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[Micky]

I had a full hysterectomy at the end of December - Physically I feel ok, mentally I feel deadful.... Cry everyday - hate my looks and just feel so low...Never had a good self image - but feel even worse now ...Is all this normal?

[Dulciana]

 

I haven't got first-hand experience of that, Micky, but I can quite understand why it could make you feel that way.  It sounds as though the physical healing happened, then the reality set in.  I would probably be the same.  Do you have people around you who can support you, emotionally?   Could you treat yourself to something nice?

Take care.

Dulciana
x

[CLKD]

How about making an appt with a personal shopper, someone remote from your situation who can be honest and give advice; or go to a good hairdresser for a spruce up?  It really does depend on why you underwent surgery too as to how 'well' you will recover!

[Hurdity]

Were you given HRT Micky?

If you had a total hysterectomy ( including ovary removal) then your body will have gone into shock - and the effect will be dramatic whenever it happens - worse  when it takes place before menopause, but also even after menopause I understand the ovaries continue to secrete small amounts of oestrogen and testosterone (I'm a bit hazy about this).The drop in hormones alone will make you feel like this.

If you are taking HRT then maybe you need a higher dose or maybe testosterone, or maybe  the psychological impact of such a major operation is causing you to feel like this?

I agree with the others - you need to find someone to talk to about this and think of little things you can do also to help give you more confidence - but do think about your hormones too...

Hurdity x

[Annie0710]

I really feel this is hormonal , losing the uterus, especially if it wasn't required anymore or caused more trouble than it was worth, shouldn't leave you feeling like this.  I felt relief after mine (ovaries intact) but within 6 months they started playing up, orstrogen sorted it for years and years


Annie xx

[Suzi Q]

See your GP asap you can get help with all the symptoms
Plus I agree if you look good you feel better hence the help in Cancer wards Hairdressers etc
Go out have ur hair done If moneys short have a cut the go home and dye it yourself
Wash all your clothes freshen all with fabric softener even bras clean soft nice clothes work too.
Get your house sorted YES I know but I find when I feel like crap I sort the world out at home
Throwing out clothes I havent worn for 18mntsh out. Go to shops or op shops rummage have fun alone
Yes odd but do this alone you dont have to put a FACE on for others. Buy second hand cushion covers
Keep yourself busy IT REALLY HELPS if your not working look for a Vol job that also helps
BUT GP is paramount you dont need or have to suffer and your NOT Billy NO Mates not on here xxx

[Taz2]

Hi Micky - do you mean you also lost your ovaries? Normally a total hysterectomy is the womb and cervix with ovaries left. Sub-total is just the womb.

I had mine last July - womb and cervix - and still don't feel anywhere near my old self. I hate the change of shape which nobody warned me about! This is a major operation and not something you can just bounce back from. If you have a look at the Hysterectomy UK Association's website and forum you will see that you are not alone in feeling like this.

As Suzi Q says you need to go to your GP just to check that you are fine and not anaemic or anything. It's really not very long since your op in terms of these things. Most women take around eighteen months to recover completely - although consultants tend to think this is rubbish! Last bit of advice - do those pelvic floor exercises religiously, every day, to keep your muscles strong.

Taz x 

[Annie0710]

Taz what do you mean by shape ? Spare tyre ?

I didn't suffer this , although my ovaries went into shock after the loss of the uterus and was put on oestrogen, middle age spread it spare tyre I thought was a sign of Los oestrogen ?

Annie xx

[CLKD]

My Gynae takes the lots - saves having to go back in for the ovaries should there be a problem 

How are you today?  Don't try to do too much too soon, it's a huge operation!

[Dandelion]

I thought you would need hrt after having ovaries out.
My GP said that my ovaries just packed-in working when I was 42, and my meno symptoms started.
I was menopause-ignorant at the time and thought the symptoms were withdrawals from the drugs my doctor was weaning me of at the time.
I thought I was just super sensitive to the drug withdrawals, but hrt patch has helped loads.
As for anaemia, my mum had a total hyster and they gave her blood transfusions during her hospital stay as her severe bleeding had made her anaemic.
She took ages to recover but I remember her saying "I don't know I am born" when I asked her years after, how her hyster helped her. She had really heavy periods due to a large fibroid.
She was only on hrt for five years and then went onto natural stuff, but by then, her flushes had gone.

[Taz2]

In the past ovaries used to be removed as standard procedure for hysterectomy CLKD but nowadays they are conserved if at all possible as it's been realised that for the rest of a woman's life they do supply a small amount of hormone. Obviously if there are problems with them then they are removed.

Annie - yes I mean a spare tyre (very new to me!) but worse is a sort of dome shaped tummy which is typical when you have a hysterectomy as an "older" patient. I think over 55 is deemed "older". The uterus is a major  muscle within the abdomen so I guess it stands to reason that things change. Not sure what exercises to do though as due to the anterior repair (now failing) there are do's and don'ts apparently.

Taz x

[Annie0710]

I didn't realist that Taz

CLKD I've never heard that ovaries are usually taken too ? Mine was 16 years ago and I was told to leave then which I was happy to do


Annie xx

[CLKD]

I think my Gynea is of the opinion that better to remove ovaries to avoid having to do so should cancer affect them, also it requires 1 GA ……

I have a magnet fridge : "If you dog thinks you are the best thing in the World, don't argue" 

[Taz2]

Is that your gynae's recent opinion CLKD? When did you last have a consultation with him/her?

Taz x

[CLKD]

About 5 years ago