Life After Hysterectomy - Oswego,IL

I just had a partial almost 4 weeks ago. I'm very happy and have no regrets. I'm 42 & have 4 kids so I don't have any "less than a woman" feelings and didn't/don't have any depression. Like you, I had contraction like cramps for half the month and taking deep breaths didn't help. Medications didn't work at all.

I had mine done about 20 years ago and it was the best thing that happened to me.

I was like your aunts with the heavy periods and cramping and towards the end I was spotting even after a shot until I had surgery. A couple of my fibroids were large and that made my stomach area look as if I was pregnant. As far as "not being a woman" that is an old wive's tale. It was the best thing for the bedroom. No worry about more babies and I could enjoy the fun.

I had to use the depends because I didn't want any accidents while out and now I don't have to purchase any tampons or pad. See if you can talk to your aunt that has had her period return as there could be something else going on down there or in her body.

The benefits are great. No need to suffer any more.

the other S.

i don't get the 'less like a woman' syndrome. the women i know who've had full OR partial hysterectomies do so for good medical reasons. i can't think of any who aren't happy to have gotten rid of the problems that caused them to have the surgery in the first place.
women are more than their internal organs.
:/ khairete
S.

I don't understand why they would not do a complete hysterectomy and take the ovaries at age 46. In my opinion, I would not leave them because of risk of ovarian cancer. Check your family history and if anyone has history of breast or ovarian cancer, do the whole thing.

I would be especially concerned about your 61 year old aunt who went 5 years with no period and is now bleeding two weeks at a time. That is no period and she needs to see a gynecologist. That is not normal!

In my field of oncology nursing, I have seen way too many horror stories about long term bleeding, and not removing ovaries when doing a hysterectomy, especially someone in mid to late 40's. I could understand if much younger, the hormonal benefit might outweigh the risk.

There should be no "physiological" reason to be "less of a woman", but psychologically, one may get depressed over the fact they cannot bear children anymore. Hormones can play a part in that, but that can be treated either nutritionally or medically. You need to find the right thing for you.
On the other hand, many women feel much better to be "free" of the fear of getting pregnant. Since you had your tubes tied, you already made that decision.

I had a complete hysterectomy at 40 and it was the best thing I ever did!!!

I opted to have everything to be removed and go on HRT a few years. I never had the horrid side effects I heard about. I've never felt better or looked better. No weight gain, no loss of sex drive... That actually got better because I knew for a fact no oopsie would happen!!!

My surgery was a bikini line incision but you can hardly see the scar and who cares because I feel so much better.

My surgery anniversary is May 16!!! I got a lot of good info from www.hystersisters.com. It can have TMI but great info and stories. My hyster story is posted!!

My surgery was the best thing I did for myself. I'm no longer in HRT, no symptoms of menopause. I love my life!!!

I didn't have a hysterectomy, I had an endometrial ablation, and my only regret was that I didn't do it sooner.
I did it to stop periods from hell - they came every two weeks, I flooded like the Nile in springtime, even using two tampons at a time, and had cramps so bad I would double over and vomit.
After the procedure, mild cramps for a couple of days, then total freedom from anything related to a period, AND no worries about getting pregnant.

I had the exact same procedure about 25 years ago. Geez, time flies! I have never felt like "less than a woman" or suffered from depression. My periods were awful and I prayed for a reason to have the procedure so when it was offered, I jumped right on it. I have no problem having orgasms and enjoy sex tremendously. Probably more so since there is absolutely no thought of getting pregnant. And I certainly don't miss those periods! My heart goes out to all woman who suffer with a monthly cycle until they are in their 40's and 50's. I doubt I could have lasted that long.

A complete hysterectomy is only removal of the uterus. When ovaries are removed it's an additional procedure called a sapI something.

I had my uterus and one ovary removed while in my 50's because of fibroids and severe pain. I kept one ovary for the hormonal benefit. Both ovaries were covered with endometrium and misplaced in abdomen so keeping one was difficult. I trusted the doctor. I'm now 72 and have no regrets. There is no history of uterine or ovarian cancer in my family. I went through menopause several years later with hardly knowing it. I had to have a test to know when I started and another to know it was complete. I had an earlier test because i'd become moody. My supervisor kept saying I was menopausal. Lol, I think he was just a macho man who never liked having women on the force. Menopause hadn't begun.

I had had lots of pain and was relieved it had lessoned tho it was still there until after menopause because of endometriosis. I was glad to not have a painful period.

I did not get depressed or felt less of a woman. Neither did it affect my libido nor did I gain weight.

I am trying a medication to shrink fibroids and if that doesn't work then I am looking at a partial hysterectomy. The doctor said that by leaving the ovaries I will still have normal hormones and menopause etc. I am hoping to avoid surgery because I am in a position where I don't receive sick leave and I don't want to take six weeks off work.

I had the exact same thing in 2007...the best thing I ever did.!!!! I was 44 and had one child via adoption. between the bleeding all the time and the pain/endometriosis -- I tell ya, if that's being a woman, well....I don't know what to tell ya!! I can now enjoy my life, standing up straight w/o all the pain and the mess and can now spend all that $$$ that I spent on pads on more fun stuff.

So no, I don't feel like less of a woman or depressed...Actuall all the stuff that came w/my periods made me "depressed"....

Good luck

I had a complete hysterectomy Feb 2011. It was the best thing I did health wise!!

I've NOT needed hormones, yet! :) however, I don't have to worry about pregnancies (had 3 miscarriages, two in one year) and I don't have to worry about random periods anymore! YAY!!!

I don't feel less like a W.. I know there are those that do, especially older W.. But really? It helped me and I was done having babies! so why keep the parts if they are only causing you problems??

If you are done having babies?
If you are done with horrible periods?
HAVE IT!!!

If you are NOT done having babies??? Then seriously consider...however, you had your tubes tied, so I'm GUESSIN'??? you're done! :)

My Mom had a complete hysterectomy in her mid 40's.
Her uterus had fallen down (something happened when she was moving to another apartment and lifting furniture) on top of her bladder and she was having constant UTIs.
She tried a pessary but the darn thing kept falling down and out.
So she had the hysterectomy and it was the best thing she ever did.
No more pain, infections (and medications for the infections), cramps, periods, frequent dr visits!

Please have your aunt see a doctor.
A friend of mine developed an almost constant period to the point of being anemic and the reason turned out to be it was an early sign of breast cancer.
She's fine now more than 20 years later but she wouldn't have been if she had ignored all the bleeding.