TVH: Upcoming hysterectomy 9/10: Scared, But Can't Wait - 6 Days to Go

Hello!! Not sure where to start, but my doctor and I planned a TVH back in May. I was thankfully able to wait until summer was over and all my kid's activities were done before school.

Here's a bit of history... I didn't get my first period until I was 16, and every single time I did have a period (every month, every few months, even once a year intervals) I was completely out of commission. To the point I couldn't go to school, work, nothing for at least 3 days, and it would last 7 or more days. My doctors never really thought much of it, was just "heavy periods". I was put on birth control to manage a little, but that never really helped. As I got older and after 2 children, my periods actually regulated on their own. I can't believe I was actually happy to have regularity. On my 44th birthday this past November, I started my period like usual (Happy Birthday me), but this time it didn't stop. It went on and on and on for 2 months until on day, late in January 2015 I became so anemic that the ER doctors said if I waited any longer my son would have come home to me on the floor. No transfusion thankfully, but again if I had waited even an hour longer before getting to the ER, I would have needed one. I went into my local clinic, and from the showing symptoms, they thought I was having a heart attack. OMG!!! Trying to keep calm, an ambulance was called and I was rushed to my hospital. Several hours later, I was actually released after rounds of drugs and monitoring. That was the scariest day of my life.

I immediately found a FANTASTIC GYN who immediately put me on a high dosage birth control, iron pills and constant monitoring. She gave me some future options including staying on the pill until I naturally went into menopause (no thank you too risky), ablation (um no - and she kind of agreed, that it could work but could always send me back for a hysterectomy), and then finally a hysterectomy. My husband and I had been talking about it and how we felt. I had my tubes tied when I had my last child, so not having anymore children wasn't the issue, more feeling "whole". Neither of us had any issues with it and so we waited until my May appointment. My GYN didn't even have a chance to get fully in the room and she said "so a hysterectomy?". Oh yeah!

She says I'm a perfect candidate for a TVH, leaving my ovaries, no incisions unless she "finds" something (oh please no), and will be coming home the same day. But....I'm still terrified. I think more of the unknown. I know I am horrible with anesthesia, getting sick and just being a completely different person, so that's scaring me. The unknown of what pain and side effects I'm going to experience, how bad will the pain be, will anything happen post-op like infection or complications, what if there's something she "finds" and I have to stay overnight, which will mean recovery will be different that what I'm hoping for, SO MAY what ifs.

So, I sit here Friday of Labor Day, spending my last "alone" weekend with my husband thanks to my son's dad chipping in and taking our son 3 weekends in a row so I can have this weekend to get ready, and 2 after so I can recover. My husband is being very supportive and just listening to me go on about my nerves, the nightmares I just started having, and just general anxiety and 'oh don't forget this while I recover, or this, or this, or this'. Poor man.

This site has been very helpful, even though reading about procedures and specific recoveries has been difficult. I am one of those squeamish people when anything medical is brought up. Wish me luck and I'd love to hear some comments about your experiences, and hopefully good resolutions.

~ DARLENE

Hi Darlene

Welcome! Being nervous is completely normal! I was a nervous wreck and was ready to back out up to the time I was wheeled into the OR.

I had a TLH but my advise during recovery to you is listen to your body. Do not try to do too much to soon. Take things slow. Don't compare your recovery to someone else. Don't get frustrated with set backs. You will have good days and you will have bad days.

I wish you luck. We are here for you!

Hey Darlene. I was exactly the same way. Nervous wreck. Couldn't wait to get it over with. I had a TVH Aug 12. I usually wake up nauseous from anesthesia too. Let them know. There's meds they can give you before. Everyone's different as far as recovery goes. Some bounce back quicker than others. Good luck! You'll be fine! Xoxo

I understand your story as I did not "start" until I was 18. Terrible periods go on for the full 7 days or more super heavy with cramps too. Over the years I have had several D/C's and for some stupid reson kept saying no to a hysterectomy. Well now that I am 64 6 weeks ago I started to bleed and have been for the past 6 weeks Heavy with clots. I am set for a total hysterectomy with ovaries evrything out on Sept 16, 2015. I also had some pre cancer paps way back. I am well past memopause and wonder Will that happen again? I have night sweats as it is now. I am not sure everyone can handle the witchy moods here at work!
Any help is helful to me. Thanks