again this morning. I suspect I’ll crash again later. Dr has written me off work for 8 weeks. I’ll be bored out of my skull

I'm an oldie, had my ovaries, womb and cervix removed 29 years ago at 40. Surgeon (lady) knew I wanted to keep my ovaries but medically they had to go so she photographed them to show me the problem. This was in the days before mobile phones and apparently they kept a Polaroid camera to take a photo of babies who had to be parted from their mums after birth.
An oestrogen implant was inserted before stitch up and I woke feeling OK and ravenous. By day 2 I was tending to the plants in the day room and my surgeon found me dressed, hair done, scooting about running errands for the other ladies who were operated on the same day. I felt wonderful and had bags of energy. It was the oestrogen which made the difference.
Now, 29 years on, I'm still having two oestrogen implants a year and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I look and feel way younger than my peers, have very robust bones, no vaginal atrophy and libido is excellent.
Just off to work now and tomorrow I'm off to the Arctic for 12 days. Life is good and I am so glad I got rid of all the excess baggage.
I hope you all recover swiftly and enjoy life to the full.

Thanks all, I really appreciate supportive comments. Have been told I'll keep my ovaries, which is a good thing, and hysterectomy should be keyhole. If that's not possible it'll be done through my c-section scar. My gynaecologist is lovely, and is really taking time to help me with emotional aspects. Glad to hear of swift recoveries, fingers crossed that's the case for me.

Poor you, Appin. Glad you are beginning to be able to get used to the idea.

Bean did you have keyhole? I'm so glad you're feeling ok.

I'm going to have mine done abdominally and haven't had a c-section before. Keeping ovaries I hope. Does anyone know of people who bounced back after 'open' hysterectomy?

I had laparoscopy yes. So 3 little holes on my tum and then sucked out the vag. Took my right ovary out coz it hurts but left my left.

I still have diaphragm and shoulder pain and can’t lie down. But feeling pretty good on and off.

Bean the gas I had from the laparoscopy was all in my abdomen and yowser it hurt for a few days. I had good pain relief though.

Can I join you? I had a failed endometrial ablation yesterday and am scheduled for a hysterectomy on the 10th December. I've been bleeding constantly since August after 16 years of horrendous periods. I'm 31.

They've tried all they can to stop my bleeding, i have an enlarged uterus and thickened lining. After failed ablation and rollerball yesterday they did a d and c to hold me off until next week but I'm bleeding quite a lot and in a lot of pain. Can't wait to have it evicted. I'm having a subtotal laparoscopic 👍

@Appin I'm sorry to hear what you're going through X I hope it's as easy on you as it can be and that someone cancels so you're in sooner

Thanks all. I'm prepared to accept a cancellation next week, but any later than that I think it might be better for the family to leave it until January. Don't want to risk being too immobile over Christmas, and would be good to have a fun Christmas with the kids before surgery and recovery.

Sorry to hear about the shoulder pain Bean, I remember that from when I had a c-section- was horrendous! Hope it eases soon, and glad all is well otherwise.

That makes sense @Appin. I'm lucky that my husband has organised to work from home after my op until Christmas. I'm missing DD's birthday due to op so we're celebrating a couple of days early and they will bring a cake into hospital 😂 I hope they give you something this week. Have you had your preop appointment yet?

Pre-op is scheduled for that strange time between Christmas and New Year- a week before surgery. Looking forward to getting more info on procedure etc. My mind is focusing on minor details like what I'll need for hospital, and blithely ignoring the bigger issues!

I suppose a cancellation would depend on pre-op too, wouldn't it? Hmm.

Congratulations Bean!

Appin sorry you have found yourself here. I hope it brings you some relief at least.

I have decided I’m going to jump in at my hysteroscopy appointment in Jan and ask to be referred straight for the hysterectomy.
I’m done after another period from hell and more painkillers than anyone should ever take.

Fanny and Always best of luck.

My ablation was a cancellation and they managed to shoe horn me into a gap for my pre op and have done the same next week for my second one.

I chose to 'not get the gory details' from the anesthestist and couldn't figure why I have a sore throat and am uncomfortable having a wee. Obviously I was intubated and had a catheter under my GA. I'm slightly nervous about having a second op within 2 weeks of the first.

I'll just be glad to stop bleeding.

Momentous day!

I have had a poo.

Sweet baby cheeses it was not nice.

But - Shoulder and diaphragm much better and still very little real pain. Just a dull ache. But I’m walking like an old lady and knackered so going in for an afternoon nap.

Well done! It gets easier once the first one is out of the way. Bracing your feet against something can make it less painful.

Taking little naps whenever you start to feel tired is the best way to go.

Fannyburney, I had an abdominal hysterectomy. They could not do it any other way because my womb was too large due to fibroids.

I was only in my 30's but I bounced back literally straight away. Only 1 night in hospital, up and showered the next morning. I could do light housework and cooking straight away.

I didn't need any pain relief but I do have a high pain threshold

I went for a walk every day and tried not to just sit around indoors. My surgeon said the advice given to women to take it very easy hinders recovery.

I was back at work after 5 weeks but I could have gone back earlier.

Oh mydog that is just what I was hoping to hear from someone! Thank you

What's the general consensus on whether to keep your cervix or not? I don't know what the plan is as I haven't actually had an appointment to discuss hysterectomy, it's just happening. I guess I could call gynae secretary next week to find out.

I know I'm keeping my ovaries. Technically speaking I don't have anything medically wrong with me. They just can't stop me from bleeding.

My surgeon is keen to take my cervix out.