Hysterectomy

[Bubblebathsarelikehugs]

I’m back again… just after some advice from all the ladies who’s had one.

What’s the pros and cons and did you have to push for it?
i just want some first had experience advice as the internet doesn’t help much. It just gives you the medical facts.

thanks in advance

the pros and cons depend quite a lot on the reason for the hysterectomy, the type of hysterectomy and your other medical history. Hopefully your surgeon will be able to help put it all together with you.

Following your post for personal reasons x

Beware about them advising to remove your ovaries unless a good medical reason. Xxx

I’m having a hysterectomy this summer for adenomyosis which has caused very heavy painful periods for the past 7 years. I went in armed with evidence to support my wish to have one (NICE and RCOG guidelines) and why other alternatives were not suitable for me. When it was clear I’d done my homework and was well informed of the risks and benefits, my consultant gynae was happy to agree to put me on the list.

I’ll be having laparoscopic removal (keyhole) and keeping my ovaries. Expected recovery time is 4-6 weeks.

I had one a few months back to remove a polyp- it was agony and I’ve been in pain ever since, can’t get a GP appointment or referral for an ultra sound to see what’s going on 🤷🏽‍♀️

Best thing I ever did!

I had adenomyosis. Has uterus and womb removed by robotic surgery - in and out the same day!

3 weeks later I was back at work!

Uterus and cervix that should say 🤦🏼‍♀️ I do know body parts - promise!

I’m 43 and had mine a week before Christmas. I had a fibroid that had grown to the size of a small melon, my womb had displaced and my periods were awful for years and I was severely anaemic (this was the top reason they fast tracked me after a year of being on the waiting list).

Pros for me : obvious, really…. No more periods so my life no longer revolves around my heavy bleeding, being able to wee properly, being able to sleep on my back again, no more having to have smear tests and risk of associated cancers gone, iron levels hopefully on the rise. I also had one ovary left so not going through menopause just yet. All in all, I’m glad I had it done - well I didn’t have much of an alternative choice that would have worked for me.

Cons for me : although my hospital experience was excellent in terms of all round care, I did have complications during and after surgery. It took 5 hours instead of 2 due to my urethra and bleeding. I had to have a blood transfusion and concurrent iron transfusions as my blood pressure dropped very low. Tried getting out of bed the next day and passed out. I was also very sick and vomited all over myself a few times as I couldn’t get it in the lovely cardboard bowl properly due to my position.
I have had 2 previous sections, but this was probably more painful for me (maybe my age) but I did manage to heal well with no complications (depends on type of surgery you have). Last one is, 4 months on and I don’t want my husband anyway near me iykwim - I keep thinking about where my cervix once was and the cuff in it’s replacement and it makes me feel icky.

Pros completely cancel out the cons for me. If I hadn’t had it done, despite the complications, things would have only have got worse for me.

I had a vaginal hysterectomy yesterday. Cervix and womb due to benign hyperplasia that wasn’t going despite treatment. (Mirena). My Gynae is excellent. I feel like I have bad period cramps. The pain killers are taking care of that. Catheter and packing out later and I’ll be going home tomorrow.
I too have kept my ovaries and luckily surgery was straight forward.

I went to see a surgeon because of possible
gallstones. He wanted to examine my abdomen but as well as the gallstones he found a large lump in my lower abdomen . He organised a scan which showed gallstones but also a 10 cm cyst on one ovary and a large mass where my womb should have been . I had always had very heavy periods since I started them at 11 years old.
both surgeons decided that it would be better for me to have the necessary surgeries at the same time . I had to wait two months to have my operation .
I had had period pains for years but also pain when ovulating and also most of every month . After having my 3 babies in my early 20s I went on the pill but became very depressed so refused point blank to take hormones after the hysterectomy .
The op went ahead, but my womb was the size of an 18 week pregnancy due to large fibroids so instead of cutting me across my lower abdomen I was cut from under my sternum down to my pubic bone . The gallbladder had one very large stone in it and the lot was removed . One ovary had previously burst and was non functioning , but the surgeon was able to remove the large cyst from the other one so I didn’t need to take hormones as it still functioned .
This happened when I was 45 and it was well worth it because not only did I have no more and pain but the migraines that I had had for approximately 30 years also stopped ! The relief was practically instant .

I’ve had a full hysterectomy, they left my ovaries but they got damaged during the surgery and so stopped working. I’m now in menopause.

I didn’t have to push for it, it was 9 weeks waiting for surgery from the date it was decided I needed it. I had it due to surgery changes and had issues ongoing for around 18 months prior to being told I needed one as all options tried hadn’t worked.

I am happy I had it done however if there had been another option I would’ve taken it as it was a far harder recovery than I anticipated. I do enjoy not having periods though 😂

Thank you everyone