Hysterectomy - Problems after?

I just had one too at 72 as they thought I had Ovarian cancer but it turned out to be Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN). My spleen and appendix came out. A long cut through my belly.
I am reading that one ages much faster if the Ovaries come out. Not looking forward to that or if there is anything to be done.

Otherwise, my recovery was pretty easy. 5 days in the hosp as I keep vomiting after the pills. No pain and stopped the oxycodone after 3 days. Then just Tylenol. I could tell it was there but no pain. No bleeding. I was really tired and took a lot of naps. Had PT to show me how to get in & out of bed & walking. 4 wks now and feeling better every day.
Let us know how it goes for you. All the best.

I had a full hysterectomy when I was forty. I did have one ovary removed when I was twenty nine due to it being covered in cysts, which had burst. After the full hysterectomy, removal of ovary, uterus and cervix, I felt a lot better. I did have to take hormone replacement and this has continued to the present day when I have hormone cream and hormone patches.

@gregv

I had total hysterectomy at 40 due to endometriosis. Uterus and ovaries removed. Mine was 20+ years ago, and because of previous surgery it was done by incisions.

The questions to ask questions is surgeon is what type of surgery they plan on performing ?
There are multi options, here are few;
• Vaginal hysterectomy – the uterus is operated on and removed through the vagina. The entire surgery is done through the vagina and there are no incisions on the abdomen.
• Abdominal hysterectomy – the uterus is accessed and removed through an incision on your abdomen.
• Laparoscopic hysterectomy – in this procedure, the surgeon operates with special instruments through 3-5 small incisions on your abdomen.
• Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy – this is a procedure that combines both laparoscopic and vaginal routes. This means that part of the surgery is done laparoscopically and the other part is done through the vagina.
• Robotic-assisted hysterectomy – The surgeon uses a special robot and works through multiple small incisions on your abdomen.

The type of surgery is based on reason and your recovery is going to be dependent on type.

You did not mention your age. I entered menopause due to surgery, so if your premenopausal, you should ask your surgeon about what you should do post-surgery to deal with menopause.

Do you have any specific question, the members on Connect can help.

Wow, I know nothing yet. My husband and I are both going to the pre op appointment Tuesday to ask a bunch of questions. I'm a colon cancer survivor already so, there is always that scare. They will probably take everything to eliminate the potential. They are doing it with robotics and out patient. I won't stay in the hospital at all. I like that idea. 🙂 Thanks for your feedback and good luck wishes. 🙂

Oh you are right that I forgot to mention my age. I'm 65 and have had post menopausal bleeding. I am a cancer survivor already and frankly "I'm shaking in my boots" as my mom would have said. The feedback from my past doctors says I will lose it all. They are using robotics and I will find out more on Tuesday. I'm already on hormone therapy. Started that when I was 50 and menopausal. I don't know if they will continue that or stop. I guess I will know soon. Thanks for the response. 🙂

Have you asked if it’s possible to do a partial hysterectomy? Did you get a second opinion?
All the best

I had a hysterectomy in 2019. It was a radical hysterectomy with fallopian tubes and ovaries removed. I was 67 years old at the time. The hysterectomy was for endometrial cancer but I understand the procedure would have been primarily the same regardless of the reason for the hysterectomy. The procedure was robotic and laparoscopic and so I returned home with small incisions in the abdomen. It was a same day procedure. While I was fatigued for about a week from the general anesthesia the little incisions healed quickly. I was told that I would have the same amount of healing on the « inside » as an abdominal incision so not to overdo. I returned home with a list of cautions such as carrying nothing heavier than a grocery bag, no heavy lifting, and no driving for about a week.

May I ask the reason for the hysterectomy?

I started bleeding. I was in Italy for a month and just returned the 16th of July. I stopped bleeding (after a month of on again, off again, two days stopped and then 5-7 days spotting. I got very concerned when it turned bright red.) and haven't started up again. However, I have too many circumstances in my history; colon cancer, polyps removed and now bleeding. The doc is concerned and that's enough for me. Take it, so I don't have to live afraid anymore...amd of course if it's cancer...

@gregv You were wise to go to the doctor. I learned that post-menopausal bleeding needs to be evaluated. My gynecologist, at the time, told me that the bleeding could be caused by a number of things so he recommended a D & C and hysteroscopy. That was when endometrial cancer was diagnosed. If I had a history of cancer at the time I think we may have gone straight to the hysterectomy as you plan to do.

Is your pre-op appointment today?

Yes, and that's why I decided to do the surgery.