To feel liberated after hysterectomy?!

[Sparkler20191]

Hi everyone, I had prolapse surgery (anterior and posterior) just a few hours ago. There was a risk of a hysterectomy depending on what the surgeon discovered- and indeed, ended up needing a hysterectomy too. It may be the happy floaty feeling post GA but I must say I feel SO liberated. The thought of not having to worry about needing a wee all the time- I couldn’t properly empty my bladder, was exciting enough. But now, to not have a future of painful heavy periods feels simply wonderful. I feel like my days of living with the rather unpleasant consequences of the births of my enormous but lovely(!) babies are behind me and it feels so symbolic that I can now focus more on me and my interests, without constantly being distracted by my “down below” all the time! Honestly I can hardly sleep as I feel like my world has opened up and I am so delighted! I was not expecting to feel like this! I’m 45, so babies defo behind me and am ready to embrace the next chapter(-: I thought I should share this as I’ve been putting it off for years (and thank goodness as I avoided the mesh) and I haven’t slept all week I’ve been so scared about the surgery. But now it’s done- and it’s indeed uncomfortable, I’m really looking forward to the future. Funny though i do still feel like a hysterectomy has a stigma about loss of femininity and am wondering whether I might keep it under wraps. I still want to feel sexy and would feel conscious if others knew. How did others feel? (I appreciate I’m writing this from the point of view of someone who has had her family and understand it’s a completely different experience if you weren’t sure you had completed your family or indeed didn’t have the option)-:)

Apologies, that was supposed to be a sad and **^^not a happy emoji at the end - wasn’t wearing my glasses, I hope I didn’t offend anyone.

I had a total hysterectomy last year. I definitely identify with your feelings! Before I had it done I did struggle for a while to process thoughts around losing - hard to describe - my womanhood, I guess.
Like you, my family was complete, in my case donkeys years ago. Nonetheless I took a while to get my head straight as I waited for my surgery date.
I have been SO much better now that my symptoms are gone - although yours sound worse, you poor thing. Freedom from pain and the resulting emotional fallout is an absolute gift.
The only downside is that I've struggled sexually but even that is improving. I basically had to relearn some things as missing the uterus and cervix changed how I experienced things. I feel happier the last month or so as I seem to be on the right track but it definitely upset me.
Other than that! I had a good recovery. An infection that I luckily recognised immediately and was cleared up straight away with antibiotics.
I wish you a speedy recovery (do please rest up, I was surprised how worn out I felt the first couple of weeks)
I'm sure you will look back on this surgery as the best thing you could have done for your physical and emotional health

Eekay, thank you so much for your kind and informative message. From what I read I am concerned about the loss of sensation- and thank you for being honest about your experience. I considered what I had read against the fact that every time I have (I hope had) sex I got a painful UTI which antibiotics never seemed to clear. I am really hopeful that things continue to improve for you. It’s so wonderful having support from threads like this and knowing you are not alone in your symptoms .

@Eekay, I had a hysterectomy last month and have just had what I hope is a small setback in my recovery by overdoing things. I'm an active busy person who finds it dull to have to rest!

How long before you felt back to normal?

I had my surgery to be free of PMDD and even though I'm still recovering from the surgery, I also feel liberated - like a new chapter of my life awaits!

hippospothope you're feeling a bit better? It's so easy to overdo it, I guess like any other surgery. I think I forgot that it's actually quite a big operation and I pushed myself too quickly. I think it was about six weeks before I could do a full "normal " day without feeling pretty lousy. I still had bouts of tiredness after that, but definitely the first six weeks you need to take good care of yourself or you end up in pain and very tired.
It's hard for women IME as we're not used to what my mother would've called "lounging about" but this is a time where you owe it to yourself to rest and recuperate. I think you only set yourself back if you don't.
Give it a couple more weeks and you'll be much stronger

Best of luck hippOspot. Can you both remember the first 24 hours after the op? I’m taken aback by the pain and also having trouble going for a wee so need to have an in/out catheter in a minute. Can’t seem to do anything but a small dribble! Sorry TMI!! has this happened to anyone else?

sparkler20191 . If you're like me ,you'll be wanting to be up and about and for everything to be 100% asap. Take things at your own pace and don't put pressure on yourself. I found recovery wasn't linear and that was a bit frustrating but I am really happy now.
And no more UTIs we hope :)

Thank you Eekay! You are right, I need to take things slowly, I’m panicking that there is something wrong and I’ll have to use a catheter forever more. I think I’ve had way too many pain killers and am not thinking straight!

sparkler20191 the first days are pretty brutal. It will improve, honestly. Hopefully a nurse has sorted that catheter by now. Take all the pain relief offered and do try to get heaps of water and fibre as i found the stronger painkillers can give you constipation which is the last thing you need

Well I'm now on antibiotics with suspected infection although I do think I overdid things as well. I hate sitting around! Oh well, I am now resting properly on doctor's orders.

My recovery is also not linear it seems @Eekay

I remember the first 24 hours as being the hardest, definitely. In fact the first night. It was the pain of the trapped wind that was the hardest to deal with. Peppermint water seemed to help - but I don't think peppermint tea did much good. I ended up accepting liquid morphine on my first night as nothing else was working. It allowed me to get some sleep.

By day two the trapped wind/constipation wasn't an issue. I was drinking a lot of water and peeing lots and every time I went for a pee I tried to walk twice around the table, three times around... tiny walks really but it's so important to move for your bowels and also to avoid clots (which I was paranoid about due to family history).

I got a weird sore/ulcer type thing on my labia from the pressure of the catheter even though it was only in for (I calculate) 20 hours or so.

So not plain sailing by any stretch however I'm getting there! I need to be a more patient patient :)

Oh dear hippo, the infection sounds miserable. I’m ok but for two rather important issues- struggling with going for a wee so back with a catheter, but doctor was cross it was taken out too early apparently (5 or so hours after surgery) and struggling to go to the bathroom. Nurses say not to panic as it hasn’t been 48 hours even

How was your hysterectomy done?

Vaginally or laparoscopy or open?

I am due to have one in a couple of months and due to my other problems it will either be vaginally or open

(BTW gripe water is supposed to help with passing wind after laparoscopy)

• for anyone else reading this in the future

Hi Subis it was done vaginally. I had to be in hospital for six days as I was having “voiding” problems! Seem to be settling down now. I am feeling so wiped out it’s unreal! Pain not too bad so long as I take paracetamol and ibuprofen but the exhaustion is like nothing else!

@Sparkler20191 it does sound like the catheter was removed too soon.

I hope you can rest and recover now - the worst is over.

My infection is definitely nearly over after 4 days of my 7 day course of antibiotics. I do wonder if I had a low grade infection from day one that just flared up at the 3-week mark when I did (definitely) overdo things. I felt like I'd been hit by a bus.

I'm now taking a bunch of probiotics to try and avoid getting thrush :)

I'm not very patient - so bored of "resting"! Itching to be back to my normal busy life.... I'm not sleeping well and I wonder if it's because I'm not doing any exercise apart from my daily gentle walks. Usually I'm pretty active. I'm hoping to have the go-ahead to cycle and swim in 10 days or so.

(Despite it all I am so pleased to have the operation behind me.)

HippOspot you’ve reminded me to add the probiotics to ‘meds I am on. had a bad night with lain and I think I didn’t take my painkillers as religiously as they were giving me in hospital. I’m taking Nitro for a long term uti. I wonder if it’s actually that, that’s making me feel pants, or indeed being able to see the chores piling up but not do much about it 😩

HippOspot did you keep your ovaries? I’m peri menopausal and doctor said as I won’t have periods anymore, I will have to rely on hot sweats or failing that just getting my hormones tested To know when menopause comes, and eventually he advised going on estrogen only patches.Ps nice to hear the worst is over! Realised I will have a whole extra section of bathroom storage now I can bin the tampons! Small silver linings?!

Yes. It was 2 years ago and I was 57 and still having heavy periods almost daily!

I am still very much a woman and an aficionado of and advocate for HRT.

There have been some issues - mostly around the gradual repositioning of my bowel and bladder - but it's settling, slowly, I think. There's always swings and roundabouts.

It was laparoscopic and my adult DD is amazed I don't have a single visible scar.

You need oestrogen (HRT), OP, to protect your bone health, heart health, mental health ect if you have the slightest suggestion of menopause symptoms, if you're only 45.

Wishing you a good recovery

I had a lot of pain from the gas used in the surgery for days.

@Sparkler20191 I had uterus, ovaries and cervix removed.

I was already taking HRT and from now I can drop the dreaded progesterone element that made my life hell for half the month and instead continue with oestrogel and androfeme (testosterone). I feel really good on the latter two.

I am also pleased to see the scarring will be just about invisible (three tiny "notches" that will probably be below the top of the bikinis I wear.

Just resurrecting this and wondering if anyone else has experienced setbacks in their recovery from prolapse and hysterectomy surgery! Nearly three weeks now. I had gone off pain meds (paracetamol Ect) as was getting on ok but for discomfort particularly in evenings. But now worried perhaps I overdid things and discomfort very noticeable now and even wondering if I have sensation of a lump . One of you noted the recovery isn’t linear! That’s what I’m finding. Any other stories or advice? So worried I’ve “undone” things

My friend had a hysterectomy in her late 20s. I was so envious of her. She had all the joy and freedom that comes with it. She was/is a nun and didn't need ovaries to do this.

@Sparkler20191 I'm at the 6.5 week mark and still having a few setbacks to my recovery. I had hoped to be ready to go back to work by now but there's no way I'm ready. After my internal infection I have since had a skin infection on a different incision (topical ABs seem to be working) but I've also had upset tummy from the oral ABs and new pelvic/vulval pain the last few days. I have very low energy levels. It's hard to know what's normal and what's not, and I'm waiting for blood test results to see if my HRT needs tweaking but I'm also being tested for thyroid and iron levels.

I really believed I would bounce back after surgery because I'm slim and fit, but it's been a much slower road than that. I wish you good luck.

I had a hysterectomy last year, and my recovery definitely wasn't linear! Had a few setbacks when I did too much. Take it easy!

Mine was a cancer hysterectomy, so I didn't have any choice, and didn't feel liberated as such. Quite the opposite, I was sad about it for a good long time. I see the benefits now though, no issues 'down below' whatsoever.. Nothing. Having no periods is a bit strange when all my friends talk about them, that's one thing, and my daughter is about to start her periods, which I feel a bit sad about as we won't have shared experience of that. I know that's just me worrying though.

Hello OP , how are you doing? I'm having anterior and posterior repair work done in 8 weeks and I'm very nervous, how was your recovery? Have you noticed a big difference since having it done?

Oh hippospot! So sorry to hear you are still suffering. That must be disheartening for you, I really hope you see improvement soon and marmite I am sorry to hear of your cancer hysterectomy, I can well imagine you are grieving. I hope you are on the road to health now

Hi Falcone- I too was really nervous. I should probably have had it at the very least two years ago. I’m so pleased it’s behind me because yes it does feel much much better. No more dull weight for one. I don’t sit or bend over and think “oh dear, it actually feels like I’m crushing or squashing something I shouldn’t”!! It’s much easier to go for a wee- previously I really had to push to start any flow and around the time of my period I often had to push my bladder up. Ergh. so that’s a huge relief that feeling is gone, especially after I spent a good week on and off a catheter post surgery and I was getting panicky about it. The other great thing I’ve noticed is that previously my stomach was like a sack of potatoes hangin’ out! I’ve always wanted abdominoplasty to sow my muscles back together but that’s a huge op too and I’m not that brave! Nevertheless I was delighted to notice in the mirror my tummy is flatter (I stress the “er”!!) and whereas before I had to consciously hold my stomach in now in some small way my muscles are seemingly remembering how to hold themselves together. It feels a bit like I’ve been zipped back up- but sadly just in my lower abdomen and not all the way up to my belly button. Nevertheless it’s a big and welcome change! So no regrets here! It’s just a bit of a slog! I really can’t sit down for very long so work /sitting at a desk / table is tricky. I’ve been really uncomfortable where the stitches are near the opening- I found vagisil really helps so probably worth adding that to your shopping list, along with heaps of light flow pads. I’m still bleeding a bit- it’s basically like spotting. And just feel so so tired in the evenings