Hi,  I am booked to have a hysterectomy on the 19th October and I was wondering if anyone had had one and could tell me their experiences.  I am not too worried about the op itself (I have had two c sections and a laparotomy) more the menapause (spelling) bit afterwards and the HRT.

Many thanks

Melissa

Hysterectomy does not necessarily mean oophrectomy (removal of the ovaries) as well.  Do you know if that is what is planned?  If the ovaries are removed then obviously you will immediately enter a menopause but if not they will continue to function although they do tend to stop working earlier than if you have not had your womb removed.  Whether you wish to replace the hormones depends on several factors including your age, you and your families medical history so your doctor is the best person to guide you through the choices.

THanks for that.  I have endometriosis so they reckon that they will have to remove the ovaries due to chocolate cysts but will not be a hundred percent sure until they open me up.

I had a hysterectomy with ovaries removed in may.  Mine was a vertical iincision although usually it is a bikini line incision.  For the op I had general and epidural.  After the op I was in bed for 24 hours with a drip attached where you could administer your own pain relief as and when required by pressing a pump.  Catheter was in for 2 days.  Walking about after 2 days.  A couple of tips are take anything you can to ease the wind afterwards, I was in a bay with 6 other ladies and we were all in agreement that the pain caused from trapped wind/no bowel movements were worse than the incision.  I was in for 9 days altogether. 

After the op remember to get plenty of rest, follow your aftercare sheet to the letter.  My friend had hyst done and overdid it too soon and ended up having 2 further ops because of this.  I know we all heal differently but the inside taking some serious battering.

As far as hot flushs are concerned I haven't found them too bad, but again this differs from person to person.  Your consultant should advise on this and there are plenty of alternative/complementary medicines you can try.

good luck
Michelle

Thanks Michelle,  Glad yours was a success and everything went ok.

Melissa

Hi, I had one in 1982, when I was 23, I ended up having a bi-lateral oophorectomy in 1992 and Iwish they had done the both of them together! I had a lot of problems with ovarian cysts afterwards in the 10 year gap, ended up with peritonitis and emergency surgery :rolleyes: But really I've never looked back...I was up the same day but in for 12 days as I was pretty ill anyways...it was only 5 months after my second c section and I had been really ill since that(blasted kids! :D)...but hey ho I'm glad I had it done and saved loads of money on 'lllaaaadddiiiesss' products!!! :P :P Take it easy afterwards...I was always on the go(2 kids under 2!) and it did me no favours...I reckon it takes a full year to recover from major surgery! All the best and good luck, love Dawn XX

Hi,
Yes, I had all taken away as I had an ovarian cyst. When I woke up, I had a cafeter in the bladder to stop any pressure. A Morphine drip that you can administer yourself. I personally didn't as it made me nausea.
It was sore to be constantly  sick. So they gave me a pain killer, they insert it in the back passage, it worked great.I hadn't started the menopause, so I went in to a surgical menopause. Not very nice. The family said I was awfull.
So I went on HRT, The first tablet of Oestrogen, I did put a lot of weight on. I wasn't very happy with that. So they changed my HRT to Oestrogen and Progesterone, that is a lot better. They can give you also Testosterone, but that makes you very highly sexed. So most doctors won't.
They decided to remove everything, as they informed me that ovarian cancer is not detected until it could be to late. So after that I did sign for them to take it all. The good thing is you don't have monthlys and you can always wear those white skirts and trousers All the best.

Denese...it's a CATHETER LOL :P

Hi Melissa,
I had a hysterectomy when i was 32 years of age, due to endometriosis and a cyst the size of a jaffa orange!!  I was left with the right side ovries so i'm not on HRT but every year i have to have a blood test to see i'm producing enough hormones. The operation went well, had the op on a Thursday afternoon and was let out Sunday tea time with a neat cut 1 inch above my C section scar. When you get home you just need to take things really carefullly like when you had a C section eg no lifting.  Before i had my hysterectomy i was put through the menopause and had HRT injection, the only side effect were hot flushes.

Hope everything goes well on the 19th.
Good Luck
Jane

Vaginal hysterectomy '99, ovaries intact but still menopause within 2 years.
No problems from it at all, a job remembering I had major surgery, as with an abdominal incision you get a reminder ...
Good luck and dont worry, life really was so much easier sfter it.
Karen

Thanks everyone.  You are all making me feel a lot happier and more at ease

Hi There,
           You will be fine.......... I know how you feel, I had 8 hours of radical surgery for endo and lots of other things in July and am still not properly back on my feet. If it hasn't worked, a hysterectomy is my next op..... Part of me wishes it had already been done already, as I really don't want any more surgery :-(

Hope all goes well for you, I am sure it will and then hopefully you will be pain free  :-)

Gabrielle x

I have adenomyosis (a form of endo but in the womb wall).
They have said if I'd have had children they'd recommend a hysterectemy.
But I haven't..and I'm also considered too young, well I was two years ago ;)
So I'm on cerezette the contraceptive pill. It's stopped the menstrating and ovulation
which was causing all the problems. It's been 19 months now.
I had to endure a ovarian cyst rupture 2 years ago as they didn't have a clue what
I was suffering with until after the event (and many hospital visits).

Can understand what they say re the trapped wind, after the laparoscopy
where they blow you up with air, god the pain was awful..much better
when all the trapped wind had disappeared.

Sincerely wish you all the best!

you remind my of that trapped wind that was more painull than the op.

i had my hysterectemy at 29.yes i was lucky i did have kids by then.
it was the best thing i did no more pain in between monthleys or time off work and going to bed for days with pain.
i have a 1/4 of an ovary still. i am not on hrt but not bad for 48 year old.

it was the best thing i done in my life if i had not had it done i wouldnt be able to work as much or do the thing i do with the dogs.

I had a total hysterectomy almost three years ago and it was the best thing I ever did.  I had it done on the Monday evening and I came home on the Thursday morning.  I had no catheter or drains etc. and I was up on the commode less than 12 hours after the surgery.  I had no 'clips' and the stitches were the dissolving ones so no worries about having the stitches removed either.  However, I think it depends on your surgeon as to what procedure you undergo during and after the surgery.........go for it!  It will be one less 'bit' to go wrong later on!!
P.S. The post operative 'wind' I had certainly wasn't 'trapped'.........it was a good job I had a room of my own!!   :)  :)

I had all taken away after they found abnormal cells, they lazered them but they multiplies and turned to suspected cancer, they took the lot which I am reply pleased about, it started offf virginal but because of fibrouds(sp) they could not so opened one of the many other zips in the area.

I had the HRT implant when they did the op, and the injections for 3 months, now been on climaval HRT tablets for the last 9 years, I do get the odd flush and sweat but nothing you cannot cope with.

Make the best of the rest while you are there, you will maybe need it as families seem to go into overdrive and not let you move and run around after you, I found it better to get around, Once I sat I found it even harder to get up and on with things.

The day after I can out of hospital I went to town to pick the tiles for the kitchen it was so boring being at home, and I did the tiling.

Bet things have improved over 20 years