that "time of the month"

I had a TVH, they took my cervix, but was able to keep my ovaries.
I've noticed over the last few days that I have all the pms symptoms, breast tenderness, bloating, ect.
Was able to finally put all the peices together and realized, ha ha I'm having my period!
and I'm up and about, which is something I couldn't do before during my period, because of all the cramps and bleeding that accompanied it.
Such a strange concept to realize it's that time of the month and no cramping, no bleeding, just all the other minor symptoms that come with it.
I celebrated with a dish of chocolate icecream, a cup of hot cocoa, and a celebration phone conversation with my mom!
I haven't been cramp free since I was 14! Having gone to the doctors for years complaining about cramps, feeling like everyone thought I was a wimp, but knowing that something wasn't right, and my cramps weren't like everyone elses.
Finally after I had my daughter, I was able to tell the doctors that I was 7 centimeters in labor before I felt like I was doing anything more than having my period, that is when they began taking me seriously.
Years of tests, and treatments followed (my daughter is 15 now) they finally exhausted all efforts and agreed a hysterectomy was the best alternative, I gleefully agreed,
especially after the many male doctors who would say "well you know, your uterus is the muscle that contracts and blah blah blah"... I would correct them and say "no, the uterus is the muscles that makes me want to kill doctors who say things like that" lol
It was shortly after that, my hysterectomy was schedualed lol, I still wonder if it's the threat that finally did it.
Either way, I just wanted to let you all know how wonderful it feels to have sore breasts, a bloated body, but NO CRAMPS!
I can easily deal with this!

I haven't had my visiting friend for almost three years as of 1-10-03. It is wierd even now to not get that little visit. All my female friends that I work with come in complaining about the cramps and that kind of thing. I just tell them that I don't have that anymore. The all know why. Then they tell me what I can go do with myself. Apparently they envy me. I am glad that you love your new body. Enjoy it. Love penguin 2005

I am at day one of my 5th week po of TVH & bladder repair. I too had the same experience of pms symptoms at my usual time of the month and was surprised - felt delighted at the thought that the much dreaded and disabling periods would be no more. I am still struggling w/pain, still low energy/very tired from the surgery and still at home resting a lot. My friends & co-workers talk like they are jealous, as one is in the beginning stages of menopause, but honestly they have no idea what I went through for years to end up doing such a major surgery - I sympathize with them, but they have normal short periods, something I haven't had since I was a teenager. As for me, there will be no more 7-10 days of heavy bleeding passing massive blood clots that felt like giving birth and hemorraging, no more going through four outfits in one day - which always seemed to embarrassingly happen at :eyes: work. Thank goodness!

Congrats on being pain free.

My SIL still has her ovaries after her hyst and she knows when her periods would be. I, on the other hand, had my ovaries removed with my hyst, and I couldn't be happier. Besides all the pain, bloating, heavy bleeding, headaches, diarrhea, and the list goes on... I had the worst mood swings you could imagine. My dh is very happy that that doesn't happen any more. I am not on HRT, and so I am dealing with hot flashes, but I have had them for over 4 years now, so this is nothing new. My periods were coming every 2 1/2 weeks so I should have had about 4 since my hyst. Sure don't miss those.

My period problems pretty much ended with puberty, except the cramps which practically went away after childbirth. That was one of the weird things about this operation for me. My uterus had only one problem: staying inside my body!

PMS is a way bigger issue for me. Too bad they don't have an operation for that!!