Hysterectomy....

dragona

Well, I'm booked to have one in six weeks :eek: Anyone here had one, or having one, and would like to discuss?? I'm relatively young Or even point me in the direction of an Irish based discussion?? (if not appropriate for here)

Nevyn

Are you having it all out or are they leaving in your ovaries ?
I hope it's not for any horrendus medical reason and you have lots of time booked off to recover.

dragona

Oh blimey - my ovaries are STAYING! Years of suffering with profuse bleeding and extreme pain - I have a retroverted uterus and a few fibroids, so the option was offered and I am going for it. I'm only 44 so may have years yet of poxy periods.

My only concern is that I am of the reasoning that if something is healthy, leave it in ie. my lovely, healthy, nothing wrong with it, cervix !

But docs seem to want to remove it as a matter of course, for no *medical* reason other than a preventative one. I have been advised that I really need to put forward my case for wanting to keep it, when they could whip it out *just in case*!
My own GP asked me why on earth I want to keep it -it won't make the slightest bit of difference to me -he is a male doctor -I was gobssmaked.;)

Nevyn

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/view_preop.htm

http://www2.vhi.ie/topic/hysterectomy

http://www.healthpromotion.ie/search_publications/index.php?id=97

dragona

Thanks -I have been doing a lot of research for the last few weeks !

Nevyn

I am pretty sure there is support group that has contacts in the Rotunda and the Coombe
but I am buggered if I can find any trace of it online

Queen-Mise

That's tough operation to have. I hope it all goes well for you.

Wibbs

I would insist on keeping your cervix, unless you get a bloody good medical reason why they should remove it. It's your cervix not anyone elses. Do not be bullied into this and if the surgeon won't listen, then frankly go and get one who will.

October

Hi Dragona,

I'm also 44 and I had a hysterectomy on 26 January last. I found the website hystersisters.com very good. If you sign up they send you emails for the first six weeks after the op to tell you what to expect in the recovery process for the coming week. There is also a forum there which I found helpful.

I was dreading the recovery period more than the operation itself! But really it has been fine, it's amazing how the body recovers!! I think it's important though to be patient for the first 4 weeks after the operation and to take it easy.

I kept my ovaries but one side effect I was not aware of is that sometimes the ovaries go into shock and go to sleep for a few weeks after the op. I'm nearly 10 weeks post op and they are still asleep!!!!!! So I'm getting hot flushes and they are truly horrible!!!!!!

Let me know if you have any specific questions - my recovery has gone very smoothly and thankfully I had no set backs - other than the hot flushes!!

dragona

Thaedydal wrote: »

I am pretty sure there is support group that has contacts in the Rotunda and the Coombe
but I am buggered if I can find any trace of it online

Thanks for looking - there does not seem to be anything much Irish based online at all. I joined the HysterSisters a good while back when I got my op date, it is a very good website.

dragona

Wibbs wrote: »

I would insist on keeping your cervix, unless you get a bloody good medical reason why they should remove it. It's your cervix not anyone elses. Do not be bullied into this and if the surgeon won't listen, then frankly go and get one who will.

I know, I know. I just wish I didn't have to justify wanting to keep MY cervix

dragona

October wrote: »

Hi Dragona,

I was dreading the recovery period more than the operation itself! But really it has been fine, it's amazing how the body recovers!! I think it's important though to be patient for the first 4 weeks after the operation and to take it easy.

Let me know if you have any specific questions - my recovery has gone very smoothly and thankfully I had no set backs - other than the hot flushes!!

Yep, I am dreading the recovery too! I am already suffering the occasional hot flash, and rather frequent night sweats, even though my doc measured my hormone levels and said they are fine How long were you in hospital for, assuming you had the abdominal op?

October

I was in for 7 days. I thought that was going to be too long but it wasn't really, was probably ready to go home on day 6. I did nothing as instructed for the first two weeks I was home other than making sure I moved around often but I didn't feel up for my first walk outside until the end of those two weeks and then I made sure to go for a walk (or shuffle as it actually was!!) every day.

spurious

Hysterectomy was the next step for me if the Mirena didn't do the trick. Luckily it did. I believe the number of hysterectomies is dropping annually which is great.
I hope your recovery is speedy, OP.

dragona

A week long stay for a hysterectomy sounds like a long time! Still, you probably enjoyed the rest....

I am still recovering from surgery on my breast, a major duct excision, and was told by the surgeon that I will be sore for a few more months yet, so I'm not looking forward to having pain up and down Feeling a bit fed up actually

jos28

I had a hysterectomy(TAH) at 42 after years of heavy bleeding and what seemed like a constant period. I only had about 12 days a month free. It was without doubt the BEST decision I ever made. The op went well, I went back to work after 7 weeks. I was back doing most stuff fairly quickly but if I am perfectly honest it takes 6 months to feel completely normal. I found the hystersisters site a great help. Any problems I had were dealt with there. Its 7 years since my op and the thing I remember most was the swollen tummy. It seemed to last for weeks but its normal, just wear support knickers if you are going somewhere nice. My weight went a bit haywire for a while, I put on about a half stone but it settles down after about 6 months. I also got a lovely new pair of boobs. Went from a B to a D cup and they appeared firmer, nice bonus .
One of the nurses gave me great advice going into hospital: take EVERY drug they offer you everytime its offered, painkillers, sleeping tablets....
The most common reason for unscheduled visits post op is damaging your internal stitches by stretching or lifting. If you are having an abdominal hysterectomy you will have about 300 internal stitches so make sure you do what you are told. NO hanging clothes on the line, NO stretching up to kitchen cupboards, No heavy lifting/hoovering etc. If you obey the instructions you will be back to normal in no time.
It does take a while to recover but the benefits are amazing. I feel so much healthier, more energy because your blood count is healthier. You can wear white trousers and nice white underwear. You can throw out all those old period knickers, pads and tampons. Very therapeutic when you are post op.
The freedom is amazing, you dont have to worry going on holidays or worry when you are staying overnight in someone's house that you will have an accident. I could go on and on. Great for the sex life too, no contraception and as I said you have more energy. Are you having an abdominal or vaginal hyst ?
Whatever you have I wish you all the best, you will be fine if you do as you are told. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
P.S I kept my ovaries but got rid of my cervix. Why do you want to keep yours, it won't make any difference to your recovery and it means you will never again have to have smear tests. Happy days as far as I was concerned.

dragona

I know I first posted a couple of months back, but I'm in a good mood today so I thought I might tell you how it all went....

All ok! Pre-op, I argued with the surgeon re keeping my healthy cervix and WON! I was horrified to learn he wanted to whip out my ovaries too, all preventative :rolleyes: measures of course, but even though he did try to intimidate me with scare tactics, I put my foot down. I suggest anyone in the same position do all the research they can as regards pros/cons and then stick to your guns!

I am now just 5 weeks post hysterectomy (abdominal) and feeling ok, though the first three weeks were NOT the best! I was very apprehensive initially, especially about the long recovery, but it has not been too bad.

If a hysterectomy has been presented to you as a last resort option for gyne problems, don't panic! The whole experience was far worse in my head than in reality, and the best bit is NO MORE PERIODS!!!

Xiney

good for you for managing to keep your cervix & ovaries! (especially your ovaries, I can not believe the doctor tried to bully you into removing them... what a tool :rolleyes:)

hamlet1

had a hysterectomy 6mths ago for fibroids.best thing i ever did!they took everything including my cervix and i dont miss any of the bits!let them remove your cervix too,you wont need it and you'll never have to get a yucky smear test again!

Nevyn

I for one would miss my cervix, some women like it being bumped during deep penetraive intercourse, just cos you didn't want it kept in and could not think of a reason that doesn't mean that is the right course of acton for other women.

dragona

hamlet1 wrote: »

had a hysterectomy 6mths ago for fibroids.best thing i ever did!they took everything including my cervix and i dont miss any of the bits!let them remove your cervix too,you wont need it and you'll never have to get a yucky smear test again!

Sorry - beg to differ about the smear test. Actually, about all of it!
Even with no cervix, you will still need a smear. You may not have a cervix, but you have what is called a *vaginal vault* (top end of your vagina, in the absence of a cervix) Which still has to be *smeared* for vaginal cancer.

A smear takes all of 3 minutes, and has the potential to save your LIFE. I welcome it! Also regarding the cervix, it is debatable, and has been debated,whether you need it or not. I opted to keep my cervix, it was my fibroids and other things pertaining to the actual body of my uterus that was giving me problems, no problems with my cervix at all.

After doing a lot of research, I decided it was beneficial to me,so it stayed. Gotta love yor cervix!