PRE-OP: Why are you having a hysterectomy?

My story.....

My period started when I was 14...it was more painful than I ever imagined and by FAR more painful than they explain in health class. I too, had very heavy flow and knew from day one that the 2 tablespoon theory was NOT true!!!

I didn't have another period until I was 18, due to a number of factors I guess. I was extremely active in sports and one doctor said that I wasn't ovulating due to the amount of physical activity I was doing. I also suffered from an eating disorder and another doctor told me that would keep me from ovulating or having periods.

When my periods did start up again, they were even worse than the first one!! I have always worn super plus tampons and never used less than 40 for one period. And the pain that came with my periods was completely debilitating!!!

Then a few years ago, a had a pap come back abnormal. I had a cone biopsy done in April of 09 which came back as CIN III/ CIS. After the biopsy, I never had another abnormal pap. I did however begin having the absolute WORST periods I could ever imagine (this of course is before I joined this site....now I know it can always be worse)!!! My periods went from lasting 4 days to finally in the end lasting 16 days. I had constant pelvic pain that caused me to miss countless days of work. The bleeding was so heavy, I would have to set an alarm to wake me up ever 1 or 2 hours to use the bathroom. Then I started having this unexplained swelling in my belly, feet, hands, and ankles.

Finally, in March, I had a lap because my doctor suspected endometriosis! Sure enough, there it was and it was horrid!!! I was offered Lupron, but didn't like what I was reading about it. I am very sensitive to medications and usually if there is a side-effect, I have it. So I opted not to take that. My doctor recommended that I have a TAH/BSO with excision of the endo, so that is what we did in May.

I have to say that even though I know in the back of my mind that it is possible for the endo to come back, I have no regrets on my decision. I have now missed my 4th period and I do not miss them one tiny little bit!! I have never felt better in my life. I didn't even really know how awful I felt until I finally felt better.

I want to wish all of you ladies luck in your surgeries and recovery. I am happy to say that I am one of the success stories and I hope you all are as well.

I'm having mine due to fibroids, really heavy bleeding, ovarian cysts and my mom was just diagnosed with ovarian cancer (she had surgery to remove her ovaries and the tumor which had spread to her colon, now she will be undergoing chemo to kill the rest of the cancer). my surgery is scheduled for 8/30/11

Hi everyone!
My periods started at 10.5, they were heavy but no cramps. I was on bc by 12 to help control the bleeding. I had my first son at 20 by c-section. I have had another son and two daughters vaginally. After my last pregnancy my periods basically disappeared maybe one or two a year lasting 2 - 3 days and very light. My daughter will be 8 the day before my surgery. In March I started bleeding so badly it looked like someone had been murdered. I actually had to buy depends if I wanted to go anywhere. I thought at first it was my system finally cleaning itself out. When I got to the point I couldn't walk more then 10 feet without being exhausted and feeling faint I called the dr who told me to head to the ER. When they saw me I was rushed in past everyone and then transferred to another hospital. I was rushed in again and told my iron was so low they were afraid I was going to have a heart attack. I'm in Canada so I'll explain it in our terms not sure how to convert it. My iron level was 41 it's suppose to be between 115 - 165. So 3 blood transfusions and heavy doses of hemophilia medication later I was released. I am now on 900 mg daily of iron and the hemophilia meds until surgery as I continue to bleed. So that's why I am having a hysterectomy and can't wait to finally stop the crime scene in my room everyday. At least I'll be able to get some new sheets and clothes that aren't stained beyond recognition.

They didn't believe I was bleeding that much until they asked me to remove everything from the waist down including the super plus tampon and the entire gurney was covered in less then 10 minutes.

I can relate to all these stories. I loose a lot of blood back problems etc.

Started in 9th grade and was fine the first year. By the time I was a junior in high school I was on birth control for:

unbelievable/debilitating cramping, blood clots the size of walnuts, PMS starting 10 days before my period, vomiting, diarrhea, dizzyness, soaking pad after pad, bleeding for 10 days, tunnel vision, migraines, missing work/school 2 - 3 days per month, and passed out once.

The birth control in itself started to make me sick (vomiting, shaky, hungry, headaches etc). I have been on so many brands over the years that I could not even begin to count. The patch was the worst. So, I was sick on the birth control and sick off the birth control. Nothing worked! My life was so crummy!

The past year I just said enough is enough. Even after test after test no doc can tell me what is wrong, but I don't care, it doesn't matter. My quality of life just plain stinks. I went to my specialist and said, "I'M DONE!" and he said, "OK, LET"S DO IT!" I was so liberated at that moment knowing that I was going to have a life that I started to cry! I was told for so many years that I could not have a hysterectomy since I "was of child bearing age, and you will want children". I have never wanted children but no one would listen to me. Well, last week was my gift to myself. Total hysterectomy......at age 38. The crazy thing is.....everything was "normal" on the inside, so still no answer as to WHY I suffered for almost 1/2 of my life! That's just fine....it is over, and I am HAPPY! Watch out life....I'm taking you back. Yippee!!

I think I was about 13 or so when I got my period. They were so heavy from day one. After my first child, they got heavier. I have had ultrasounds to find out why...no reason. I had laproscopic surgery to look for endo...none. I had a D&C and enjoyed one normal cycle afterwards, but that was it. I have blood clots, as big as my hand sometimes! Now my periods are 14 days...totally interfere with activities, work, life. I have ruined clothes...I go through a super plus tampon AND a maternity pad in less than an hour...sometimes 20 minutes! My iron stores were virtually gone, my hemoglobin was low and took dips. I am on double doses of iron and get dizzy spells...the ONLY good thing about my periods is they are very regular. As soon as I had my last baby, and I am now weaning her (she turns 2 next month) I decided to go with the hysterectomy that my OB/GYN has been recommending me for years...but, I wanted kids first, and I had three. So I was put on the semi-urgent list (i am in Canada) and three months later is my surgery date.

I'm having mine because of cervical cancer. Normal paps all my life (I'm 39) with my last one being in 2011 (next one due in 2014). I got tagged for a deployment to Afghanistan this spring and had to have a current pap on record. Pap results were atypical squamous cells - undetermined significance, atypical glandular cells and high risk HPV. Cervical biopsy and endocervical curettage both came back with adenocarcinoma in-situ. Endometrial biopsy normal. Switched to a gyn/onc and had a cone biopsy that came back with stage 1B1 adenosquamous carcinoma (adenocarcinoma AND squamous cell cancer) with angiolymphatic invasion (the cancer is in the blood vessels that go to the lymph nodes). Good times. So on Aug 9, I'm having the radical hysterectomy and my pelvic lymph nodes removed, then we'll go from there. Every time I read 'cervical cancer takes about 10 years to go from abnormal cells to cancer' it makes me want to scream. Sometimes it can happen in a year. But I got this - I'm kicking cancer's boo-tay next week.

Well about 8 years ago I started having problems with my period. At first I didn't have one for 2 months then 4 months and eventually I stopped having them all together. After having a ultrasound doctor said I still am building a lining so I needed to have a period at least every 3 month's to prevent cancer so she put me on provera every 3 month's for 10 days. I started having pain in my left side. You could feel a lump. I thought I had a hernia. So I waited and waited and I notised that whatever this lump was it was getting bigger and more lumps started coming in. The pain was so unbearable. When I would have my period the lumps would swell and become so painful I couldn't walk very well. After my period is over it would take me an additional week to heal. I had a cat scan done and they can see the lumps but are not sure what it is. After seeing 3 doctors we decided on a hysterectomy and they are going to take the lumps out and send them off. I can't wait to be pain free. My surgery is set for Oct 1st...

I waiting almost 10 years to do this, I did many of the alternative treatments for anemia, and Novosure procedure, then found out I have fibroids, went to my first GYN only to find out that she was not comfortable with operating on me due to the size of fibroids and uterus, got frustrated waited more time, anemia got worse, finally at a regular office visit, my family doctor said, you really need to get this addressed. So this year, finally found a good OB/GYN and had my LSH. Do not regret the decision and I know will be able to reclaim my life and do the things I miss.

Well, for me at 48, the periods didn't take me down, always rather easy and very light, my last one last week was just two days and a little heavier, but sudden uterine prolapse with pain and a summer of canceled plans made the decision for me. Walking and driving are exhausting, can't really leave town, and just want to get back to living again after missing my favorite season of concerts and trips and fun. A week from today and I'll at least be on the road to recovery instead of months of waiting for a date.