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).

If men suffered like this I doubt the waiting list would be so long

Whatsthis bear, if this happened to men it would get treated like a national emergency.
Bean, glad you like the name, Carrie was already taken but I am definitely also married to Mr Pooter ;-) I think she would have been a frequent visitor to AIBU and Relationships!

Watching this with interest.

I too suffer with the most horrendous periods - waterfalls of blood, huge clots, stabbing pain. Leading me to be seriously anaemic to the point I was almost shipped off to the hospital for a blood transfusion.

Anyway, been under the gynae at the local county hospital for nearly a year now.

Tried the tranexamic/mefananic acid - worked for a while but then it stopped working.

Had ultrasound that showed I had one very large fibroid and a large number of smaller ones (I have had fibroids previously and have twice had some removed when I had private medical cover about 10 years ago) and also a "mass" which they thought was a polyp.

Had a hysteroscopy booked for myectomy (fibroid removal) and polpyectomy, but they were short staffed and it had to be rescheduled, but the consultant that did the surgery wasn't trained for myectomy so only did the polypectomy and biopsies - total waste of time!

Then they put me on the wonder-drug Esmya to hopefully shrink the fibroids hoping that I would hit menopause while on the Esmya as you could take three cycles - so about 9 months. I struggled through the first month with the most awful side effects and just as it was all settling down, the drug as withdrawn as it was found to cause serious liver damage meaning that some ladies had to have liver transplants - so had to come off that PDQ. I found that out by google! No letter from the consultant telling me to stop, or the doctor! I will be having words! So I went onto Norethisterone to stop periods and been on this for three months now - bliss - and aim to continue until my next consultant's appointment.

I have an ultrasound next week to see what state my uterus is in and then a consultant's appointment at the end of the month when I am going to demand action! I want the fucking thing out! Now!

As the uterus is the size of a 20-week pregnancy (!) due to the fibroids, a hysterectomy may not be able to be done vaginally or by laparoscapy, so will have to be done with a horizontal or vertical incision - which is going to cause issues as I am what my last consultant called "rather cuddly"!!

Back to fat club to lose some weight before the end of October and if I can lose a couple of stone, all well and good and hopefully the consultant will listen and do as I want.

Sorry for the essay!

Hi Jappydooda - ahh yes Esmya. After I had had it for six months ( and suffered horrendous acne!) I got sent a letter saying it has caused liver probs in some women. No offer of a blood test mind. I hadn’t googled so didn’t know it had resulted in transplant! Like the poor women didn’t have enough problems. That’s terrible. Hope the ultrasound results in them agreeing to remove although sounds like it will be a big op for you.

Popping on to ask - has anyone had a period two weeks after finishing the last one? My last one was so horrendous I took time off work sick and now, after only a two week break, it all started again just as bad but thankfully less painful this time. Just wondering if this is likely to be ongoing? Google not much help other than “ peri menopausal “ (like the constant hot flushes weren’t enough indication) but don’t say if it’s likely to be a one off of all the damn time.

Have a good weekend all.

Evening all. I have a scan date which will find out how big my uterus is and then they can say whether lap, vaginal or abdominal.
Moving slowly but surely.
I do have another bloody period brewing. Which is wrong as I think I only had one about 2 weeks ago. Bastard

I'm glad things are moving. It's a great feeling when you have the date for your operation, and then you have your last ever period. Fingers crossed that your uterus won't be too large for the laparoscopic operation.

Cannot bloody wait.

Worrying about work though. Which is daft but I do.

My experience

How long? It’s routine so i’m Assuming months 18 weeks
How long will i need off work? I had lap host and could have gone back at 4 weeks but waited until 6
Will my skin go wrinkled? mine hasn’t
Will my (already problematic) facial hair get worse? Mine hasn’t
How long will I be in hospital? (This will depend on how they get it out I know) I went home the same day! Op in morning and home by 4pm
How long can I use it as an excuse to not hoover? Hoovering is not possible for 12 months

I had a full clear out for precancerous changes in uterus. Best decision I have ever made.

Fab. Thanks Pierce.

Hi all,
So sorry to possibly derail this thread but I have a couple questions please:

• Did any of you selectively seek out a hysterectomy?
• if yes, was it easy getting one through NHS or would private be a better option?
• I've found myself getting hairier around my chin/moustache region in the last year (plucking daily because 5pm shadow starts at 3pm!)
• would a hysterectomy help this?
• lastly, and probably most ignorantly, if I asked to get it all removed privately or NHS (full hysterectomy) would I be given the surgery on the basis that the ovulation pains are unbearable every month? I don't know much about this procedure. I've been sterilized already, but things seem to be progressively worse. PMS symptoms are increasingly getting harder every month. Mood swings, adult acne (I'm 40!) , crazy chocolate and carb cravings, depression and moods not made better despite upping my antidepressants.

The way I figure, if I could get this thing out of my body the happier I'll be.

Once I'd had the op, I felt strangely 'off the hook' as far as work was concerned. I was signed off for an unassailable reason, so I just stopped thinking about it. My employer was very supportive when I returned and let me take a phased return at my own pace - I built up my hours back to full time over a four week period. I started by just doing four hours a day, which was lovely!

Salazar I think you’d struggle getting it on request for those symptoms sorry

@Salazaar It wasn't so much easier as much, much quicker to have my hysterectomy done privately. It was six weeks from my initial consultation to having the operation.

I'm sorry to say it made no difference to my burgeoning moustache .

Your consultant would probably want to diagnose the cause of your ovulation pain in order to recommend a hysterectomy - have you had any tests done yet?

Thanks Pierce and Screaming I've not been to docs yet with anything. A couple of abnormal cells on smears, then a CIN3 where colposcopy was performed immediately (I lived really and was flown to nearest surgery unit). I've had a few issues, but nothing life threatening or overly uncomfortable (except for the bloody crippling ovulation pains which are worse than periods).

I just wanted to know if I could privately or NHS voluntarily get rid of my uterus/womb/fallopian tubes and eggs.

It's the one part of my body that I have the most problem with. I'm grateful for what I've received (2 children after 2 MCs) I want it out now.

Bean funny I just posted yesterday about having a period only two weeks after the last one. Is that a frequent occurrence with you? Glad you have a scan date, fingers crossed for an op date soon & they can do it lap.

ILovePierce thanks for sharing your experience, glad it all went well. You seem to have had no complications recovery wise. I will pass on the advice about needing 12 months recovery before attempting the hoovering.

Salazaar I’ve been under gynae for years and tried every treatment option they insisted on first. I don’t think they would be happy to give you one for your symptoms I’m afraid. Privately someone may be happy to relieve you of several thousand pounds to do it for you.

Screaming I can honestly say I wouldn’t give work a second thought. Your work sound lovely and supportive though.

Salazaar You're best off talking to a consultant about whether your present pain and history of abnormal smears would be sufficient medical grounds for a hysterectomy. You could see one privately - mine was covered by insurance, but it cost £200 for a 45 minute consultation. I'd already had tests on the NHS by that point, which showed there weren't really any other options, and the consultant scheduled the operation there and then.

They'd need to consider whether a hysterectomy, oophorectomy or both would be the most appropriate solution. Bear in mind that if your ovaries go, you will go straight into surgical menopause. My hot flushes kicked in about 48 hours after my ovaries came out.

Hi everyone. I have just popped onto the current hysterectomy thread to see if I can help anyone. I am 17 months since TAH, with the additional removal of a mahoosive fibroid. Prior to this I had appalling issues with my gynae, cysts, endo, gore- level heavy periods, you name it 🤣
I was peri-menopausal when I had the op.

I felt tremendously supported with the thread of the day and I suspect it is still very useful as an archive as we discussed very similar concerns

I had to have full abdominal surgery because of the fibroid and it really was quite manageable if you plan enough. I cannot say it loud enough but I did not feel hormonally or innately different post-surgery. You are still you ❤️.

So this post is basically an AMA and wondering if current posters have managed to find old threads 😀

Hello all, I'm new to this thread and new to the prospect of having a hysterectomy. My retroverted uterus and cervix have been the cause of uncomfortable sex for, well, forever really. Four vaginal births later I have a moderate cervical prolapse and mild rectocele/cystocele. Symptoms not awful but physio has not helped one bit. I saw my consultant this week expecting either more physio or a repair op and was surprised when offered a vaginal hysterectomy. He did say it was probably too radical but the more I think about it I'm struggling to see a downside. No more periods (mine are nowhere near as bad as some I've read about on here but last 7 days out of every 28 and are pretty heavy) Zero chance of pregnancy (main pro for me as I was hoping to be sterilised) and elimating risk of cancers. Am I missing something or should I go for it?! I'm 34 btw.

Evening all.
What a shower - thanks. V useful and reassuring

WeShould - difficult one, and I’m biased so I’d be going for the ‘get rid’ approach. But you have to balance out your symptoms vs the benefits.

I hurt. There’s no need for it. And I want the fucker gone ASAP. My only fear is what if it carry’s on hurting afterwards? Irrational but .....

Just dropping in to thank whatashower. I was beginning to feel a bit frightened and I'm having the same operation as you: total abdominal for mahoosive fibroids, so it was very kind of you come and reassure us. I haven't seen the old threads - will look.

I'm feeling anxious that I'm still two stone overweight when I had meant to get fit in time for my operation but work has been totally overwhelming and I am dealing with some difficult family problems too, so I'll probably not have the emotional energy to lose more than a few pounds before 20 November. I am doing at least 10,000 steps a day though.

I've just got through the first round of a series of job interviews that culminate on the day I'm meant to have my op. I've told the recruiters about it, so if I get through the next stages I suppose they'll arrange a separate final one for me. Almost certainly won't be an issue though!

Yet another period. 18 day cycle with assorted random days of bleeding in between really is unreasonable.

fanny with the caveat that everyone has a different experience of course (and I certainly dont want to minimise either emotional or physical impacts that some may have), I can honestly say the whole process was much better than I had imagined. You just have to plan for being like a beached whale for a bit as any abdominal surgery leaves you with the simple practical challenge of not being very flexible or mobile. Sitting up from lying down is a real challenge. I should have built up my arm muscle better.

However I was up and walking about pretty soon.

Other (perhaps useless) information.....
the surgical registrar took a photo of my fibroid he was so impressed. You may treasure this, or not 🤣
Stock up on pillows, cushions and more pillows - really useful to prop you up, raise bits and use to lever yourself upright independently
Audiobooks/spotify/ - you may feel pretty ok and then even perky shortly after surgery but will still be rather immobile (and therefore bored) and audiobooks are heaven sent for listening whilst lying down. Trying to sit up/hold a book gets tiring
Green tea and peppermint tea made me feel better and get my digestive system back in gear (and I am a hardened strong coffee drinker)

Anyway just random tips. As I say, shout if anyone has specific questions.

Hi, I’m new here & would like some advice plz.
I have seen a Gynae as I’ve got nagging lumbar pain and a dragging feeling in my pelvis.
I had a scan for my back specifically, but they looked at the pelvis also, MRI discovered I have fibroids, possible Endometriosis & Adenomyosis. Following the scan I had a appointment with Gynae, she has given the following options:
A more concentrated Pelvic MRI
Laparoscopy (she favours)
Followed by either total abdominal Hysterectomy either by cut in abdomen or vaginal hysterectomy.
I’ve completed my family & am post menopausal, hurrah for that I guess 😐 Anyway I feel so confused, the Gynae insists on two ops that being the laparoscopy, then the actual hysterectomy. I don’t fancy having two lots of general anaesthetic, she insists she can’t do the op in one go??
I also have a condition named vulvodynia
“down there” which means I suffer from nerve pain & the vagina is often very sore indeed, so I’m not favouring vaginal hysterectomy!!
What a conundrum, sorry to go on so long.
Any views plz, I’m also thinking of getting a second opinion. Thx

Hi Whirly. I think I’d be asking why you need the laparoscopy first, if you have decided to go ahead with the hysterectomy. What would a lap tell the doc that an mri wouldn’t.