Hi,
I have recently found out that my large stomach is not down to me just putting on weight because I am not as active as I used to be, it is actually a ovarian cyst (the size of an 8 month pregnancy) plus I have fibroids. I have to have a full hysterectomy.
My question is: how has this operation affected other women's Fibromyalgia? x
Hi JaneGB
Im sorry you have to have an Hysterectomy as you seem to be quite young, and this dreaded fibro is to blame. I do not know how you will feel afterwards, but you could try googling it or Ask Jeeves.com the question you are asking and you may get an answer. I too have a swollen tummy again and I had two scans last week, but they couldn't see my last ovary and i am scared that the doctor may say i need an hysterectomy as well, but i do not want that operation, and i also have a small fibroid too. I hope this will help you a little bit ok. Good Luck Hun x 
Bless you, Unfortunately it is a family thing, both my mum and sister had a hysterectomy quite young. On the plus side I have been told there is nothing 'nasty' there which was a small possibility. Not looking forward to it but it has to be done. I hope you don't have to have one, thank you for your response xx
Hi JaneBG
I am so sorry to read this, and as a man I do not really know a lot about this kind of things but I have found you some NHS links about your issues and I thought you may like to read about the options, the conditions and have some more information:
nhs.uk/Conditions/Ovarian-c...
nhs.uk/conditions/Hysterect...
nhs.uk/Conditions/Fibroids/...
I want to wish you all the best of luck, and I genuinely hope that everything goes really well for you.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken x
I think you are Berry help full and you seem to care about all us you deserve big hugs x
Thank you that is a really wonderful thing to say!
Take care
Ken x
hello Jane would you mind if I asked you how long your stomach has been swollen and how long it was before they found the cyst?
dr s have assumed my weight gain Is general and not all abdominal as I have persistently told them and not down to diet cos I eat very little .I have had scans etc and they say ovaries etc are fine but up to now have given me no reason for hard swollen stomach.
It has been well over a year, at first just thought it was weight gain but me and my sister have been seeing a health advisor and I was losing weight well but my stomach stayed the same. Luckily my sister noticed it didn't look quite right and so the Dr sent me for a scan. I went for scan about a month ago, and from that I have seen a consultant and had an MRI. Seeing consultant again next week. Would they be able to do a different scan for you? Or maybe an allergy test as it could be a food intolerance? Hope you get it sorted x
hi that's the same as me x
i had to have a hysterectomy when i was 33. had them leave my ovaries which required two further surgeries years apart. i did not have fibro then but have to admit it was a long time before i fully recovered. will they have to cut you open or can they do it using lapiscopes? (know that isn't spelled correctly. sorry. am sure you know what i mean.) if don't have to cut should make for an easier recovery. be prepared-take it easy for as long as you can. i had to go back to work full time in 3 weeks which i think set me back. don't be afraid to ask for pain medication if need it. my doc gave me a prescription for pain meds ahead of time so that when got home i could immediately take a pill if needed it. i took pain meds for several weeks then just occasionally for another 6 months or so only when needed it. was scared i would get addicted to the pain medication since had never had any before but had no problem stopping. i did ask the dr. to keep me as much asleep for the first 2-3 days as possible. i think they don't like to do that now but i feel it really helped me since not only had the hyst., had appendix out, had a recticel (again wrong sp. sorry), had a fallopian tube repaired at same time. i know they say walk, walk, walk. ok they are probably correct but i say sleep, sleep, sleep to help heal. best of luck!
I think they will have to cut due to size of cyst and they are doing a full hysterectomy. Just hoping it doesn't trigger too much fibro pain, as my poor sister is going to look after me but we also have a dad with dementia and my sister got health problems too so she is going to be worn out bless her. Thanks for your reply x
I was told the only treatment available for my fybriods was hysterectomy but researched and found alternatives (eventually got but had to fight). It may be that this is the best treatment option for you but do ask questions, particularly if you'd rather not.
Hysterectomy can cause long term problems (don't mean if the operation doesn't go well) eg with bladder & bowel, and core strength can be permanently affected.
Check if you can have HRT (if you want).
Think about whether you'd want to retain your ovaries and/or cervix (has a role in orgasm for many women).
I heard about some recent research which suggests that a sudden menopause (as may happen with ovary removal in younger women who can't take HRT) can cause the protective sheath round nerves to thin which leads to an increase in pain.
Please don't underestimate the psychological impact; this may be the killer blow as far as FM is concerned if you were to have difficulties.
I will end on a positive note: I know a lot of women who say that having a hysterectomy was the best choice they ever made. Make sure it's the right choice for you.
Best wishes
Thank you, think it is the only option for me though x
hi I have FM and I look 7months preg but have scan and nothing there IBS Ihave but my stomach is always hurting x
It is protective against breast/ ovarian cancer esp for people who have the BRAC1/2 genes.
Hi JaneBG,
Just wondered how you are getting on. Have you got a date for your op yet?
Although my operation went extremely well I find the recovery very slow and frustrating (much like living with FM!). It would have been easier if I'd had better core strength and, four months on, my lower back is still complaining (stood in one place for 30mins yesterday & pain for rest of day!). If you have time, and your FM allows, might help to try some targeted exercises. If, like me, you have a bit of a belly, try a pregnancy belt to support your back once your scar is sufficiently healed.
Other problem since the op has been weight gain. I'm one of those people who puts on pounds just looking at a cake (thank Lyrica for making that even worse!) and put on a stone in the month after as couldn't do much, slept whenever I could and ate lots as not much else to pass the time. The extra weight (on top of the fat already there) has exacerbated the impact on my back, hips and knees. Hope you avoid my mistakes!
Best wishes,
Mx
Hi Michelle, thanks for your reply, I hope you feel better soon, back pain limits you so much doesn't it.
My op is on Oct 1st, consultant was amazed by the size of the cyst, he reckons I probably have about a gallon of fluid in it! I've got to have everything out and possibly appendix at same time too. I feel pregnant, I need to wee a lot, am tired but thankfully not too much pain (well no more than usual) so hoping the op will help with the fibro too as I won't have so much weight to carry around. Just not sure how my body will cope with being pulled around.
Take care 
x
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