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).

I didn't have a drain at all, and only had my catheter in until seven the following morning. I also didn't have a vaginal pack, though my surgery was laparoscopic, vaginally assisted. I only have three scope wounds, two of which are about 2cm wide and one across my belly button which is wider. I don't even have dressings on them at the moment, as it's best to let them heal in fresh air. I'm just washing them gently in the shower.

Stuckmom, my hysterectomy was for cervical cancer too, so I totally empathise with what you'd posted. I was the only one in my ward who had cancer, and it felt as if everyone else was glad to have the op, whilst I was devastated. Right up until being wheeled into theatre I felt completely disconnected from it all, thinking it might not happen after all. My consultant has told me it will take a long time to get over emotionally. I imagine with pain you're finding it even harder.

Im sprry to hear pf tpur diagnosis @appin I didn't get to meet the women on the ward I had a side room my surgeon requested it as the same ward a lot of pregnant women enter for obs and I was trying for a baby for 3 years when I was diagnosed. He insisted I have a private room for my own mental health as it crushed me knowing if never have a child I too felt very disconnected close froends and family tried their best to be supportive saying at least no more periods or smear tests though when in actual fact those words cut like a knife and i would kill to go back to days of period pain heavy periods and the dreaded smear I suffered with my periods (not as much as many of the women here though.)
4 years on I still struggle emotionally everyday. Cancer ruined my life, and the pain is a daily reminder. Yes I'm incredibly grateful I am alive so many arent. And i am well now. but I doubt I'm ever going to get over I can't carry a baby. I also suffer from survivors guilt for all the women who didn't make it. Especially the mother's.

Appin. I’m glad to see you safely the other side. Take it easy. That is an order.

My last stitch fell out last night. It was right inside my belly button and I couldn’t get at it to take it out (I took the others out weeks ago). It was annoying the crap out of me so I’m happy it’s gone.

I’m taking this as a hint that I’m completely back to normal. I’m also a bit unhinged from not being at work and ready to get back now. Got another week off so going to fill it with visiting friends and my daughter.

Stuckmom. That sounds really really tough.

@Beanfield glad you're feeling well heed tour own advice and rest! How long since your surgery. Milk it for all you can your body has been through tremendous ordeal!!!! Feet up NOW X

It's been awful but I am here to tell the tale. I can't have kids so I have dogs... lots of dogs!

Sorry, ive just realised my name may be confusing, I am a step parent dss lives with me and DH I raise him as my own. Just to clarify if anyone is scrstching their head haha

Stuckmom. Makes perfect sense. There’s many routes to being a mum.
I’m 6 weeks post now so feeling fine and back to normal. I’m also a midwife and very very good at dishing out the advice and very very bad at following it myself.

Stuckmom
Appin
It must be very difficult when everyone else is thrilled to have a hysterectomy because of their problems but yours is a necessity due to cancer

I am reading all the recovery posts with interest as I am hopeful for a date soon.

beanfield I remember shortly after you were eager for a “furtle”. Can I ask what it’s like without your cervix? That’s the thing that is freaking me out most tbh.

I am madly doing pelvic floor exercises- I have no idea why the sudden need- I think I am a bit scared that it wont be possible to feel everything to do it after. A dreadful period is just about to start and I’m hoping it will be the last one ever, I don’t want to stock up on sanpro because I don’t want to be left with expensive unusable tampons after it’s done

Does anyone have any HRT advice on what to expect prior to starting? How long after op you start it? How quickly it takes effect?

TMI warning.

Bringback. It feels odd. There’s more room up there. H said he didn’t notice anything different during our annual shag, but he was quite drunk and I’m not sure he has any knowledge of female anatomy and what’s actually gone. Also TMI but it didn’t feel any different to before and I’m happy to report it still appears to work well.

You’ve been ok enough to DTD already? Wow! I am definately not telling DH it will be ok that quick
Seriously, thank you for sharing. Knowing how it feels now I was scared it would be awful afterwards so thank you. Good to know DH wouldn’t notice any difference-although he would be so happy to get near me he wouldn’t contemplate complaining lol.

Not TMI! V reassuring

It was Christmas and I’d had rather a lot of Prosecco

Hello, can I join the gang? Waiting for a date for an abdominal version due to a huge fibroid that was only discovered last month. It’s the size of a six month pregnancy apparently😳.

So, reading everyone’s experiences with great interest and writing a lot of shopping lists for hospital and afterwards.

Macaroon snap! My ginormous preggers sized fibroids are coming out with my uterus next Tues. I'll let you know how I get on.

How has yours just been diagnosed? I was lying in bed on my back and realised I could see and feel a massive hard lump in my tummy. This was about 18 months ago. I had been having nightmare periods for a while before that, so went to the GP who was brilliant and had me checked out for ovarian cancer within a couple of days. Blood test for c125 and scan. So thankful it was just fibroids, but my god I can't wait to get rid of them. I'm v lucky to have two teenage dds and at 45 I'm not expecting to miss my uterus. It must be infinitely harder for young women with cancer. All going well, im keeping my ovaries to stave of menopause for a while.

Then it took forever to get this far, working incredibly slowly through various options first. Had a failed hysteroscopy and ablation last June. I was eventually booked in for a hysterectomy supposedly in September but then it was postponed twice and here I still am.

Hideous week of work to get through first, and I'm having sleepless nights from overcharged brain. Just want to crack on with the op now.

Just a week Fanny. Keep breathing, stay calm.

I’m bloody ovulating and it hurts.

I ditched my right ovary because it did this. Hurts, hard, swollen, bloated gut and screwed up bowels. My left one never did this and I think I only ovulated from my right one, apart from maybe twice a year from my left.

And now my bloody stupid left one is doing it.

Obviously better than pouring out and crippling period pain every 3 weeks and my god do I feel better from that. But I’m still a bit cross with it.

That made no sense. I meant my left one rarely did this.

I’ve got follow up appointment tomorrow.

I have phone appointment tomorrow to sort out return to work note.

That must be rubbish Beanfield. I wonder why it causes so much pain?

Fanny - I can't believe you've had to wait so long. I've been really lucky as although my ongoing issues have been going for years once everything came to a head it was only 4 months until hysterectomy. 19 days after failed ablation.

I feel amazing mood wise now I'm not taking hormones. Pain is mostly gone except when I overdo it. Same with bleeding. Unfortunately my 4 year old has tonsillitis so I'm overdoing it this week.

Tonight dh has gone to sleep in her room so I can get a good night's sleep 🙌

Fanny I guess I sort of knew something was going on but I was in denial, mainly because I’ve always had a bit of a tummy, so I thought I was just getting fatter to be honest. My periods have never been dreadful, heavy yes, but I worked with someone who used to flood right through clothes and onto furniture so I think that was my benchmark for out-of-the-ordinary .

I got diagnosed with severe anemia after a blood test for something else, and it was investigations for the anaemia that that got the fibroid identified (after a quick trip down the ovarian cancer road due to slightly elevated ca levels - quickly discounted thankfully).

I’m late 40s and the consultant - who I loved, v sensible and pragmatic - said well we could try this, this or this but really, your best bet is a hysterectomy because that will solve both the fibroid and anaemia permanently . So that’s what I’m doing. I cannot wait, but I have no date yet.

I’ll be really interested to hear how you get on. I’ve never had any kind of surgery before so I’m quite apprehensive and the recovery will be hard as I am a very on-the-go, independent person so relying on everyone else to help me will be a challenge for everyone. But - short term pain for long term gain hopefully. The very thought of no more periods!!!!

Beanfield, maybe your remaining ovary has a point to prove now it's doing all the work and perhaps it'll calm down when it realises that's not big or clever.

Down with tonsillitis- hope better soon for all your sakes Gin

I'm breathing iiiiin and oooout.

Actually I'm going to try out my new headphones-in-an-eyemask that I amazoned today for hospital. If I can't sleep in my own bed... I don't stand a chance. still, they've got drugs there!

Macaroon, very similar to me. I'm anaemic now though never was before and though my periods had been long and heavier for a couple of years, I've only in the last year got to the flooding through to the furniture with no notice stage. I'd skip that bit tbh.

I’m very much hoping to skip that bit Fanny! I’m currently on mega doses of iron which I am struggling with, it gives me the boak basically. But I feel like a new woman already after a month of it. Feel about 500% better than I did before. Here’s hoping I get a date soon.

bean do let us know how you get on, you have just ensured I am getting it all out. Gynae reccommecded all by saying if I left my ovaries I could still get pain and I was dithering a bit because of the surgical menopause bit. Sorry, after all that, you are still suffering, hope it will settle in the future.

always hope your LO is better soon so you can take it a bit easier.

Macaroon fingers crossed you get a date soon. I am waiting....and waiting....and waiting......

fanny wow- shock discovery. This time next week.......how do you feel about it? I think I am excited to get a date but the nerves will kick in when I actually get it.

Appointment went like this.....

Dr. How are you?
Me. Absolutely fine.
Dr. That’s good. Any questions?
Me. No
Dr. Bye then
Me. Thanks. Bye.

Back to work next week. Nice phased return for a couple of weeks.

God bless the NHS

Hooray, Beanfield! Run free! (But slowly). Hope your return to work goes smoothly.