Please tell me about your hysterectomy recovery

[Adenomyosis123]

Hi all

Regular user but name changed.

I am due to have a hysterectomy in a few weeks due to suffering prolonged and intense adenomyosis symptoms. Ironically, until my hysterectomy was confirmed, nothing helped. Tried the coil and pill. Things got really bad earlier this year when my usual pill was out of stock and I was put on a different pill and suffered almost three months of consistent heavy bleeding.

As a result, I agreed with my gynecologist that I would have a hysterectomy and his strong advice was that I should keep my ovaries so that I do not go into early menopause. So that is all now booked in.

But I'm now having second thoughts as: a) I've gone back on my usual pill and haven't had a normal period for a couple of months (just some spotting but it is very random so I have to wear a panty liner most days) and b) there's no guarantee it will work and I am worried about the recovery time.

My head is telling me to go ahead and do it, because if things get very bad again, I'll have to go through the whole process of referral, waiting list, etc. And I just want my life back without this looming over me.

But keen to hear your experiences on recovery. I'm having a keyhole operation, am 43 years old and otherwise in good health.

I had mine at 42 - abdominal, with oophorectomy, so more invasive than the keyhole procedure. Recovery was fine - in hospital two nights - able to be up and about outside the house for short periods after a week, back to work (phased) after seven weeks.

Once the severe pain had subsided (3 -4 days) the worst thing was the tiredness. I had a pattern of an 'up day' and a 'down day'. I remember my first day back at work (I did 3 hours, building up by an hour longer day each week till I was back to my full time hours) falling straight onto my bed when I got home and sleeping for two hours. I'd say it took about 6 months to feel fully normal, but I was contending with instant menopause due to ovary removal!

I will add that I wasn't (and am not) particularly fit or healthy - I have another chronic, unrelated condition.

I don't think you should be put off by the idea of recovery, but obviously even by keyhole it is a major operation. The question really is whether you want to be 'beholden' to a particular pill until you go through natural menopause; and also to consider are the general health effects of being on the pill for a prolonged period.

Especially, if this time works for you for the operation, in terms of what else is going on in your life, I would go for it now, as it's not a procedure you can juggle with other major life events, you need to be able to focus on your recovery. It's not the time to move house, go for a promotion at work, deal with a family member's health crisis, or (if applicable) major things going on for your children!

That's so helpful, thank you. I've been told one night in hospital and 2 weeks bed rest, but I naively thought I'd be up and about after that. Just listened to Naga Manchetty on a podcast and she was told 8 weeks recovery too. That's what I find daunting but the good thing is summer is quiet at work and I can wfh until mid Sept if I need to.

I think you're right about long term reliance on the pill too

Keyhole surgery, kept ovaries.

Home same day, had a paracetamol night one and night 2.

No other pain relief needed or taken after that.

I was resting and tired, but was walking about straight away, felt great, in fact I had to ve cautious of doing too much I felt so much better!

After a week I was going out for short walks.

I had a fab employer that wanted me to rest so took 8 weeks off but it certainly wasn't necessary!

That's a very positive story, thank you. Can I ask how old you were at the time?

I had a hysterectomy in 2021 aged 43. Keyhole surgery, took one ovary and did some other surgical bits as well as I had extensive endometriosis.

The recovery was so much easier
than I'd feared. One night in hospital, couple of days mostly in bed and then started going for walks. No pain relief needed for the surgical sites ( although the weird shoulder pain was excruciating, but that came in occasional shirt waves). I was back at work in a reasonably active job after 5.5 weeks, although I did find this tiring for a few more weeks. My main gripe was still being too bloated/swollen to fit back into my work trousers.

I’m about 5 weeks post hysterectomy. I had to have everything removed as I had womb cancer. Surgery was keyhole, minimal scars and no real post operative pain after about 2 days. Only needed paracetamol. I was in hospital for one night.

I was very surprised at how ‘well’ I felt afterwards. You do still need 4-6 weeks minimum to recover because it’s a major op but I expected to be feeling much worse after the op and to need bed rest or similar at least for the first week or so. After about day 4 I felt well enough to go outside for a walk.

The immediate menopause has been worse than the op to be honest, but if you’re keeping your ovaries then you won’t have that to deal with.

I’m 48 btw and not super fit or anything so have been very pleasantly surprised by how straightforward the recovery from surgery has been.

Had a total hysterectomy at 46, keyhole. One night in hospital, home following morning. Exhausted and sore for a few days, trapped wind was grim. Needed lots of naps. Walked to the chemist on day 4 to get my HRT prescription. Back in work after a fortnight. Certainly didn't need bed rest for 2 weeks!!

I had a subtotal hysterectomy in 2013 in my late 30’s. Kept my ovaries and cervix. My recovery was extremely painful and long. It was weeks before I was physically recovered. I had three months off work to recovery (emergency services worker). Of course it’s been wonderful to no longer have periods. That was a definite benefit. I don’t regret having it done.

I had adenomyosis and endometriosis and I had a partial (kept my ovaries & cervix) hysterectomy at 45.

The consultant tried the coil, pill and Tranexamic Acid before that, but nothing worked and I pushed for a hysterectomy has my quality of life was really bad.

I had to have an abdominal hysterectomy because the Adeno had created a ball of tissue on top of my womb and the endo had caused adhesions between organs.

It all went very well. I had it done through the NHS but at a private hospital that they contracted. Stayed two days in a private room :).

No major issues with pain but going home with a belly full of staples was a bit annoying, but you won't have to deal with that with keyhole.

Honestly it gave me my life back after years of horrible periods, chronic pain and heavy bleeding and I am so glad I had the op.

I had keyhole last year. Ovaries and cervix also removed. OTC painkillers were all I needed and was walking around on day 2. Nowhere near as painful as I expected. Worse part was being unable to drive. I was 56 having mine.

I had scar tissue from my caesarean so they couldn’t do keyhole. I had my caesarean scar reopened for them to do the op so that made my recovery longer. My friend had keyhole hysterectomy at the same time as me and her recovery was only a couple of weeks long.

Do it! But yes keep the ovaries. Best thing I’ve ever done hands down. No more periods, aches, bloating, any risk of gynae issues. It’s freeing!

I had a hysterectomy earlier this year, including removal of cervix and fallopian tubes, and excision of endometriosis. I feel so very much better having had it done. Recovery was a breeze. One night in hospital and was up and going out for a proper walk on day three, I had to keep reminding myself not to do too much. They wanted to give me oromorph to go home with, I was like ‘no thank you, paracetamol will be more than adequate!’ And it was, I really didn’t need that even after a couple of days. Good luck!

Stupid hat on, but how does it work if you keep your ovaries but have everything else taken out? Do the ovaries still release eggs? If so, where do they go

Yes they do. I guess they’re released then absorbed.

Hysterectomy at 40, 15 years of heavy bleeding due to a fibroid that was eventually the size of a grapefruit, so pushing on everything in the area!! Severely anaemic.... I kept my ovaries, 6 inch vertical scar, back at work in 4 weeks and had over compensated for years to try to lead a normal life. Due to this being 23 years ago never a mention of HRT. Other than losing my chance of having children, it was life changing in a very positive way.

Very similar story to the above, I was 43 when I had a partial hysterectomy (retaining ovaries and cervix). Mine was due to endometriosis and adenomyosis. Best thing I ever did!
Surgery was keyhole so I was allowed home the same day.

Recovery was OK, with plenty of rest and a couple of days of pain relief, as PP said you have days where you feel great and then the next day you are wiped out.
Shoulder pain was worse than the surgery pain, but manageable.

I needed to start HRT after about 2 years as my symptoms were horrific, still on it now and it’s doing the job.

Good luck with your op, my quality of life improved immensely and as a bonus I no longer get javelin arse!

You kept your ovaries so no need for hrt as they are what have the hormones.

I’ve written on threads before about mine. Full hysterectomy at 42, 10 years ago. Very much wanted.

Years of heavy periods, fibroids, being fobbed off by doctors. Periods got to 12 days for a while! I also had what I now know is PNDD.

Finally got referred and when the operation day came around all I could think about was it being done and no more awfulness.

Like past posters have said I can’t believe how well I felt afterwards. One night in hospital and then bed rest at home. The first few days / nights were quite painful but I was lucky that my mum could come round every day to take DDs to school and cook etc.

I think I had 6 weeks off work and then the Xmas hols. I reckon I needed that-as a teacher I’m on my feet a lot.

I have always said it’s the best thing I ever had done in terms of quality of life. It has almost been 10 years of not having to check the calendar to see if I can go out.

Yes as pp said, they are released and absorbed in the body. I can still feel my cycle in that I get irritable for a few days of the month and have some pink spotting for a day. Hormones still in full swing. Just no aches, pains, bleeding.. it’s bliss

It’s amazing isn’t it.. whipping the womb out solves SO many problems for women. I wish it was offered as standard once someone is done having babies or doesn’t want them.

I was 44! And not in very good shape generally haha, honestly I was very suprised how much better i felt straight after the op, it was amazing.

And thanks to some fab advice on mumsnet, have a pillow for the journey hime in the car so the seatbelt doesnt aggrevate your post op areas🙂

I had a robotic radical hysterectomy aged 50. I didn’t need any pain relief, though did have a bit of gastric discomfort for a few days. I was quite tired for a couple of weeks too, but certainly didn’t stay in bed.

I was signed off for 8weeks, but could have gone back at 6.

I'm awaiting a gynae referral for large fibroids and adenomyosis, so I am also interested in everyone's experiences. I'm pretty sure hysterectomy will be one of the options.

I hope people don't mind me asking, but, how do you function sexually afterwards? Does everything return to normal? Better even perhaps?

Asking as this aspect has been a no go for so long due to the constant bleeding, I'm tempted to opt for hysterectomy if asked but I'm scared that I'll be sexually changed somehow. Especially if they remove the cervix - do they just sew up the opening? and how is it possible for people still get light bleeding as mentioned by a PP?

I had a total hysterectomy last year, I stayed in for 2 nights. I’ll be honest the recovery was worse than expected, I could walk around the house but other than that I was on the sofa for about 6 weeks. I was on strong pain killers for about 3 - 4 weeks. I think the hormonal change didn’t help matters - menopause hit me hard.
However, I don’t regret it, my life has improved in lots of ways now. I do wish I’d been more mentally prepared for the recovery though.