I (F21) am a teacher, and I’ve wanted kids my whole life. I’m a Christian with very strong values, but I’m getting a hysterectomy at the end of the school year.
Three years ago, I started bleeding uncontrollably. Every period I’ve had since I started menstruating at 12 has been excruciating. I’ve had nonstop abdominal pain that has put me in the hospital multiple times, extremely painful cramps, numbness from my belly button down, constant nausea, and many other issues.
Eight months ago, I was diagnosed with chronic pain and an unknown chronic illness. Eight months ago, they put in an IUD and did a D&C, but I’m still in pain, and it’s actively getting worse. I was still bleeding, so they put me on birth control on top of the IUD I already had. It did very little to nothing for me. In fact, I actually got worse.
Last week, I found out there’s a good chance this is all caused by a rare hereditary disorder. It has a high chance of being passed on, and each pregnancy could make me even sicker.
I have to have the IUD removed and stop hormonal birth control because they’re making my chronic illness worse. Once I do that, I’ll bleed two to three weeks out of every month, soaking through an ultra tampon every hour.
So, after considering all these factors, I’ve decided that I don’t want to pass my disorder on to my children, and I don’t want to continue bleeding uncontrollably if I’m not going to have kids.
Everyone keeps telling me I’m too young to make that decision. WTF? I’m sick. Why would I keep putting my body through more suffering when I already know how much I’m struggling?
I’ve wanted to be a mother my entire life. This isn’t a decision I’m making lightly, and it’s not one I ever imagined I’d have to make at 21. But why is it so hard for people to understand that I can love children, want to be a mother, and still decide that pregnancy and continuing to live like this aren’t right for me? And then they will start tell me “think of your husband,” ummm he supports me. It isn’t happy this is hard for me, but as he sees it, why put me through a bunch of pain, and then have our future child have to go through it too? We made the choice together. Why am I getting so much heat. For choice everyone be in less pain?

Hi folks, I (34FtM) am less than a week away from my surgery date and the nerves are starting to settle in. I feel incredibly awkward in women's health spaces, so I'm hoping to find some support online while I recover. While I'm not too worried about the procedure itself, I'm fairly anxious about the recovery process if that makes sense.

I have a few questions for those with similar lived experiences. I'll be undergoing a laparoscopic total hysterectomy, including the removal of both ovaries. For those on HRT that includes testosterone, what was your experience like in terms of hormonal changes?

Since I live alone, I'll be staying with my parents for a while post-op. I know it varies person to person, but how long were you dependent on others for help with daily tasks? As much as I love my parents, I'd like to return to independence sooner rather than later (as well as back home to my gaming setup haha - the one plus side of recovery time off will be finally being able to play some games that have been collecting dust on Steam!).

Lastly, and most vulnerably, I'm worried about the mental impacts of dysphoria. Anything involving my lower anatomy is intensely dysphoric for me (this will be the first step in my SRS/bottom surgery journey). Limiting physical activity will also be tough, especially since I've already lost a lot of hard earned strength and definition after a back injury. I'd really appreciate some support in that regard!

Thank you for reading, and wishing you all the best in your own respective journeys ♥

Hi, I had a total hysterectomy and bladder repair yesterday and the pain is something I was not prepared for. I figured it would be gas pains like my last surgery, and those are definitely also there.

But no, it feels like my pubic bones and everything that lives within them (or formerly lived within them) is being torn open. I couldnt pee, so they had to do a catheter. Then they took out the catheter so I could try again. I was able to go, but my bladder is retaining urine like crazy and I cannot get past the pain. They had to admit me, and put in another catheter. My O2 sats keep dropping to the mid to low 80s when I fall asleep so I might have to go home on oxygen. My mouth is so dry that I almost choked on my dinner because I couldn't swallow it down.

Ive been on a constant regimen of both oral and IV dilaudid and while it does take the edge off, the pain is absolutely constant. I was told by my surgeon it would feel the same as my ablation surgery last year and not to worry. This pain is on a completely different level and I honestly wonder if I will ever sleep again. Im just sitting here wondering if i made a terrible mistake.

Eta: I spent the past couple days before surgery watching vlogs of others who have gone through it and tell me why they were all perfectly fine, hardly any pain, walking all around the house, etc. One lady made an entire Thanksgiving dinner and hosted her entire family for it, 3 days after her surgery. I cant even make a full lap around the hospital ward without just absolutely falling apart once im back in bed. Am I just a total wuss? I thought I was a pain warrior but maybe im the opposite of that.

Healing is going well and I believe I was blessed by the surgery gods because the pain has been minimal :) I also had an excellent surgeon! No bruising or anything! I'm 24 F.

I am one year and a few months out form surgery. I have been having weird pain that basically felt like how I did before my hysterectomy. My dr did an ultrasound and I have a 7cm endmeteioma on one ovary and a 6cm regular cysts on the other. I am having surgery to remove the cysts November 20th. Anyone ever gone through this after hysterectomy? I had no previous history of ovarian cysts.

FINALLLYYYYY. Had my 6 week post op appointment today and got the all clear to resume normal activities. (Ease in lol) first thing I did after my toddler was asleep was get that bathtub ready. Honestly considered doing a cannonball in, the most exciting thing in a while 😂😭(26f, mom of an almost 2 year old and uterus free for 6 weeks, after nearly 2 years straight of bleeding daily postpartum and nearing a prolapse. I earned this bath)

as soon as my appointment with the gyn surgeon started I advocated I want hysterectomy. She told me my pain intensity and symptoms were more than fibroids and ordered mri. I told her regardless of my symptoms I know something is off and want to get rid of uterus. just found out I was right I have ad!
ladies always trust your intuition. Im scheduled for hysterectomy for 11.

I am about 8 weeks post op from a total vaginal hysterectomy and was given the all clear, healed beautifully, etc etc at just under 6 weeks. No real issues since, BUT

We went on vacation and 3 days in I have some pretty significant abdominal swelling. It’s not from ✨ activities ✨ because we took a break prepping to leave and the first few days of our trip, but we did an easy hike with the kids and I have been swollen since (about 3 days)

Has anyone else experienced this? And if you have, what caused it 😩 because I did a bunch of lifting, a plane ride, road trip, and then a hike. 🫣 which sounds dumb now that I’m typing it.

38 female. I kept my ovaries. I received a labiaplasty due to extreme discomfort where my scars were from tearing when giving birth to my son.

Surgery was at 1:00 pm.today. it is now 11:06 pm

● have had ZERO gas pain. I was told by nurse that heavier people tend to struggle with internal gas and that its easier to get the gas out of people that are on the thinner side.

● I took a ibuprofen right when I got home and took an oxy 3 hours later. I will continue to alternate the next two days..I hope to be off pain meds soon

● my labiaplasty is covered with a gauze that will fall off on its own. Its stinging and I am nervous to get urine on it once the pain meds wear off. I hope I can keep urine off it.

● cramping is beginning in my abdominal area. I am hoping the oxy kicks in soon before it gets worse..its not bad at all though currently.

● getting up is more tender in the abdomen. It is starting to feel like.i worked out my.muscles a bit.

I am going to walk everyday. I hope the labialasty isnt too swollen tomorrow..

I can tell getting up will be a doozy tomorrow.

Will update. BUT I AM THRILLED that I didnt have any gas pains.

Turns out this is a PSA!

Strange turn of events over here! I just passed my 1 year anniversary of having a hysterectomy and I've gotta say, things are rough. I started getting insane headaches and histamine issues, and this awful puffy swelling in my sinuses with dark bags under my eyes. I have nausea and constipation, and I feel poisoned every day.

So, I got a huge lab panel done and it turns out I have iron overload (iron levels almost 300) and I test positive for the gene for hemochromatosis. Turns out my heavy periods were actually helping the iron overload, because the main treatment is bloodletting. Now that I don't bleed monthly like I was (and I was bleeding a TON), the hemochromatosis is getting severe and overloading my liver.

lThis is such a niche thing, but I'm wondering if anyone else can relate. Since my liver is doing poorly with the overload of iron, it's also causing elevated SHBG and hormone issues, so it feels like I'm in menopause even though I'm not because the SHBG is stealing all of my bioavailable hormones.

Just feels like a never ending saga of problems. Thank you for listening! I hope this helps someone else who is feeling better in a few ways post hysterectomy, but worse in a lot of others.

It's been one year since I (42f) yeeted that thing out of existence and I only have one regret:

I wish I'd done it sooner. :/

I always knew I didn't want kids, and my periods were horrible and somehow getting worse as I got older. I officially started looking into the procedure 10 years ago, and along the way I got gaslit, sidelined, scared, doubtful, basically all the things that could delay or prevent it from happening, did.

Debilitating periods ruined half my life. My cycle averaged 28 days, where 11-14 days I'd be bleeding, and 1-3 days of that I was bleeding so much I'd sometimes black out. The cramps were crippling some days. Even with iron supplements my highest iron count was 8 in a good day (I think 30 is the min recommended for women). Events had to be skipped. No clothing or furniture was safe no matter what I did to prevent leaks. Couldn't focus on anything, it consumed me. I was miserable and severely depressed whenever I was bleeding, I just wanted the suffering to end.

It finally did. :)

I'm now sitting here wearing light tan pants I never would've worn before, thinking about how peaceful my days have gotten without having those horrifying days of blood and pain and stains and blackouts. No having to decline plans or grit my teeth through them because I'm in agony. I am free.

So to those on the fence, scared shitless about their surgery (I sure was too), know that it's worth it.

You're worth it. You got this.

I'm on a waiting list for a posterior repair and a hysterectomy, and I should nearly be at the top of the list, but I'm going back and forth on whether to proceed with the hysterectomy part. I asked for it because of pelvic heaviness, adenomyosis, a growing fibroid, and coils in my tubes that I really want gone. Bleeding isn't an issue any more as I had an ablation years ago.

The repair is definitely happening but am I buying trouble by going for the hysterectomy as well? Logically, getting everything done at the same time makes sense. The plan is to leave my ovaries but take everything else including my cervix. It's such a big surgery. I've considered asking them to just take my tubes, but then I think about how my uterus isn't actually normal either, and the gynae warned me about the adenomyosis interfering with their ability to detect cancerous changes with a biopsy.

I'd like to hear from people who have had multiple procedures done at once, or who are/were thinking about it. What were you told, what decision did you make, if you did it how was the recovery?

Had my hysterectomy performed on Tuesday (Oct 13). Before being wheeled into the OR the nurse applied a scopolamine patch behind my ear.

The patch has caused my eyes to dilate a ton, and now I can’t see anything close up! It’s literally so hard to proofread anything I’m typing.

(Still so so so so happy I was able to get a hysterectomy at 31 with zero children!!!)

Also- yes I removed the patch today when I realized I’m literally going blind

my OBGYN and care team were wonderful, and even gave me heart shape gauze pads for my incisions :’) i did wake up from anesthesia crying b/c of how badly i needed to use the bathroom, but they controlled my nausea extremely well and i went home not feeling any pain at all (except for bladder and gas discomfort in my shoulders).

now that it’s EOD day 2, i’ve been walking around a bit, making myself some food, petting my cat, and solving crossword puzzles. i stopped all narcotic useage on the morning of day 1 and even managed via miralax, stool softener, and gasx to have not just 1, but 2 BMs today :D feel free to ask any other questions you might have.

here’s to week one of recovery!

Currently 2.5 weeks PO and these vaginal stitches are driving me up a wall. Apparently had some tearing from the size of the fibroids when everything was removed vaginally and some stitches were needed. They are sooooooo aggravating!!! They hurt, they twinge, they rub me the wrong way, and sitting upright is absolutely impossible! At my one week check the doc said everything looked fine. She said they would eventually dissolve on their own but didn't give much advice on care or dealing with the discomfort. Any help in the meantime is welcome please!

Warning: talk of #2

So I wanted to come on here and ask if anyone experienced diarrhea either a few days after discharge and for how long because I’ve had diarrhea off and on for a few days. Some normal and others watery. Told my surgeon about it that did the surgery and she wants me to get lab work done + stool sample tomorrow. Also have a little bit of chills off and on but I’m anemic and have had this for 2 days.

Any advice? I’m thinking about going to my primary tomorrow for all of this instead of Quest Diagnostics because Quest has a habit of long waiting periods even though there’s an appointment

I, 34 F, have a scheduled elective hysterectomy coming up in a month. I have been dealing with persistent pre-cancerous cells on my cervix for the last 13 years, plus I've had 5 children, and I have extreme pain the first couple days of my period so my doctor and I both agreed a hysterectomy made sense from multiple angles. I have regular periods every month (regular as in always every 26-28 days like clockwork) and never have bleeding in between cycles. My doctor scheduled a transvaginal ultrasound to be done before surgery so he can get a good look at things and get an estimate on the size of my uterus and position to determine the best surgical approach. He messaged me after to say everything looked reassuring and we will proceed with the surgery. I didn't think much of it until about 2 weeks later I decided to read the ultrasound report. It mentions my endometrial lining being abnormally thick and heterogeneous with a possibility of endometrial hyperplasia. My doctor didn't tell me any of this so I am not sure what to think. I know regardless of what the ultrasound says he was already planning to send my uterus to pathology to rule out anything serious, but I'm wondering what I might expect from this.

I’m a screamer. I love haunted houses. But I’m a little worried I’ll be stuck walking too long or, lord forbid, someone near me freaks out and knocks me down. What do you think?

Due to a familial risk of disease and gender affirming purposes I’ve decided it’s time to part with my uterus. I’ve got a few fears…I’m fairly young at 28 for this procedure but I need to ask

How did you handle fear and anxiety?
I’m doing this behind my family’s back, my mother and I meet up regularly for brunch and a drive along the countryside…she wouldn’t be aware I’m getting this done and if I were to die under the knife…I can’t imagine what she would go through, my family has had so many losses and I can’t handle being the next

Two: I’ve known two close family friends who had this procedure and passed due to heart attacks after. I doubt there’s any studies linking it but…it stays as something I will remember.

Three: Getting very NSFW but I have a bit of a thing for….BIG. Toys. Like 8 inches plus for length and I don’t want to sound gross but taking them has never been a challenge.
Of course I’ll wait till I’m healed up but…does this mean I’m one bad move from fucking up and breaking what was healed??

My Hysterectomy Cake Day! Kind of exciting.

I wanted to thank everyone for making this sub so great, especially with the mayhem from the other day. So many of you helped me over the last couple of years, and I hope I’ve helped others in turn.

With that, here’s my story because I don’t think I’ve ever even made a general post:

I had fibroids my whole adult life. Never wanted kids. Also never wanted elective surgery. Twelve years ago my fibroids grew a lot, to about 26 week pregnancy size. And I’m tiny. Things were getting in the way. Just wanted to wait for menopause to have surgery though.

I had none of the other classic fibroids symptoms, but I suffered in many many other ways which also really amped up in perimenopause. So that was 10 years of intense hell during which I got the default response from providers: maybe you need an SSRI/ literal shrugs. I’d suddenly had a ton of MSK issues since the pandemic, which coincided with hitting menopause and losing a bunch of family members and friends all in the same year. I lucked out getting on MHT (menopause hormone therapy) right when it hit in 2023. That helped a lot. I was in PT all the time and was able to see a physical therapist who put up with my undiagnosed everything and helped me get extra strong before surgery.

I had a family history of ovarian cancer so I knew I wanted to pursue oophorectomy along with salpingectomy. Again lucked out with genetic counseling, because of a family history of breast cancer and Lynch Syndrome markers, and they approved me for a BSO.

Surgery was laparoscopic, they put all my 1300+ grams of lady guts in a bag and used the morcellator and pulled the bag out through my navel, which they enlarged. My dead mother and grandmother left signs they were with me, both before and after, that was wild! I didn’t have complications, except I couldn’t pee but they wanted to discharge me (USA!) so I went home with a catheter and bag. The lab report and my surgeon said everything was unremarkable. Which is good, but I was hoping for more dramatic explanation and proof of all my suffering; no dice there.

Over the months I grieved, which was unexpected and funny. I kept my daily goals simple and selfish, but felt mentally and physically lighter. I waited for something bad to happen but so far it has not, in this arena at least. I learned that fiber supplements help with balancing out, not just helping you go. I still have exhaustion that comes on at random times, working on sorting it out.

It was the hardest thing I’ve ever chosen to do for myself, but I’m happy and don’t have regrets about the timing or anything else. I conquered a lot of fear to do it. I had so much help, but it was ultimately just me, exposed, alone and open.

Still haven’t had any vegan cake. Goal for this coming year.