Cori’s Hysterectomy Story

Type of Hysterectomy: DaVinci TLH

Age at surgery: 41

Location: Aurora CO

About 14 years ago I started having unexplained heavy bleeding. After several ultrasounds, the bleeding went completely unexplained. After trying several different types birth control I was finally offered an endometrial ablation. That was the best thing ever!!! My periods went from out of control crazy to light & 2 days maximum.

In April 2015, I had a horrible period. I had to call out of work,I could hardly move the pain was so bad! At one point, when my cramps settled down a little, I tried to get from the couch to the restroom and I could not make it there. I ended up on the floor in horrible pain. I honestly thought ‘If I can pull myself off the area rug, I can just pee on the floor and someone can clean it up later.’ Luckily it did not come to that and I was able to make it to the restroom.

I emailed my doctor and told her what was going on and begged for help. She sent me to have an ultrasound and it was discovered that I had at least 2 fibroids and I was given a referral to an ob/gyn.

Because I had previously had the ablation, my options were pain pills until I went into menopause or a hysterectomy. I chose the hysterectomy, that pain was too much and I did not want to spend 2-4 days every month taking pain pills just to get thru the day.

I was diagnosed in April with fibroids and my hysterectomy was in Aug. I could have had the surgery in June but we had a vacation planned and I wanted to enjoy it. Luckily for me, my very last period came when we were driving home from Idaho and since I was driving, no pain pills for me!

I did not look for a second or third opinion because I was ready for the pain to go away.

I had general anesthesia and a good hospital experience. There were a few downsides but nothing major. My surgery was a 1pm so I stayed over night and went home the next afternoon. I did not have pain, except a headache (from my glasses not being the correct prescription) & the only pain medication I had was some Motrin.

Now, the downsides…

1 You don’t really get to sleep in a hospital.
2. The IV was placed in a bad spot on my hand and I could not bend my wrist without the IV machine beeping that it was occluded. That really makes it hard to sleep, especially when I sleep with my wrist bent!
3. I could not drink enough water and I am sure the nurse was tired of me asking for more!

My recovery was fairly easy. I passed gas like a champ. That first bowel movement, now that was not fun, but it happened and it got easier after that. I tired easily and I walked slow.
My worries about life after my hysterectomy were from the horror story I heard from a friend… ‘Her friend had a hysterectomy and she waited 8 weeks to resume her sex life and apparently he was large and ripped thru her cuff’! I was so worried about that, I started looking on the web for statistics and then finally asked my doctor about it. Yes it can happen, but it is rare and there have to be some other factors going on ie sex too soon (before 6 – 8 weeks) or he is larger than ‘normal’. I discussed this when my husband and we waited 8 weeks, and took it slow and gentle.
I work at a home improvement warehouse and that involves lifting, carrying. moving heavy items. My doctor kept me out of work for six weeks and then had me on light duty for two weeks after that so I could ease back into work.

Something I learned during my recovery, you can have ‘cold flashes’. I would get so unbelievably cold it wasn’t funny!! I would lay in bed, with the electric blanket on high, and shake uncontrollably. Those were not fun and luckily I only had a couple of them.

I also had some memory issues. I would try to tell my husband something and I literally could not think of the correct words and I would get so upset when he did not understand me. It was very frustrating but it did not last long.

My health since the my hysterectomy has been pretty darn good! My biggest issue is trying to lose weight, I am having a difficult time with that but I am keeping at it, if nothing else I will be ‘an in share over-weight person’ and I am ok with that!. I am riding a stationary bike 60 minutes a day, 5 days a week and I did not do that before!

I am so very happy I had the hysterectomy. In my opinion, my uterus, cervix & tubes were just not needed. I had my tubes tied after my youngest was born, 19 years ago and my husband had a vasectomy after his twins were born, 17 years ago. I have always hated getting my period. I did keep my ovaries to keep my hormones regulated.

My advice is do your research, write down your questions and ask your doctor, keep asking until you get answers that make sense to you.

Having a hysterectomy does not make you less feminine or ugly. You are beautiful and still as ‘girly’ as you want to be. This was one of the best surgeries I have had and I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.

If you are faced with having a hysterectomy, you have done one of the best things by finding HysterSisters.com. These are some of the most supportive women I have ever ‘met’.