A Year After My Hysterectomy, I'm Finally Back to Living Life Without the Weight of Fibroids

I'm writing this review a year after my hysterectomy, and I have to say, it's been a wild ride. I mean, who expects to have a major surgery like that at any point in their life, let alone when you're still relatively young?

So, let's get to the good stuff - or rather, the bad stuff that led me to make the decision to have my uterus removed. I've always been a pretty active person, but about a year ago, I started noticing some pretty weird symptoms. At first, it was just some mild bleeding, but it quickly escalated into something much more serious. I was losing a lot of blood, and it was getting to the point where I was feeling really weak and tired all the time.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it - it was a real nightmare. I was constantly feeling like I was on the verge of passing out, and it was getting to the point where I couldn't even do everyday tasks without feeling exhausted. And to make matters worse, I was also experiencing some pretty severe anemia, which made everything even harder.

But the worst part was when I finally got my blood tested and found out that my hemoglobin was critically low at 53. That's when I knew I had to take action and get to the bottom of what was going on. I went to the hospital, and after a series of tests, they determined that I had a fibroid that was causing all the bleeding and anemia.

Now, I know what you're thinking - why didn't I just go to the doctor sooner? Well, to be honest, I was in denial about what was going on. I thought it was just a minor issue that would go away on its own, but it only got worse. And by the time I finally realized what was happening, it was too late. I was in the emergency room, getting a blood transfusion, and it was a real wake-up call.

After that, I knew I had to take control of my health and make some changes. I started doing some research and talking to my doctor, and we decided that the best course of action was to have my uterus removed. It was a tough decision, but I knew it was the right one.

So, let's fast-forward to the actual surgery. I was a bit nervous, to be honest, but the medical team was amazing. They explained everything to me in detail, and they made sure I was comfortable and relaxed throughout the whole process.

The surgery itself was a laparoscopic hysterectomy, which means they made a few small incisions and used a camera to remove my uterus. It was a relatively quick procedure, and I was back on my feet in no time. Well, not literally - I was still a bit sore and had to take it easy for a bit, but I was feeling much better than I had in months.

One of the things that really impressed me about the hospital was how well-prepared they were. They had everything I needed right there, from elastic bandages to hospital blankets. It was like they knew exactly what I was going through and were there to support me every step of the way.

Of course, there were some downsides to the surgery. The enema was definitely not my favorite part, but it was a necessary evil. And let's just say that I won't be forgetting the feeling of having a tube stuck up my bum for a long time.

But overall, the surgery was a huge success. I was back on my feet in no time, and I was feeling better than I had in months. And the best part? I was finally free from the weight of fibroids.

Now, I know some people might be thinking, "But what about the recovery process? Won't it be tough?" And to that, I say, yes and no. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be either. I just took it one day at a time, and I made sure to listen to my body and take it easy when I needed to.

One of the things that really helped me was the promedol, which is a morphine-based painkiller. It was amazing - I didn't feel any pain at all during the recovery process, and it made everything so much easier.

Of course, there were some challenges along the way. I had to be careful not to overdo it, and I had to make sure to take it easy and rest when I needed to. But overall, it was a relatively smooth process, and I was back to my normal self in no time.

Now, I know some people might be wondering if they can still live a normal life after a hysterectomy. And to that, I say, absolutely. I mean, sure, you'll have to take it easy for a bit and be careful not to overdo it, but you can definitely still live a normal life. And it's actually a lot easier than you might think.

One of the things that really surprised me was how quickly I recovered. I mean, I was back to my normal self in no time, and I was even able to start exercising again. Of course, I had to take it easy at first, but I was able to gradually increase my activity level over time.

And the best part? I don't have to deal with fibroids anymore. I mean, it's not like I'm going to miss them or anything, but it's nice to know that I don't have to worry about them anymore.

Now, I know some people might be thinking, "But what about the menopause symptoms? Won't I experience them now that my ovaries are intact?" And to that, I say, no. I mean, I'm still experiencing my periods, but they're much lighter now. And I'm not experiencing any of the typical menopause symptoms that I was worried about.

So, if you're considering a hysterectomy, I say go for it. It's not an easy decision, but it's definitely worth it in the end. And just remember to take it easy and listen to your body during the recovery process. It's not easy, but it's definitely worth it in the end.

This is the two bags of blood they brought to my ICU room, where I stayed for a day before the operation and a day after. The blood was cold, and I was told to warm it up under my arms.

And this is the blood transfusion process itself... It's a pleasant procedure, really. Each drop of blood improves your condition... Have you seen 'Morbius'? That's exactly what it's like! After the bloody feast, the dying vampire becomes strong and energetic. And I realized that during my first blood transfusions, before the new year. The contrast between before and after is striking!!! But I'm not Morbius; I just need to remove a piece of meat from my belly to stay healthy. That's why I still wanted to get rid of my uterus. To live, not to die.After the blood transfusion, they did all the necessary ultrasounds, including the ultrasound of my lower limbs' veins and an echocardiogram. I'm not even going to mention all the necessary tests; they get done quickly in the emergency room.

The emergency room has elastic bandages, hospital blankets, and clothes if needed. You don't need to buy them. The hospital has everything, so if you can, I recommend having your uterus removed there, not having to run around to pharmacies, labs, and doctors.

The worst part, even worse than the hysteroscopy and the hysterectomy, was... THE ENEMA. It's the worst procedure imaginable! Better two uterus removals than one enema... Let's not talk about the bad stuff; let's move on to the good stuff – the actual process of removing my uterus.

I have good impressions of this, and I'd be happy to share them again, briefly.

I want to say to the website admin that the photos in this review are mine, but I took them for myself, not for the review. The idea of sharing them came later, so you might find them on VK or Dzen, and I also sent them to my husband in Telegram. Unfortunately, it's not possible to take new photos since the procedure is done only once. The only thing I can do is attach a photo of my belly now and a photo of the hospital papers. This review is unique, as I'm writing it specifically for this website.

I'm continuing my story... In the evening after the enema, I was told not to eat, and in the morning - not to drink until the operation. I had to give up some valuable items: my passport, phone, and that was it. The nurse came to pick me up after lunch, which I didn't have. I signed the documents, jumped on the gurney, and lay down. They immediately inserted a catheter and covered me up. They took me to the surgical department, while I was lying in the gynecology department.

The operation was going to be done via laparoscopy, which means through small incisions. They promised to leave the appendages and the cervix intact. The operation was only through the abdomen. When they leave the cervix, they don't go through the woman's reproductive tract.

They brought me to the operating room, and I started looking around and chatting with the assistants and surgeons. I mostly talked to the assistants and the anesthesiologist. The surgeons were preparing the laparoscope tips, but when one doctor came over to me, I managed to exchange a few words with her. The atmosphere was good, but there was a bit of nervousness... Not me, I'm not the one doing the operation, so my nervousness wasn't really relevant, haha.

The operating table looked like a cross, and I was crucified on it, with my hands tied. Quite romantic... The anesthesiologist said that the machine would breathe for me, now they would put me to sleep with a mask, and then they would insert a tube into my trachea, and... I could stop breathing, basically. In essence, deep anesthesia is similar to a coma, and everything happens the same way. The anesthesiologist put on the mask, and I 'left'.

I was probably out for an hour... who knows? I wasn't there. I opened my eyes - my head was clear. I hear a voice: 'The operation went well.' They asked me to move to the gurney five minutes later. My body wasn't cooperating, but I managed to make it move after a few seconds. There was no pain, not even a hint of it. And there wasn't any later either. A laparoscopic hysterectomy is a painless operation, that's the ideal, and I had the perfect case.

This is what it looked like in the ward, when they gave me my phone back. There was a drainage tube sticking out of my belly for blood to drain from the cavity, which is what happens after all operations. The tube wasn't causing me any discomfort, it was just there, sticking out. It didn't stop me from moving or turning over periodically, as they told me to do immediately after the operation.My belly was slightly puffed up because during the laparoscopy, they insert gas into the cavity to lift the abdominal wall. Then it came out gradually through the tube with the blood and discharge.

I have to say, my belly looked like this after the surgery. Three holes. They twisted my uterus into a mess inside me with a morcellator and pulled it out through one of the holes. No need to make an incision for it. My uterus was small, only 11-12 weeks, and the fibroid was 4-5 cm, a double fibroid with small nodules growing from it. So, removing the uterus was a must. Diagnosis: multiple leiomyoma, which the pathologists confirmed after they got my "meat".I don't regret having my uterus removed. I don't regret it being taken out. No way. I'm actually glad it's gone. I'm so much better now than I was back then. I won't go into the years when fibroids were nowhere to be found, but I can say for sure that I'm better off without a uterus than with fibroids, even a small one.

I recovered quickly and easily, thanks to the promedol, which is a morphine-based painkiller. I didn't feel any pain. It wasn't just the morphine, but also when it wore off. Usually, after surgery, the pain subsides, then comes back. I didn't feel anything, like I had a tooth extracted, not a uterus. The reason for this was not the laparotomy (incision) surgery, but the laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.

The night passed peacefully. The next day, they removed the catheter, and I went to the bathroom in small increments. I didn't need to go to the bathroom in large increments because I had an enema before the surgery. If I had gone to the hospital with bleeding, I would have been taken straight to the operating room and had an enema after the surgery, like some of the women in my ward who had an ectopic pregnancy and had an emergency C-section.

Then, during the dressing change, they pulled out the tube. It was inside me for a whole meter! I was really surprised. An hour later, I gathered my things, and they transferred me to a regular ward to recover. I could walk around the corridor and move fairly normally. They stopped giving me morphine, but I didn't feel any pain. Removing the uterus is easier and less painful than removing fibroids by cutting into the uterus.

This was my biggest scar out of the three holes. Its length was between 1 cm and 2 cm. The stitches are also removed painlessly, then you smear green ointment on them, and you can take a shower. In the last days before discharge, I was flying around the corridors. My condition and mood were excellent.

The discharge instructions and the treatment I received were noted down.

Two months after the surgery, my belly was looking pretty good. I mean, you can spot the scars, but that's it. I could wear any swimsuit I wanted, and without the uterus, my belly was actually looking pretty great.

Now my belly is almost back to normal, with just a faint scar left. The recovery was pretty quick, but not without its challenges. I'm not exactly the most coordinated person, so I was a bit of a clumsy mess. Luckily, my clumsiness didn't cause any problems. After a hysterectomy, you can definitely live a normal life, but you do need to be careful and take it easy for a bit. The first month is all about resting at home, but not just lying around - you need to be moving. The next two months are all about gradually increasing your activity level. By six months, you should be feeling pretty confident. And don't forget to start doing your Kegel exercises a month after you're discharged - start with small amounts and gradually increase the intensity.You can totally live a normal life and even exercise, but just don't overdo it. No jumping, running, or heavy lifting! I'm not experiencing menopause symptoms, even though my ovaries are still intact. My periods are still regular, but instead of losing a liter of blood, I'm only losing a milliliter.

My hemoglobin levels are now 148, up from a whopping 53. All my organs are functioning great without my uterus, except for my cervix - it can get a bit lazy sometimes. But with some Kegel exercises, it stays in line. If you don't train it, it'll follow your uterus out of the body.

Would I recommend a hysterectomy? Absolutely! Don't suffer through it - just get it done and live your life in peace! Just make sure to do it on time, so you can get a laparoscopic surgery instead of an open incision. And with proper care, you won't have any complications.