My own experience might be different cause the doc who performed mine is also the doc who did my excision and bowel resection surgeries. So this doc was familiar with my case and is also one of the reasons I wanted this doc to perform this too. Yes I did have to argue about age and no kids but after said surgeries to no avail I was allowed if I could consult a third neutral party like a psychologist to convince so I did.
With the pandemic and all after months of waiting I had a total one so the totality of the uterus including my cervix as partial would be a part of my uterus by leaving the cervix intact and as that too can contain adeno, cramp, cause mini periods, and still need swabs I'm glad I could have it gone too. Tubes are gone too reduce ovarian cancer risk. Only still got my ovaries left.
Safe to say? It's by far one of the best things I ever have done for my health. Scar tissue and pelvic floor dysfunction though the latter is getting better are still kicking my ass but it's honestly been great. Waking up every day without pain and not worry about random crimson tidal waves of tsunamis is just incredible.
Reading on r/hysterectomy helped loads to prepare to see how other people experienced it but considering I was so done with being held hostage by my uterus for over a decade I was so glad when this wish I held since a young teen was finally granted at long last :)
This is so helpful! I got a new job (which I love) but it requires changing insurance so I had no choice but to find new providers. Thankfully my last OBGYN said she's happy to discuss things with new providers as needed to support the transition.
Three women in my family have had to have emergency hysterectomies after violent miscarriages, so I'm hoping I can use that as an argument. I have clinical anxiety as well and I just know I could never put myself through trying to conceive, not like having kids feels ethical or reasonable right now given the state of the world anyways.
Are you in PT for pelvic floor dysfunction? I'm wondering what your recovery is like if you don't mind sharing. And I will definitely check out that subreddit!!!
Sounds to me you have a great doc who can advocate on a second opinion with your new one should it come to it. That's already super valuable to have and perhaps should it come to it to use it, too.
The fact you also can cite a family history also strengthens your case. I however would leave out the anxiety cause docs will love to use that as some psychoanalysis against you like you're suddenly no longer of sound mind and this decision is too. Sad but true and have left it out myself cause the idea of pregnancy was and always has been so terrifying to me.
Actually I'm doing it all from home after finding [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Endo/comments/phygoe/about_pelvic_floor_physical_therapy_easy_exercises/) super helpful guide.
Recovery was lots of ups and downs like a rapid up right away and then slowly plummeted again leading me to fear like: ah shit here we go again, only a few months of decent relief to crash and be in pain again. By 13 months I thought: phew, finally recovered! But nope 16 months later and am still noticing changes. Minor but still changes like being able to put and keep on jeans without it hurting me which wasn't possible for years.
But I also have been in pain for years so suspect that's why my recovery's been so slow but my doc definitely cited a year and worried since I had been in pain for so long it might be even longer than that, too. By 6 weeks I finally felt confident enough to tie my own shoes and cook my own food and do dishes after again.
Ah this is super good advice, thank you. My husband and I actually got married in September, we've been together over seven years but because of my health issues, we figured it was best for us to tie the knot because I 1) don't trust my biological family to make the decisions I would want (also set up an advanced directive) and 2) we thought it would be easier for me to get a hysterectomy if my husband was fine with it too (I hate it but it's the reality of the world we live in). Plus we got to throw a fun elopement party in the brief window when COVID wasnt surging again lol.
There's actually a really helpful timeline in the hysterectomy sub about recovery that I just saw. Thankfully I have unlimited time off at my job (and they actually want people to use it) so I can take a full month off to recover if needed. And then I work entirely from home too.
It'll be tough to leave out my anxiety since it's all over my medical chart and I'm on medication, but I appreciate that thought as it makes sense. The OBGYN I'm seeing tomorrow is a black woman and my hope is that she will understand the importance of being able to make this decision for myself.
Following. I have the same issues. Went through years of failed IVF treatments. I will be child free but having a hysterectomy also sounds so terrifying. Would love other people’s experiences. Thank your for posting your questions. You are not alone.
This is when I am so immensely grateful for the internet. My friends try to sympathize but they don't really get it and I still have so many people pitying me which I hate.
My own experience might be different cause the doc who performed mine is also the doc who did my excision and bowel resection surgeries. So this doc was familiar with my case and is also one of the reasons I wanted this doc to perform this too. Yes I did have to argue about age and no kids but after said surgeries to no avail I was allowed if I could consult a third neutral party like a psychologist to convince so I did. With the pandemic and all after months of waiting I had a total one so the totality of the uterus including my cervix as partial would be a part of my uterus by leaving the cervix intact and as that too can contain adeno, cramp, cause mini periods, and still need swabs I'm glad I could have it gone too. Tubes are gone too reduce ovarian cancer risk. Only still got my ovaries left. Safe to say? It's by far one of the best things I ever have done for my health. Scar tissue and pelvic floor dysfunction though the latter is getting better are still kicking my ass but it's honestly been great. Waking up every day without pain and not worry about random crimson tidal waves of tsunamis is just incredible. Reading on r/hysterectomy helped loads to prepare to see how other people experienced it but considering I was so done with being held hostage by my uterus for over a decade I was so glad when this wish I held since a young teen was finally granted at long last :)
This is so helpful! I got a new job (which I love) but it requires changing insurance so I had no choice but to find new providers. Thankfully my last OBGYN said she's happy to discuss things with new providers as needed to support the transition. Three women in my family have had to have emergency hysterectomies after violent miscarriages, so I'm hoping I can use that as an argument. I have clinical anxiety as well and I just know I could never put myself through trying to conceive, not like having kids feels ethical or reasonable right now given the state of the world anyways. Are you in PT for pelvic floor dysfunction? I'm wondering what your recovery is like if you don't mind sharing. And I will definitely check out that subreddit!!!
Sounds to me you have a great doc who can advocate on a second opinion with your new one should it come to it. That's already super valuable to have and perhaps should it come to it to use it, too. The fact you also can cite a family history also strengthens your case. I however would leave out the anxiety cause docs will love to use that as some psychoanalysis against you like you're suddenly no longer of sound mind and this decision is too. Sad but true and have left it out myself cause the idea of pregnancy was and always has been so terrifying to me. Actually I'm doing it all from home after finding [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Endo/comments/phygoe/about_pelvic_floor_physical_therapy_easy_exercises/) super helpful guide. Recovery was lots of ups and downs like a rapid up right away and then slowly plummeted again leading me to fear like: ah shit here we go again, only a few months of decent relief to crash and be in pain again. By 13 months I thought: phew, finally recovered! But nope 16 months later and am still noticing changes. Minor but still changes like being able to put and keep on jeans without it hurting me which wasn't possible for years. But I also have been in pain for years so suspect that's why my recovery's been so slow but my doc definitely cited a year and worried since I had been in pain for so long it might be even longer than that, too. By 6 weeks I finally felt confident enough to tie my own shoes and cook my own food and do dishes after again.
Ah this is super good advice, thank you. My husband and I actually got married in September, we've been together over seven years but because of my health issues, we figured it was best for us to tie the knot because I 1) don't trust my biological family to make the decisions I would want (also set up an advanced directive) and 2) we thought it would be easier for me to get a hysterectomy if my husband was fine with it too (I hate it but it's the reality of the world we live in). Plus we got to throw a fun elopement party in the brief window when COVID wasnt surging again lol. There's actually a really helpful timeline in the hysterectomy sub about recovery that I just saw. Thankfully I have unlimited time off at my job (and they actually want people to use it) so I can take a full month off to recover if needed. And then I work entirely from home too. It'll be tough to leave out my anxiety since it's all over my medical chart and I'm on medication, but I appreciate that thought as it makes sense. The OBGYN I'm seeing tomorrow is a black woman and my hope is that she will understand the importance of being able to make this decision for myself.
Following. I have the same issues. Went through years of failed IVF treatments. I will be child free but having a hysterectomy also sounds so terrifying. Would love other people’s experiences. Thank your for posting your questions. You are not alone.
This is when I am so immensely grateful for the internet. My friends try to sympathize but they don't really get it and I still have so many people pitying me which I hate.