For you gals who have had hysterectomies....?

Question

How was your recovery time and how long did you spend in the hospital ?

Are you back to normal with no decrease in sex drive ?

Any tips you feel compelled to shared since you went through it ?

I was hoping for the less abrasive surgery but was told since I have never had a normal birth (c-sec. only) that I will be needing the full incision. I am not looking forward to 4 to 6 weeks of recovery and have informed the doc that I will stay over night ONLY then I am out of there. Hospitals are such a pain... they wake you up to ask if you were resting, that makes no sense to me so my stay will be short !

Anything you can share with me will be appreciated !

Thanks ! : )

WOW thanks gals !! I appreciate all the advice and your stories from experience. I am dreading the recovery but soooooo glad to hear you all are happy to have done it and it is behind you.

The sex drive thing was scaring me and MY husband. Having a high drive now would change our lives and not sure if we want to slow down yet. ( we are in our 40's) Since many said it may make it stronger, I will warn my husband that he might be dying with a smile on his face in a couple of months !! ha ha !!

Thanks ALL !! : )

Answer 1

I had my hysterectomy in 1999 and it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I only sayed overnight in the hospital (that was the worst part because my roommate was older and moaned all night so I couldn't wait to leave). I was off work for 6 weeks to recover but once I got the go ahead from the doctor I was back to my normal routine again. I have no decrease in sex drive, if anything I desire it more because I have no fear of pregnancy so whenever, where ever is my motto now. I had the surgery done through incisions in my stomach and belly button so not huge scares. I opted to have my ovaries removed too because I had cysts and thought I would probably end up having them removed down the road because of the pain from the cysts. Great decision but I do use the estrogen patch weekly that helps so much. One thing I do daily take Vitamin E for the hot flashes...someone told me about this and I started right away and have NEVER had one hot flash. I've recommened this to others who tell me they have terrible hot flashes. Just a suggestion! It's going to go well and you'll be happy once it's over and done with and the worst is behind you. I would do it again in a New York minute!! Just take care of yourself and ask for assistance if you need it and by all means take the pain pills they give you because you'll need them at first for the pain...........

Answer 2

Hello there Kitty. I had a hysterectomy when I was 29 and I am 46 now, so a while ago, so technology will be better and healing time will be quicker. But I will tell you what I experienced anyway. It does take 4-6 weeks to heal properly. It really is a major operation. You will not be allowed to just stay overnight, because you will have a drain for at least 24-48 hours. Just to give you some sound advice too. You will end up years down the road having to have another operation to your bladder. They call it a bladder tuck. Your bladder has the uterus to lean on, and when that is gone it starts to sag, sad but true, real fun being a woman right? The reason the recovery time is quite long, is you get tired very quickly, because the body has gone through major trauma. So do rest, and don't pick up heavy things etc. It is better to have the incision, you heal quicker and it will be longer before you have the bladder lift than if they did it via the vagina. The sex drive, absolutely not, should not be affected, if anything it should improve, sex wont be painful anymore and no periods, yahooooo, so you don't have to plan weekends away etc. Good luck and take it easy, because you will pay for it, later if you don't

Answer 3

I had one June of 2006 at the age of 22 due to complications from an outpatient surgery that day. I had a d&c and an endometrial ablation for endometriosis and ended up starting to bleed (utuerus was so full of blood and still filling that i looked 10 weeks pregnant). I had to have a hysterectomy to pretty much stay alive because the bleeding wouldnt stop. Received two units of blood during the hysterectomy. I was in the hospital for 3 days with a pain medicine button I could push when the pain was bad and it would inject into my IV-problem with that was my hand swelled so bad the medicine wasnt getting through and kept locking up and no one would change hands so the medicine would get through. They had me up walking the DAY AFTER it was done. They say to hold a pillow over the incision and lean over the pillow a bit to cough-doesnt work still feels like inside and out are gonna be ripped open or at least in my case it did. The recovery time isnt so bad after a couple weeks because the pain decreases a bit each day. I am back to normal-no decreased sex drive, if anything mine increased because there are no periods to worry about. I had a vaginal birth with all mine so the dr that did mine told me it would be like a c-section but the scar wouldnt be as long as a c-section one. If you want to know more feel free to contact me

Answer 4

I haven't had a hysterectomy, but I have had family and friends who have. The ones who had the vaginal hysterectomy suffered more serious problems that the ones who didn't. So having the full incision one done is a good thing in my opinion, although your recovery time will be longer. Don't be too stubborn when it comes to the hospital stay. You'll have to trust your doctor, and I hope you have a really good doctor . . . . . and a good hospital. Infection is a factor, so you can't rule out staying if they say you must.

Do not try to do things you know you shouldn't do just because you are feeling better. Sweeping the floor or picking up something that weighs as little as 10 lbs. could set you back. So be extra careful. Take this recovery time to organize photos, catch up on paperwork, read a book . . . . just no housework until the doc says it's okay.

Answer 5

The other posters have given you some good advice. I haven't had hysterectomy but am an OB/GYN nurse so I care for patients who have had all sorts of gyn surgeries.

The hysterectomy can normally be done vaginally or laparoscopically (small 1" incisions through belly button and sides of abdomen) Usually the only reason to do it abdominally is if there are too many adhesions inside, the woman has fibroids or there is an unexpected complication that requires a quick or thorough abdominal procedure. If avoiding the c-section scar is important, you might want to get a second opinion.

I care for gyn patients and I really try to let them sleep all night and coordinate my care with the aide who does your vitals - but not all hospitals are so considerate, I agree.!

Usually if your ovaries remain there is little effect on sex drive. If they remove the ovaries you will be menopausal after surgery and usually started on hormone replacement. However, if you are at an age that you have already reached menopause naturally, this won't apply.

Answer 6

I was 24 when I had mine. I had to given a pint of my husbands blood during the operation as I have a clotting disorder. I had the full incision, from hip to hip. I was in the hospital for 4 days. I had everything removed, cervix, uterus, and both overys. At home time to recover was about 6 weeks I was on narcotic pain meds for about 8 weeks and then switched to Tylenol. My sex drive for about 6 months was bad as I was also going through menopause (you know the whole hot flash thing...) but right after that, I had a breast reduction too, so that might have been part of it too.

I am 30 now and feeling MUCH better. I do regret sometimes having it done so young but, then, one or two of my 19 nieces and nephews come over and that reminds me that I am perfectly happy with my husband and Cat, Chloe.

Vicki

Answer 7

I was in the hospital for a week, but there were some complications because they had to remove endometriosis from my bladder and ureters. I felt great in about four weeks, but that can fool you into doing too much and setting back your recovery. So be careful not to do that to yourself. The hysterectomy didn't change my sex drive at all. The benefit to sex is that you no longer have to worry about birth control! My doctor suggested vitamin E oil for the incision scar. Good luck. :-)

Answer 8

Hi, I also had 3 c-sections and had a hysterectomy. My doctor did it vaginally. Maybe you should get a second opinion from another doctor. The vaginal surgery was painless. I stayed overnight and there were no complications. It was the best thing I have ever done. I felt soooo much better and the recovery time quick I was back to my day to day in just days.I felt great and my sex drive went up. I wish you good luck and hope you talk with another doctor.

Answer 9

I had a vaginal hysterectomy in 1993 a nonetheless have the two ovaries , I had no temper swings, bowel issues, or sexual section outcomes. restoration grew to become into speedier than an belly hysterectomy. only remember you're having surgical operation and persist with your medical expert's discharge training. i could not raise over 10lbs, no sweeping, mopping, vacuuming or intercourse for six weeks and no driving for 2 weeks. I felt lots extra sensible that it grew to become into specifically circumstances difficult to remember that I had surgical operation. solid success!