Has anyone had a Hysterectomy ?

Afitos

Hi,

I don't often venture over to this forum but am wondering if there might be anyone that can share their experiences, Please......

It is looking like I am probably going to need a Hysterectomy for Fibroids that are causing symptoms (heavy periods, pain, swollen belly, pain when having intercourse , needing to pee all the time etc)

Because I am only 45 and don't have children (not that we are going to have them) I have lots of questions which obviously I will talk to the Gynaecologist about however I wondered if anyone could give me their experiences ,

Does it take months to recover ? I am a home care worker and worried about time off work with no pay.

Did it affect your sex life ? Have read conflicting things on having cervix removed.

Were there any complications after the surgery ?

I would really appreciate any thoughts .....

Thanks

Slinky_Malinky

Hi, I had a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed 2 years ago at age 44.

I work in an office so only took 3 months off - I assume your job is more physical so you may need to take up to 6 months off. This is if it is done the old fashioned way through your tummy, if they can do it vaginally you will recover much quicker.

I did not have any complications, in fact it was a huge relief to be free of pain and heavy bleeding.

As for sex, I am single so cannot comment on that. I think I know the sort of things you have read regarding the cervix as I can remember reading the same and thinking that I may never experience intimate pleasure again. Maybe TMI.....but I can tell you that for me, everything works fine (diy of course). Better than before in fact!

If you want to chat about anything please feel free to pm me. I don`t manage to get on here every day but I will get back to you.

Afitos

Thanks for your quick reply, I have so many questions , I think it can only get better really a now I know that I have a problem everything is fitting in to place !

sophieschoice

I had one at 43, complete removal including ovaries.
Like you I too had fibroids, two large ones weighing a total of 7lb!!
I went back to work on light duties after six months because I had a physical job at the time too.
I also had HRT patches for three years afterwards and my sex life wasn't affected.
I can't say it wasn't painful because it was for a day or two afterwards but after that I was fine. Just remember not to start doing anything physical for a while afterwards. Good luck!

Afitos

Hi Sophie, Omg! 7lbs ! The biggest one they can see on my scan is 9cm wide , it's wierd cause I got married last year and lost loads of weight but I still looked pregnant ! (Didn't know I had them then)

Is six months what's recommended ? There is no way I can be off work for that long, DH has just given up work to re-train and start working for himself !

Looks like I will be living with it for some time to come .

nonnatus

There are two main ways of performing a Hysterectomy: The first is the older way, a bit like a caesarean section for childbirth, where they go through your tummy, so cutting through all the muscles and THIS is why the recovery time is so long, those muscles need to repair and you have to take it REALLY easy while they do. It's also major abdominal surgery so carries all the risks associated with that.

The newer method is to perform the operation from inside, by going through the vagina and kind of "sucking" everything out. Because nothing is sliced open, the recovery rate is massively reduced and it carries far fewer risks of infection etc. My Aunt had the "Hoover Hysterectomy :rotfl:" about four years ago and felt great. She was back at work within two weeks.
Of course, she didn't have a 7lb fibroid that needed removing (!!!!) and I imagine that would limit your options, but it may be worth discussing it with the Consultant.

Hermia

My mum had one last year. They had to cut through the stomach. She did initially have an infection in the wound which took a while to clear up, but after that she recovered very quickly. The hospital she was in has a policy of getting you out of bed a few hours after the op. She wasn't allowed to have meals in bed so she had to walk to the dining room from day one. She also had to walk so many steps a day. She said it was hard at first, but the recovery rate at this hospital is much quicker than others.

My colleague had a hysterectomy last year and since it she has looked younger than she has for years!

Dunroamin

I had a traditional hysterectomy 15 years ago which left me very tired but, apart from that, I could've gone back to work after a couple of months - perhaps three if I'd been doing something more physical. Advice tends to err on the side of caution rather than being absolutely essential.

Dinnie2006

Hi

Hope i can help. I Am 48. I had a hysterectomy in January this year like yourself due to Fibroid, s

They went in the tummy way think thats the norm when fibroid, s involved due to there blood supply.I had both ovaries removed plus cervix..

Did have a heavy bleed 2 hours after surgery..ended up back in theatre nothing to bad tho..

I can honestly say i was recovered within 2 weeks no pain what so ever after day 3

Hrt is different with everyone i have just stopped it as i managed to gain a stone in weight since Jan ( despite following same eating plan as pre hysterectomy) also have a gastric band>

Trying the menopause cake recipe found on here ( only suffering the dreaded night sweats

As for sex drive mine is still the same tho a little less senstive if u understand! Def a better opinion for me can live a better life without having to worry of the embarrassment or misery of heavy periods>

No regerts from my end ...14 weeks in and completely back to normal..
:j

just-jilly

There is also the option of having the fibroids ablated and is fast becoming the popular choice. Maybe your surgeon will discuss this procedure with you

sophieschoice

Just to clarify, it wasn't a single one weighing 7lb.
It was two fibroids, one weighed 4lb and one 3lb.
By the time everything had been removed I had lost a stone in weight!