Kara’s Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Age at Surgery 41
Location: Saskatoon/Saskatchewan/Canada
In 2012 I had a 10cm ovarian cyst removed via laparoscopy. It was tumor type, non-cancerous.
In 2014, at the start of my second trimester of pregnancy, the very large fibroid that was on my uterus started bleeding into my abdomen. I was hospitalized for 9 days and considered a high-risk pregnancy after that. The main problem with removing the fibroid was that the baby’s placenta had implanted directly opposite the fibroid on the uterine wall. I carried to term.
In 2015, I had an emergency c-section to deliver my baby, and during that operation the fibroid started bleeding again. It wouldn’t stop, so they removed it. It was 20cm at the time.
In 2017, I felt a mass in my lower abdomen and requested an ultrasound to see if I had another fibroid. It turned out that I had cysts on both ovaries this time. My gynecologist was sure it was not cancer, but I did consult with an oncologist to see if there was any possibility that there might be functional ovarian tissue left that we might be able to save, to preserve my fertility. After consultation, we decided to remove the ovaries and uterus together. It was unlikely that there would be any healthy tissue left, and more cysts would probably grow anyway. With no ovaries, there was no point keeping the uterus.
My surgery took place on April 5, 2018. It was uncomplicated and able to be completed laparoscopically.
It turned out that the mass I had felt was a 15cm cyst, attached to my left ovary via twisted tissue. The surgeons were surprised that I had no pain, since that is torsion. Both ovaries also had multiple cysts, 3 and 4 cm in size. My uterus was clean.
I stayed overnight one night in the hospital and was discharged the next day once I was seen to be able to move independently to get myself to the bathroom and was urinating properly.
My recovery has been pretty easy. I did have one concern in that the incision in my navel came open on the second day. I called the clinic and was advised to keep it clean and covered. It healed well.
My biggest challenge was definitely caring for my preschooler. He was very sweet, though, and tried to help me feel better as much as he could. My husband was unfortunately not able to take time off to help around the house as much as I would have liked, but we managed.
My post-op examination was six weeks later, and my gynecologist released me “for life” at that time.
My health has been very good since my surgery. In the months leading up to this, my ADHD symptoms had been getting worse and I was exhausted all the time. I finally feel like myself again!
I have Combined type ADHD, and my medication wasn’t really helping before. I feel now like it’s doing a lot of good for me. I’m still tired thanks to insomnia, but not exhausted like I was.
It’s a little odd because I am in surgical menopause since my ovaries are gone too. But overall I am definitely glad that I had the surgery.
I think it’s important to explore all of your options. Make sure it’s what you really want and need. My husband and I had been thinking about trying for another pregnancy this year, but that isn’t going to happen anymore. However, I have wanted to be a foster/adoptive parent for most of my life, so we are working towards that now instead.
It’s also important for my process that I wasn’t really sure that I wanted to be pregnant again, because of the trauma I endured during my first pregnancy and birth. So for me, hysterectomy removed the possibility of reliving those traumas. That’s a good thing for me, I think.
