Upcoming hysterectomy March 15th, 2015: what to expect?

yeah I hear you on the swelly belly. I work out, take care of horses, and dance about 3 hours a day. By the end of the day I look 5 months pregnant. We measured one day and the difference around my belly button area from morning to night was over 5 inches. And if I do a lot, it doesn't even go down overnight all the time. And between the post ablation syndrome and the surgery I've gained about 30lbs that doesn't seem to want to budge.

I lived on percs and mega doses of Ibuprofen during the pain parts. I can't say "cycle" because although it started out as that, after my tube ruptured it could be at least one day a week. I've done damage to my kidneys from it too. Now I'm in constant low grade pain on my right side, if I've done a lot it hurts more generally.

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Originally Posted by beachgal2 Nightmare, I am so sorry to hear of your experience. We do have to remind ourselves that this is major surgery and it does in fact change one's body. Before the surgery, I had NO sex drive at all. So, the really shocker was about 2 weeks after surgery when I had the most realistic "dream" I have ever experienced in my life. Woke up in shock. My drive isn't back to 100% but it is better than before for sure. And every week is better. And the orgasms are different...not bad, just very different. My biggest complaint right now is in my hair and the swollen belly. My hair has gotten thinner and has lost some of its volume. It falls out easily and just lacks the umph... I know it can take up to a year for that to get under control. The swollen belly gets worse as the day goes on and worse when I exercise (especially lifting weights). So, I'm just doing some yoga and walking. I have put on about 10 pounds, even though I am eating great and sleeping well. My doctor told me not to worry about it for now and to give myself a good 6 months before I start worrying about the weight gain. My pants don't fit right at all, so I do hate that. The crazy thing is that they fit in the morning, but forget it by 4 pm. Every recovery is different, but I can tell you the contractions every month were the final straw for me. Morphine was the only thing that kept me from screaming the last two months during the cycle of doom. Oh, another plus. Beautiful new underwear and light pants (with a stretchy waist). (seems silly, but to wear light gray pants is amazing...no more black every day)

Strangely enough, since my ablation, I haven't lost my sex drive, but it's become incredibly painful, I no longer look forward to it. My hysterectomy isn't until March, I have one last consult next month that's when I will decide if it will be a partial or full. I'm seriously looking forward to not having the labor like menstrual pain. Morphine has been no match for my pain, nothing helps it, nothing at all.

yeah I went the ER twice for the pain and nothing they could pump me full of touched it. They also never were able to figure out what was wrong. I don't miss the pain, I do miss everything else I had before the surgery. I never had pain with sex until after hysterectomy, hubby and I did the deed for hours the night before my surgery. I actually now wish we had taken a week-end get away and really had a great week-end before all this. We used to so enjoy our sex-holiday week-end get aways. Luckily I have an awesome hubby, and I still let him have his fun. But I know its no where near the same as what it used to be.

Hi MissChick1210 to HysterSisters!

I am sorry you have to have a hysterectomy but am glad you found this site. Having a hysterectomy can be an overwhelming experience. A mix of emotions is very normal - this is one tough surgery to face.

Keep in mind every recovery is different, and every woman is different. What may be one person's experience may not apply to you. This is all dependent on a myriad of factors, some predictable but many are unknown.

Sex after surgery is much the same. Some women say sex is better after surgery, while some say it is worse after surgery, and everywhere in between. I have read posts from women who experienced pain with sex before surgery, and for them sex after surgery was much better because the pain was gone. For me (I had a TAH BSO), sex feels different. My orgasms are not as intense as I miss the muscle contraction of my uterus. But, my orgasms are more frequent. DH cannot tell the difference. We do have to use lubricant, which does frustrate me.

Here is some information on hysterectomies and types. If you have a total hysterectomy (loose your cervix and uterus), recovery can take longer than if you keep your cervix. If you keep your ovaries, you will not go into surgical menopause and should not have any night sweats.

Just know that you are not alone in this. We are here to help you and support you. Ask any questions you might have, and we will try to answer them.

:hugs2u: