I had a hystsrectomy

Hysterectomy

I had a hysterectomy done -
diary of events .
6th Feb '04

I finally had a hysterectomy done .I have had a long history of period pains and as I entered my 30s the quality of life I had was very low .My bleeding was getting to a point where I could over flow a fresh pad just by walking .Month after month It went on . Just recently after my 2nd laparascopy , I had fleeting thoughts of getting a hysterectomy . The hormone treatment to buy me rest time was not really working as after I went off it the pains came back .Three weeks of every month were marred by pain or nausea . DH and I made a last ditched effort to have another baby before the inevitable happened . Even with clomid our chances were very low .

31st Dec '03 Wednesday
I had period pains for 4 days straight .I managed to get the hospital to squeeze me in for an emergency consult with my Doctor . For whatever the reason ( mis-timed meds , etc etc ) my oral pain meds had failed .

The Doctor gave me a pethidine jab . I was told to rest for abit . Although I felt ok , I was extremely sleepy and felt out of it . 6 hours later I started throwing up . This carried on for afew days . I couldnt even retain water . somehow I managed to continue with my normal routine even bringing my Daughter to the zoo .I was unknowingly getting very dehydrated .

That night I went to the 24 hour clinic at the women's hospital where my doctor is based . The medical officer on duty admitted me and said I was dehydrated .I was put on a drip for a day or two . When I finally got discharged two or three days later I was starting to think it would be a good idea to get a hysterectomy .I finally told DH ," IM hanging on for your sake , but if it comes to a point where I can't take the pain anymore , my womb will have to come out ."

Perhaps because he had seen me doubled up so many months in a row he was more supportive of the idea now .

28th Jan '04 Wednesday
This is the 2nd time in 30 days i had a collapse because of pain .
I have endometriosis and adenomyosis . My Dr said that my chances of having another child were very slim . I therefore decided to have a hysterectomy .

My periods had been getting increasingly hard to cope with .

My following cycle was 4 or 5 days late which was odd because I was on clomid ... so pregnancy was also a possibility . Then I started bleeding . I had a beta hCG blood test done . The day the results were due out , I collapsed from pain . Doubled over , I managed to crawl to the bedroom where I called DH from my mobile .

He came home , got the kids and me into a cab somehow and after dropping the kids off at MILs he ferried me to the ER or AnE to SG folks .

Before I left the house , my doctor returned my call on my mobile , and instructed me to go straight to the ER of the hospital where he saw me for my check ups . He said that I should ask for admission and he would see me in the wards .I had to be half dragged out of the cab because I was almost blacking out . An attendent shoved a wheelchair under my bum .

They did basic pain management for a day or two . During this time he saw me after having sent me for a scan . He told me my chances of having another child were practically very close to zero . I could buy time with a lucrin jab to surpress my menses but it would eventually come back . There and thenI said get it out . I signed the papers .

30th Jan '04 Fri
At the OT , I had a happy chat with the anaesthetist (sp???) and then she said here he comes , and started the process of putting me under GA .

I went,"what ?"

She laughed ,"hey you are going to sleep." ... and I was out like a light . The next thing I knew I was awake and gripping the bed and the handof any passing nurse after the surgery . The pain was incredible . Post OP I threw up for almost over 24 hours .

This carried on until they switched pain meds . I had to retrain my tummy to acept fluids and even that hardly stayed down . I am now eating again but I can't eat as much as I used to .

The hospital staff were great .From the OT staff to my doctor , the nurses and even the attendants . They didn't make me feel as though I was some digit in a ward .I will never forget the nurse who patiently patted my back while I threw up for the X-th time .

I got out of bed only on the third day . The staff didnt allow me to get out any earlier because of my not being able to retain anything even water . I was very faint most of the time and tired from constantly retching .

Late one night I had a backflow in my drip tube . It was flushed but started leaking later and it was removed . During my sleep too I had somehow yanked out my catheter ( sp ??? ) .

Once I was up, I felt so much better ... although abit sore . I realised the hard way I could not stomach a full meal .

4th Feb '04
There has hardly been anyone at home for the last week and my flat can rot for all I care . The first thing I did upon my return was to give my hamsters fresh cages . The used ones had to wait for a wash .

Part of me is aching because I will never again have another pregnancy ... but I'm also TOTALLY relieved that I got the hysterectomy done because I will never again have to worry abt tampax and pain . I will still get endo pains but what is left for eg on the rectum ( considered inoperable ) can be controlled by meds . I'm feeling so much better .

6 Feb '04 Fri
Im tired after the simplest task and I am still abit sore . However I am looking forward to having some quality of life again .

PS : I had my first pains in my teens . Frankly knowing what I do now about the disease , I honestly wish someone had prodded me towards a gynae rather than stifle it with ," Its just part of woman hood , bear up with it . " .

I only found out about endometriosis in my 20s . By then it was too late .

I had my womb removed :

My advice to women

who are wanting a hysterectomy

or are going to have one

For some time before the surgery , I sought a 2nd opinion form a consult with a friend who practices medicine .I'm crawling towards 38 .. yet I trust my Doctor's opinion.

I have lived with 20 over years of pain . My hb count once dropped to 7.5 . Three weeks out of every month are marred by pain or nausea .

Post surgery I'm not quite the way I was before . I don't take too well to GA . But for Ladies like me even though DH and I wanted another baby .. ( we have two kids ) .. especially after a collapse at home .. the time had come to get it out despite the dangers of surgery .

I had no quality of life . Part of me will always wish for that last baby we will never have . But yes I would say I would not change the decision to have a hysterectomy . Mine was not a life threatening illness . BUT I had no life. I might as well have gone off a cliff for all the pain I had .

For any woman in my situation yes I would advice a hysterectomy . There must be a balance between the dangers from surgery and what quality of life you have .

I would say that for the first time in 20 over years I slept soundly knowing I would not wake up tomorrow to soaked sheets . I used to have to walk out with two pads and a tampax .Even then, I could not wander far from home .

I could sit on the floor and when I got up, a puddle would be there even though the pad was fresh . Hormone treatments , DnCs , two laparascopies only bought time . The pains came back .

I remember only too well the lady who told me in a shocked tone : oh my god the womb is personal don't remove it !!! ( I was getting annoyed and said to myself then you can jolly well get personal with my pain )

If I were to live life over .. I would go the same path and get it removed . For women who are waiting and wanting another baby or a first .. its a balance between how much they want another and how much pain they are willing to put up with ... with each unsuccessful cycle .

I only say no one deserves to live with this pain . If they feel they can cope then Its not my life to run either . I only say i think it should go .. not it must go .Ultimately the final decision lies between the woman , her other half and her doctor .

A potential hysterectomy patient is posting to seek opinions .. but the final decision is hers . There will be those who advise for or against .Like most other women on the forum , Im well aware of the dangers of surgery . I can either sit and cry about it or I can try and look on the lighter side of things ... trying to find humour in bleeding on surgery day , The anaesthetist going ,"Im about to knock you out" jokes .. the pain post surgery ( believe me I gripped the bed and the hand of any nurse unfortunate enough to pass and rest a hand on my bed ) . Surgery is painful . But one must weight the pros and cons

To any lady who wants or needs a hysterectomy and happens to read this .My heart goes out to you in your predicament . Good luck and the best of health to you .Seek a 2nd opinion if you have to , but after having weighed the pros and cons make a decision and get on with life .

Cheers

mei
Singapore

Hysterectomy 30th Jan 04