TAH: New and want to know if you have similar experience

Just wanted to know if anyone has had a similar experience. I have always had difficult periods. I have never had children and am 48 years old. I have tried all types of birth control pills which made me anxious and caused me to experience panic attacks when I was younger. I came off of birth control but suffered from severe fatigue and pains several days before my period. When I would start, my pain would be bad for 2 days and I would bleed heavy 5-6 days. The doctor put me back on the pill which helped for a while. I now bleed 14 -18 days a month. Tried an ablation but the doctor was unable to do it because of small cervix. Poked a hole in my uterus. I am now scheduled for a TAH on November 3rd. I also have a dull pain on my right side with sporadic shooting pains down my leg and around my back. Doc said this will be taken care of on November 3rd. I have lived with this so long I feel like it is all in my mind. Anyone else have a similar experience?

I have suffered with painful periods, heavy sometimes uncontrollable bleeding and losing almost 3 weeks out of every month for over 10 years. I have tried birth control and everything in between. I have been misdiagnosed for years only to come full circle back to having a TAH keeping my ovaries (we hope). Although I am anxious about the surgery, I am also looking forward to getting my life back. I am 37 years old and I wish I could have this done years ago and so does my DH. It's not easy for those around us either. Ultimately, you must do what is comfortable for you but please read the threads here on Hystersisters. There are so many experiences that will prepare you for just about everthing you can think of. I wish you good luck and an uneventful surgery and recovery.

Dear fourdawg....you are so in the right place. Your story is very similar to mine. Suffer, question, question, suffer on and on and on. I am happy to say I am now on the othersideI am 5 days postop from TAH/BSO. There is no more goo, pain is minimal and all the before pain including shooting down the leg is GONE It is a little uncomfortable standing at first but after that no problem. I believe I live in the best country in the world and am blessed to have the choices to make. I am 48 also and could not be moe greatful. Trust me when I say the waiting truly is the worst part. Take deep breaths and walk outside as much as possible

THANK YOU! I am afraid I am worrying way too much. I really believe this is the way to go. I so appreciate your encouragement. Hopefully I can try to keep busy at work and enjoy the time I have before surgery. Only 1 more cycle to get through... Again, thank you. I am going to go outside right now to enjoy the sun. Please keep me updated regarding your recovery. Thoughts and best wishes sent your way

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Originally Posted by ce_ce1973 I have suffered with painful periods, heavy sometimes uncontrollable bleeding and losing almost 3 weeks out of every month for over 10 years. I have tried birth control and everything in between. I have been misdiagnosed for years only to come full circle back to having a TAH keeping my ovaries (we hope). Although I am anxious about the surgery, I am also looking forward to getting my life back. I am 37 years old and I wish I could have this done years ago and so does my DH. It's not easy for those around us either. Ultimately, you must do what is comfortable for you but please read the threads here on Hystersisters. There are so many experiences that will prepare you for just about everthing you can think of. I wish you good luck and an uneventful surgery and recovery.

Thank you so much. Sometimes I just feel plain crazy. But after reading about so many experiences, I am becoming more comfortable with this decision. I hope everything goes well for your surgery. I 'll keep check on you as time goes by.... I understand about the anxiety but like you I want my life back. 2011 is going to be a great year!

Hey fourdawg ask your Dr. if you can stay on BC pills straight through then you dont have to go through another period ever...thats what I did and oh my gosh was it wonderful considering the one before was the absolute worst of my life. Of course if you really want to give your self affirmation why you are doing this go for the period then you can sayno more ever ever Enjoy being in control it is soooo awesome

Another 48'er here. I was on the pill for a while to avoid periods while working a month at a power plant in the middle of a bunch of guys. Everything was fine till I got ready to get off them. I decided it was time to just go back to my abnormal cycles & just wait out menopause. As soon as I got off them, I started having migraines. I decided that wasn't an option, but had too much going on otherwise to go to the Dr right then. That was last June.

In early August, I went to Dr to see how to dodge the migraines because I didn't want to be on the pill forever. They checked my blood pressure & it was way too high. Dr told me I was off the pill as of that day. He put me on a round of progestin to clean out the system. It did, but the bleeding was every other week & still fighting migraines. He also told me next step would probably be a hyst. I called to see what was next & he told me to call a surgeon.

I called a few surgeons & finally found one that would get me in before November. Got one who could get to me in September. I was so ready. Since I hadn't had kids, but had a fibroid & a few other details, I couldn't do anything but an abdominal hyst. Dr took my uterus, tubes, & ovaries. I had planned everything I could in advance & went into surgery with a thankful heart & lots of jokes about the situation in my head.

I came out of recovery waving at the surgical staff & telling them to have a good day. I transferred myself from the gurney to the bed & visited with people who came to see me. I was generous with the pain pump that they kindly loaded with Demerol, so I took a lot of naps. Day 2, they took out the catheter & disconnected my IV's. They suggested that I ask for pain pills every 4 hours because they couldn't offer them but didn't want me to start hurting. I started walking as soon as they cleared me to do it. I walked, visited, & slept. Next day, I went home. I followed Dr's orders to the letter, & went to work 2 weeks after surgery. Every morning, I feel better than I did the day before. Already happy about doing this.

fourdawg...I have the same pain on the right side - mostly dull...sometimes stabbing and shooting down my leg which leaves me unable to walk.

It's one of the primary reasons I'm having my surgery. I think without that and without the insanity of periods that last for months...life is going to be sooo much better...all sparkly and new!

Best of luck to you!

I thought the pains were just a part of life so just lived with them until a blessed early menopause. Blamed remaining pains on crooked back, increasing age, job stress, etc. When an increasing fibroid was found and a TAH/BSO suggested no one mentioned it might help as many issues as it has. Besides usual concerns, two of my 3 Drs. said it would also help my bad vascular issues. It has really helped with that. But it has also helped with the bck pain and the pain that often would hit my left hip and leg making walking and standing unbearable, has been absent since Aug 2nd. Who knew. I had not told any of my Drs. about those pains since they are all my new Drs. and we were dealing with a new problem. But they are definetly my permanent Drs. now. Wishing you the best.

I am so glad you posted your story. I too have crazy leg, hip, and back pain. I kept saying it was arthritis. Now I'm hopeful that my surgery takes some of the pain away. Keep smiling.