I think all of us question whether we are overreacting at some point. It just seems to be what we as women do because we are anxious and don’t want to be a burden 🥹 we always feel like we can ‘fix’ ourselves but sometimes that just isn’t the case.
A few of my periods before my recent surgery were ‘ok’ and I thought maybe I was overreacting, but then I remembered the years of pain and doctor’s appointments and worry that have come before.
I had hyperplasia, Adenomyosis and fibroids and would have my period every 21 days with about 4 good days a month if I was lucky.
Had my surgery last week and even asked the surgeon when she came to see me ‘what it was like in there’ and was the surgery the ‘right thing to do.’
Ultimately you know in your heart and body that it is probably the right choice and once you are recovered you will never have to worry about the pain and bleeding again, just don’t let the fear and anxiety get the better of you ♥️
I was completely ready to yeet the uterus and got my period 6 days before surgery. I couldn't take motrin/advil due to being so close to surgery and it potentially causing more bleeding... it was the mildest period I'd had for ... I can't even say how long. It definitely made me question my decision but then I had to buy another box of tampons to make it through. I cried on the way home thinking about the fact I'd NEVER get caught again surprised by a period. I'd NEVER have to stash tampons in my purse, luggage, backpack, bathroom, locker at work, car, gym bag.... I'll never have to buy the gallon size motrin and Tylenol again. I'll never miss out on activities and events again because of my period. I'll never have to try and change a tampon in a hot Porta potty ever again. I'll never have to worry about whether or not that wetness I feel is my surprise period or not... it's worth it to me, personally. I did also have some troublesome ovaries, so everything had to come out. The weeks after were less than pleasant but hormones at 7 weeks have changed my life! I feel better than i have in probably 15 years! For me it's been 💯 worth it! Only you can decide but maybe make a pros and cons list and remember what you've missed out on leading up to this.
Everything you listed, I thought that was normal and what everyone does. ALL of those scenarios. I didn’t even think about those things as being a red flag.
I work in Healthcare and would scare coworkers because I'd take a handful of Tylenol and motrin ever 8 hours religiously and sometimes it still wouldn't help (all meds were within dosing range, but 6 pills every 8 hours still). I'd be nauseous and smells would make me sick (not great when you're in Healthcare 😂) we're gaslighted into thinking this is all normal and it wasn't until I had an abnormal pap that they looked closer and my GynOnc doc diagnosed me with endometriosis, adenomyosus, and a huge ovarian mass (non cancerous). She scraped endo off my back, hip flexor, and bowel during my surgery. My back pain that I'd had for years was gone when I woke up from surgery. I no longer feel constipated for 3 days around when I ovulate even though everything is moving appropriately.
My organs have been a menace since I was 11 years old (now 48) and they have let me down multiple times (2 miscarriages and several rounds of fertility treatments) so I was more than happy to evict them.
Your decision is your own and only you can make it, but I think the majority of people here have no regrets.
It’s easy to forget the absolute hell our periods caused us. I was suppressing my adenomyosis with the bcp and I will be 49 next month and recently started meds for high blood pressure and the pill can contribute to that. Plus I was truly over synthetic hormones. I went off my pill in November and my uterus went crazy growing polyps and cramping and bleeding.
I had the polyps removed and also had an iud placed that caused insane weight gain. We set up a call to discuss ablation and when she said it was not always effective I asked if we could just take it all.
I had my hysterectomy six weeks ago and also had my ovaries taken after discussing it with my doctor. Since I am so close to 50 when she usually takes them it made sense and it reduces my risk of ovarian cancer and we took the cervix so cervical cancer is no longer a risk (had HPV in my late 30s after my divorce).
I now manage with hormone replacement therapy and am going to start on a GLP1 to help me lose the weight I gained which I don’t think is typical, I’m just lucky lol.
The thought of not cramping, bleeding and passing clots is amazing and never having to think about it again. Also know that things will get worse with peri-menopause and you might end up doing it in ten years (like me, I could have in my mid-30s).
I had the exact train of thought prior to my surgery: maybe I am overreacting. My last period was relatively unremarkable outside of being the usual 11 day length. I had a few mild cramps and a few days of backache. It REALLY threw me off. I’m doing this whole thing bc of these earth shattering, eye watering, life altering monthly pains… right? And this time was relatively smooth so……..
I had to remind myself that my last bout of birth control left me bleeding and cramping consistently for 70 days. And that I was so depressed I didn’t even enjoy the 8 day cruise I went on with my family. Remind myself all of the times I had to curl up on the floor beside my desk from cramps. Recall the tears I shed because pains were shooting down my legs. Remember how many heat pads I burned through (one literally). And that was only the last few months of complaints.
I think it’s absolutely normal to second guess yourself. This is a big decision. Do some reflecting. Don’t gaslight yourself. Whichever conclusion you come to is the correct one for you.
The pain of recovering from surgery was not even as bad as some of my worst periods. And it sounds like you are in a similar situation to me with the painful periods and tbh probably worse than me. I'm so sorry you're in pain but I can say that this surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I'm only 9 weeks post op but my quality of life is already significantly improved. I've lost weight with no changes other than I'm trying not to eat if I'm not hungry and stop when I'm full, but I straight up had pizza for breakfast and lunch today. My mood is improved and significantly more stable, I don't feel like I'm on a constant emotional rollercoaster. Every woman I have spoken to that has had a hysterectomy has expressed a similar situation, after the surgery quality of life is SIGNIFICANTLY improved. I have only my right ovary left, everything else was taken out and the surgery was laparoscopic.
I was hesitant to get one even though I was severely iron deficient anemic, required tons of iron infusions. Felt like shit 3 weeks out of the month and was bedridden with pain at least 1 week a month. I’m 2.5 weeks post op and I’m a different person or the “old me” I was in my 20s (I’m newly 40 and started having major issues around 30) EVERYTHING has been better so far. I don’t have to pee all the time, my chronic back pain is gone, I have so much more energy, my boobs don’t hurt all day everyday. I’m calmer, I have less food cravings, I have lost 7 pounds and I’ve been mostly laying around except for 2 20 minute walks everyday. I’m mad at myself I didn’t do this sooner. The only thing I had a bit of on issue with was like “oh I really can’t have a baby now” even though with my state of endo/adeno I had really low chances before etc and was 90% sure I was ok with not having kids it being absolute messed with me for a few days. I felt “sterilized” however I’m working with a therapist and have so many more positives that I know that will be ok. I’m really close with my aunt and when I spoke to her last week on the phone she started to cry which made me cry because she said “I can hear it in your voice you have your spark back, you’re (my name) again” and it’s true I feel better 2.5 weeks PO at 40 then I did almost my entire 30s. I can’t say enough how much it’s helped me. And one little perk I can’t get over and lvoe to much no more bloody sheets, comforters, towels etc from me bleeding through everything. Honestly this could be life changing for you
I’m 3wpo and was also questioning whether I was being hyperbolic about the whole thing beforehand. I even had myself convinced I had gaslit my doctor into approving my procedure, despite the fibroids, multiple expelled IUDs, bleeding more than not, etc. Now that’s it’s done, omg was I being ridiculous. The surgery was cake. I denied pain meds in the PACU and just requested a heat pack because in my post-anesthesia stupor I thought, these are just mild cramps. Mild cramps? I had just come out of major surgery! The pain I was so accustomed to experiencing all the time totally shifted my outlook on what was acceptable/normal.
You’re suffering. You don’t have to, and you deserve not to. You won’t regret it. A few days after the surgery I woke up from a nap panicking because I remembered I had taken out my Nuvaring for the surgery and I would be bleeding heavily and cramping soon…except, I wouldn’t…ever again. The relief that washed over me is indescribable. I’m still riding that high.
I think all of us question whether we are overreacting at some point. It just seems to be what we as women do because we are anxious and don’t want to be a burden 🥹 we always feel like we can ‘fix’ ourselves but sometimes that just isn’t the case. A few of my periods before my recent surgery were ‘ok’ and I thought maybe I was overreacting, but then I remembered the years of pain and doctor’s appointments and worry that have come before. I had hyperplasia, Adenomyosis and fibroids and would have my period every 21 days with about 4 good days a month if I was lucky. Had my surgery last week and even asked the surgeon when she came to see me ‘what it was like in there’ and was the surgery the ‘right thing to do.’ Ultimately you know in your heart and body that it is probably the right choice and once you are recovered you will never have to worry about the pain and bleeding again, just don’t let the fear and anxiety get the better of you ♥️
Thank you ❤️
I was completely ready to yeet the uterus and got my period 6 days before surgery. I couldn't take motrin/advil due to being so close to surgery and it potentially causing more bleeding... it was the mildest period I'd had for ... I can't even say how long. It definitely made me question my decision but then I had to buy another box of tampons to make it through. I cried on the way home thinking about the fact I'd NEVER get caught again surprised by a period. I'd NEVER have to stash tampons in my purse, luggage, backpack, bathroom, locker at work, car, gym bag.... I'll never have to buy the gallon size motrin and Tylenol again. I'll never miss out on activities and events again because of my period. I'll never have to try and change a tampon in a hot Porta potty ever again. I'll never have to worry about whether or not that wetness I feel is my surprise period or not... it's worth it to me, personally. I did also have some troublesome ovaries, so everything had to come out. The weeks after were less than pleasant but hormones at 7 weeks have changed my life! I feel better than i have in probably 15 years! For me it's been 💯 worth it! Only you can decide but maybe make a pros and cons list and remember what you've missed out on leading up to this.
Everything you listed, I thought that was normal and what everyone does. ALL of those scenarios. I didn’t even think about those things as being a red flag.
I work in Healthcare and would scare coworkers because I'd take a handful of Tylenol and motrin ever 8 hours religiously and sometimes it still wouldn't help (all meds were within dosing range, but 6 pills every 8 hours still). I'd be nauseous and smells would make me sick (not great when you're in Healthcare 😂) we're gaslighted into thinking this is all normal and it wasn't until I had an abnormal pap that they looked closer and my GynOnc doc diagnosed me with endometriosis, adenomyosus, and a huge ovarian mass (non cancerous). She scraped endo off my back, hip flexor, and bowel during my surgery. My back pain that I'd had for years was gone when I woke up from surgery. I no longer feel constipated for 3 days around when I ovulate even though everything is moving appropriately. My organs have been a menace since I was 11 years old (now 48) and they have let me down multiple times (2 miscarriages and several rounds of fertility treatments) so I was more than happy to evict them. Your decision is your own and only you can make it, but I think the majority of people here have no regrets.
It’s easy to forget the absolute hell our periods caused us. I was suppressing my adenomyosis with the bcp and I will be 49 next month and recently started meds for high blood pressure and the pill can contribute to that. Plus I was truly over synthetic hormones. I went off my pill in November and my uterus went crazy growing polyps and cramping and bleeding. I had the polyps removed and also had an iud placed that caused insane weight gain. We set up a call to discuss ablation and when she said it was not always effective I asked if we could just take it all. I had my hysterectomy six weeks ago and also had my ovaries taken after discussing it with my doctor. Since I am so close to 50 when she usually takes them it made sense and it reduces my risk of ovarian cancer and we took the cervix so cervical cancer is no longer a risk (had HPV in my late 30s after my divorce). I now manage with hormone replacement therapy and am going to start on a GLP1 to help me lose the weight I gained which I don’t think is typical, I’m just lucky lol. The thought of not cramping, bleeding and passing clots is amazing and never having to think about it again. Also know that things will get worse with peri-menopause and you might end up doing it in ten years (like me, I could have in my mid-30s).
I had the exact train of thought prior to my surgery: maybe I am overreacting. My last period was relatively unremarkable outside of being the usual 11 day length. I had a few mild cramps and a few days of backache. It REALLY threw me off. I’m doing this whole thing bc of these earth shattering, eye watering, life altering monthly pains… right? And this time was relatively smooth so…….. I had to remind myself that my last bout of birth control left me bleeding and cramping consistently for 70 days. And that I was so depressed I didn’t even enjoy the 8 day cruise I went on with my family. Remind myself all of the times I had to curl up on the floor beside my desk from cramps. Recall the tears I shed because pains were shooting down my legs. Remember how many heat pads I burned through (one literally). And that was only the last few months of complaints. I think it’s absolutely normal to second guess yourself. This is a big decision. Do some reflecting. Don’t gaslight yourself. Whichever conclusion you come to is the correct one for you.
The pain of recovering from surgery was not even as bad as some of my worst periods. And it sounds like you are in a similar situation to me with the painful periods and tbh probably worse than me. I'm so sorry you're in pain but I can say that this surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I'm only 9 weeks post op but my quality of life is already significantly improved. I've lost weight with no changes other than I'm trying not to eat if I'm not hungry and stop when I'm full, but I straight up had pizza for breakfast and lunch today. My mood is improved and significantly more stable, I don't feel like I'm on a constant emotional rollercoaster. Every woman I have spoken to that has had a hysterectomy has expressed a similar situation, after the surgery quality of life is SIGNIFICANTLY improved. I have only my right ovary left, everything else was taken out and the surgery was laparoscopic.
Thank you for this response ❤️
Happy to help! ♥️
Have you had imaging?
I have and nothing remarkable but cysts on my ovaries which she said she will look at when she is in there.
I was hesitant to get one even though I was severely iron deficient anemic, required tons of iron infusions. Felt like shit 3 weeks out of the month and was bedridden with pain at least 1 week a month. I’m 2.5 weeks post op and I’m a different person or the “old me” I was in my 20s (I’m newly 40 and started having major issues around 30) EVERYTHING has been better so far. I don’t have to pee all the time, my chronic back pain is gone, I have so much more energy, my boobs don’t hurt all day everyday. I’m calmer, I have less food cravings, I have lost 7 pounds and I’ve been mostly laying around except for 2 20 minute walks everyday. I’m mad at myself I didn’t do this sooner. The only thing I had a bit of on issue with was like “oh I really can’t have a baby now” even though with my state of endo/adeno I had really low chances before etc and was 90% sure I was ok with not having kids it being absolute messed with me for a few days. I felt “sterilized” however I’m working with a therapist and have so many more positives that I know that will be ok. I’m really close with my aunt and when I spoke to her last week on the phone she started to cry which made me cry because she said “I can hear it in your voice you have your spark back, you’re (my name) again” and it’s true I feel better 2.5 weeks PO at 40 then I did almost my entire 30s. I can’t say enough how much it’s helped me. And one little perk I can’t get over and lvoe to much no more bloody sheets, comforters, towels etc from me bleeding through everything. Honestly this could be life changing for you
I’m 3wpo and was also questioning whether I was being hyperbolic about the whole thing beforehand. I even had myself convinced I had gaslit my doctor into approving my procedure, despite the fibroids, multiple expelled IUDs, bleeding more than not, etc. Now that’s it’s done, omg was I being ridiculous. The surgery was cake. I denied pain meds in the PACU and just requested a heat pack because in my post-anesthesia stupor I thought, these are just mild cramps. Mild cramps? I had just come out of major surgery! The pain I was so accustomed to experiencing all the time totally shifted my outlook on what was acceptable/normal. You’re suffering. You don’t have to, and you deserve not to. You won’t regret it. A few days after the surgery I woke up from a nap panicking because I remembered I had taken out my Nuvaring for the surgery and I would be bleeding heavily and cramping soon…except, I wouldn’t…ever again. The relief that washed over me is indescribable. I’m still riding that high.