Uterus: yeeted

[bironic]

Right, so the 3-week period of last summer became 11 months of bleeding at unpredictable amounts from day to day with only a few breaks. My iron levels fell into the anemic range despite supplements. I was staining clothes and linens like a teenager and spending $$ on menstrual products. Tests turned up abnormalities (small fibroids, slightly thickened endometrium, polyps, etc., fortunately no cancer), but nothing explained the whole story, and working with a GYN to play around with birth control formulations didn’t help.

Since I’m not planning on having children and am in the geriatric category now anyway, since the alternative procedures did not make sense for me,* and having watched my mom go through intermittent menorrhagia for 10 years resolved only by a semi-urgent hysterectomy after the blood loss made her pass out and break her nose on the way down, a week and a half ago I had my uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes removed laparoscopically. Would recommend!

*If you’re curious:

• Endometrial ablation: similar requirements and recovery time as hysterectomy, with no guarantee of permanent results, plus I may have had a contraindication
• Uterine artery embolization: would only address the fibroids and has a 20-30% failure rate, especially in younger patients
• IUD: unsuccessful insertions in my mom and sister; would need replacing every ~5 years; horror stories of discomfort; no guarantee of success; I have had bad experiences with progesterone-only treatments
• Stopping oral contraceptives: would be only a temporary experiment; would need to find another way to treat my PCOS

I have only five small incisions that are healing well—just itchy—and I can’t feel the stitches elsewhere. Things were quite crampy the first couple of days but the surgical team clearly prescribed the right medicines in the right amounts because I only needed opioids for the first <24 hours and have been okay on ibuprofen since then, plus a bunch of GI meds to keep things moving after the anesthesia and messing-around-in-the-abdomen and which are now being tapered.

Main features of recovery other than that have been lots of naps and diminished cognitive capacity, like I couldn’t add the dice when my mom and I played Monopoly and I lose my sentences and train of thought even more easily than usual. I’m not allowed to swim or lift more than 10 pounds until the six-week mark, but there are workarounds for most tasks and volunteers to help with the rest, and it is a small price to pay to not go in the water for the first part of summer.

My sister sent this plushie. It's a good pillow for couch naps. Friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors have been super about support.

I am excited to not deal with this problem anymore. The surgeon found some endometriosis while operating, which (a) was a surprise to me since we don't have a known family history of it but (b) explains some of the symptoms and (c) further justifies the surgery. Any underlying hormonal cause will still be there until menopause, but the bleeding consequence won’t be. And, hey, cancer risk is lower.

I took off work ’til the end of the month. My mom came for a week, my sister for almost a week, and now it’s “vacation” with daily-ish friend visits. I’m hoping my brain will permit playing around with a vid for some of the time. I have ideas for a show and a movie, neither of which I had any plans to vid until compelling songs presented themselves.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

So glad you have all that behind you!

[bironic]

Amen.

[dolorosa_12]

Ugh, what a terrible (and frightening) thing to have dealt with! I'm glad you were able to have the surgery, and hope that your recovery is restful.

[bironic]

Thank you! It is good that this story now has an ending.

[sheafrotherdon]

Congrats on the yeeting! I'm so glad you found someone willing to remove it, considering how stubborn medical professionals can be on that, even when "geriatric". Sending heaps of good wishes for a good recovery!

[bironic]

I was braced for that, but funnily enough, all the docs I interacted with -- all women, including the surgeon -- explained and listened and answered questions and said the decision made sense / wasn't overkill. It was my mom who expressed the most dismay at the finality of non-childbearing.

[serrico]

That sounds like a bit of an ordeal! Sending good wishes for a speedy recovery.

Congrats

[jesse_the_k]

on evicting your bad-roommate organ. May the money and time you no longer have to spend provide delicious opportunities for rest and creativity!

(post-anesthetic brain fog is definitely A Thing, and will be history in a month.)

[celli]

Sending love! I had a hysterectomy seven years ago and it remains one of my better decisions. I even had a very similar plushie. :)

[kuwdora]

hoping your symptoms abate and your recovery continues well this summer. ♥ good luck with brain letting you play with vid thoughts! ♥ ♥

[aurumcalendula]

Congrats! I hope you have a smooth and swift recovery!

[scribe]

Glad to hear it went well and you are well cared for in recovery! Just shout if you need an extra local hand for anything! <3

[kass]

Oh goodness! This sounds like a lot. I'm glad you were able to yeet the organs in question and that healing seems to be proceeding apace.

[seascribble]

I'm glad you're doing well! My mom had the ablation and then her own semi-urgent hysterectomy, and just having it done with seems like a relief.

[nestra]

Congratulations on your successful yeeting.

[sovay]

I am excited to not deal with this problem anymore.

Glad you don't have to! Heal well!

[marginaliana]

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

[timespirt]

"HUGS"

Feel better soon hon. Rest and read many fic and watch some shows and movie's you have put off watching.

[mific]

Glad it's gone well - sounds like a sensible decision, and after the six weeks of no swimming, as much swimming as you like thereafter, with no worries about accidents!

[longwhitecoats]

Really glad to hear that went well <3

[topaz_eyes]

So glad to hear you're doing okay after your surgery!

[china_shop]

Congratulations on the yeeting and no more periods! ♥

(I had mine out in 2019, and it's so convenient. I should have done it way sooner.)

[roga]

Oh yay that it all worked out okay and is behind you! Glad you have company during recovery <3

[ride_4ever]

*sends good-recuperation vibes*

[seekingferret]

I hope your recovery continues to go well

[unfinishedidea]

That sounds like a LOT of bullshit, and I'm glad you no longer have to deal with all that anymore! Hope recovery goes well and even though it sounds like you have the support, please let me know if there's anything I can do. ♥

[minoanmiss]

I need to ask you for pointers and tips on how to convince my medical professionals to yank mine.

I send you all healing vibes and would love to bring food to you if you like. If you're craving something in particular drop me a line and I will bring it if I can.

[selki]

Congratulations and wishing for a smooth recovery!