Upcomming Hysterectomy

Hi ladies, I'm scared. I just recently learned that I'm in need of a hysterectomy. I don't personally know anyone who's gone through one. I've never had surgery before so this whole thing is just scaring the daylights out of me. Right now I have 3 large fibroids that are causing lots of problems. I'm in pain everyday, and the hysterectomy is my only option at this point. Doc doesn't want to remove the tumors because he say's they are too big and to many that would cause major bleeding during surgery. I said I needed time to get my thoughts together and get myself just ready for everything. So I have 3 months ( end of April ) before I go back and set my surgery up. I have to have a tranvaginal ultrasound done and then a couple of days later met back with the doc. I'm an abuse survivor so just going to all these exams is just really freaking me out. I don't know how I'm going to get through this without having a complete meltdown.

(((Monty girl))) - so sorry this is stressing you out and I haven't had one so I can't speak from experience. Does your doctor want to do a partial hysterectomy or total one. As long as your ovaries are fine...its best to leave them in because removal causes loss of those hormones.

I'm sure there will be other posters who've been through this. Make sure you're an informed patient. Sorry this is doubly hard because of past abuse.

(((Monty Girl)))

Try to breathe slowly, deeply, and relax.

I had a total hysterectomy over 2 years ago, due to adenomyosis. Doctors did leave the ovaries, since they looked okay & I'm still relatively young. (Partial hysterectomy = uterus, Total Hysterectomy = uterus and cervix)

I do highly recommend you check out the following link, for information and lots of support. So many women have been where you have and are around to share their experience and support. It's very worth the visit! My name there is heathertink.
http://www.hystersisters.com

My periods and incredible pain are now long gone. I am thankful that I finally made the decision to have it done, as I'd suffered horrible periods (very long & very heavy) for many years before finally having it done. The path wasn't the easiest one to take, but it certainly led to less discomfort and physical misery.

Thank YOu, I'm trying to breathe and relax. Today's it's on my mind since I've been in a lot of pain. Yesterday wasn't so bad just felt like I had cramps which is an everyday feeling for the last couple of months. But today I've had the sharp pain as well that stops me cold.

shezbut, it's going to be a total hysterectomy leaving the ovaries. I know that one of the fibroids is laying on my bladder, so I live in the bathroom. My belly is all puffed out, can't wear hardly any of my pants. <----How I feel about all that. Thank You for the link.

lynn, I think I lucked up on the doc's. He sent me home with stuff to read and told me to do my research and come back with questions. I'm just having to learn to filter out some of the information I find and make the best choice for me. Some of the stuff I find scares me even more.

(((((Monty_girl)))))))
I am sorry to hear about the pain and discomfort you are experiencing. It can be a scary process but am impressed, as I hope you are too, with how well you are handling taking care of yourself, doing what you need to to get through each step in helping yourself. That's all you have to do is take things moment by moment. Also, from what you have described of your physician, you are in good hands and I hope there is comfort in this moving forward.

In preparation as you research, at some point, I would also call to find out to verify who exactly would be doing this as to the surgeon or start asking around about one, checking credentials, verifying about recovery times, and what can expect afterwards for symptoms, and treatments/ therapies, especially if it becomes a total (removal of uterus+ovaries) and not just a partial (removal of only the uterus).

Hystersisters, as mentioned earlier, is a great website for insight and support.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/publicat...sterectomy.cfm

Take extra good care of you during this time as it is not just about the physical, as I have been noticing, it has been just as emotional as well. Find support. Hang in there and sending good wishes your way.

i can totally relate with the surgery and abuse.
i had my hyster a few years ago, just the uterus was removed, and it was the best thing i did for myself.
i too suffered from fibrods and when she opened me up my uterus wall attached itself to my pelvic bone. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i had 5 small openings, stitches only on the inside, and glued me on the outside.
it took 4 weeks to fully recover, and i don't have my tom anymore.
the side effects i had are gone cuz i am taking a muiltvitamine.
hope this helps

I completely understand what you are going through. I am also an abuse survivor and the tests before my hysterectomy were a nightmare.

Things to remember--

1) The surgery is painful; but given the pain we've had leading up to the surgery, it is quite manageable. After a couple of days, I was walking mostly normal again. I found the pain to be not as bad as expected and not as bad as my worst periods. Take it easy and don't push yourself.

2) Expect to either feel like you don't have any interest in sex or be hypersexual (depending on your mental health diagnosis) after the surgery. I cycled between these things, but was mostly hypersexual.

3) Expect some depression. Women who have been sexually abused typically have these kinds of physical problems. There is a direct correlation and doctors don't know why. Therefore, you might feel as if something was taken away from you. Some women who do not understand may make rude comments to you (perhaps I got more rude comments because I was 29 when I had it done). Take it with a grain of salt- they do NOT understand the pain we've endured (physically or mentally).

4) Rest and do not pick up anything after the surgery- even if you feel as if you can!!!! Listen to the doctors and absolutely no lifting or sex until they say so!!!!

5) It takes a bit of time for your body to re-adjust. You may have "phantom pain" during your period time. This is normal and the pain won't be as bad as your periods. You actually still get the munchies when you would be typically PMSing, but I find most of my cravings have vanished.

Sorry so long to get back, Not home on the week-end much. But I wanted to say thank you all for the info. It does help.

My doc I met with is the one that's going to be doing the surgery. Looked up where he went to school and did his training.(Good schools.)

One of the things that worry's me most is maybe going back into a depression. The depressions I've had since going on the pill have been milder then before. My PMS have always been really bad and the pill seemed to help out a lot with that. But I'll be going off the pill when I have the surgery and I don't know how that's going to effect my depression. So that's one of the things that's in the back of my head. Since I'll be keeping me ovaries.

I'm really stressed out. Besides all of this I got a letter this week-end that my disability is up for review. If it's not one thing it's another.

I had a partial hysterectomy gosh 12 years ago or so. I still have my ovaries.

The only suggestion I would make is ask about a bladder net? I found out after that our bladder is supported by our uterus. They can put something in to hold it up kind of like the uterus did. But could be they don't do them any more either. It was a long time ago and my memory is kind of fuzzy about what it was. But I remember thinking that I wished someone would have told me.

But I did not have any problems with the surgery or recovery. And I have never regretted doing it. I felt tons better after having it done.

Thank You Rosie, Sorry so long to get back. Had major family issues for awhile.
I'm going to ask about the bladder since I've had problems with one of the fibroids laying on my bladder and causing problems. I'll make sure to add that question to my list.

hon trust me on this please! ask the dr to do the MMK for the bladder. the mesh causes nothing but trouble. I had a vaginal sling done and it didn't last a year. had the mmk and no trouble since then.

Giving you supporting hugs...i had a complete hysterectomy (they took everything) 15 years ago, when i was 28...i had a tumor in my uterus and endometriosis and precancerous cells, among so many cysts on my ovaries it was not funny! it was the best thing that could be done for me and it really did help! i wish you much success with yours, keep reaching out to us here for support. i wish you many many pain free days ahead!

Please let me know how you are afterwards. I may be having a hysterectomy. Still debating it.

I've been spending the last 3 months doing my debating. Pro's and Con's whole thing and my husband and I decided that it's going to be the best to go on and have the surgery. I go next monday to the hospital for another ultrasound and I met with the Dr. next wednesday and we are going to set up our surgery date then. My husband is taking off work and coming to the Dr.'s appointment with me.

SuperWomanK: did teh doctors encourage you to take hormone replacment therapy after the hysterectomy? I have read so many things about hormone replacement that it makes me nervous about having a hysterectomy.

Had a hysterectomy in 1995, ovaries not removed tho. So am going thru menopause like most women my age.
It's personal choice on HRT but for me it was best. Felt so much better, helped with moods & anger. Reg doc said studies show that menopausal women who took HRT for 2-5yrs decreased chances of otheoporosis down the line.
Again it's personal choice.
Good luck.

My mom's OB-GYN was pushing her to do a hysterectomy because she has fibroids and heavy heavy bleeding. In the past she had an IUD to control the bleeding, but her body kept rejecting it. She can't take the birth control pill (she can't take estrogen) because she has had a pulmonary embolism in the past.

She sought a second-opinion, and the doctor put her on tranexamic acid. It has made her bleeding and pain much much better. She is so happy she avoided the hysterectomy. She's 50 years old, so she's decided she's going to forego surgery and just wait it out until she goes through natural menopause.

I don't want to scare anyone off of having a hysterectomy. Just wanted to say for anyone who is on the fence about getting a hysterectomy -- you can always get a second opinion. There are so many alternatives (even some alternatives that ob-gyn's can't do...like uterine artery embolization -- only interventional radiologists can do that, so your ob-gyn may not even mention it to you as a possibility), and some of the alternatives are new.

Anyway, I'm happy my mom got a second opinion, because she almost died the last time she had surgery (that's when she had her PE). I'm glad she's not having another surgery.