I can’t take my periods anymore - I’m going to ask for a hysterectomy. What is it like having one?

[LondonLady1980]

I’m only 42 years old so I don’t know if that will cause a problem but after a decade of the worst fucking debilitating periods, I have decided I can’t cope anymore.

I want them gone.

I appreciate it’s probably major surgery so I’m interested to hear what other women’s experiences were of both the surgery and the post-op recovery.

I’ve had two c-sections so I'm naively thinking the recovery might not be too different from that?

Thank you.

To add if you DM I would give the name of my consultant in Kings who was very open to me having it

Why not just go on the mini pill? No more periods!

Everything in the abdominal cavity drops down and pushes against the vagina causing prolapses eventually so they don’t like to do it anymore.

You stand more chance of getting an ablation.

Have you been checked for fibroids as your symptoms sound the same as mine were. I was very anaemic and was put on iron tablets and the fibroid grew to football size. Had a hysterectomy when I was 46 (kept my ovaries) but had a vertical incision which wasn't an easy recovery from, fibroid was too big to get out from a horizontal cut. So nice to wear white trousers in the summer.

I had extremely heavy periods that were ruling my life.
I requested a hysterectomy on the NHS, and had no trouble getting it done.
This was 20 years ago, so maybe things have changed.

In any case, it was the best decision I made re my health.

She can’t due to a medical issue

@LondonLady1980 sounds similar to my experience but my supportive GP referred me to gynae had ablation and I got my life back.

I have not had periods for years now being on a certain pill. Should go speak to your drs about options before going down the surgery route.

{mention:uberaddict}I@uberaddict had that and had my womb lasered. It took 1 minute, slightly painful but a short time with gas and air. No more peridods. Occasionally get a bit of spotting but worked great

I had a robotic total hysterectomy two years ago. Very quick recovery apart from the fact that I got a UTI from the catheter as they didn’t send me home with antibiotics. But apart from that glitch, best decision i’ve ever made. No more flooding, no more hormone ups and downs, no more smear tests. I was 54.

Loads of things to try before they’ll do a hysterectomy but it’s basically the best thing that’s ever happened to me!

As far as your question is concerned I didn’t find recovery from a hysterectomy much more than a c section and mine was open whereas your’s would probably be laparoscopic. Having said that it is not particularly ethical for a gynaecologist to recommend major surgery without at least discussing and possibly trialling less risky options.The decision making process should be the same whether nhs or privately funded.

I found tranexamic acid no better than ibuprofen. I agree that ablation is a definite solution.

This. My friend was similiar bleeding so bad she was getting through a super pad o every 10 minutes took 7 years of fighting to get one with the nhs. Every time she saw someone knew they suggested mirena or pill or transfemic acid and she was like I’m on all of these …,,

I had a fibroid and ludicrously heavy periods with bleeding for days resulting in severely low haemoglobin. Surgeon did a fibroid resection through a hysteroscopy under GA and was going to fit a mirena but said it would just come out in the flow.

Resection didn't really make any difference so offered a hysterectomy conserving ovaries about 6 months later.

Had this and it was absolutely brilliant, best decision I've made. Good for my physical and mental health.

This was about 10 years ago and on the NHS.

I'm sorry that you're suffering so badly and for so long.

I appreciate it’s probably major surgery so I’m interested to hear what other women’s experiences were of both the surgery and the post-op recovery.

Whether it's right for you at this stage without exploring alternatives such as a Mirena coil aside - I had a total abdominal hysterectomy five years ago aged 66 and recovery was quick, just a few weeks. I wasn't fully retired and did a few nursing shifts here and there after a few months.

I had one, made no difference 😞
luckily now menopause over

Start the ball rolling sooner rather than later. I'm still not able to get on the waiting list, even though the consultant says that a hysterectomy is likely the only solution for the constant, heavy bleeding I've had for 8 months. Before that, I was bleeding for half of every month, in pain and unable to carry out normal activities. I've tried every drug, procedure and iud available with no change. I need a hysterectomy but they keep finding new hoops for me to jump through before they'll agree to it.

I had a d&C (private) in my early 20s for this problem but the pain returned later in life. I went onto the contraceptive pill and stayed on it for years so I had no periods. When I came off it (age 40) to see what would happen, nothing. Never had another period or a menopause. I never wanted children.

When I read threads like this it makes me so angry about what some women have to suffer. Women really do get the dirty, messy filthy end of the stick.

If I could go baclk and have one wish it would not be for money, or beauty or power. It would be to be born male.

You were badly let down by gynaecology previously. At the very least there should have been a lap op performed to see if endometriosis was present. This can cause heavy and prolonged bleeding as well as very painful periods. Prolonged bleeding can cause anaemia.

Indeed get a second opinion and if finances permit go private for a further consultation.

I refused the Mirena because it only addresses the symptoms and not the cause. I also feel it would have come out due to the heaviness of my blood flow due in part to fibroids as well as previously diagnosed endometriosis.

Same here

Can't describe the difference it has made

Life changing g

So sorry op it can. Be such torture

20+ years ago I worked with a woman who had awful periods. She told me she had her womb lazered and while it helped she had to go back for a second time to have the rest done. She told me it worked and she didn’t have periods at all.

Maybe this would work for you?

I would be so pissed at doctors that I would go back to any gynaecologist who refused to help and just free bleed everywhere. But I usually take things too far.

I have no comment on the hysterectomy as I have no experience there, but, last month my (second of the month) period was flooding so much that I just bought the disposable incontinence pants in Aldi, and it was bloody brilliant. I was already using incontinence pads rather than menstrual pads to deal with the volume - I had to buy emergency pads a little while ago in the garage, and all they had was always overnight pads - supposed to last 10 hours. I got 30 mins.

Yes, I felt like I was wearing a nappy, which was a bit embarrassing when they rustled and I felt like you could see the bulk through my jeans, but it was the first time in years when I slept through the night without leaking.

I really recommend giving them a try while you work on the other options. Period pants don't stand a chance with mine either (ditto cups etc.)

@Nsky62 ablation doesn’t work for everyone but it does have a high success rate and certainly less physically traumatic than a hysterectomy.

I had tried and didn’t get on the Mirena, tranexamic acid didn’t help enough. I would have flooding and heaving bleeding for 5/6 days and then further bleeding for 2 days.

Had it done at 38 and has seen me through to menopause.

At 52 yrs went private for laser hysterectomy. £7000 via Credit Card!
BEST money spent ever!
no pain, recovery quick. Uterus, ovaries, cervix all gone…life back.
before this I was even scared of coughing in case of the horror.
Had I been younger and medical history allowed would have had HRT after to minimise being thrown straight into menopause, but could not. No regrets would do again .