Hysterectomy?? Other Options

I had one. They just removed the tubes and uterus. Personally I love it. I had really bad periods also. I have saved money from not buying pads and tampons. I would say go for it if you are done with having kids. good luck!!

I wish I could have one! Everyone I know who has one says it's the best thing ever -no more periods or pregnancy worries! I'm 42 and my mother had one when she was my age and was delighted after the recuperating was over. I would also like to know that my uterus and ovaries (two places that cancer is hard to detect until it's very late stage) were gone. I hate having a period, and I have fibroids, so I'm "pushing" to have one if my doctor will agree!

I would certainly have one if I were you!

OMG!!! Your situation sounds like mine. I did not have the ablation since it was discovered that I had a uterus full of fibroids but I did have a hysterectomy. Let me tell you it was the best thing I could have done for myself. My dr used the Da Vinci Robatic system and I went home that evening. Surgery at 10am discharged at 8:30 pm. I had meds for the pain and was off 4 weeks. I probably could have gone back in 2 weeks but why when i had the time. :) Now when I go to the store and walk by the sanitary products I can only smile because I don't have to go through that mess any more. Like you I had to use super plus tampons every 2 hours plus 2 pad at one time with the tampom. I'm sure that was TMI but we are women here giving advice to help each other. Good luck with your decision. It is scary to think of having surgery but the relief afterwards is totally worth it.

I had a complete abdominal hysterectomy taking everything about 10 yrs ago (I am 49) and it was the BEST decision I ever made. I did opt for HRT patch and I've never had any issues with it.

There are many opinions on hysterectomy but you have to do what it right for you and not worry about all the cons people also give you. I opted to take ovaries and go on HRT. I am SO happy. Yes I know there is a risk of breast cancer with HRT.. I also know that leaving ovaries risk ovarian cancer. Ovarian cncer is more deadly and harder to detect and recover from than breast cancer. We have no guarantees... we have to make informed choices.

Like I said, it was the best decision I ever made. I look and feel better than I ever have. I never had the weight gain, swelly belly, etc.

My sex drive skyrocketed as well and has stayed that way. I love my decision and HRT.

Recovery has a lot to do with what you make of it. Some people like to sit around, complain and drag out a recovery process and some, like me will be on a quicker road to recovery due to a positive outlook and proactive approach.

A website that I found very helpful was www.hystersisters.com. It is full of pros, cons, etc.

Good luck to you. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions regarding recovery, the surgery, etc.

There are no cons-I know this first hand

I had a similar issue and had a Robotic Laporscopic Hysterectomy last summer. It was worth it! I feel so much better...no more pain and heavy periods...no more cysts that burst etc. However if you can't take hormones, how will you get through Menopause if you have a full Hysterectomy? I am on HRT Patch to assist with Menopause symptoms and assist with preventative diseases that come with Menopause...something to think about! Good luck!

Single best thing I ever did for myself was a hysterectomy 7 years ago. I have never regretted it. I had very heavy periods because of fibroids. It took me awhile to talk my doctor into it, because I was in my early 40s. But I knew it was the right thing for me. I kept both my ovaries and I've never had a problem. Seriously. Best thing ever.

Added: Don't listen to scare stories. I was supposed to have a vaginal removal, but my uterus was so enlarged they had to go through my abdomen. I went home after 3 days -- sore but walking fine. I attended my daughter's first high school softball game a week later (with a pillow on my lap to protect the incision) and I was back to work part time in a few weeks. A lot of recovery is in your head. If you think you will be fine, you will! Good luck to you!

If you are done having children and you are bleeding as you say, the best thing would be to have the surgery. I had mine done almost 18 years ago and it was the best thing I could have done. There were several large fibroids and the bleeding was awful. My doctor said I was the first patient he had that looked better after surgery than before.

Go for it.

The other S.

I had a total hysterectomy almost 2 years ago (when I was 46), and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made! No more heavy bleeding, no more sleeping with 3 maxi pads on, no more worrying about having 'accidents' in public! I had horrible bleeding from uterine fibroids (including 1 the size of a small grapefruit), I had 1 ovary that didn't work at all, 1 ovary with cysts, and an abnormal lining (which turned out to be precancerous). I pushed for the surgery, and I'm so glad that I did! The recovery wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. My daughter was only 2 at the time, and my Mom & husband took care of her while I was unable to. I was out of the hospital in 2 days, and up & about (almost totally back to normal) within a few weeks. No regrets here at all!

My friend had an ablation done for this reason. It where they cauterize the lining of the uterus. Much less invasive than a hysterectomy.

Boy can I relate. I had an ablation done in October 2010 that was not successful. I ended up having a partial hysterectomy in March of 2011 (still have my ovaries) and am very happy with the results. I had endometriosis on my uterus in addition to the fibroids which is why the ablation wasn't successful for me.
I would absolutely definetely do it again! Since you've had the ablation, you're not able to carry a baby anyway so that part is removed from the equation. Take the full six weeks off to recover if you can. The one part people didn't tell me ahead of time was how tired you will be.
Unfortunately, I have cysts on my ovaries so still dealing with pain but at least there's not the excessive bleeding.
Good luck!

If the cause is fibroids, have you looked in to Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
I did that several years ago, and it really helped. I didn't want to go the route of surgery, hoping that it would "buy time" until I went into menopause naturally. I am at that point now, and my periods are dwindling down to just a few days of minor spotting each month. The procedure itself was very quick, I stayed in the hospital overnight, and recovered very quickly.... my period disappeared for about 6 months, then came back much, much lighter! I am now into menopause, and have just a few days of spotting each month.

I had just heard so many side effects to using hormone replacement therapy after a hysterectomy, and didn't want to do that..... (I realize they can leave the ovaries in, and don't know which way I would have gone.)

Just another option to look at.

BEFORE you have one... try and read more up on it and possibly fibroids.. which any woman can get, even in her 30s.. often they are benign and will shrink once we hit menopause.. However, that may seem like a long time to wait, but consider this... IF you had severe side-effects with HRT, then think how you might feel after a Hysterectomy.. That surgery is so OVER done by docs..

a great read is "screaming to be heard:" by Dr. Vliet.. she discusses in length HRT and Hysterectomies.. I have learned so much from reading her book.. she also has a website.. herplace....

Additionally, she discusses how HRT due to much of what is used and the doses (often TOO much) are what wreak havoc on women.. do give her book a read.. get all your options..

Keep in mind, while having a Hysterectomy may resolve one issue, it could create an even worse.. I am so tired of mainstream medicine doing this surgery when there may be better alternatives.

please check out that book.. I think you will find it MOST helpful..

I began reading it due to my being 47 and having more intense mood swings and heavy bleeding, cravings.. etc.. but now, armed with more knowledge as to why this is happening, the knowledge makes all the difference because I can approach this via life-style change and with exercise and nutrition.. granted, it doesn't stop some of my issues, I am now able to cope better and have seen much improvement..

Lastly, she talks a lot in her book about women with heavy periods (which could also be a sign of Endometriosis... you def can heavy bleeding with that and making it worse, a Fibroid, which can block the blood flow and when it finally gets thru, you have that gushing (or flooding) of blood.. also, depending upon where a Firboid is.. you can have much pain..
definitely check that doctor out... and her book.. I think you will come away with some useful information..

I wish you all the luck.. keep us posted..

I had a partial done last November. I still have my overies. I feel great and don't regret it one bit. I had fibroids on the outside of the uterus and the that was an unexpected surprise to my Doc. She was in surgery longer, however this was necessary as if they were not removed I would have had major medical problems. I am very happy with the choice i made. Don't miss those monthly's one bit. Oh happy day!:):):)

What type of ablation did you have? There are two that I know of.

get it removed-i finally id back in 99..the relief was unreal-have them do it vaginally-its like havin a baby-no scars faster healing etc.plus have your last ovarie removed also-that way everything is sealed up n no worries bout any kind of cancer.good luck

If you can do it, keep your one remaining ovary to avoid HRT.

Have you seen an endocrinologist? Clearly something is causing the bleeding - either your lining is getting built up way too much (possibly a hormone imbalance) or something else is going on. If I were you, I would want to know *why* I was bleeding so heavily before doing surgery. I would think that a failed ablation is a sign that something else is causing the bleeding, not just your lining being built up and I would want to address that first (fibroids, endometriosis etc.).

A friend had her uterus removed due to endometrial cancer. The surgery is major - she was out of work for many weeks. The bladder is connected to the uterus, so she was sent home with a catheter still in, which she said was terribly demoralizing. Obviously she needed to do it, but it was a terrible experience recovery wise. With having kids to care for, you would need to make sure you have plenty of help for several weeks while you recover.