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Women's health

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Original poster

So anxious about forthcoming hysterectomy

27 replies

thepersiantheory · 26/02/2022 23:51

Hello all

I am looking for others experience in undergoing a laparoscopic hysterectomy. I’ll be having this procedure in a couple of weeks and I am incredibly anxious about the procedure, recovery and what my body will look like post op.

I’m 39 and have been suffering from extremely heaving bleeding, leading to haemorrhage and severe anaemia. I have numerous fibroids. I have been through a myomectomy and uterine ablation, neither has worked so a hysterectomy is the only option remaining. They will take my uterus and cervix but will leave both ovaries.

I think I have made the right decision inasmuch as I want the heavy bleeding to stop and I want rid of the fibroids but I’m nervous, anxious and scared about going through this procedure. I would very much appreciate input from anyone who has been through this. How were your first few days after the op? I’ve been reading horror stories about not being able to poo for days. I’ve also read the structure of your body changes. I’m keeping my ovaries but have also read that they only work for around 5 years once the uterus is gone.

I have a pre-op in a week so I will raise my concerns, but would love some personal insight from those who have been through it.

OP posts:

ClariceQuiff · 27/02/2022 00:00

Mine was abdominal rather than laparoscopic and I had my ovaries removed as well. Having the operation was the best decision I made, freeing me from years of pain and a life dominated by heavy and erratic bleeding.

Recovery from an abdominal usually takes longer than from a laparoscopic. I won't lie - for 36 hours after the op the pain was terrible - but after that, it only really hurt when I was moving about. It took me 2 days to leave the hospital; 8 days to leave the house for the first time, and 7 weeks to be back at work. After the first week I was able to potter about, go out, do light housework, cook and so on.

Pooing - the first one does take time and was painful for me. Once that was done I was back to normal.

Everyone's recovery is different but mine honestly wasn't bad at all - I quit appreciated a break from work with an excuse not to do very much at all.

Wishing you the best .

ClariceQuiff · 27/02/2022 00:01

^ 'quit appreciated a break from work ' - quite appreciated, that should say - what a Freudian slip

OwlNoises101 · 27/02/2022 00:06

I had a vaginal hysterectomy at 41. Ovaries were left.
It was absolutely the best decision to have it. Life changing.
I was in hospital 3 days. Driving after 2 weeks. Back to work after 6 weeks as quite a physical job, otherwise would have been a bit sooner.
Don't be terrified- you won't regret it!

BarryTheChopper · 27/02/2022 00:08

Ah OP, you have the fear. Totally normal, i had the same thing and even convinced myself it wasn’t that bad and I didn’t really need the operation. It’ll be fine.

I had a full abdominal hysterectomy in 2019. It was supposed to be laparoscopic but there were complications so they had to open me up.

The first couple of days were a bit brutal, but I recovered really quickly after that. I have some residual endometriosis left which is managed by an implant, but honestly, the op has been life changing.

The first poo was most welcome, but there was no rearranging of anything that I noticed. My recovery was good and I don’t regret it for a second.

Good luck and enjoy the freedom it brings.

starrynight21 · 27/02/2022 00:26

I had a lap hysterectomy at 35. Up walking the next day, home in 3 days, back at work in 4 weeks. My ovaries worked for many years . When they stopped working I went on hrt. There was no change in body structure - I don't know where you got that from . I also had massive bleeding , the hysterectomy gave me back my life. Good luck ! ( PS if you get constipated afterwards, take some laxatives)

Original poster

thepersiantheory · 27/02/2022 00:26

Thank you so much ClariceQuiff, OwlNoises101 and BarryTheChopper. I have indeed got the fear, but your comments and experiences are so reassuring.

OP posts:

Original poster

thepersiantheory · 27/02/2022 00:29

Thank you starrynight21.

The body structure thing was info I found from Dr Google, which I shouldn’t be using as my main source of info

OP posts:

ClariceQuiff · 27/02/2022 00:38

Google is full of hysterectomy horror stories - this is possibly because the USA has a history of providing them as a catch-all, in contrast to the UK where other treatments are exhausted first - so there has been a movement there to push back on them.

The stories are not relevant to women who are living with chronic pain and/or unmanageable bleeding; essentially if your conditions are affecting your quality of life and other interventions haven't worked, a hysterectomy will hugely improve your life and it's more than worth the short-term pain and discomfort of the operation.

tootsierubs · 27/02/2022 00:44

I had a laparoscopic sub total hysterectomy two years ago. Recovery was excellent, I left hospital the morning after. Took it easy for four weeks then gradually returned to work full time over the following two weeks. No problems with bowels afterwards, then first time always feels a bit stressful but once you've been its all good, make sure you take laxatives they give you and also I had buscopan which really helped bladder spasms. I've put on a bit of weight which is the only reason my shape has changed. Very glad I had it done as no longer in constant pain and the heavy bleeding was terrible. I had adenomyosis, fibroids and polyps. You will be fine. Good luck

Tinkerbellflowers · 27/02/2022 00:48

I was upset to read about body structure changes a few days after having a hysterectomy, but its been over a year now and still not noticed anything. The first two or three days are gruelling, but no regrets. I kept my ovaries, so no menopausal symptoms yet. I hope it goes well.

hemulensdress · 27/02/2022 17:43

Good luck!! The only weird thing post op was having no bladder sensation for a few days but that may have been from the catheter. Take it easy afterwards and remember there’s lots of internal healing so you may feel tired. Agree with other that the US websites can be a bit misleading. I also kept my ovaries but they can go inactive for a bit, my lovely nurse told me to use vaginal moisturiser and recommended topical oestrogen and I will be forever grateful to her!

CointreauVersial · 27/02/2022 18:01

I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy a couple of years ago after being diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

Honestly, it was fine. I was in hospital for 24 hours afterwards, during which time I had a catheter and those horrid inflating boots to reduce the risk of thrombosis. Once the catheter was out and I could get out of bed I was discharged. There was very little pain, just a "stiff" feeling, for which I took paracetamol/codeine. I was prescribed a laxitive to get everything "moving" again, but I can't recall it being a problem - far less so than post-childbirth, when your undercarriage is destroyed!

Probably the worst aspect was having to inject myself daily for 28 days (I think it was anticoagulant....I honestly can't remember).

One thing I would say is don't underestimate how much healing your body needs to do, and how tiring it is. All you can see externally is a couple of tiny plasters on your abdomen yet there is a lot of repair going on internally which you can't see. I felt utterly exhausted and washed out for several days.

I also managed to get an infection after ten days, leading to a haemorrhage, which put me back in hospital for a day, but that was quickly sorted.

However, I was back at work and driving three and a half weeks after the op, and went on holiday to the Christmas markets after five weeks, so it's safe to say recovery was quick.

I've never heard of body structure changes, and didn't notice anything myself. The uterus is only the size of a pear so I can't imagine it makes much difference. I was told everything else just moves to fill the gap.

Try not to worry!

cheeseandbiscu1ts · 27/02/2022 18:10

I had a lap assisted vag total hysterectomy with preservation of 1 ovary when I was 36. It has been life changing for me. I'm not going to lie, the first two weeks post op were painful, but in day 15 it was like a switch was flipped and I felt amazing and have done ever since. You are going to be fine x

hemulensdress · 27/02/2022 18:15

Ah yes the self injections- had forgotten about that! It was fine after a while but weird at first!
Cointreau I remember you from the cancer threads a couple of years ago- I think we had surgery around the same time- hope everything’s going really well! So grateful that it all happened pre-covid.

Charliesgotachocolatefactory · 27/02/2022 18:31

Hello, I had abdominal surgery for mine as my fibroid was too huge but I’ve just popped on to say it will be life changing in a positive way. It’s tiring at the start and you really need to take it easy but the relief from bleeding, pain and anaemia is just joyful.

CookPassBabtridge · 27/02/2022 18:55

Thankyou for the thread! I'm having this done soon abdominally as have a large fibroid and leaving the ovaries. I've been told menopause will only be a little earlier, two years max.
Can't wait to not have this alien bump!

CaptainMyCaptain · 27/02/2022 19:00

@ClariceQuiff

Pooing - the first one does take time and was painful for me. Once that was done I was back to normal.

Everyone's recovery is different but mine honestly wasn't bad at all - I quit appreciated a break from work with an excuse not to do very much at all.

Wishing you the best .

Same here. After the initial recovery from the operation life was so much better. I had my ovaries removed and went straight on to HRT. Brilliant!

CaptainMyCaptain · 27/02/2022 19:02

My advice is to do the physio as instructed. It put me back in control of my recovery and I did it religiously, plus, when I was able, I went for a walk each day building it up gradually. That was 20 years ago, I have done pilates for years since then and have abs of steel - not quite but pretty good anyway.

ClarasZoo · 27/02/2022 19:15

After my hysterectomy I realised I had been in low level pain for 35 years. I felt sore after but the period type pain went and it was wonderful. No adverse affects at all. Brilliant not to have periods. Would unreservedly recommend:)

CointreauVersial · 27/02/2022 21:04

Ah, that would have been me, @hemulensdress. Yes, I'm fine now, haven't looked back. And forever thanking my lucky stars that my treatment ended just a month before Covid. Hope all is good with you.

Original poster

thepersiantheory · 27/02/2022 21:50

Thank you all, your posts are so reassuring and it’s making me feel a little better about what’s to come.

@CookPassBabtridge wishing you all the best for your forthcoming procedure

Just a final question, if I may, for those that kept their ovaries, do you still get hot flushes? I’m suffering terribly from these at present, although this likely to be because of the Prostap that I am on.

OP posts:

CookPassBabtridge · 27/02/2022 23:02

Yes those will end once you've had the op and your ovaries kick in again.

CointreauVersial · 28/02/2022 10:04

Can't help you there.....I was already post-menopause.

Tinkerbellflowers · 01/03/2022 10:40

After having my hysterectomy I read on mumsnet about the self injections. I didnt have these and actually called the hospital to ask why not and has it been forgotten! But they said not everyone has to have the injection afterwards.

Original poster

thepersiantheory · 18/03/2022 12:04

Just thought I would update my post to let you know my hysterectomy took place yesterday laparoscopically and I have retained my ovaries. I feeling ok today, a little tender and sore but not horrendously sore. Hoping to be discharged today

OP posts:

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