Has anyone had a hysterectomy - what was your experience?

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I’m 50 and have had gynae issues since my periods began at the age of 12.

18 months ago, after years of heavy bleeding, recurring thickening of uterine lining, uterine polyps, ovarian cysts and awful anaemia I opted for a uterine ablation.

It has solved the heavy bleeding issues but unfortunately I have had to trade it off for excessive pain during my (very light) monthly bleed.

My gynaecologist has concluded I have Post Ablation Syndrome and has given me two options,

1. Ride out the pain each month with pain killers and hope menopause brings longer lasting relief.

2. A hysterectomy

I don’t relish either option tbh as the pain every month is just absolutely awful and seems to greatly exacerbate my already awful IBS and upper gut issues and to add to the vicious cycle, pain killers also greatly upset my gut so I do try to avoid them, whenever possible.
Obviously, I also have no idea when I will go into menopause, could be in the next year or so, could be much longer. That’s a long time to put up with this amount of pain each month.

If a hysterectomy was an easier op I would have had it done yesterday but I care for my mum and have just started my own small business so taking weeks off is a bit of a problem right now. Also, (yes, I know I am a whimp) but I am petrified of general anaesthesia and so far, have had all of my recent procedures without anaesthetic!

Is it possible to have a hysterectomy without going into a GA?

How did your op go? Was it very painful, was it a long recovery time etc?

Get a good laxative to help with any constipation you have with your painkillers. Much less stressful than going through a major operation.

Thanks a good tip @Vettrianofan - I had awful constipation after spinal surgery (due to the opiates) which required doctor intervention - don't want that again !

Yes, oestrogen only if you no longer have a uterus. Which is another advantage of having had this surgery. I was on the minipill for a while and let's just say that I did not tolerate progesterone well, so the oestrogen-only HRT has worked really well for me so far.

The other thing I'd say is that although life was awful with anaemia, pain, flooding, etc., it wasn't until after the operation that I fully appreciated just how bad it had been and how far I'd been from living a normal life. It is so liberating not having a fibroid-ridden uterus!

I think the fitter you are the way faster recovery time you'll have.

Also get surgery done ASAP before anything gets worse because what happened to me is I became so crippled with pain and 'issues' that I can no longer exercise (yes it's true, there are some situations whereby exercise is causing more injury and bleeding with every step or movement) and need heavy duty painkillers.

This meant in the space of just over a year, I've lost my health and fitness, gained weight, can barely walk a few stairs now I'm in that much pain. My mental health's gone out the window.

It's remarkable and terrifying how fast that happened and if it hadn't happened to me I wouldn't believe it. I thought people who got in this condition had brought it on themselves through poor eating and lack of exercise - well not so, sometimes crippling physical injury destroys what you once had.

This means my recovery from major surgery will be longer and slower but it can only commence when the problem tissues are all removed. Soonest done soonest mended!

Feeling like you are shitting bricks isn't fun, tbh. Getting a decent laxative will help. I am on strong painkillers almost daily so it is a must. Osteoarthritis related, but I also have very heavy periods and the painkillers are a godsend at that time of the month.