I am not/was not superwoman I was on painkillers but there was nothing wrong with my brain and I feel the resuming of as normal a life as possible post op was good for me. I had worried about the bleeding and been scared to get it investigated for too long.
I hated not being able to do stuff post op. I needed help to do the most basic jobs but my stubborn, determined, independent nature helped me on the road to a good recovery. It is no good lying around indefinitely post op some activity little and often, good snooze breaks, a bit of telly in the day, a sensible balance worked for me and as a relatively old codger (62 when I had the op) I think I did OK. If you are determined to move on after the op and after cancer you will succeed. Stop looking back and look forward. It’s your womb (and maybe other lady bits) you have lost not your life.
Hi Hazel, you have no idea how much you have just helped me.
I am a 42 yr old going in for hysterectomy and tube removal and possible the ovaries as well and I know I made the right decision after being in pain for the last 8mths. I was just sitting here wondering whether or not to go through with the op when the last line of your story struck me.
thank you, I will think of you on my surgery date when I get nervous again.
Nancy
Hi Nancy – so glad my words helped. I know what you are feeling, the waiting for the op is bad. I hope you don’t get nervous on the day – you have the worst bit over with getting to this stage. Plan well, get a few nice nighties and treat yourself to some little pots of fruit to take in. I have just responded to a message from Suzanne below see what I said to her. Keep strong, sending love and a hug.
Nancy,
Like yourself, I am now on the waiting list for a full hysterectomy. Each day I change my mind, so it’s so helpful to read others stories.
I keep reminding myself that I spend 2 weeks of each month in pain and on a complete emotional rollercoaster! The thought of HRT scares me a lot and I think it’s going to be a case of trial and error for me.
After removal of endo and then an eblation, the only thing that improved for me was the bleeding. I do however still have all of the other symptoms!
Hope you get your date soon. I have up to an 8 week waiting list.
Isla
Hazel:
Thank you for sharing your story. It has given me new direction. I underwent a total hysterectomy last week, and have been feeling a little sorry for myself. But, you are right – it was my lady parts I lost, not my life! I will get out of bed today and find some small task to keep me busy!
Good for you – just pace yourself it will get easier – not easy getting moving on these dark days maybe plan a little break for March or look at seed catalogues online anything that will get you thinking ahead to the summer and brighter days you will get there believe me! Sending love and a hug
Hi Hazel, You sound like you talk common sense, I am just about to have my hysterectomy on 11th Jan 12, I have had two attempts via surgery to banish the damn fibriods but without succes, sadly they are too big and tough !! now.
I am 43 and very active usually but continuos bleeding and pain has halted all excercise and now can not wait to get rid off my unwanted visitors.
Any tips that might help? I would be grateful
Thank you
Sue
Hi Suzanne – I have just logged onto the site and found your message – so by now you should be post op. You ask if I have any advice? – just be kind to yourself and let nature take its course. Get good nourishing food down you, not chippy meals and fresh fruit as it helps healing. Drink water too, as much as you can manage it seems to help flush out the anaesthetic. I banned anyone bringing chocolate to me as too much sugar isn’t good for healing and can encourage bacteria. I may be talking out of my backside but it all worked for me. Loads of love and a hug from me to you, you did it girl!
Hi Suzanne
I got my hysterectomy done 30th December, and I am recovering well. I like yourself had fibroids and after trying alternative treatments found there was no other answer than the operation. I am 47 yrs old fit and healthy I opted to keep my cervix but had everything else removed within a matter of days I started having menopause systems (hot flushes) so was prescribed HRT and I take one tablet a day, as it is still only early days I can’t comment on how I feel they are working so fingers crossed the flushes stop. The biggest thing for me is not being able to do much, I went out for the first time on the 9th January, a short car journey and into doctor’s surgery and then onto chemist, that was my limit I was a bit teary don’t really know why I think just the frustration of knowing that at that time that was my limit. I am trying hard to listen to my body so I don’t overdue it but at the same time slowly building my time up at walking for longer periods. I am still taking lactose oil as I still suffer constipation but hopefully as my body heals that will sort itself out too. The hospital gave me a booklet FIT FOR LIFE advice and exercise following gynaecological surgery so I have been doing gentle abdominal exercises also. I hope you have a speedy recovery and remember listen to your body
thanks for your advice – you are the same age as me and i am booked in on the 21st feb to have a full hysterectomy! i am really concerned about the HRT,as none been offered to me or explained to me and i know i am loosing my ovaries……………
i am not too worried about the op itself, as long as the monthly nightmares vanish and i can lead a normal life again, i am quite positive in my outlook.
hope you are feeling better each new day……….
Just read your story, left me feeling really good. I am due to have a hysterectomy ( everything has to go because of a large ovarian cyst, maybe even the cervix, which seems to have dropped in the last week!) on the 6th of February. I am a very active 53 year old and was not looking forward to weeks of “immobility”. Thanks.
Carolyn,
How are you feeling now?
I am still a bit nervous about going in for mine on the 26th but I am glad to be reading other women’s positive stories post hysterectomy. Are you doing ok?
nancy
Hi,
I had a total hysterectomy about 18 months ago, I am 38, I had a massive fibroid which was causing constant bleeding and unbearable back pain, I was nervous about having the surgery, but for me now there is no looking back, my advice to anyone considering this surgery is look forward to a new you, yes there was a time after my surgery that I never thought I was going to get better, but take each day as it comes, there will be down days and dont do too much, take all the help offered.
Emma
Hi emma – I am 53 and had a full hysterectomy on 6 jan after eventually being diagnosed by an excellent gynaecologist,with a large fibroid the length and size of a ballpoint pen which he confirmed would have caused various problems throughout the past 2 years. It all came to head when I went into full bladder retention 2 days before xmas and spent 2 and half weeks with catheter in. Previous to this I had spent past 2 years going repeatedly to gp with pins and needles, severe bloating (looked like I was when 7 months pregnant) and lastly severe back pain which started in May for which I was sent for physiotherapy which didn’t work. Although I had had scans showing the fibroid had grown, the gp was for some reason reluctant to refer me to a gynae even though I explained I also had private health care insurance. She then sent me for barium enaema which I had just before I went into retention which showed my bowels were clear. She kept insisting I was approaching the menopause and that fibroids usually shrink after that. I was made to feel very uncomfortable that I was visiting her with these problems and was beginning to give up. Whilst being in hospital before xmas was not ideal, it did escalate my treatment and eventual diagnosis.
I am at feeling very positive about the operation after seeing a picture of the fibroid and although experiencing slight discomfort around the tummy area hope to be back to normal sooner rather than later.
I would like to say to any lady who might be thinking that their symptoms are not right to keep challenging the gp or change to one that does believe you as in the end it does get sorted out.
Hi Hazel and of course all of the other amazing women willing to share their story
I am booked for next week (26th) and have been in so much pain, seems the pain meds are not working as well now. I actually did go and buy some new nighties and robe for the hospital (good advice).
After an ovarian cyst rupture, adenomyosis, blocked tubes, so much bleeding and severe adhesions I am no longer reconsidering this surgery, a bit nervous but I am just looking forward to the other side of this pain.
And to Isla, I would say…I have had trouble with my periods almost all of my life and the last 9mths have been unbearable….it does help to read other stories and it’s just not normal to live in pain all of the time.
I am not sure where you are located but my Surgeon/GYN is an expert here in Canada on HRT and he has said to me not to be afraid as HRT gets a bad wrap and that it should not be a deciding factor when getting a hysterectomy. Hope this helps you.
And thanks for all of your kind words.
Hi Nancy I have just logged on and found your message – so today is the day of your op! – All good wishes for a speedy recovery! Hazel
Hello Everyone!
Thanks Hazel for your well wishes! I am doing really well, I am not quite two weeks out of a pan-hysterectomy, unfortunately when my surgeon got in there he discovered that no ovarian tissue was salvageable so everything is gone and because of the adhesions my surgery took 3hrs instead of 1hr. I finally have my explanation to the adhesions as my doc kept saying that they were due to pelvic infections and I didn’t think I had had any, when he got past the adhesions he discovered I had endometriosis all over and my fallopian tubes were terribly distorted as well my ovaries were the size of his fist (as I am sure you know they are supposed to resemble the size of a walnut). So my recover is going great and I feel soooo much better even such a short time after surgery, no pain meds now, and to all I recommend if you can keep moving and eat well as Hazel has said…the determination can get you through the rough time quicker!!!
I have changed my mind about the HRT though now having read the side effects and so I am using some simple vitamin supplements (in very high doses) to see if I can counteract the menopause symptoms that are supposed to hit.
Also, one more thing to anyone going in or newly recovering from this surgery, check with your doctor about higher doses of Vitamin C…it works directly on tissue repair and is water soluble so what your body doesn’t use you will excrete.
I also am using some essential oils (as that is my background) for the incision and it seems to be working, if you are interested let me know, I don’t want to ramble on and on.
Thank you Hazel….I did think of you on my surgery day and it helped me through knowing that other women were feeling the same things I was.
Hi Nancy
I hope you are still making good progress! Hopefully warmer days will be upon us soon. Enjoy the summer and all the good things it brings to us all. Love Hazel
Hi Hazel,
Yes, it has been 3mths now and I am doing well with recovery, I still get tired here and there, but mostly I have had some trouble with headaches, and a few other things…I am on HRT both estrogen and progesterone and I have just had the run down of bloodwork to see that everything is ok. We will see what comes of that next week. The weather here has been crazy so we are all trying to stay healthy, looking forward to doing some gardening soon.
How are you doing?
Nancy
Hi there everyone. I had a life-saving radical hysterectomy on December 30th. I had a massive tumour that started bleeding and nearly bled to death. Had to have blood and plasma transfusions. Ovaries (as well as cervix) were taken too but the HRT patches have been a godsend so no more night sweats or hot flushes. I’m 43 years old and feeling I’ve been given a second chance at life, especially as the tumour was on the way to becoming cancerous. It was such a relief to hear it wasn’t cancer after the biopsy was performed.
It’s nearly a month since I had the op and I feel a million times better (especially my bladder that had a continuous pressure on it!). I don’t miss my uterus because I had suffered from painful periods since the age of 15. Also, I feel my femininity isn’t defined by having all my ‘lady bits’. I’ve never had any children or wanted any which is another plus as I won’t have to worry about birth control anymore.
I recognise that we all have different experiences but my hysterectomy saved my life so I’m looking forward to a pain-free and period-free future now. Good luck to all the other ladies out there going through the same thing. Believe me, once the pain is under control after the op and you start healing, each day gets better.
Hy! im day 12 post op and for all you ladies awaiting surgery and as nervous as I was do it! I nearly ran out of op waiting area minutes before but glad done now> Surgeon disclosed fibroid filled uterus like lifting a head out! Some tip you dont see else where! Get not only knickers a size bigger but with no pattern! I treated myself to pretty ones and even the pattern rubbed on tender tummy. When they say lift only a equiv weight of a mug of tea do it! Very important when you have your jug of water in your hospital bed you dont pour into you plastic glass as I did stupidly, you can gently tip the jug to pur into the glass. Accept everypainkiller offered in first week! Esp in hospital, makes it not as bad as you worry about. Winter ops get nice long nighties to at least below knee, more compfy for when you encoraged to the important bed to chair. And those little face spritzers you get – fab when morphine makes you feel a trifle warm and the mints you get in a tin, great for windy tummys and freshening breath. I am comming up to two weeks post op and worried all over xmas but now I feel spring is a new fresh start for me as well as the garden after years of fibroid rule I am back in control! Dont be afraid ladies, its forward you go carefully right from day one. Good luck . Louise xx
Hey Louise! I am on day 12 today of my op. I completely agree with ur post. I had urinary tract infections nonstop for seven months and been taking antiobotics. Had a history of fiberoids and one large one that had grown 2 cm within a few months. Found out from the urologist that the larger one was leaning on my bladder. So i decided it was time…….. I also was diagnosed with Epstein Barr and a B12 deficiency to make matters more complicated. Anyhow been out of work since Jan 16 to get my body in shape for the surgery am glad I did.
I had a TAH with ovaries removed. I am feeling pretty good but taking it slow to be safe. I try not to do stairs right now more than twice a day since there are 16 if them. So glad i did the surgery I can feel a difference already.
ldid get out two days in a row for about an hour and a half each an dthat was more than enough. I have to go up and down 16
I had a TAH with bilateral ooptechomoy (both ovaries out gettin gused to th etermology
Hi Isla,
Have you heard anything back yet about a surgery date? Have you decided whether you are going to go through with it? I would love to hear from you and if you read the earlier post I did change my mind about the HRT and I totally understand your worry now, my doc still says it’s fine but I have chosen not to take it right now and tomorrow I am 3 weeks post op and doing great. Let me know how things are going for you.
Nancy