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hysterectomy or not?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Catlady35
Catlady35

I'm new to this page. I've had a few probs since having my child who's now 7yrs old. I had prolapse repair and bladder repair done. I'm now having problems with bleeding pretty much 3 weeks out of 4 for almost a year now. I've tried the coil, the pill and depo jag but nothing seems to help. At my last gynae visit following a large ovarian cyst op it was discussed that I should consider either an ablation or hysterectomy. My gynae would prefer to do the hysterectomy as I have also have issues with cervix changes and the ablation won't help this.

I really don't know what to do. I'm scared about both procedures

Can anybody give me some advice.

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest Catlady35

    Posted

    Hi

    The ablation is supposed to be a simple op with a really quick recovery time but please fo your research and look up post ablation syndrome.I had a Novasure ablation done in November 2013 due to excessive bleeding that caused me to become anaemic.I woke up in extreme agony on the recovery ward and have been like that more or less until my hysterectomy on 19th January 2015-16 months of a living hell.My cervix closed up following the ablation so every time my period was due the blood just kept backing up inside my uterus as it had no where to go and each month the pain was getting worse,i had massive bowl problems and my tummy became so distended i looked like i was 6 months pregnant.I lived on painkillers and was off work on and off for ages.Had a few months reprieve from the pain whilst put into a false menopause using Zoladex injections and HRT.This meant that a full hysterectomy with removal of tubes and ovaries as well as uterus and cervix would sort out the pain long term.

    Hysterectomy is not a walk in the park and i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.I am now four weeks into recovery and really wasn't prepared for how much physically you are unable to do besides walking and resting. But get this-i can honestly say that the pain from this operation is Nothing compared to the pain i suffered every 2 weeks out of 4 following the ablation.

    If i had been given the full facts about the true number of people for whom ablation makes their symptoms worse i would have thought long and hard about whether it might have been better to have just gone straight for the hysterectomy.But on the other hand had the ablation worked it would have been a much more minor op and shorter recovery time. It turns out i had adenomyosis which is a definite reason not to have an alation.This could have and should have been picked up using specialist scans BEFORE i had the procedure done so please for your sake if you are considering an ablation insist that you are scanned first.And remember an ablation is irreversible your only option if it doesn't work is hysterectomy.

    BUT there is an upside to this tale-for the last couple of weeks when i would usually be rolling around in agony at this time of my monthly cycle-absolutely nothing😊😊😊well apart from the recovery from the hysterectomy of course.Sorry for the long post but been there and done that-As i tell all my female friends Novasure should be renamed Not So Sure as the medical profession both here and in the USA are in denial that this can be a life ruining operation for thousands of women.

    Good luck for whatever you decide ,hun.

    Sharon x

    • Nannyrose
      Nannyrose Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sharon, you're symptoms sound very much the same as mine, I am waiting for a phone call to go in for a TAH. Wish it would hurry up as the dreaded pains are due to start again next week. I keep thinking the pain I have every month or so has to be worse than having the hysterectomy. Hope you have a speedy recovery
    • Guest
      Guest Nannyrose

      Posted

      Hi Nanny to 5

      Do let me know when you get your operation date through. Do you know exactly what they will be removing ie ovaries as well,and the type of hysterectomy you will be having. I have demanded to see the histology report from my op and briefly it was adenomyosis,severe scarring and burning of the uterus and fibroids along with severe build up of stale blood that was trapped inside the uterus.No wonder I was in agony every month withit lasting longer each month(2 weeks out of 4)The only thing that kept me out of A & E the weekend before my op on 19th January was knowing that my op was imminent.The recovery from the hysterectomy is slow and at times painful but it is a means to an end and i can finally look forward to being pain free and getting a good quality of life back again😊Keep in contact.

      Sharon x(Good Luck with your op I will be thinking of you)

    • Nannyrose
      Nannyrose Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sharon

      I will be having a total abdominal hysterectomy (cut through stomach) and having both ovaries taken too. Was very shocked at that and had a chat with my gyno for the reason, I am just very nervous about going through the op and waking up with the pain. I m supposedly on an 'emergency waiting list' and have been for 3 wks but still no phone call yet. I will let you know when I get the date. It was helpful to know so one else has gone through the awful pains of having hematometra after an ablation. These pains are worse than child birth and I know they're due again next week. Dreading it! Speak soon, hopefully with a date. Good luck for your recovery x

    • Guest
      Guest Nannyrose

      Posted

      Hi Nanny to 5

      My gynae said if they left the ovaries in then they couldn't guarantee that the pain wouldn't remain after the hysterectomy,but that if they re moved both tubes and ovaries then there would be nothing left that could cause pain.Well by now i would be just entering my second monthly pain cycle but nothing😊😊Best decision i ever made-just a shame i had to suffer the Novasure first.Hope you get your date through soon.

      Sharon. X

    • Nannyrose
      Nannyrose Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sharon

      Thanks for that, my gyno said the same to me so looks like a wise move to remove the lot! Cannot wait for the monthly pains to be gone for good they make me so upset everytime.

      Speak soon

      Gail x

    • Nannyrose
      Nannyrose

      Posted

      Hi Sharon

      Received the date for my op today, April 3rd, Good Friday!!!!!

       

    • Guest
      Guest Nannyrose

      Posted

      Hi Nanny to 5.

      So glad you have finally got your date through although you wont be taking part in any Easter Egg hunts this year😊 The waiting will be the worst part now for you but it's surprising how quick time is going.I have had a few problems since we last spoke that is now under investigation.Started with a recurring water infection and treated with antibiotics,but am having trouble doing much other than 2 walks of 20 minutes each per day😞 Still having trouble with my bowels and wind and the last couple of weeks feeling of real heavy pressure inside my tummy but oddly enough higher than my scar and deep inside.Also more painful getting up and down now than it was a week or so again more tests done this morning and have a temperature as well as high blood pressure.At four weeks i was flying along but the last two have been a real plateau.They are trying to establish where the infection is and am awaiting a scan date asap as doctor thinks it might be a hematoma?I still think it will be well worth it in the end though once this set back is sorted out as still no cyclical pain and nearly collapsing in agony that i had before the hysterectomy Don't let any of this put you off though as it is just my bad luck to get an infection five weeks post op.Any questions please do ask away.

      Good luck and stay strong,

      Sharon x

      PS am still on HRT and no problems at all with menopause symptoms thank god!

    • Nannyrose
      Nannyrose Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sharon

      So sorry for your set backs, I m dreading what lies ahead. Really hope you get sorted soon, high temperatures make you feel ill so god knows how you must feel with everything youre trying to overcome. I have to go to hospital at 1pm and operated shortly after that. My pre op is 14th march, I ve read some people have to take some kind of special drink the day before to clear your bowels but nothing on my pre op list. Did you have to take anything? I m actually fearing the pain when I wake up, and the long road to recovery, I hate sitting about. But at least the vile contractions will be 'no more'.

      Fingers crossed you get sorted pretty quickly. Good luck x

    • Guest
      Guest Nannyrose

      Posted

      Hi Nanny 2 five.Had a really rubbish few days but am a bit better today.Temperature and B P were higher still on Saturday so hubby ended up taking me to the hospital late afternoon.The doctor there was really thorough and took a complete history since my operation.He chased the latest blood and urine tests results from Friday and based on those results prescribed much stronger antibiotics.He also said the severe pressure pain that i am experiencing might be due to a hematoma.I explained that my own GP has already requested a follow up with my consultant and a scan to investigate further.Still can cope with that now that the infection seems to be responding to tablets.Onwards and upwards(but you do need to have a positive outlook to cope well with the recovery)

      Stay positive,Sharon x

  • judy01992
    judy01992 Catlady35

    Posted

    I had the ablation 9 years ago it wasn't too bad but I am waiting now for TAH If I could turn back time wish I had taken the hysterectomy then, good luck with whatever you decide
  • Nannyrose
    Nannyrose Catlady35

    Posted

    Hi

    I had an ablation 9 years ago and now it has failed. i m getting severe contractions every monthly cycle lasting 5-6 hours at a time everyday for a week. The pain is worse than childbirth and i have been to A&E twice, no medication relieves the pain. I was given morphine at A&E last month and that only lasted 20  minutes! I am now on an emergency waiting list for a TAH. The problems it causes is scarring in your uterus that causes your cervix to fuse closed and then causes hematometra (build up of blood in uterus) which cannot escape therefore your womb contracts to try and get rid of the blood, hence the contractions. If i had known this i would never of had it done, i would have just had the hysterectomy when i was offered it and would have been 9 years younger!

    Think long and hard before saying yes to an ablation, if it fails then prepare for the worst pelvic pain imaginable

     

  • peggy86043
    peggy86043 Catlady35

    Posted

    I had an ablation several years ago and it worked great for a while. But now I am going in to have a hysterectomy on March30th. If I were you I would opt for the hysterectomy and be done with it.
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