Weight gain after hyst??

Hey there ladies,

Can you shed some light here? I have been deciding for a very exhausting 2-3 months on what to do with this surgery. I have made of list of pros and cons for ablation, have been to a fabulous website for that, and hystersisters which is also very wonderful in helping decide. As you know, the drawbacks to either the hyst. or the ablation are not good and it is a personal decision. Since I can only hope that I am closer 98% closer to a decision then let me ask 2 more questions?? Thanks for putting up with me.

1) Sex! What if I do not have the uterine contractions that I always had during sex and how can I take something that is so good with my dh and voluntarily give it up??

2) Weight!! Why do you gain weight after this hyst? Will I? I know that amount of activity decreases, but that's not for that long, is it?? I do like to jog weekly? What can I expect to do??

Thanks

KB

I know that it is very difficult in making a decision. I have been dealing with the same issue since December. You didn't say why you are going to have the hysterectomy. I have endometrial hyperplasia, fibroid tumor, low blood, etc. My concerns are the same as yours. I wonder about the weight gain, lack of sexual drive. I am taking prometrium for heavy bleeding and trying to hold on until menopause (may be just around the corner). There are other options than a hysterectomy. Get a second opinion. By the way, the prometrium has finally kicked in after a month and my bleeding has subsided. My DH is very excited and so am I.

Hang in there!

Hi KB (and Susie),

While no one can give you a guarantee about sex or your weight after a hyst, if you go with the averages most women who have been studied post hyst say they are satisfied with their sex lives. Keep in mind that some women are in so much pain and misery prior to their hysts that they aren't having much of a sex life, so after recovering from a hyst they are happy to be having a sex life again.

As for gaining weight after a hyst, again there is no way to know for sure but I don't think it's fair to assume that all women gain weight after a hyst.

Speaking from personal experience - I have not gained weight, in fact I've lost a few pounds since my hyst since I'm feeling so much better now and am able to exercise without pain. I'm 48 and certainly in the age group that is most likely to be gaining weight at this stage of life ... but I'm pretty determined not to so I'm working on staying active and fit and eating well.

As for sex, prior to my hyst I was in so much pain sex wasn't happening very often at our house. There definitely was an adjustment period for me when DH and I were able to resume having sex. I missed having my cervix at first and without a uterus you won't have uterine contractions anymore. But as time has gone on things have continued to get better and I honestly don't notice a difference these days. Sex is great, I'm able to reach orgasm, DH is happy ... I'm happy.

Not everyone has the same experience as I have, but many women do very well after a hyst. I truly hope that if a hyst is your decision you will have a positive outcome too.

Beth

p.s. - note to Susie: here's a link to an explanation of how smilies work: Using Smilies

Hi, I was having the same questions before my hyst. My dr. wanted to do an ablation and I wasn't sure whether that would be the best thing for me...... I was having my period all the time nonstop and horrible cramps. I was also having abnormal paps with atypical cells. I had several surgeries to remove those cells and some adhesions I formed with a c-section years earlier. I was tired of all of the surgeries. My dr. couldn't guarantee that I would get any relief from the ablation and she was wanting to try a new type of ablation called the Novasure that had only been used for a few weeks. I did not want to be a guinea pig, so to speak, and I was really nervous about the results I got from the research I did. There are a lot of risks to having an ablation too.

To make my long story shorter.... I scheduled my hyster and went through with it last May (2003). I am very thankful that I did go ahead with it instead of having the ablation because when my pathology report came back, my dr. informed me that I had adenmyosis. This diagnosis was not something my doctor had considered me having and having an ablation would have actually made my condition worse! I am thankful every day that I listened to my own heart on this one, and frankly so was my dr.

Adeno is so painful that I think I had built up a tollerance to the pain I was constantly having. I felt almost imediate relief after my surgery. In fact, the dr. and nurses kept asking me why I was not using my pain meds in the hospital and, really, all I could tell them was that it didn't hurt that bad. At least not bad enough to take narcotics. I did finally ask for some Motrin and that was all I ever needed following my surgery. I had a TAH. I also had the On-Q pain management system (which is new) that I think made a big difference in my pain level. It is non-narcotic as well. It is a numbing drug that is administered directly into your incision.

Frankly, I found that the agonizing over the decision and the wait were the hardest parts to this surgery. Once I made the decision to have the surgery I felt better. I never second guessed myself because I did so much research. I knew the risks and I was ready to take them to improve my life. The waiting was pure hell. I am an anxious person by nature anyway so I pretty much drove myself nuts. I ended up having to take anti-anxiety meds for a short period after my surgery, but now I am fine.

I was scared about the sex issue too, and for me, I can honestly say that sex is better, and that is not just because I am no longer bleeding and in pain, but it is also because I feel better. I have great orgasims. It still feels like I am having uterine contractions. You have ligaments that are attached to your uterus that your dr. has to reattach somewhere. I think (but I am just guessing) that that is what gives you those feelings.

I did gain weight, about 20 lbs. At first I lost 10 lbs., but then when I started feeling better I started eating more and it was easy to put them on. You do have to be careful because you have to wait 6-8 weeks to resume normal activity, like working out. I was used to working out 6 days a week doing both cardio and weights. Although your dr. does give you permission at about 6 weeks to get active again, most gals still get tired easily and tend to relax a bit more. It is not a bad thing, you just have to keep the mind set that it is a temporary thing (the weight gain). I have lost all but a couple of the lbs. I gained after my surgery, but I'll have to admit that I haven't really been trying hard to loose it. It has been a small price to pay for feeling so good and I know that I will loose the rest of the weight by this summer because I want to.

I choose to have my cervix removed because of my abnormal paps. My husband and I can't tell the difference. Some dr.'s might tell you that it might help keep your vagina in place or help with orgasms. It hasn't made a difference to me, except give me peace of mind that I will not get cervical cancer. I had also heard that if you do retain you cervix, that you can continue to have mini periods. I wasn't going to go through with this surgery and continue to have periods.... even if they were mini! No way!

When it comes right down to it, we all decide for different reasons to have this surgery. You definately have to make a list and weigh your pros and cons carefully. I guess the biggest question I had to answer was whether or not I was allowing my period and pain to run my life and that of my family. When I answered myself that question, my decision was easier to make. I haven't looked back and regretted it once!

Good luck to you, I hope you find peace.

val

You gals are giving me a lot to think about. I'm having a D&C, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy next week. Dr. suspects endometriosis & cysts (from ultrasound), but who knows exactly until she gets in there. We're anticipating going back for a hysterectomy in a few weeks. My last pap was abnormal as well. I'm having cramping and lower back pain that worsens by the day, extra-long periods, and runaway migraines. I'm ready for this to get better. I have no energy. Truthfully, I didn't have enough information to even worry about a change in sex w/hysterectomy until I started reading here. I think I need a lot more education on this and I tho't I already knew quite a bit about this. I need some relief from the pain of cramping and the migraines so if a hysterectomy will do it, then I'm ready. What else do I need to consider? I'm 41; 4 kids; tubal ligation. This has been on-going for months and is not going away on its own.

Hi there,

I hope you get this message. This lady's story from a May, 2003 is almost exactly as mine. I am so confused by this ton of information that I have received and read over the past 2 months regarding my 2 surgical options, being the thermal ablation and the hyster.

I have adenomyosis and have read many things. I was just always in hopes that the ablation would work for me as being enough of a solution because I, like you Valpal, have the high threshold of pain tolerance. I am 43 years old, no children, and have had hospital visits too many times.....but for other things!!!! Truthfully, the last visit was a female one with a D&C and a Lap, but the anemia was what seems to be pushing this onward. I am no longer anemic. Taking iron pills and was transfused in July, 2003. I also was traumatized by that blood loss and am afraid that with the ablation I'll be setting myself up for more blood loss after a few months. I was diagosed (MRI) with adenomyosis, no cancer at all. I have read stories from others that have had ablations (with adeno) and have really come back for further surgery at some point. I don't want to be that person. I trust in God that this is right for me because only HE really knows how scared I am, and my darling hubby because I have cried alot. If the ablation comes back with further bleeding, and more pain, I'm defeated. But like my husband and partner friend says, "If it's bleeding you want to control, then get the ablation...but if you are expecting the bleeding to go away completely you are choosing the wrong surgery, because ablation doesn't do that." It just lessens it, and maybe the pain. I have read that it could aggravate the conditon....adeno and endo. In my case, what if?? In Valpal's, you were informed that too, I guess???

I have to decide in one day what form of surgery I elect for. I have cancelled the hyster once, for the ablation, but neglected to schedule the ablation for varied reasons. After the doctor cleared my reasons, Lupron being one that I would not take, I said I would have the ablation. Without further choice, I set out to make certain this ablation is what I wanted. Now, I find that it may not be. The best way to be truly done with this is a hysterectomy.

Thank you for your kind and loving words, all of you, especially Val the pal!!

KB

I did gain alot of weight (10kgs - 22pounds I think) after surgery but I ate alot (appetite returned with a vengeance after being anaemic for so long) but it was mainly because I was doing virtually nothing activity wise for at least 10 weeks and I ate like a horse - also my hormones were playing havoc and I'd gained alot of weight prior to surgery (about 5kgs) due to the high dose of Provera (the drug from hell for me.....) trying to control the bleeding (did absolutely nothing for me).

Sex wise I can honestly say that although I had my cervix removed also it's never been better - I'm no longer bleeding at all which means I'm up for it 9 times out of 10 and am very satisfied with the results in this area (in fact my libido outstrips dh's which is sad to say the least!).

I think the most sensible thing is to maintain smaller portions post-op in line with your activity levels and to always monitor your weight.

Dear KB-

I sent you a private message a little while ago, I am hoping that you get it

Thank you for being so sweet. I hope that all turns out well for you...... and everyone else here! This is such an awesome site, I can't help myself from comming back to pay it forward, so to speak. These ladies here have helped me in so many ways both before and after my surgery.

Keep us posted on what you decide and how you are doing

Val (your pal) lol