Hysterctomy advice

[PipPippin]

As a result of an 'atypical' result on an MRI scan showing either adenomyosis or a fibroid I am being advised to have a Laparascopic Hysterectomy by my Gynaecologist. I am 42 and have a history (4 years) of heavy periods and a lot of pain during and before periods. I don't think I would have been offered this if it wasn't for the 'atypical lesion' that's been found. It's low risk of cancer but there is a risk hence they say surgery can take place. I will be retaining one or possibly both ovaries. The surgeon suggests I remove everything else (womb, tubes, cervix) but perhaps is open to me retaining the cervix. They have advised the wait will be 6-12 weeks.

I want to ask people's experiences of this type of hysterectomy. I am concerned about;

• Recovery times
• Future sex life
• Emotional side (loss of womb)
• Hormone adjustment
• Removing the cervix - read mixed things about this
• Anything else to think about for later life?

Can anyone share their story with me? I realise I may not have a choice and may have to have this surgery but want to know if people have had positive or negative experiences.

Arrghh and i spelt the title wrong and can't change it!

Also thought I should add - so far I have had an ultrasound (many of those over the years) and recently an MRI has found this atypical lesion, I have not had any other diagnostic tests but did have an MRI in 2019 (when they first saw adenomyosis) which they are comparing this latest scan against. There's a possibility that what is in there is adhesions because I had some issues with my scar post C-section in 2015-16. But the surgeon says he can't know 'until he gets in there' so to speak.

I had 'everything out' after finding pre cancer in womb. It was keyhole and took hours because endometriosis was found. It hurt a bit at first but that was due to the drain and catheter. After these removed there was very little pain, and I just felt a bit wobbly inside. It was fantastic not to have anymore of the heavy periods. I didn't want sex for a couple of months, then tried and it was fine (that was with cervix removed). I sometimes wish I'd kept my ovaries because of the hormones, lack of which has been partly blamed for other things. I joke that I feel less of a woman but it doesn't really bother me and life is much better without random heavy sore periods.

Recovery times -really quickly, I walked daily and feel that helped.
Future sex life-all fine
Emotional side (loss of womb)-after 7 cycles of ivf I expected to feel awful but was suffering so badly that it was just a relief.
Hormone adjustment- brilliant. Wish I was on HRT before the op for peri symptoms.
Removing the cervix - read mixed things about this- no issues and the risk of having uterine tissue remaining, meaning you could still bleed, meant all out was my preferred option.
Anything else to think about for later life? -I had ovaries removed which has aged me, but that’s not going to be an issue for you.

‘Recovery times -really quickly, I walked daily and feel that helped.’
I stopped the hospital painkillers as soon as I got home and stuck to paracetamol to avoid constipation causing any issues. I walked 5 mins every day the first week then added 5 mins each week so, by week 6, I was walking 30 mins per day. I could have gone back to work before 6 weeks I think.
Do PFE regularly and all the physio exercises suggested.

Thank you for the tips.

Can I ask how old you were both when you had the surgery? @HopeOneOfThosePeopleIsAMonkeyBecauseThisIsBanana and @Quiestvous . For some reason in my head I’m ’too Young’ for this but then I remember I’m actually not that young! I think I’ve oddly always thought I could have another baby if I wanted to even though realistically that’s probably not going to happen and I already have 2 quite old ones now. For some reason I think if I was 46 or so I’d know 100% those days are over but I still feel a bit young. My friends are still having babies.

Hi. I am 3 weeks post op. Laparoscopic ovaries and vaginal for everything else. No pain killers for a while. Worst pain is shoulder pain caused by the air they fill you with but drink peppermint tea and start farting like a trooper and it went by 24 hours. Still get very tired. Walk each day. Am away in the caravan at the moment - survived a four hour journey on friday here. I find I have a good day then not so good day. Im resting loads. It has been much easier than I thought it would be. I am post meno though so at least am not coping with going through that.

I would keep the cervix. I think just remove what needs to be removed. I kept mine because I just think it's part of my body structure and i wanted to maintain what I could. I had the abdominal/c section version though. Took about 8 months to fully recover properly and for my insides to feel normal, womens surgery is always heavily minimised as usual. Lovely not to have flooding periods every month!

I had a radical hysterectomy. I could possibly have pushed to retain cervix but I knew I had uterine cancer and wanted the whole lot gone. Keyhole surgery.

Recovery was OK, off the hospital meds the day after I came home. I only spent 24 hours in the hospital because covid. It took about 6 weeks for me to feel fully recovered.

Hi @PipPippin i came across your thread as I’m in exactly the same situation and the same age.

I was just wondering if you went ahead with the surgery and if so how you are feeling?

thanking you in anticipation x

@LittleGsMummy - sorry you are in this situation too! I have sent you a private message.

I had a total with ovaries out 4 months ago. Happy to answer any questions. Same age as you.