Partial hysterectomy -long term side effects?

[KT77]

I have lots of fibroids including really big one and will probably need hysterectomy. I would get to keep ovaries and cervix. Still I read some side effects like back pain, hips pain, loss of sex drive, aging faster. Just would like to hear from women who had this done - whats your experience? I'm not concerned about short term problems after the surgery just the long term ones. Thank you

[roseabi]

Hi! Sorry to see you are having all these problems!! I had a partial hysterectomy (ovaries and cervix retained) back in 2012, just a few days before my 43rd birthday. This was also due to fibroids, they weren't very big but they were in just the right spot to cause constant bleeding, which eventually got out of control 😨

In the nine years since the op I have not experienced any of the problems you describe, no back or hip pain anyway - maybe some loss of libido, but that could have been due to menopause, and is fine now. I'm not sure how it would be possible to tell if I were "aging faster" though?

I did find that I hit the menopause earlier than expected. Women tend to get there at about the same age their mother, which would have been 52 for me, but I had mine confirmed when I was 47. An early menopause often happens after a hysterectomy with ovaries retained, because the ovaries lose part of their blood supply when the uterus is removed.

I was fairly fit when I had the operation, I did lots of swimming and strength workouts; and I am now also a keen runner. I couldn't say whether this has helped with any post-hysterectomy problems I might have had, but I do think that regular exercise is a good idea, particularly as we get older!

xxx

[KT77 in reply to roseabi]

Lovely to hear you have none of the problems. I have been reading some horror stories online and it got into my head and now panicking. Not sure about aging faster either as uterus doesn't produce any hormones. Maybe those women had total hysterectomy and went into instant menopause. Im 44 now and too like my exercises. Yoga and weight training are my favorite. Love my kettlebells. Feel fit with nice muscle tone. I have this idea my whole torso is going to collapse with no uterus if there is an empty space : )

[roseabi in reply to KT77]

It is scary, and I read a load of horror stories too 😂 - although more about the actual operation and post-op. It's a major operation, but it is also a very commonly done one, with a high success rate, so we shouldn't worry really! But of course we do anyway 😊😊😊

Yoga and kettlebells are fab, and feeling fit and strong is so awesome isn't it!!?!!

Are you having keyhole surgery?

[KT77 in reply to roseabi]

No, the fibroid is too big for keyhole. MRI showed too many fibroids and the big one is 20 weeks apparently so I look pregnant basically. And it would be too hard surgery if I wanted to save the uterus. Plus my periods are so heavy and long and cycle only 23 days short so I have more bleeding days than non bleeding days. It will be nice to be free from the monthly nightmare. Its been going on for many years now and I cant take it anymore. Plus as much as I love my exercises I simply cant do it every day as my iron levels are so depleted and I can barely walk upstairs after my period. It would be nice to be able to exercise every day as I think its the fountain of youth or the magic pill everyone is looking for : ) Anyway, yesterday I was forbidden by my friends and hubby to look online for horror stories and told I need to be positive and not to constantly look for the worst case scenario : )

[roseabi in reply to KT77]

Wow, you poor thing!! Sounds like you really need that surgery, and that's great that your folks are stopping you from looking for the dark side. Good luck, you'll be fine xxx