Hysterectomy?
- Thread starter Jane
- Start date
Marya
Member
caution, graphic anatomical description
Jane,
A lot depends on how healthy you are to begin with. I had one 9 years ago. I was extremely anemic to begin with so much so they had to give me blood in order to operate.
I had a vaginal hysterectomy which means they did not have to make an abdominal incision and that made the recovery easier. I think I was dancing 3 months later.
However, the operation caused a number of repercussions. I had major hot flashes for months afterward. my legs would swell up for months afterward too, if I was on my feet too much. a lot of my hair fell out, but that was due to multiple causes: I was taking hormones to try and control the extremely heavy bleeding, I was anemic and then had an operation, all of which can cause temporary hair loss.
I think it took about 6 weeks for me to start feeling better.
Good luck. If you are not anemic and not over 45 already, I would urge you to look for alternative treatments instead of a hysterectomy, any kind of surgery is traumatic and takes time to heal and should be approached with caution unless it is an emergency.
Marya
Jane,
A lot depends on how healthy you are to begin with. I had one 9 years ago. I was extremely anemic to begin with so much so they had to give me blood in order to operate.
I had a vaginal hysterectomy which means they did not have to make an abdominal incision and that made the recovery easier. I think I was dancing 3 months later.
However, the operation caused a number of repercussions. I had major hot flashes for months afterward. my legs would swell up for months afterward too, if I was on my feet too much. a lot of my hair fell out, but that was due to multiple causes: I was taking hormones to try and control the extremely heavy bleeding, I was anemic and then had an operation, all of which can cause temporary hair loss.
I think it took about 6 weeks for me to start feeling better.
Good luck. If you are not anemic and not over 45 already, I would urge you to look for alternative treatments instead of a hysterectomy, any kind of surgery is traumatic and takes time to heal and should be approached with caution unless it is an emergency.
Marya
Greek Bonfire
Well-known member
Sorry to hear this, Jane. Anybody and everybody I know who had one, whether vaginally or through the abdomen had to wait out six weeks for even driving. If you do much of anything any earlier, you will most likely land back in bed.
As far as dancing goes, you may have to wait three months, at least that is what I have heard from others.
Good luck - surgery does bring you all the way down, but if you are healthy when you start and follow the healing directions right, you may be back up to snuff within three months.
As far as dancing goes, you may have to wait three months, at least that is what I have heard from others.
Good luck - surgery does bring you all the way down, but if you are healthy when you start and follow the healing directions right, you may be back up to snuff within three months.
Jane
New member
Warning! Graphic feminine issues ahead!
I'm only slightly anemic due to heavy chronic bleeding. Other than the feminine issues- uterine fibroids, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and a four inch diameter (possibly cancerous) cyst on one ovary- I'm a very healthy 38 yr. old.
The want to remove most of the plumbing except my left ovary, which is healthy, and so I can keep some hormones going and not go straight into menopause. It sounds like my best option is a vaginal hysterectomy with one abdominal incision for a laparoscopic scope. They will be doing a biopsy on that main ovarian cyst after the removal.
Without surgery, I'm in deep trouble. It's not an option for me anymore. I've waited as long as the docs recommended, but the problems are just getting worse and today the Gyn said I need to have surgery scheduled ASAP.
@ Marya, I'm hoping that with one working ovary left, I can avoid some of those issues you had. I'm glad to hear you came through your ordeal dancing. This gives me a lot of hope!
@ GB, glad you gave me a warning! I'm definitely one of those people who thinks, " I'm fine!" before I really am. I can easily see me doing too much too soon and being back to square one I will wait to be up and about I promise! I'll just watch a lot of belly dance videos, read, and write choreographies for three months.
Thank you both for your replies and support!
I'm only slightly anemic due to heavy chronic bleeding. Other than the feminine issues- uterine fibroids, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and a four inch diameter (possibly cancerous) cyst on one ovary- I'm a very healthy 38 yr. old.
The want to remove most of the plumbing except my left ovary, which is healthy, and so I can keep some hormones going and not go straight into menopause. It sounds like my best option is a vaginal hysterectomy with one abdominal incision for a laparoscopic scope. They will be doing a biopsy on that main ovarian cyst after the removal.
Without surgery, I'm in deep trouble. It's not an option for me anymore. I've waited as long as the docs recommended, but the problems are just getting worse and today the Gyn said I need to have surgery scheduled ASAP.
@ Marya, I'm hoping that with one working ovary left, I can avoid some of those issues you had. I'm glad to hear you came through your ordeal dancing. This gives me a lot of hope!
@ GB, glad you gave me a warning! I'm definitely one of those people who thinks, " I'm fine!" before I really am. I can easily see me doing too much too soon and being back to square one
I will wait to be up and about I promise! I'll just watch a lot of belly dance videos, read, and write choreographies for three months.Thank you both for your replies and support!
adiemus
New member
I had a vaginal hysterectomy this time last year. I had it for a couple of reasons - prolonged heavy bleeding with anaemia, very painful periods, and I had a couple of abnormal smears, so it was the best thing to do. I had a laparascopic vaginal hysterectomy on the Wednesday of the week before Christmas, and although I took it quietly over Christmas, was able to be up and about for the Big Day! I didn't start dancing for about six weeks, but I was doing stretches and some strengthening exercises starting from about a fortnight after the surgery.
I attended a weekend workshop in February and while it was a bit of struggle, managed it OK. I have chronic pain (fibromyalgia) so it has taken about a year to get over the pelvic pain completely, and I still have tailbone pain, but the relief of not being sick all the time, no periods, no pelvic pain, no anaemia - well worth it!
I still have ovaries, but I'm going through menopause (I was anyway, I'm 46 so it's a bit early) so I have the brief tropical holidays but on the whole I'm really well.
It doesn't need to be three months solid, you can start doing some of the exercises just dont' go nuts and do things like umi's and Soheir Zaki chonks on demi too soon!
All the very best for your surgery - you will never regret it!
I attended a weekend workshop in February and while it was a bit of struggle, managed it OK. I have chronic pain (fibromyalgia) so it has taken about a year to get over the pelvic pain completely, and I still have tailbone pain, but the relief of not being sick all the time, no periods, no pelvic pain, no anaemia - well worth it!
I still have ovaries, but I'm going through menopause (I was anyway, I'm 46 so it's a bit early) so I have the brief tropical holidays but on the whole I'm really well.
It doesn't need to be three months solid, you can start doing some of the exercises just dont' go nuts and do things like umi's and Soheir Zaki chonks on demi too soon!
All the very best for your surgery - you will never regret it!
Shanazel
Moderator
My hysterectomy was done via incision in my abdomen. Takes longer to recover, but was a good excuse to talk my plastic surgeon into a discounted tummy tuck. I also had bladder repair done; recovery from that was far mmore difficult and uncomfortable than from the hysterectomy. Having the surgery via abdominal incision compromised my ability to do subtle stomach work (nerves got cut), but oh well. Vaginal was not an option because I had so many large fibroid tumors that my uterus was several times normal size.
I'll tell you what my mom told me: when you first wake up, you are gonna feel pretty bad. In six weeks, you'll be feeling better. In six months, you'll be feeling good. In a year, you will be a new woman wondering why you didn't have it done earlier.
Just don't go back to a regular schedule too quick. I always think I'm superwoman after surgery and I'm always wrong.
I also had bladder repair done; recovery from that was far mmore difficult and uncomfortable than from the hysterectomy. Having the surgery via abdominal incision compromised my ability to do subtle stomach work (nerves got cut), but oh well. Vaginal was not an option because I had so many large fibroid tumors that my uterus was several times normal size.I'll tell you what my mom told me: when you first wake up, you are gonna feel pretty bad. In six weeks, you'll be feeling better. In six months, you'll be feeling good. In a year, you will be a new woman wondering why you didn't have it done earlier.
Just don't go back to a regular schedule too quick. I always think I'm superwoman after surgery and I'm always wrong.
Marya
Member
Jane, I am sorry to hear about all your problems, it does sound like surgery is the best option. I was 48 when I had mine so I may have been entering Menopause anyway but... I kept both ovaries and still had major hot flashes.
Marya
nightdancer
New member
A co-worker just had one. Lesson learned from watching her--Take it slow. Vacuuming is going to tire you out; this is normal. No, people aren't going to know just by the way you walk down the street. Yes, you're going to have days where you just don't feel good. Last but not least, take the sympathy and offers to help. People /want/ to help you. You will have just had major surgery, but overdoing it too soon will set you back further than where you started.
Take care
Take care
Farasha Hanem
New member
I'm very sorry to hear about your health problems, Jane. I haven't had a hysterectomy, although I could have one if I wanted. My nurse practitioner however gave me the option to not have it done, because in my case, the fibroid cyst that I have is supposed to go away soon after I start menopause, anyway, and she wanted to give me the extra time to build more bone (even though my bone density test came out excellent). Surgery would have been a waste of time and money in my case.
Just take good care of yourself, and keep us posted. *big huggles*
I haven't had a hysterectomy, although I could have one if I wanted. My nurse practitioner however gave me the option to not have it done, because in my case, the fibroid cyst that I have is supposed to go away soon after I start menopause, anyway, and she wanted to give me the extra time to build more bone (even though my bone density test came out excellent). Surgery would have been a waste of time and money in my case.Just take good care of yourself, and keep us posted. *big huggles*
Jane
New member
Thanks y'all for sharing your experiences and advice! It's really scary not knowing what's happening to my body. I've always tried taking such good care of it through belly dance, and now I feel like it's betraying me
Trying to stay positive and looking into good surgeons. I've got to tell my students tomorrow night after the Christmas recital. Hopefully, class won't be canceled too long, or I can get a sub while I'm downray:
Trying to stay positive and looking into good surgeons. I've got to tell my students tomorrow night after the Christmas recital. Hopefully, class won't be canceled too long, or I can get a sub while I'm down
ray:
adiemus
New member
Even with the best care of your body it's not your fault that it's needing surgery! Even though I work in pain management, I still have fibromyalgia and I still get depression. Health doesn't always depend on what you do! It's a combination of your genetics and environment as well as your efforts. It's really hard though to walk into the unknown, and I can appreciate your concern about this happening to you. Just remember that you wouldn't have had this recommended if you didn't need it, and it's a good time to sound just being quiet and appreciating how well your body does work! Take things quietly, don't make plans except to relax and allow your wonderful body to do the healing it needs to. All the very best for you, and I will be thinking of you over the next little while.
Jane
New member
had my surgery today. Doing okay. Strangely, I didn't end up having a hysterectomy like I originally though. Had right ovary removed, tennis ball sized cyst removed and biopsied, cyst on left ovary removed, uterine ablation and biopsy, remaining tube tied. I go home tomorrow- phew!
Farasha Hanem
New member
Take good care of yourself, Jane, and recover ASAP! *hugs!*
Jane
New member
I went in today for my two week after surg. check. All biopsies came back normal :dance: I'm on the mend and can start trying to dance again in four more weeks! Tummy is still puffed up from inflammation, doc says that may last two to three months. Bleh.
I'm going to need a body stocking now. I'll have to search threads and/or start a new one to decide on what I should get. :think:
I'm going to need a body stocking now. I'll have to search threads and/or start a new one to decide on what I should get. :think: