A New Phase - Some Thoughts and Feelings After Hysterectomy

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A New Phase - Some Thoughts and Feelings After Hysterectomy

A New Phase - Some Thoughts and Feelings After Hysterectomy

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Options to Hysterectomy
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Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Pelvic Floor
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Grief and Loss
Endometriosis
Uterine Fibroids
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

Since my surgery it seems that I find myself thinking about issues I didn't realize I had. I'm considering changing my career or going back to school. Is this normal?

Recovering from a hysterectomy does not only involve physical recovery. Even women who experience a return to physical good health often struggle with psychological ramifications of a hysterectomy. Not all women have these types of challenges, but many do. Don’t be alarmed if you have similar feelings to those described by hysterectomy patients, as follows:

“I never felt a strong need or desire to bear children; however, I do feel a sense of loss, and a sense of being displaced.”
“I have moments when I feel hollow and emotionally extremely neutral.”
“Emotionally bankrupt is how I describe the way I feel. There is just a nothingness. It is weird. I don’t get angry and I don’t laugh the way I used to.”
“I was such an intense person before; it was as if I felt with every cell in my body. Now I just exist from day to day - not happy, not sad, not anything. Just breathing, eating, sleeping, doing...without feeling.”
“People say that I look good, when I feel terrible inside. They don’t understand that what’s going on is invisible to them.”
"I don’t feel like less of a woman, but I feel different. I really can’t put my finger on it, but I sense I’m missing something.”
“Will I ever feel like myself again? I wonder, does it ever go away?”

For most women suffering from emotional disturbances and distress following their surgery, that’s really the big question:

“Does it ever go away?”

Almost all negative occurrences in our lives are tolerable, as long as they’re temporary. Will you ever feel like the same person you were before your hysterectomy? No one can answer that question with certainty. But for many women it does transpire that with the passage of time, the “strange and unusual” feelings and unsettling emotions do fade.

But, what if they don’t? Just as the world is constantly evolving, so are our lives. Perhaps if the feelings do not someday truly go away, they will change. And because human beings by nature are adaptable creatures, you will likely adjust to the phases involved in the transition. To put in another way: You will slowly get accustomed to the new and different way that you feel. Its prevalence and steadiness will make it grow ordinary.

You will come to terms with what you have been dealt and adapt accordingly. As one woman put it, “I think the best thing we can all do for ourselves is to ride that wave of change and passage.” Rather than dwell on what you feel you have lost from having had a hysterectomy, spend that energy nourishing your future goals and celebrating the blessings in your life.

And comfort and encourage yourself with the knowledge that others have overcome the hysterectomy challenge, and so can you.

This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

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Recommended for Hysterectomy Recovery

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The Great Binder Set - We have made it very easy for you and combined the two best binders and the Silky Sac into a great set to save you money! Our favorite is the Perfect Pocket binder with cold/hot packs!
Deluxe Hyst Prep Set - As you plan, we've gathered the best products into one set for special pricing.
Post-Op Panty - These great panties speed recovery, and reduces scarring. They contain a medical-grade silicone panel over incision to reduce scar's apperance while they provide support to weakened muscles and tissues from surgery. Excellent!
Softest Bra Ever - When you want to wear something, but feel nothing. This is the softest bra ever, in microfiber with no hardware or tags to chafe or dig! The comfort-ribbed underband stays in place gently, so it is perfect for sleeping and lounging.
HysterSisters Accessory Kit - Are you a HysterSisters fan? This set has a fun collection of HysterSisters items.
Very Private Moisture - Once your doctor gives you the green light for intimacy, this is the stuff! This is a best selling product with a high rate of permanent, satisfied, repeat customers! Relieves vaginal dryness instantly, protects tissue & enhances intimacy. "Buy it for the problem, use it for the pleasure."

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Find A Doctor Near You

Debra Richardson, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673	Jack Ayoub, M.D. 44035 Riverside Parkway Suite 435 Leesburg VA 20176 703.858.5599	Mark Richey, M.D. 1200 Airport Heights Ste 205 Anchorage AK 99508 9072724443
Clifford Rogers, M.D. The Everett Clinic, Dept. of Surgery and Gynecology 1330 Rockefeller Ave, Suite 120 Everett WA 98201 425 339 5424	Richard W Farnam, M.D. 1700 N. Oregon Suite 520 El Paso TX 79902 9155335600	Sherry L Neyman, M.D. Renaissance Women's Group 12201 Renfert Way Ste 200 Austin TX 78758 512-425-3875
Lauren Streicher, M.D. Gynecologic Specialists of Northwestern, S.C 680 N. Lake Shore Dr., Suite 117 Chicago IL 60611 (312)654-1166	Gerald Harkins, M.D. Department of OB-Gyn P.O. Box 850, H-103 Hershey PA 17033 717-531-6447	Siobhan Kehoe, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673

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