Has anyone had a hysterectomy? How was your experience?

[CateyeKate]

I'm 53 and due to a failed uterine ablation 4 years ago and the subsequent discovery of adenomyosis and some endometriosis I am on a waiting list for a hysterectomy.

I have been on the list for 14 months and tbh, I had shelved the worry but now my pre-op is here (it's tomorrow) I am in bits. I'm a worrier at the best of times but I am now besides myself with fear and making myself feel quite unwell.

I have asked for an appointment to go through my fears with my endo gynae (the one who will perform the op) and will have a telephone consultation with him on 30/7. I'm very apprehensive as I don't find him easy to talk to and imo he has zero bedside manner.

He is planning on a robotic keyhole hysterectomy.

I've convinced myself all kinds of things and am in such a state, spent most of yesterday a blubbering wreck. I'm petrified of going under. I know people say it's like a good sleep but the last GA I had 20 years ago left feeling like a zombie for a month afterwards and that was only for a simple d&c. I'm worried about having a bad reaction to the anesthetic, I have emetophobia and can't even contemplate how I'll cope with vomiting after a GA as some people do, I am worried about getting sepsis or other infections and as someone who has daily digestive issues I'm really concerned about the impact the anesthetic and the operation will have on my bowels. I'm also worried about having a catheter and how will I cope with the post-op pain in hospital and for the days and weeks after. I'm the kind of person who notices every little ache and pain in their body and my mind goes into overdrive if things aren't 'normal'. I have panic attacks easily.

I don't want to take anything for the anxiety as I'm already on Nortriptyline for my gut issues and most antidepressants etc make me feel awful, I don't like that out of whack feeling relaxant drugs give you (had something when I had day surgery to remove uterine polyps a few years back and I felt awfully out of it which actually made me panic more).

I know that I am terrible at overthinking but I have ADHD and find that I just can't not quieten my brain down when I'm super anxious.

How was everyone's experience and should I go to the pre-op tomorrow with a list of questions or wait until I speak with the gynae at the end of the month? I can't a really think straight.

I've had a hysterectomy and it was fine. I couldn't have keyhole so full tummy cut. The first 24 hours I was on morphine and just slept. After that and once I could stand to walk to toilet, the catheter was removed. I was then on cocodemol as a pain killer. I was there for a further 2 days having checks etc, then was discharged. This operation was less painful than having my wisdom tooth out. At home, I took paracetamol mainly and the first week was just doing short walks around the house, then built up from there. Yes, I would do a list of questions.

Thank you, that’s reassuring.

We're moving this thread to our Women's Health topic for the OP.

How did your pre op go @CateyeKate?

I had a robotic Hysterectomy and had no problems at all. I didn’t need any
pain relief afterwards. I did take 6 weeks off from work because I felt a bit fragile afterwards.

Thanks for asking.

It went well, the nurse was lovely when I told her how terrified I am but I had to go to bed when I got home as I ended up so stressed (I have a huge hospital phobia) that I gave myself the worst migraine I’ve ever had and diarrhoea (I do have dreadful IBS 🙄).

How the hell I’ll get through surgery I will never know.

That’s amazing, I’m so frightened of all that could go wrong, especially pain. I used to be able to handle pain so well but the older I get the worse I am with it.