Help I’ve got to have a hysterectomy

Mine was several years ago, Msdaisy, but I think I was off work for three months. It's probably different now and may also depend on what type of work you do. I was a teacher - lots of standing up.

Mine was 15 years ago. It was about 6 weeks recovery time. I was lucky that it was in the school holidays and I was teaching.

I had one in my fifties. I was off work for four months, it should have been six weeks, but my other health conditions impacted on my recovery.
It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My life was dominated by heavy bleeding, which made absolutely miserable..

Lots of teachers on here. I wonder why!

Not so recent I’m afraid Msdaisy. My hysterectomy was over 30 years ago. I was away from a largely sedentary work role for five weeks. The surgery made a huge, positive difference to my life, I never regretted it.

Can they remove the fibroid(s)?
Have you had a second opinion or are you happy to have this op?
It may be simpler to have a hysterectomy but is it best for you?

My hysterectomy, because it was to help resolve the prolapse and wasn't diseased, didn't remove the ovaries so I have not needed replacement hormones.

Why were you prescribed HRT, I wonder.

I had mine 33 years ago and it transformed my life.
Nowadays they have several other options which they consider first, so I am sure they would not have suggested it lightly and it is the right thing for you. You will not regret it.

NotTooOld

Lots of teachers on here. I wonder why!

Yip! I dreaded standing in front of the blackboard, in case the bottom fell out of my world! 😱
I never wore white trousers!

Mine was a few years ago, for the same reason as you, and I went in kicking and screaming, as I didn't want it. I was wrong, of course, and it transformed my life. I was off work for just six weeks- another teacher here - but it was a while before I did playground duty without holding my hands in front of my stomach, the heads of small children being exactly at scar height! I felt quite tired for the first few weeks back, but that passed fairly quickly. Good luck.

I had mine done when I was 40, so a long time ago. I’m sure medicine has moved on a bit since then, I was off work for 3 months as I had various other problems. But really it was such a relief to get back to having a normal life.

I too had fibroids. I looked about 7months pregnant felt awful due to blood loss and anaemia under active thyroid. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy due to size of fibroids - melon sized and grapefruit sized. I felt amazing mentally as soon as i woke up and within couple of weeks not too bad physically wise. Was back driving and working before 6wks. No HRT unfortunately due to cancer risk.

I had mine in mid my 30's another teacher. It changed my life they went in through a Section scar I had and I was soon up and about in fact they had me out of bed the first night.
It made my life normal again and I could wear light-coloured clothes.

Mine was even longer ago but I felt better as soon as I woke from the anaesthetic! I’d say do as they advise and you will mend really quickly, ignore them and it takes longer!

Thank you for sharing your experiences it really helps. I am hoping to have keyhole surgery as I believe the recovery period is quicker. I’m keen to resume hrt ad the cancer risks are minimal my consultant has said as the uterus, ovaries etc are removed. I feel so much better when taking hrt less aching, hair,skin nails etc but more important my moods are more stable

Mine was over 30 years ago too. After a prolonged period of very heavy bleeding and ovarian cysts, I had an emergency hysterectomy. I couldn’t believe how well I felt immediately afterwards. I felt transformed - and in order to avoid an early menopause, an HRT pellet was inserted subcutaneously. This was renewed every six months. Enjoy your recovery period and spoil yourself with good books, light exercise and coffee with friends. You’ll be better than ever in no time!

I had mine done in May last year. It was keyhole surgery, so healed quickly, and, apart from not being allowed to lift anything heavy for a few weeks, I was otherwise back on my feet in a fortnight. I think keyhole surgery may be the way to a quicker recovery. Good luck with your op. Let us know how you get on.

i had mine at 47 in 1995. i was referred for bleeding between periods. i had an arguement before i went in with my gynae as he said "in view of your age we'll do a hysterectomy". so i told him "no". i'd had my "tubes" removed in the 1980s as i had an ectopic pregnancy. we compromised and agreed that if he didn't like when he "got in there" then he could do the hysterectomy.
anyway i presented myself for an exploratory op to see why i had a mass on one ovary.
the following day my gynae told me that i'd had ovarian cancer and didn't like what he'd seen so did the full hysterectomy - he said "we took the nursery but left you the playground".
i was off work for about 2 months afterwards - my job was headteacher's pa so mostly sedentary.
but, apart from having to have ct scans for 10 years, it was the best thing and i'm so glad i had it. i went straight on to hrt and i've been taking it ever since having weighed up the pros and cons.
so please don't worry about the op - you can go back on hrt and you'll feel so much better.

Best thing I ever had done was a hysterectomy in my early 40s. It was done vaginally so no visible scars and I was off work for just 6 weeks.

I had a vaginal hysterectomy at the end of November because of significant uterine prolapse. As others have said, it was the best thing I’ve ever done. All the symptoms I had been suffering with have been eradicated. Apart from a very slight period pain-type of pain for a couple of days, I have felt absolutely brilliant post operatively.

I had my hysterectomy aged 31 years, 34 years ago due to heavy bleeding. I was a nurse, so had 12 weeks off work by which time I was feeling good. I've never regretted it. I already had two lovely children. Just wanted the heavy bleeding to stop. Make sure you make the right decision for you. If you still have questions contact your consultants secretary and ask for an appointment to discuss your concerns. Write your questions down and take someone with you. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

I had mine done through the scar of my 4 previous Caesarians and I was healed within the 6 weeks for most things. I was told to avoid heavy lifting for longer but apart from that, the relief from the hormonal problems as I went on to HRT immediately, was amazing.

I had mine done in 2010. As it was also a bladder and bowel repair I wasn’t able to have keyhole surgery. If you don’t push yourself too much in the first few weeks recovery can be quite quick.
It’s the best thing I’ve ever had done.

I had a vaginal hysterectomy in ‘99, best decision ever. Full recovery was about 6 weeks though 12 weeks before I was allowed to drive. I was ‘allowed’ home from the hospital for the weekend on the agreement that I would take it easy. I was so well I spent the following day at Hyde Park dancing away to Bryan Adams 😂