Hysterectomy (continued)

[CointreauVersial]

Following on from this thread - continuing our hysterectomy chat, support and sharing of experiences.

@mrsbd21, glad to hear you are feeling the benefits of your op already. I had an enlarged womb and 2 large cysts removed. Only now do I realise how much back and pelvis pain I had. I thought I had mild incontinence after the children but it was actaully everything pressing on my bladder!
Insomnia is also a problem for me. I've got a magnesium spray I put on at bedtime and am taking magnesium supplements. Not sure they are working yet but will persevere!

@yoshimi, well done on the pelvic floor holding.

Hope you've all had a lovely Christmas day and been able to take it easy.

Hello, is anyone still going through this? I got a provisional date yesterday and despite 35 years of misery on the period front, for some reason lost the plot last night!! Weeping like they were proposing to amputate a leg, not remove the faulty bits that I dont need and never worked properly. Have read all the threads which have been very helpful in making me calm down!

hi Drinkciderfromalemon
Mine was 6 weeks ago now, I feel pretty well and am back to work in a couple of weeks. The main issue has been the reappearance of a mild prolapse that I already had. I have had a bit of sadness the past few days about missing my uterus but I sort of feel like it's still there energetically (sounds a bit woo woo!) - a bit of a delayed reaction as initially I was just relieved they had caught my cancer so early it just needed surgery. I've heard lots of stories about how liberating it is to be free from terrible periods! Good luck!

Hope recovery still going well for everyone else ((waves))

All good here....8 weeks on. I honestly felt 100% back to normal by Christmas, as if nothing ever happened. Have been back a work since mid-December. Drinkciderfromalemon - you will be fine! You will hopefully look back on this as the best thing you ever did. It's an operation, no getting away from that, but you will feel so much better once recovered.

New challenge for me is, of course, the radiotherapy (mine was due to endometrial cancer). 25 external sessions plus 2 internal (brachytherapy). Have completed 6 so far, all good, no side effects yet, but it helps that I'm fully recovered from the hysterectomy.

Hello ladies, been following you all since the last thread. Good to see you are mostly recovering well. Having a slight wobble as things were made very real yesterday.
Quck history - last summer discovered large ovarian cyst, mri thankfully showed no cancer. Told was an endometrial cyst (& therefore had endometrosis, but that wasn't mentioned again), would have to be removed & probably need hysterectomy. Was put on another waiting list & basically filed it in the back of my mind.

Saw specialist consultant yesterday. Stage 4 endo, possibly stuck my uterus to my bowel & looks like it's growing around my bladder & various tubes. Also have adenomyosis. A cervical fibroid is also a problem. They have recommended full hysterectomy, cervix, ovaries, the lot. It should be keyhole unless complications necessitate opening me up fully. 3 surgeons in case of bowel & bladder issues. Op will be approx 3.5 hours. Date will be in the next 4 months. Will be getting monthly anti hormone injections to put me into a temporary menopause until the op.

Just stunned. Sometimes rather uncomfortable, but mostly manageable with ibuprofren. Can't believe all this has been going on in my body & knew nothing about it!

Until I actually get dates & more info, trying (but not succeeding yet) not to think too much about it. Anyone else been through this? I've obviously got a few months yet, but practical advice would be welcome. DH very level headed & supportive but my brain has gone "aaarrgghh".

Thank you for the positivity. Cointreau sending you positive vibes for your next steps. Coffee that is a lot to take in! I dont have any advice I'm afraid, mine is for different reasons. I don't think I have had a 'normal' period since they started and am currently in month 14 of bleeding. Nothing is stopping it and they have no answer apart from get it gone. I flood daily and am more than a little unhinged now. After my meltdown the other day, am now feeling v positive that I just need to get it done as I can't keep going like this much longer. My consultant is now very much on board after I cried on him for an hour!

@Drinkciderfromalemon You have my sympathy. Glad your consultant is finally on board. 14 months - just wow. 21 days was bad enough for me.

Hiya, may i join this thread. Am having total hysterectomy this week and, after a few weeks of living in denial and becoming a compulsive attender of the cinema to try and distract myself every waking minute when not at work/doing family stuff, (Bombshell is v good btw), am now in panic-mode. Any hand-holding, good news, positive vibes gratefully received.

@whatsitallaboutAlfie1 Hello! All welcome. Virtual hug & hand hold sent your way! There are some lovely ladies on the main hysterectomy thread with lots of good advice from those already through & out the other side. Well worth a read through. Let us know how you get on. I believe a "wobble" when it all gets rather real is quite normal. There was a thread about useful stuff to take in which I will try to find & post (kept it somewhere as reference for me closer to the time). Hope you have some real life support as well 😊

Ok, the thread I mentioned. Called Major surgery, pamper pack for friend. Go to Talk - health - general health & scroll through to the third page. It's listed there! Lots of good ideas so take your pick.

I start the anti hormone jabs next week which is then me on the countdown. I was recommended to try red clover supplements as they are supposed to help menopausal symptoms. It might be worth looking into? Wish you luck, & positive vibes and get in touch if you have any wobbles

@CoffeeBeansGalore - thanks so much for posting. Will take a look.

Quick question for anyone who knows answer - if op involves removal of ovaries and triggers menopause, but you can't do HRT (cos original problem was caused by excess of oestrogen in the first place), what options are open to calm the menopause down, and should you start them straight away?