Anne’s hysterectomy and prolapse story

I had my two children, both boys, at aged 38 and 40, suffering a cervical prolapse temporarily after each.  After a few months with plenty of pelvic floor exercises, the symptoms went away,  until a relapse a some years later due to stress, I think. Again, a period of exercising did the trick and I was prolapse-free for another few years.  Then in 2005 the prolapse returned.  Now aged 52 nothing was going to make it go away this time.

I ended up with an emergency admission to hospital one year later having become convinced I had absorbed the tampon I was using as a sort of pessary! I was referred to the gynae clinic and fitted with a proper pessary, discussed the matter with the consultand and despite always vowing I would not have a hysterectomy for what I regarded as a minor complaint, was convinced by him it was the best course of action.  Both my mother, auntie and grandmother (maternal) had had the same condition and remedy.  The consultant explained it was possible the condition would return if I just had a pelvic floor repair and that the operation with vaginal hysterectomy would not be significantly more complicated.   I read the literature provided by the hysterectomy association and decided it was the best way forward.

How glad I am that I did!  Just before my op it was found I was severly anaemic (6.7) and needed a blood transfusion.  I knew I was a bit anaemic (pale gums) and was taking a vitamin with iron supplement, but had no other symptoms.  It turned out I had fibroids (again, no symptoms) and this may have been causing the anaemia.  Other tests have proved negative and iron levels are now getting back to normal.   Also, I had suffered back pain for many years.  This has completely gone since the hysterectomy (in fact it immediately disappeared).  The consultant had been careful to say he could not promise this would happen and my GP thought it was muscle spasm.  Naturally  I am over the moon.  Finally during the operation they found an ovarian cyst and my left ovary was removed.  So I have effectively had four conditions cured by one operation!

The worst part of the op (I had a spinal anaesthetic but with complete sedation) was the pain after the spinal wore off – not being able to get the combination of painkillers quite right at first, but this only lasted one day and night.  Also not being able to wee straight away when the catheter was removed.

Eventually a little running of the tap did the trick!  My stitches (rear passage repair) were very sore and tender for a few days on returning home, very much like stitches after childbirth, but within a few days this problem also disappeared.

I had one or two times of feeling shaky in hospital with a feeling of slight depression, I think due to the shock to the system of the operation, but this has cleared up.

Now nearly 3 months on I have plenty of energy as long as I don’t overdo it and I am looking forward to returning to work in the near future.  To anyone who is considering hysterectomy for prolapse I would say, GO FOR IT!