Need comments and support for hysterectomy

Moogie · Jan 28, 2010

I had a supracervical abdominal hysterectomy done for uterine prolapse and rectocele in November. I have had previous surgeries but was apprehensive about this one. I got a lot of support from friends here on AN (feel free to check a thread I started over in AN Central), which made it easier.

As others have said, make sure you take it easy post-op. Don't do housework, don't go back to work before you're cleared and don't exert yourself unnecessarily. I was on Hystersisters, too, and was surprised at how many women who had hysterectomies around the time I did went Christmas shopping all day long a couple weeks post abd hyst and then couldn't understand why they felt so awful!

One thing that has not been mentioned---and I say this to prepare you, not to frighten you---but you might find you get a bit emotional after the procedure. I cried a lot---but I was also under a lot of stress at the time with my grad school application. (Now that I'm in school, I still get stressed out and emotional but I digress...) You may also notice a few conflicts with your significant other during your recovery. My husband is generally a sweet man but when he puts his foot in his mouth, it isn't pretty. I didn't expect to have resentment toward him during my recovery but I did; I think had I known ahead of time, I might have been able to handle it easier.

Again, as others have said, it certainly is nice to not have to worry about messing up the sheets, the underwear, white pants. Make sure the doc cauterizes your cervix, otherwise you can still have mini-periods with a subtotal hyst.

I hope all goes well for you. If you'd like, feel free to PM me with questions about my experience, though sometimes it takes a while for me to get back in a PM.

live4today, RN · Jan 28, 2010

Hi, I just needed support and comments on having a partial hysterectomy. I have to have one done due to my uterus prolapsing and having a fibroid the size of a 12 wk pregnancy. I'm 38 and have a grown son, no other children were on the horizon of dreams. I know it has to be done and just going through RN school I know all the book knowledge about it.
I just wanted to have some input from other nurses who had this done and other nurses that specialize in this area, as to how personal life is afterward and how it will affect my job when I return back to work at the beginning. I know it takes 6wks to recover but those first few weeks how will I feel?
It is one thing to be the caregiver but now I'm going to see what it is going to be like on the other side of the bed.
Thanks for your info.

I'm sorry to hear about your current health situation. I was 28 yrs of age when I had a hysterectomy. I have felt great since having it although I have always felt sadness due to not being able to have more children at such a young age when I wanted more children (I had three healthy children, but always wanted seven...yes...seven). I still have my ovaries, so never had to suffer early symptoms of menopause. At my age now, they must still be working for me since I still feel great! If the doctor plans to leave your ovaries, you should be just fine. Or, if they place you on hormone replacement therapy, you should be just fine. The only thing that changed was I no longer had a uterus, and no more periods. It did not affect my sex drive, it increased it. Problem was, my husband at that time no longer satisfied me. Sex was boring before the hysterectomy, and even more boring afterwards, so it is not true that just because you have a hysterectomy, your sex drive decreases. I hope all goes well for you. :)

As for how it will impact your return to work, my doctor told me I would experience tiredness for up to one year, and not to fight the afternoon need for a nap. He was so right about that. If you return to work six weeks post-op, you may feel tired a lot at different periods of the day, but ask your provider about this. It was true for me, but it doesn't mean it is true for every woman who has a hysterectomy. I was not working the year I had my surgery, but I was raising three small children, and the naps sometimes did not correlate with their naps.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2010

I don't understand why someone might feel tired up to a year after hysterectomy?

live4today, RN · Jan 29, 2010

I don't understand why someone might feel tired up to a year after hysterectomy?

I didn't understand it either, but that is what my doctor told me would happen. I did not believe him until the reality of what he said proved true. I was not a nurse then, and did not understand a lot of things at that time. We're talking thirty years ago, mind you. I was a very active woman before and after my surgery, but all of a sudden by midday, I was whooped. The naps needed were brief mostly (catnaps), yet still needed. I felt like I was in my first trimester of pregnancy...the tired feeling all of a sudden midday, the need to sit or lay down and close my eyes even if I didn't go to sleep.... It was true for me. :)

mammac5 · Jan 29, 2010

I have been very curious about the sexual aspects of life after hysterectomy...since we're all nursing-type folk I feel free to ask.

I see how sex could be so much better when one is relieved of pelvic pain, near-constant heavy bleeding, and lack of energy d/t anemia. But I wonder about the orgasm itself since the uterine contractions are such a big part of that process. Anyone able to share information about the sensations involved?

cmonkey · Jan 29, 2010

I had a TVH 4 weeks ago and I'm feeling 100%. I have my 6w post op next month, so I'm waiting to get the okay to start hefting feedbags again, but I feel as good as I did before the surgery (prolapse, cystocele, rectocele).

ITA with the other posters: take it easy, be prepared to be tired and emotional, even if you keep your ovaries. Mine were more than a little peeved at being moved around, and I had terrible insomnia and mild hot flashes for the first 2-3 weeks. Short sleeves and a little Ambien fixed me right up. Hystersisters is a pretty good site, but I can't get past the twee "princess" and "going to the castle" business.

live4today, RN · Jan 29, 2010

I have been very curious about the sexual aspects of life after hysterectomy...since we're all nursing-type folk I feel free to ask.
I see how sex could be so much better when one is relieved of pelvic pain, near-constant heavy bleeding, and lack of energy d/t anemia. But I wonder about the orgasm itself since the uterine contractions are such a big part of that process. Anyone able to share information about the sensations involved?

I'm sure every woman experiences sex differently whether they've had a hysterectomy or not. I shared in my other post that I did not experience anything different after the hysterectomy (sexually speaking), and 30 yrs later, there is still no difference. For me, orgasms increased, more frequent ones, and I wanted sex just as much as I did before the hysterectomy. I never had a loss of sensation. God was good to me in that department!

EarthChild1130 · Jan 29, 2010

I had a TAH/BSO when I was 23 to treat endometriosis and PCOS...best decision I ever made!! I have tried going without HRT but I get TERRIBLE hot flashes and awful mood swings.

Good luck!! :)

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Jan 29, 2010

i had a tad(total abdominal hysterectomy) in 2002 and despite the horrendous hot flashes(which nothing helps, in my experience), have loved the fact that i don't have to endure the "monthly curse"!!!! best surgery to ever happen to me!
for the tad i had to have 6 weeks off work, had to take it easy the first few weeks back to work(i worked dialysis so did a lot of bending, lifting, etc). had no problems the entire 6 weeks but first day back to work had some spotting. i didn't believe the doctor's admonishment of "you will tire easily so take it easy"; i was mopping the kitchen floor a couple days after home from surgery and just that minimal activity kicked my butt! you must take things easy.make sure to check with the surgeon/md as to work restrictions. enjoy your time off! life only gets better now!

my wife (also an rn) is having a total abdominal hysterectomy on feb 2., due to a 22cm fibroid. thanks for posting this information. i know nothing about this side of medicine, and appreciate all the info i can get on what to expect.

supernatural · Feb 3, 2010

My wife (also an RN) is having a total abdominal hysterectomy on Feb 2., due to a 22cm fibroid. Thanks for posting this information. I know nothing about this side of medicine, and appreciate all the info I can get on what to expect.

I hope your wife comes through everything fine. Your a very supportive husband reading all our comments about this.

I just went to the store and bought alot of freezer stuff and easy to make food items. My husband wont eat unless you put it in front of him. So I believe he'll figure out how to microwave something or at best heat and stir. But I must say I bought my last pack of pads today :yeah: :yeah::redpinkhe:redpinkhe:yeah: :yeah:

I'm anticipating some bleeding after the surgery, hopefully not much. Although, I know it sounds silly but I felt a little sad buying that last pack. Again, how silly is that. :idea:

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2010

I'm anticipating some bleeding after the surgery, hopefully not much. Although, I know it sounds silly but I felt a little sad buying that last pack. Again, how silly is that.

Not silly at all. :hug:

Let us know how you are doing.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Feb 3, 2010

I hope your wife comes through everything fine. Your a very supportive husband reading all our comments about this.
I just went to the store and bought alot of freezer stuff and easy to make food items. My husband wont eat unless you put it in front of him. So I believe he'll figure out how to microwave something or at best heat and stir. But I must say I bought my last pack of pads today :yeah::redpinkhe:redpinkhe:yeah:
I'm anticipating some bleeding after the surgery, hopefully not much. Although, I know it sounds silly but I felt a little sad buying that last pack. Again, how silly is that.

Thanks. :)

She had the surgery this morning at 0630. Took about 1 1/2 hours. Doc said she lost maybe 4 oz blood, max. Showed me a picture of the tumor, and it was HUGE, about the size of both of my fists together. They took everything, including both ovaries. Said nearly 100% chance it's not cancerous, but we won't know for certain till 7-10 days when the biopsy comes back.

She's recovering well, and being a pure PITA to the poor nurses caring for her at the hospital. LOL. After 25 years as a nurse, I think she's having a hard time being on the other side of that hospital bed. I finally told her to stop second guessing and naysaying everything the nurse suggests!

The first thing she said to me when she came out of PACU was "Good news, babe. You won't ever have to go buy me anymore pads!".