Hysterectomy Stories, please?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Gracious, I don’t think I’ve started a thread since sometime last summer. But I’d really like your input now, if you’d like to give it.

A few days ago, I went in for my yearly exam. I’ve been having a problem lately with my bladder, so I brought that up with the doctor before my exam started. But one of the things I was also slated to discuss with her was getting my tubes tied.

To make a long story short, my bladder is fairly bad shape. And my uterus is not doing real well, either. It’s starting to prolapse.

At the moment, my uterus is in the early stages of prolapse. My gyno said that a bladder suspension from there (where it’s usually done, as long as the uterus is healthy) could still be done, but I’d most likely end up needing another one in 3-5 years.

But, since I quite obviously do not want any more children, and my uterus is collapsing anyway, she suggested a hysterectomy. It’s not so bad that it needs to be done immediately, mind you. But it’s bad enough that it really isn’t going to get better.

My ovaries would be left intact. I had one cyst on one of them several years ago, but that went away entirely on it’s own and I’ve had no trouble since then.

I have an appointment with a urologist next week, to see about my bladder. If he agrees with the gyno, and thinks that suspension surgery is in order for me, I’ve pretty much already decided that I’m going to go ahead with the hysterectomy. It’s like my gynocologist said. I’m done with my uterus. It’s served it’s intended purpose, three times over, and I really don’t want to use it anymore. And since it’s prolapsing anyway, it’s only going to give me more grief in the future. And not the distant future, either.

So what I’m looking for here is your stories. Have you been through this? Know anyone that’s been through it? Tell me what you know. I’m only 36 years old, and never thought I’d have to make this kind of a decision at this age. My mom has had one, but she was about 50 when she had hers, and it was for pretty much the same reasons. I’ve talked to her, and she’s given me a great deal of advice, but I still want more information.

Thanks a lot!

Most appreciatively,
Persephone

2

My friend Donna, who’s in her mid-30s, had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago after years of illness and pain. She had a bad couple of months afterwards from aftereffects of surgery, but she says it was the best thing she’s ever done, she is so happy about it and has no troubles now.

Well, no gynecological problems . . .

3

way to fickin much TMI

My situation wasn’t anything like your’s but I’ll tell you my story in the off chance there might be something beneficial there.

I had endometriosis for years…and years. It was really bad. I’d gone through tons of different treatments for what seemed like forever. When I was 34 the Dr. said he thought it was time for a hysto. By then it had been so long and so much pain I was really happy to have it over.

Although, I’d never had any children, and in reality, I probably never would have been able to have any by then because of the endometriosis it was still very difficult to go through with it after agreeing to it.

I really had no idea what to expect but the Dr. did tell me he expected he wouldn’t have to take my overies out. When he got inside, he found that the blood hadn’t just built up on the outsides of the organs but had seepped through into the tissue. He had to take the overaries. The incision really does go from hip to hip. The feeling below the cut has never come back (it’s been 12 yrs) And those muscles don’t work either. When the doc tells you not to do to much while you are recovering…listen to him. I tore some internal stitches by taking the trash out to soon.

Since he had to take my ovaries, that put me right into menopaus. That was fun… NOT! But if I understand it correctly you won’t have to worry about the hot flashes, mood swings, etc. if you can keep yours. I wasn’t lucky enough to be able to stop taking the estrogen replacement therapy in time like many women are able to…or even be able to switch to herbs. I turn into a crazed woman when I don’t get my estrogen.

From the people I’ve talked with, even though a women is finished with her parts, I understand it’s hard to go through loosing them. I’d be prepared for that just in case.

On the positive side, no periods really is heavenly and being rid of the old pain was great. The discomforts that replaced it is really much easier to handle although there were times in the the beginning when my hormones were all over the place I wasn’t sure I believed that.

I don’t know if that can be of any kind of help to you. If you have any questions, let me know.

Good luck to you and let us know how things go.

4

A very close relative of mine had the surgery last Friday. She was sent home Monday. She’s 51 and has a history of endometriosis and fibroids and things got to the point where a hysterectomy was the last option.

I sent her a book of mine, Woman, by Natalie Angier, which contains a chapter describing the author’s experience observing another woman’s hysterectomy. My relative said it answered some of her questions and raised others, which she took to her doctor. Although knowing the details of the surgery heightened her worries over the procedure, I think she also paradoxically found it helpful to read a description of the surgery that was longer than a sentence or paragraph. Maybe you’ll find it useful, too.

5

I’d been having “female problems” and since the various and sundry tests and exams didn’t show anything, my Dr wanted to to a surgery to try to figure out what was going on. Turns out it was vary bad endometriosis, and he took out all my girls parts right then and there (plus called in another surgeon to take part of my intestine also) I was 35 and in instant change-o-life. Beats the alternative, tho - he said I was probably a few weeks away from having my intestine rupture… :eek:

Once I got over the emotional issues with it (I’d known it was a possibility) and once I got on ERT, life was fine and dandy. No more pain. No more periods. Now, as I creep up on 50, I’ve been weaned off the estrogen and I’m going thru all the hot flashes nonsense, but it’s not as terrible as I’d expected.

Honestly, the worst of it is the scar that goes from my navel straight down, but since I never had any intention of baring my belly, it’s not that big a deal.

6

Make sure you know exactly what kind of surgery you would like.
You could have it done laparoscopically, which would leave you with less scarring, an open abdominal, or they could do it through the vagina.

Find out what your gynaecologist would like to do, how often they do it, what their complication rate it is, and then weigh up the pros and cons.

Best of luck with whatever you decide, and I hope things go smoothly afterwards.

7

I had a hysterectomy on December 9, 2002. I had severe endometriosis–2 laparoscopies had been unable to clear up any of it, and the one IVF cycle we tried was a failure. It was a little hard to make the decision, because I did want children badly. But by the time we could have saved up to try another IVF (with no guarantees, of course), I’d have been insane with the pain.

They were able to do it vaginally/laparoscopically, so I have no external scarring. I was in the hospital another two days before going home. Within a month, I felt better than I had in the past year. And after 6 months, I felt better than I had in many years.

If you need it, it can be an amazingly beneficial surgery. I love not having periods. I love not having constant pain. Before the surgery, it was so bad that I’d get home from work and pop Vicoden and lay on the sofa all evening because I hurt too much to do anything.

I turned 39 the day before the surgery, and my doctor did put me on HRT. So no hot flashes.

So my experience has been nothing but positive. I hope you’re able to make a decision that brings you peace and relief.

8

Are you kidding??? That’s my idea of an ideal evening!

WARNING - TMI!

On a more serious note, I had my hysterectomy in March 2002. I had had breast cancer back in '94, and what with 4 sessions of otherwise almost unnoticable chemotherapy and then going on Tamoxifen, I’d already gone through menopause although I was only 38 in '94. (Actually, since there was no lymph node involvement and really only inconvenience associated with the breast cancer over all, I considered this an excellent deal. A few weeks of some pain and nuisance in exchange for no periods forever? Where do I sign up?!?!?) Anyway, the Tamoxifen can cause thickening of the lining of the uterus, which is a pre-pre-pre-cursor to uterine cancer, so I ended up having the hysterectomy in '02.

I had hot flashes with menopause, but really, it was no big deal, and not having periods is a joy! I understand some people go through worse, but a lot of it, I suspect, is based on expectation. Since I didn’t realize I was in menopause, and the hot flashes started in high summer, I didn’t realize what they were for quite some time. And while they weren’t wonderful, they were hardly disastrous. I certainly had NO other symptoms.

As for the hysterectomy, I viewed it as an excellent opportunity to get a week or two off from work. The pain was quite bad the first night (while I was still in the hospital), and I stayed thoroughly drugged the next day (also in the hospital). After that, not bad, except that, as with any major surgery, you run out of steam very readily for a few weeks - it takes a fair amount out of you to heal. I have about a 4-5" scar below the pubic hairline, and it’s barely visible, even though I’m a very light blonde and my hair is comparatively scant (or so I’ve been told).

In short, if you have problems with cysts on your ovaries, Persephone, I’d strongly consider getting them removed at the same time. Beats the hell out of a second surgery later on. In any case, don’t fear the uterus removal - it’s just not that big a deal! Or at least that’s been my experience.

9

My mom had a hysterectomy because of fibroids, and couldn’t be happier. It’s helped her so much. I’m not sure about the scar size, but this was over 10 years ago and things might have changed since then.
TMI:

She got quite a surprise afterwards, too. The doctors told her, “Well, we found your Dalkon shield.” She’d had one implanted in (IIRC) 1973, and had cramps and bleeding for couple days afterwards, that soon stopped. She went in and the gynecologist did an exam, couldn’t find it, and said it must have dislodged itself and fallen out - perhaps she’d flushed it or something. Apparently it actually went through her uterine wall and lodged in the outer wall of the uterus, where it remained without causing problems. :eek:

10

My best friend struggled with female problems for years – her periods were always heavy, painful and lengthy. She turned out to have endometriosis – chocolate pudding endometriosis, they called it – too descriptive for me, frankly! She was not yet 40 and had no children, so they fiddled around with non-hysterectomy options for 4 or 5 years and nothing helped. Finally, at age 41 she gave up her uterus joyfully. She made a rapid recovery and felt 100% better almost immediately. She says the only thing she would have done differently is to have had the surgery 5 years sooner.

11

Exactly how it happened with my mother - she had cervical cancer that was spreading into her uterus. She had the uterus removed and the ovaries remained.

You still have to take it easy for a while afterwards - I had to take her to the ER when she popped her stitches trying to hang drapes.

12

No, I don’t have problems with my ovaries. I had just one cyst, about five years ago, that went away completely on it’s own, no surgery necessary. It was discovered one month when I all of a sudden started having cramps so bad that I literally couldn’t walk. My doctor sent me for an ultrasound, and that’s when the problem was found. But it was just before my period, too. Once my period started, the pain went away. But the OB/Gyn (at the time–he’s since retired and I have a new one) scheduled surgery for a month from then. He wanted to wait until after my next period, because in his words, “every cyst I’ve seen that looks and acts like yours goes away, by itself, without surgery.” So, four weeks later, I had another ultrasound, and sure enough, it was gone. This was the same OB/Gyn that had delivered my daughter, and pegged her precise due date. And when I was pregnant with her, I had a minor problem with my placenta (it had shifted rather close to my cervix–not previa, but marginal). He said the same thing about my placenta that he later said about the cyst–every one he’d seen that looked like mine went away on it’s own. And the placenta problem solved itself, too. And since then, I’ve had no trouble at all with my ovaries.

My gynocologist told me that they could do this vaginally. I have to admit, it just seems…well, it seems kind of freaky. I mean, nothing is actually supposed to go that darn far up inside, through that particular opening, you know (I’m getting a visual of the doctor reaching <i>waaaaaaay</i> up there…)? :eek: But, if it’ll speed the healing, I’m okay with it. I myself am not concerned with external scarring. I’m 36. I’ve had three kids. My abdominal area already has stretch marks enough to put Rand-McNally to shame. And I don’t wear belly-baring clothing anyway. A scar just wouldn’t be noticed.

Thanks for the stories and the positive vibes. They really are making me feel better.

13

Warning TMI, but then again, why would you be reading this thread and not expecting TMI?

I can definitely send you some positive vibes! I had a hysterectomy and bladder suspension about 8 years ago, at the age of 35, for exactly the same reasons that you’re describing. I’d also had 3 wonderful children, but felt my family was complete. My 2 sons were over 10 pounds each at birth and my daughter, though only a little over 8 pounds, was born in less than 2 hours, so my uterus had been run through the ringer, so to speak!:eek:

For years I’d been plagued with stress incontentence and constantly lived in fear that I’d laugh, sneeze or be called upon to engage in some mild form of physical activity at an inopportune moment. When my OB/GYN offered me a hysterectomy/bladder suspension, I took him up on it immediately. My procedures were done separately, (one year apart) but only because I have a jaw problem that makes it hard to intubate me. Both surgeries were done laparoscopically, so I had no scars-well, at least not from those surgeries. (Even though you say the thought of having it done vaginally kinda weirds you out, I’d highly recommend having it done that way–less stitches, less time healing, less chance of wound infection…) I spent 1 night in the hospital after each procedure (maybe 2 after the bladder suspension, it’s been awhile, so I’m not 100% sure). I healed quickly and easily after both surgeries and think of them as 2 of the best things I’ve ever done! I love not having a period and not having to worry if I sneeze or laugh.

2 small warnings, though: after my bladder suspension, I was sent home from the hospital with a suprapubic catheter. I’m not 100% sure, but I think this is true for everyone that has this procedure, because the bladder can’t handle the stress of holding urine for a while after undergoing surgery. Also, even though I knew that I didn’t want any more children (and my husband had already had a vasectomy), I still felt a little sad and morned the loss of my childbearing potential after the hyserectomy. It wasn’t a big deal and I didn’t, not even for a moment, regret my decision. I felt kind of sad for a couple of days, and then was over it. It just took me by surprise, so I just wanted to warn you, in case it happened to you too.

Good luck! And enjoy not having your period again, especially when your friends are complaining about theirs!:smiley: