Anyone had a hysterectomy?
 

:( I have been having some pelvic pain during my monthly cycle and the doctor seems to think it's endometriosis but since I have such a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer, they recommend I have a complete hysterectomy. I'm 42 and have 2 boys aged 13 and 4. I feel like I'm too old to be having more kids and my husband is happy just the way things are but I've always wanted 3 and this is a harder decision that I thought it'd be. I'm actually kinda depressed about it. Anyways, does anyone have any info about the side effects they would like to share or any advice for me?
Thanks, Theresa :(

I can honestly say it was the best thing I ever did. I was in my 30's when I had mine. I really had to watch myself because it made me feel so much better that I started doing things that would wear me out. I went back to work after 4 weeks which was probably a mistake 'cause it wore me out but I felt so much better than I had before...no more cramps, HEAVY bleeding, headaches that hurt everytime I took a step. My daughter is going thru the same decisions that you are trying to make. I can only say it was really the right thing for me and I have never regretted it. Good luck

I had one in 2002, and it was not anything like I thought it would be. I slept most of the time in the hospital, and when I was released, I really felt pretty good. I did not have to take any pain meds when I got home. I have had hot flashes, but I had those before, after going through chemo-therapy in 1999. So, the menopause issue had already been crossed. Anyway, I am glad I did it, and I am especially glad when I walk by the tampon and pad aisle at the grocery store.;)

I had a complete hysterectomy two years ago and I agree...it was the best decision I've made.

The best advice I can give you is to read and research as much as possible. I strongly recommend this site for information and support. It's great!! :D

http://www.hystersisters.com/

It was the greatest thing I ever did for myself. The worst problem I had was bad gas for about a week. My sister however had her's done and her doctor gave her something ahead of time for the gas so she had no problems. Don't worry about it. It's a breeze and the rewards after it's all over are great.

I had it done when I was 35 the old fashioned way....the incision in the belly. I was so glad when it was over, the first thing I said to Chuck afterward was "I don't hurt anymore". My daughter (29) had it done last Wed with the new Da Vinci System robotic surgery & just has 5 little incisions across her belly from it. No bleeding afterward, not bad pain from it & she can drive this week if she feels like it. Quicker recovery, amazing.

I had mine about 6 years ago (I'm 52). I had a tumor the size of a small watermelon. I also had suffered from endometriosis for years and had it lasered off twice. Finally they took it all and it was the best thing ever.

I was very young when i had mine, 16 yrs ago, mine was an emergency from an eptopic pregnacy, but i take estrogen and no hot flashes, make sure you take calcium and vitetem D for your bones:) you wont regret not having periods;)

my mom had hers out YEARS ago... and she still says to me... Marci.. when you are done having kids... have it all taken out... she coudln't be happier with her decision. She had very off cycles so it was more necissity than want....

as for the 3rd child.. there are other ways to be a mom :)

I had my hysterectomy one day & went to my daughter's baby shower the next day.:)

I had a laporoscopy and a D&C to confirm the endometriosis and 6 months of shots to make my periods stop. I still suffered from a lot of pain after all of that, so I was given a choice to get a hysterectomy at the age of 30. I chose to have a total hyst., leaving no ovaries. I also have fibromyalgia which complicates things sometimes.

Even though my husband and I already made the decision of having no more children, (he had a vasectomy) I was still sad and depressed for a little while after I had the hysterectomy. I think I kind of felt less like a women and it was so final.

But given the choice again, I would definitely do it all over. You don't realize how bad you feel til it goes away. It is amazing what you build a tolerance too. I felt much better right away and take hormones daily. I was also off work for 8 weeks, but you can get around fairly decent after a few weeks. Hope this helps. Good luck.

This issue has been tossed back and forth with my hubby and I. I have PCOD and Adnomyosis so my periods are incredibly painful. My doctor said the only way to stop the pain is a hyst. My hubby is undecided about anymore kids though. I'm 33 and he's 36 and we have two boys. It's difficult to figure out for us because there are days that I want another baby but it took 6 years trying to get my second son. My mom had a full and LOVES it my sister-in-law had one and the dr messed up and she hasn't been the same since.

Best thing I ever did!! Except for hot flushes lol but they are better than the pain, problems and pads:D

I had mine done in 1991 at the age of 29. Back then we were just giving a name to endometriosis. The medical world has made great strides with it since then. Even at the age I was it was a great decision.

I had one June 15, 2006. BEST thing I ever did! I was in so much pain before.

Now we are just still kind of working on getting the HRT just right.

I had a complete one in '93 at the age of 35. I had endometriosis and it had caused my colon and back wall of the vagina to fuse. This caused colon spasms on top of the pelvic pain.


I have never regretted it. When I go to the Dr now and they ask when my last period was I say '93 and always get a weird look:)

If you get pregnant you shed the lining of your uterus and endometriosis will diminsh completely or hold off for awhile. I have had endo since I was 15 :( I had to fight and fight with the pain and misery for all those years....i have 2 kids now 15 and 12, and last year FINALLY have my hysterectomy last Nov. :) He was able to save 1 ovary so i feel 100% the same just no periods no cramps no PAIN!!! If your not having kids GET IT DONE endo can spread and cause MANY problems. Mine had spread into my bowels, inside AND outside of my uterus, I had 7 tumors (fibroid) and it was a mess. Dr said sad sight for a 35 year old. :( The good news....I was up walking 6 hours after my hysto. Its not bad at all. I went hoome the next day and only took pain killers for a week. You will get 6 weeks off to stay home with the fur babies and able to care for your kids without a problem. If you wanna PM me I can explain more....Like I said I have fought this for since I was 15 and by the end I was able to tell the Doctor what was going on and whay I needed. Plus I had to get a DNC every 6 months to year.....Its hard and I was scared to DEATh but its not bad at all and I realized all I was fearing was the unknown because it was 100 times easier than having a baby and since you have done that....your good. Hope that helps! Paula~

Thanks everyone for the input. It is helpful. Has anyone had any problems with the side effects which I know will happen eventually anyways, surgery or not, but I have a friend who has insomnia since her hysterectomy. It drives her crazy and causes other problems and my doctor said he thought that that was the worst symptom people complain about but wondering how many have experienced it or if there are other side effects to expect aside from hot flashes...?

Are you having both ovaries removed?? If you leave 1 you dont go on hormones or have hot flashes no side effects. Yes, I had insomnia...lasted about a month the dr will prescribe a sleeping pill but I was afraid to take a strong one (with kids and fur babies) ...so I took tylenol PM (very mild) and was fine.

yes. both ovaries out because of the risk of ovarian cancer and because they suspect endometriosis, take the uterus too. But really they are concerned about the cancer risk because I have a strong family history. :(

I say that if you have any family history at all, get it all taken out. No sense in leaving a ticking bomb in there.

I had my yearly checkup this past spring and she told me that it was time to start thinking about a full hysterectomy. We wanted to make 100% sure that we were done having children first. We weren't... just found out we're expecting baby #6 in May. :)

So now we're discussing having a C-section and taking it all out then. It would be nice to just have 1 hospital stay and 1 recovery.

Good luck!

:) Congrats on your upcoming baby! :) See, I think that is what's stopping me. Even though I'm happy with the family I have, there was always the possibility that I could have another and now I have to make the decision that there won't and that's what's hard for me. :(

wow #6!!!! Congrats! May what? My b-day is May 24th!

Thanks for the Congrats! We're due May 18th.

What helped us make the decision was, we asked ourselves if we felt complete. Complete with ourselves and complete with our family. I have 3 children from my 1st marriage, 2 boys and a girl. Chuck and I have 2 boys together. We really had hoped that we could have a girl. Regardless of what this baby is, we're done though!

I had my hyst 08/14/99 due to cervical cancer. THe hyst was the best thing to ever happen to me. My drs. had me wait 5 years to start hormone therapy. We are trying to balance that out now. Other than the hotflashes and insomnia(tylenol PM does help alot) It has been fantastic. No regrets.

There are days I think what would it have been like if I had another child. But it goes away as quickly as it comes. I have b/g twins-23 and a girl 19.
My hubby and I went to court and got custody of his daughter and I adopted her. So family is complete.

Our daughter(she's 20) has endo terribly bad. Her dr's want her to have a hyst now...But she is holding off- trying to get pregnant- but not having much luck :(