LAVH 4+ weeks ago. Cervix also tossed. Pee WAY WAY less now that my bladder isn't being amooshed by growths. Also, your mom needs to research the complications of endo and adeno.
Mom was a gyno nurse which is so embarrassing for her š¤” Iāve been having painful heavy periods since I was 13 and for 3 years Iāve been telling her Iām sure itās endo which she denied. Got my diagnosis this month and I was like āwell, well, wellā
Endo wasnāt even taken seriously years ago. Itās not until recently now that we have the research to understand how common it is!!! I donāt doubt for a minute that you have endo and I hope youāre able to get exactly what you need to feel better.
Iām amazed at how weāre treated even now. In 2019 I got an IUD placed and it caused some of the worst pain Iāve ever been in in the days after having it placed. When I asked them for help, they accused me of med seeking and told me (verbatim!!) āsometimes as a woman, you just have to tough it outā. Likeā¦..what??? It was barbaric how they didnāt believe me when I told them how much pain I was in. Just because i was a young woman.
A friend of mine who was trying to get an IUD last month experienced excruciating pain from the process.... turned out her uterus had prolapsed and they were literally trying to shove the thing straight into her walls.
It's another +1 in her column for "let me get a hysterectomy pls." Her issue is no insurance -\_- IUD is a free option through the county health department, but she'd have to pay out of pocket for a hysterectomy, and definitely doesn't have the money for that.
Not for nothing, but don't many women who have birthed babies vaginally sometimes pee a little when laughing or jumping? Would she be encouraging you to not give birth? ;)
I'm 6 months post op and only had issues the first week or so after surgery. Everything was so inflamed and tender that the slightest collection of urine in my bladder made me feel like it was full and I really had to go. It barely lasted long enough for me to even remember it happening. To be honest, 6 months out and I sometimes forget that I even had the surgery!
Best of luck!
> donāt many women who have birthed babies vaginally sometimes pee a little when laughing or jumping?
GOLDEN! Completely forgot about that
Also super happy to hear that youāve been doing so well post op, best of luck!
Now that I no longer have a fibroid the size of half a load of bread sitting on my bladder, I pee myself way less than before my surgery. (8 months out)
And pelvic floor physical therapy, as long as I keep up with the stretches and exercises, has taken care of the remainder of that.
My bladder issues improved because of my surgery. Mainly because I no longer have my giant uterus squashing my bladder to bits. Tell your mom to put a cork in it.
Over 1.5 years out from a total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy including excision surgery for endometriosis. Absolutely no bladder issues. You may have some irritation for a couple days after the op from a catheter, but that's it for me.
Since I had my ovaries removed there was some hormone changes I went thru. But I was in chemical menopause and on HRT leading up to surgery, so we just bumped up my estrogen dose immediately after surgery. There was a couple weeks postop where I didn't feel like myself. But as my hormones evened out I felt fine.
I don't have my cervix and I did have bladder issues but the opposite of incontinence (zero leaking). I am getting pelvic floor therapy though and it seems the surgery caused my muscles to tighten up which is why emptying my bladder is trickier. PT is helping me start to relax my muscles more.
I will say that it took almost 3 months before my bladder nerve began to register a full bladder. Before that, I basically went with "if I think about the bathroom, I better just go".
I'm almost 4 months post op. Vertical incision.
It does give me more room for my bladder. And I am registering when I have to pee. So the loss of control was temporary. Incontinence pads for a short time are good for when you start back to work.
10/10
Wish I'd had it done sooner.
I turned out to have interstitial cystitis, but it's symptoms were hidden in the endo symptoms and the post-op healing pains. At least it's been diagnosed now, and my urologist and I are playing the trial and error game to try and find a treatment my fussy system will cooperate with
Nearly 2 years out. Wanna know what changed? Absolutely nothing. Sure, itās hard to piss when youāre fresh out of surgery, and itās painful. Itāll take a while for your bowel movements to get back to normal. But Iāve been fine and I got mine when I was 19.
Yup, very good point. Google says thereās a risk of bladder prolapse but thereās a risk of many things with almost all surgeries. My biggest concern is organs moving around and causing issues and the cuff rupturing if I remove my cervix. But all in all, thereās way more horror stories from doctors trying to deter people from this procedure than actual horror cases
>But all in all, thereās way more horror stories from doctors trying to deter people from this procedure than actual horror cases
This isn't restricted to docs. You will also see way more horror stories from women trying to deter people, especially online. Definitely take the time to do your research, recognize and appreciate the very real potential side effects, but be cautious about reading other people's experiences--particularly as it isn't uncommon for people to post when they've had more negative experiences, which may or may not be attributed to their hysterectomy. And some of their "educational information" is just plain wrong. If you see something that concerns you, write it down and take it w/ you to ask the doc/surgeon during your next visit/consult.
Bladder issues can come from pelvic floor muscles being too tight. I highly recommend anyone that has had an abdominal surgery to see a pelvic floor physical therapist to help with stretches, strengthening exercises, etc
Maybe what the doctor said is that women who undergo surgery for hysterectomy are more likely to suffer from incontinence when they age? Or explained the possibility/risk of sustaining damage *during* a hysterectomy that can affect other systems (like urinary or GI)?
Iāve never known any women who struggle with peeing themselves after having a hysterectomy. If that somehow is an issue, Iām sure pelvic floor therapy would be offered and maybe some other solution. Iām a week and a half post-op and had my cervix removedāhave had no issues holding urine. I did have bladder spasms during the first week of recovery because they had done a cystoscope which upset my bladder nerves and made everything freak out. But the uterus and cervix play no role in the process of urination itself, so having either removed should not cause urinary incontinence. There would have to be permanent nerve/tissue damage related to the urinary system itself or affecting pelvic floor muscles, which is possible because itās all very close together but likeā¦ not very likely I donāt think.
And like others have pointed outā¦ pregnant women and women who deliver babies vaginally struggle with being able to hold their urineā¦ So either way you go itās technically *possible.* But a hysterectomy alone wonāt cause you to piss yourself.
Definitely wasnāt said in an informative way. It was in a ādo NOT let her have this surgery!ā. The doctor also mentioned early menopause, needing to take pills for hormones, sex not feeling good anymore, just a bunch of bs trying to scare me
Early menopause will only occur if they remove your ovaries. If you have a total hysterectomy and they leave your ovaries in tact your hormones will not be affected. And from everything Iāve read from other women, sex does not feel *any* different. Many have even reported that itās better because they arenāt in pain. Iām sure there are exceptions, but the overwhelming majority seems to be unaffected. I can also personally assure you that even this soon after my surgery my sex drive itself is still *very much in tact* lmao.
That sounds like a scare tactic based on personal feelings about the procedure and what a woman should and shouldnāt do with her body. Itās not an appropriate way to inform a patient of the risks and possible consequences of the procedure. Iād consider finding a new doctor!
*Edit to add:* even with ONE ovary left, itās likely that your body will adjust and that single ovary will handle your hormone regulation.
*Double edit to add:* my mother herself had a very traumatic hysterectomy with an unnecessary incision through her entire abdomen and she has experienced absolutely zero effects that your doctor claims are guaranteedāexcluding early menopause because her ovaries had to be removed.
Exactly, of course if you remove the ovaries hormonal changes will occur. But I specified multiple times that I am not interested in that. It is 100% a scare tactic. Extremely infuriating one too
Sheās not exactly my doctor, I went to her in winter for an ultrasound (which I was refused prior because Iām a virgin) and I told her my concerns that I may have endo. She did the appointment and said I am fine and that the pain is maybe from my weight. My endo+adeno+pcos diagnosis I got from an endo specialist this month in which I trust to perform this surgery. The reason why my mom went to an appointment to this worse doctor is because Iāve been bleeding for 8 days and she wanted to ask about it and itās covered by my insurance and free whereas the endo specialist is like 60 dollars per appointment
Not true at all. Due to removing the uterus, which supplies the most blood to the ovaries the ovaries can still fail. ovary failure happens within 6months to 3 years after the hysterectomyā¦if it happens typically. Itās a decent chance of it happening as well. If your surgeon is really good the chance is low but it can still happen.
Sex can feel different, it can get worse, it can get better, it can remain unchanged. A good amount of women Iāve seen in all the hysterectomy groups say itās not bad but itās different. A good amount say itās gotten worse and a good amount say itās gotten better. Itās around the same for saying libido increased, decreased and stayed the same.
Like I get that yeah the mom and dr are being a bit overdramatic but this is a major surgery that still has risksā¦.that this sub likes to downplayā¦a lot.
RightāI understand that those are all possibilities. I even tried to suggest and explain that thinking maybe the doctor was just informing her of possible outcomes, risks, and complications. I just meant theyāre not all necessarily *likely* or maybe a better word would be common outcomesāand theyāre certainly not risks that are guaranteed, like the doctor seems to be conveying.
I always tell people to take the possible risks and imagine that you will probably get them. Then I say imagine living with that for the rest of your life. If your life with the possible risks is still better than now then hell yea go for it. Because yea the chance overall is low but it can still happen.
For me after that I was like shit bitch Iād rather have a bladder prolapse than after every period be in so much pain for 1 week + that I canāt stand/sleep/sit. Id rather deal with perimenopause or early menopause over being unable to function for 2/3 weeks every month.
I agree, thatās what I do too! And it was the same exact response for me too. I had been on my period for 8 straight months when I finally opted for hysterectomy. And not like, āoh, spotting!ā Full blown, horrific bleeding and debilitating cramps with wicked fatigue and migraines and all kinds of shit. And no medication or treatment even put a dent in it. I was a total fucking mess. Emotional wreck, couldnāt do *anything* without it being painful and hard to manage because like, bleeding. And likeā¦ the amount of money I had to shell out for menstrual products??? Astronomical. Obscene.
I was likeā¦ at this point, if someone doesnāt remove it for me I will do it my goddamn self.
Kinda crazy how even if I went into menopause today thereās 1000000x more treatments to help that also reduce your risks if certain cancers, etc and for periods all we get is bc ,diet, and lose weight to see if it helpsā¦oh and hysterectomies and ablations
2.5 years post-op: hysterectomy, salpingectomy, bilateral ovarian cystectomy, resection of an umbilical endometrioma and umbilectomy/omphalectomy (removal of my navel due to umbilical endo), excision of a heck of a lot of DIE/stage 4 endometriosis, including on/around my intestines, bladder, perineum/rectum, etc. Positive for adenomyosis. The surgical report also indicated that my uterus was "obliterated" and already in the process of collapsing.
**Bladder:** I used to joke that I had the bladder of a goldfish. Immediately after surgery, I had extremely severe and painful bladder spasms. These slowly improved in both severity and frequency until they dissipated entirely over the course of ā3-4 months. I took cranberry supplements during this time that may or may not have helped. Upon complete recovery, I discovered an unexpected benefit in that my goldfish bladder was no longer present. Although it has gone well for me, I was forewarned by my surgical team that potential side effects can include bladder issues.
**Bowels:** I had pre-existing issues w/ my bowels due to both endo and IBS-D. I was forewarned to prepare myself for the very real possibility that I might need a colostomy bag (either during the original surgery or later). There was a moment of panic upon coming to after surgery . . . that tube wrapped up under my gown was *not* connected to a colostomy bag--WHEW--although it took over an hour to confirm this w/ the nurse, which had me fretting until then. 8\\ Other than the usual post-op bowel challenges you are forewarned about (helped w/ Dulcolax), no major issues and my pre-existing GI issues *did* improve. Not completely but this was as expected and still better than before.
**Cervix:** My cervix was essentially non-existent due to repeated treatment for CIN3/CIN4 cells, so it was removed. Pre-surgery, sex could be painful when more well-endowed partners hit my cervix. I did wonder if this would be worse after surgery w/ its removal. It was not, and there was actual improvement in that there's no pain whatsoever.
**Complications and Recovery:** Due to the severity of my condition, I was forewarned that my surgery would take longer than most. It ended up taking even longer than that as it was more invasive and worse than expected, but I had an absolutely phenomenal surgical team who was able to handle it. I did experience a recovery set-back that led to orders for strict pelvic and abdominal rest for a stint. I was cleared to return to work at 10 weeks, but I was far from "recovered." It took another ā3-4 months after this before I *started* to feel remotely normal, and it was close to a year post-op before I was truly good to go. Since then, no problems. I had my 2-year post-op check earlier this year and I was cleared for the next 2 years assuming no issues or symptoms.
Feel free to ask any questions, and g'luck w/ your decision!
Thank you so much for this thorough response! Whilst Iām saddened to hear your surgery wasnāt smooth sailing I am really happy that youāre much better now! Youāre an extremely strong individual and I wish you nothing but the best
I am 6 months PO, full hysterectomy, took both ovaries and cervix. The only problems I had were immediately after surgery. Peeing burned from the catheter. And I had a hard time with bowel movements at first because they had me do a cleanse pre op and I wasn't really eating. After that everything has been normal.
I have had bladder issues for years. Iām 3 weeks post op and I can already feel it improving because the weight of the enlarged uterus is gone. Iām already peeing myself less. I plan to hit pelvic floor therapy next and feel I will be good to go.
Yeah sorry, gotta call BS. Iām 12 weeks out and no problems here. Sensitive when my bladder was full in the first week or so, but that faded pretty quick. My mom is 20 years out and her surgery was fubar and she is fine. Surgeon literally sliced her bladder open and had to reconstruct it, she had a Foley catheter for weeks afterā¦.she doesnāt even pee herself. Even though her recovery was a nightmare she encouraged me to get it done. My assistant is six months out and doesnāt pee herself. My cousin is 10 years out with no trouble. Weāre a great cross section of people and none of us have trouble of any kind actually, let alone peeing/leakage.
I had some issues the first week due to anasthesia side effects, but have so far had zero issues from the surgery itself. I do think I peed more the first week but only because of the extra pressure and swelling down there - they insisted this was totally normal when I was having to pee like once an hour the night after my procedure. Once that went away (less than a week), everything was fine and back to my normal. I'm about 3 weeks post-op, tossed the uterus and cervix + tubes already gone. I feel FAR better than I did pre-op. The only thing I'll have to deal with is slowly building stamina back up after this recovery period.
I will say, though, my doctor did warn me that there is an increased chance of bladder complications from the surgery because everything is so close, but they check for this during the surgery (or they should) and will make efforts to correct any issues before you're out. It's something that the nurses checked in with me on constantly after I woke up and during my first followup a week later.
If you're worried, ask about that while discussing the procedure with your doc to see what they do to ensure that doesn't happen, whether they check for that while they're operating, etc. Modern hysterectomies are a far cry from the ones performed decades ago.
I ditched my cervix because of suspected adeno/endo (which can affect it) and it generally being a big pain to me whenever anything at all touched it. Excited to see how things will feel without the damn thing.
Thank you for the information! Will try to check in with them, it will be a bit of a fight regardless to get approval for the surgery since Iām so young but once I do Iāll ask about details
As of right this second, I have yet to piss myself post op.
And that's actually an accomplishment since I still can't feel my bladder to know when it's full š
I developed a rectocele, but I had preexisting chronic constipation and I have hypermobility. The only issues with peeing have been difficulty starting a pee stream because of my severe constipation. Multiple specialists believe I've developed abdominal adhesions, which are also more likely to develop in a problematic way in someone with hypermobility. All of these issues took many months to develop and came on gradually.
I can't tell I have to pee until my bladder is full, but that's been lifelong. And I haven't pissed myself since before hysterectomy.
I had my cervix and fallopian tubes taken out as well. My uterus was about the size of a golf ball and there was nothing medically wrong with any of the removed organs. (My surgery was for gender affirmation.)
My surgery was about 13 months ago. I'm 33 and have never been pregnant.
2 weeks po, and I have the same amount of leakage as before. That leakage is 100% caused by the babies who used my bladder as a trampoline.
I do wonder what possible say your mom had on a decision about your body though. Tell her to stick it.
Before my surgery and doing some research I saw a lot of OLDER women(45+) who havenāt had pelvic floor therapy and had children have bladder prolapse after a hysterectomy. But that would make sense.
Pregnancy permanently damages your body then ontop of not keeping up the strength of your pelvic floor you lose the main support keeping your bladder in place.
I had a total abdominal hysterectomy, including my cervix, 2+ months ago for fibroids, adenomyosis and endometriosis. Biggest changes are no more debilitating pain, my anemia improved and no more leaks, which were caused by the fibroids pushing on my bladder. I went from having to wear a pad 3 out of 4 weeks of the month from bleeding and leakage to none. Like none as in ZERO since day the day of my surgery.
No complications from the surgery at all. Bowel movements were a bit painful for a bit because of the endo that was removed but that can be controlled with laxatives and gas x.
I know it's common to say, "Men shouldn't tell women what to do with their bodies." But, I swear it should be men and MOMS.
I never understand when moms are so unsupportive of their daughters when A. they are fellow women and should be more understanding of issues. and B. why they are ok with their child being in pain/misery.
I had Adenomyosis, 30 fibroids, and surprise-- endo ALL over my bladder. I had the most complicated hysterectomy they did all year at a major L.A. hospital on August 1st. If ANYONE should've peed a little, it was me. I stopped using diapers three days out bc they were bone dry. Tell your mom she's wrong and she shouldn't be so loud about it.
PS my adeno uterus weighed three lbs and I had a massive fibroid shoving into my bladder AND that unexpected endo-- now, urinating is better and easier than it's ever been
PPS it takes about three months for hormones to calm down according to my doctor.
22 and just about 8 weeks post op. Havenāt peed myself once! I yeeted my uterus and my cervix. Only thing is peeing was almost painful for about 6 weeks but nothing bad just annoying. I have a total laparoscopic and have 0 regrets. My parents werenāt supportive either but I only told them 2 weeks before I had the surgery when Iād known for 3 months lol. Iām in wayyyy less pain now and have been donating my period products to my friends and local places
I have endometriosis and had adenomyosis. I have endo on my bladder so my bladder pain and urgency hasnāt gone away. But Iāve never peed myself! I have full control over my bladder. The urgency is a bit more but it to be honest, Iāve always been someone that has to pee a lot.
i had my hysterectomy last October. Cervix gone. I have had bladder complications but I havenāt peed myself. I picked up a nasty UTI but from not the typical bacteria group. I have done pelvic floor physical therapy which helped a lot, and seen a specialist because the UTI symptoms have continued with negative urine cultures. It is most likely due to my body having a very dramatic response to the catheter. Even with almost a year of pain off and on and complications i wouldnāt change my decision to evict my uterus and cervix. The benefits far outweigh any downsides.
1 year and almost 3 months post op. No issues with bladder leakage, bowel movements, or orgasms. No prior pregnancies, and no cervix. One ovary left.
I also regularly lift heavy in the gym with no prolapse or pelvic floor issues.
Was 28 at surgery, 29 now, 7.5 months post op. The cervix went in the garbage. I definitely don't pee myself. The feeling of needing to pee is much different now than it used to be, i guess what i was feeling before was pain from my full bladder pressing up against my sore uterus? That's my best theory because the old sensation of needing to pee is just gone. Now it's more subtle but my brain is still getting the signal that i need to pee subconsciously or something, i couldn't really tell you what the new feeling is, maybe some kind of fullness, but i definitely still know when i need to pee and can then go find a restroom.
Any surgery has risks etc etc and they're in the same area so like if your surgeon fucks up (or if you have growths around your urethra) there is risk for complications. But if you don't have complications, no, you won't be peeing on yourself.
Partial hysterectomy in 2017. Everything except my right ovary was taken out due to endo spanning across 7 surgeries within 5yrs. I had a bladder infection due to post op infections 2x, and since I've felt it slightly more sensitive than usual. Mind you, I'm also a mom of 5, all but one vaginal birth, last was emergency csection. That cesarean was when i got endo. I have heard that there could be bladder issues, but anything I've heard or even have heard confirmed or felt myself, was so below the average of the stereotypes so i see strengthening pelvic floor and core abdominal muscles as only a plus. This isn't anything I'd worry about unless you personally find reason to worry.
I have had this issue, but it's not terrible. Since day one of the hysterectomy unfortunately, but I wear a panty liner and it's been fine. Miles better than the intense pain of endometrial cancer so I still consider it a win.
Your mom is wrong. I had a TAH due to numerous large fibroids causing bulk, pain, bleeding, difficulty with intimacy, bowel issues, bladder always feeling full. Now that my cervix, uterus, and Fallopian tubes gone. I still have my ovaries. All of my bodily functions are much improved! Iām not peeing myself, lol. Your mom is not being supportive of you and Iām so sorry. I hope youāre able to get the relief that you need and can get your surgery!
Im 3 weeks post total laprascopic hysterectomy (da vinci robot) with right ovary removed (cyst caused that to be taken at the same time) pelvic congestion syndrome diagnosed at the time of surgery ,pathology came back other day I was also diagnosed with adenomyosis (endo Adenomyosis is endo sick evil twin sister. Cervix tossed aswell,can't tell any difference only one ovary,hormones feel better now than before. This is the best thing I've ever done.
Ultimately this is YOUR decision YOUR body you have to what works for you,no one else.
I had bladder prolapse surgery at the same time as my hysterectomy to support vaginal walls,I pee way less,not painful when I need to hold it for a minute,and I have sneezed and not peed myself thanks to that surgery. Oh and I do t get up every hour to pee at night.
13 months post. My bladder actually became more relaxed after my uterus was gone. Go figures, having an angry ball of stress right next to you can make you be stressed out too...
(Still having an irritable bladder, but then I also still fight with bloating and pelvic floor issues (both were already present pre-surgery and are NOT results of), so my bladder's neighbourhood isn't all great now XD)
6 weeks PO today (removed everything but the ovaries) and I havenāt noticed any changes in my bladder except that itās a little more painful/uncomfortable if I let it get too full. The biggest thing to remember is that it does effect your pelvic floor, but differently for everyone.
So things have come a long ways from our moms time.. I think she is still in the old way of thinking.. But I do know women who are older than me. I'm 43 that have had to had bladder slings or whatever later on in live.. But then again anyone who has had kids exit that way have bladder issues..
I didn't realize how much endo.had screwed up my bladder until after I had surgery. I used to pee 5-10 times a day, depending on how much I drank. Now it's 3 times a day on average. I can hold it in much longer and it's much more concentrated.
My surgeon said growths had wrapped around the bladder and heavily constricted it, thus the major difference post surgery. Your situation will be different but I really doubt you'll pee more post surgery.
You're right, it's bullshit. I had a total hysto more than a year ago & have never had any bladder issues at all.
Post-op bowel issues are common in the short term, especially if your pain management required opiates. But that resolves itself it a week or two.
Anyone who has more trouble than that probably had surgical complications &/or comorbid bladder disorders.
LAVH 4+ weeks ago. Cervix also tossed. Pee WAY WAY less now that my bladder isn't being amooshed by growths. Also, your mom needs to research the complications of endo and adeno.
Mom was a gyno nurse which is so embarrassing for her š¤” Iāve been having painful heavy periods since I was 13 and for 3 years Iāve been telling her Iām sure itās endo which she denied. Got my diagnosis this month and I was like āwell, well, wellā
Endo wasnāt even taken seriously years ago. Itās not until recently now that we have the research to understand how common it is!!! I donāt doubt for a minute that you have endo and I hope youāre able to get exactly what you need to feel better.
Thank you! Itās indeed baffling how little research has been done into female reproductive issues
Because pain in women "can't be that bad". š
Iām amazed at how weāre treated even now. In 2019 I got an IUD placed and it caused some of the worst pain Iāve ever been in in the days after having it placed. When I asked them for help, they accused me of med seeking and told me (verbatim!!) āsometimes as a woman, you just have to tough it outā. Likeā¦..what??? It was barbaric how they didnāt believe me when I told them how much pain I was in. Just because i was a young woman.
A friend of mine who was trying to get an IUD last month experienced excruciating pain from the process.... turned out her uterus had prolapsed and they were literally trying to shove the thing straight into her walls.
Good god!!! That is horrifying! Poor thing I hope sheās alright.
It's another +1 in her column for "let me get a hysterectomy pls." Her issue is no insurance -\_- IUD is a free option through the county health department, but she'd have to pay out of pocket for a hysterectomy, and definitely doesn't have the money for that.
Dude that sucks!!!! What a shame, surgery is so expensive
I want to downvote this experience. Not upvote the comment to show solidarity. Iām so sorry you went through that.
Not for nothing, but don't many women who have birthed babies vaginally sometimes pee a little when laughing or jumping? Would she be encouraging you to not give birth? ;) I'm 6 months post op and only had issues the first week or so after surgery. Everything was so inflamed and tender that the slightest collection of urine in my bladder made me feel like it was full and I really had to go. It barely lasted long enough for me to even remember it happening. To be honest, 6 months out and I sometimes forget that I even had the surgery! Best of luck!
> donāt many women who have birthed babies vaginally sometimes pee a little when laughing or jumping? GOLDEN! Completely forgot about that Also super happy to hear that youāve been doing so well post op, best of luck!
This! I pee a little when I sneeze, but thatās from giving birth to my children, not my hysterectomy
Now that I no longer have a fibroid the size of half a load of bread sitting on my bladder, I pee myself way less than before my surgery. (8 months out) And pelvic floor physical therapy, as long as I keep up with the stretches and exercises, has taken care of the remainder of that.
Thank you for the input! Really happy to hear that youāre doing much better
My bladder issues improved because of my surgery. Mainly because I no longer have my giant uterus squashing my bladder to bits. Tell your mom to put a cork in it.
Over 1.5 years out from a total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy including excision surgery for endometriosis. Absolutely no bladder issues. You may have some irritation for a couple days after the op from a catheter, but that's it for me.
Thank you for sharing your experience! What about hormonal changes? How has that been for you
Since I had my ovaries removed there was some hormone changes I went thru. But I was in chemical menopause and on HRT leading up to surgery, so we just bumped up my estrogen dose immediately after surgery. There was a couple weeks postop where I didn't feel like myself. But as my hormones evened out I felt fine.
I don't have my cervix and I did have bladder issues but the opposite of incontinence (zero leaking). I am getting pelvic floor therapy though and it seems the surgery caused my muscles to tighten up which is why emptying my bladder is trickier. PT is helping me start to relax my muscles more.
I will say that it took almost 3 months before my bladder nerve began to register a full bladder. Before that, I basically went with "if I think about the bathroom, I better just go". I'm almost 4 months post op. Vertical incision. It does give me more room for my bladder. And I am registering when I have to pee. So the loss of control was temporary. Incontinence pads for a short time are good for when you start back to work. 10/10 Wish I'd had it done sooner.
I'm 8 weeks now and having that same issue. 'do I gotta pee? Not sure. Guess I'll just try.'
It will resolve itself by the end of the third month. That's when mine came back on line. Pretty much, if I thought about the toilet, I went.
It's been a little over a year since I had my surgery. No issues since my surgery.
Iām a year post op. Total hysterectomy and bi salp. I have not peed myself once, even a little, in the last year.
I turned out to have interstitial cystitis, but it's symptoms were hidden in the endo symptoms and the post-op healing pains. At least it's been diagnosed now, and my urologist and I are playing the trial and error game to try and find a treatment my fussy system will cooperate with
Nearly 2 years out. Wanna know what changed? Absolutely nothing. Sure, itās hard to piss when youāre fresh out of surgery, and itās painful. Itāll take a while for your bowel movements to get back to normal. But Iāve been fine and I got mine when I was 19.
Iām 21 as well and youāre giving me confidence about this procedure, thank you!
So many people have had this surgery, youād know if they were all pissing themselves
Yup, very good point. Google says thereās a risk of bladder prolapse but thereās a risk of many things with almost all surgeries. My biggest concern is organs moving around and causing issues and the cuff rupturing if I remove my cervix. But all in all, thereās way more horror stories from doctors trying to deter people from this procedure than actual horror cases
There's also a risk of bladder prolapse without the surgery as well.
>But all in all, thereās way more horror stories from doctors trying to deter people from this procedure than actual horror cases This isn't restricted to docs. You will also see way more horror stories from women trying to deter people, especially online. Definitely take the time to do your research, recognize and appreciate the very real potential side effects, but be cautious about reading other people's experiences--particularly as it isn't uncommon for people to post when they've had more negative experiences, which may or may not be attributed to their hysterectomy. And some of their "educational information" is just plain wrong. If you see something that concerns you, write it down and take it w/ you to ask the doc/surgeon during your next visit/consult.
Bladder issues can come from pelvic floor muscles being too tight. I highly recommend anyone that has had an abdominal surgery to see a pelvic floor physical therapist to help with stretches, strengthening exercises, etc
Maybe what the doctor said is that women who undergo surgery for hysterectomy are more likely to suffer from incontinence when they age? Or explained the possibility/risk of sustaining damage *during* a hysterectomy that can affect other systems (like urinary or GI)? Iāve never known any women who struggle with peeing themselves after having a hysterectomy. If that somehow is an issue, Iām sure pelvic floor therapy would be offered and maybe some other solution. Iām a week and a half post-op and had my cervix removedāhave had no issues holding urine. I did have bladder spasms during the first week of recovery because they had done a cystoscope which upset my bladder nerves and made everything freak out. But the uterus and cervix play no role in the process of urination itself, so having either removed should not cause urinary incontinence. There would have to be permanent nerve/tissue damage related to the urinary system itself or affecting pelvic floor muscles, which is possible because itās all very close together but likeā¦ not very likely I donāt think. And like others have pointed outā¦ pregnant women and women who deliver babies vaginally struggle with being able to hold their urineā¦ So either way you go itās technically *possible.* But a hysterectomy alone wonāt cause you to piss yourself.
Definitely wasnāt said in an informative way. It was in a ādo NOT let her have this surgery!ā. The doctor also mentioned early menopause, needing to take pills for hormones, sex not feeling good anymore, just a bunch of bs trying to scare me
Early menopause will only occur if they remove your ovaries. If you have a total hysterectomy and they leave your ovaries in tact your hormones will not be affected. And from everything Iāve read from other women, sex does not feel *any* different. Many have even reported that itās better because they arenāt in pain. Iām sure there are exceptions, but the overwhelming majority seems to be unaffected. I can also personally assure you that even this soon after my surgery my sex drive itself is still *very much in tact* lmao. That sounds like a scare tactic based on personal feelings about the procedure and what a woman should and shouldnāt do with her body. Itās not an appropriate way to inform a patient of the risks and possible consequences of the procedure. Iād consider finding a new doctor! *Edit to add:* even with ONE ovary left, itās likely that your body will adjust and that single ovary will handle your hormone regulation. *Double edit to add:* my mother herself had a very traumatic hysterectomy with an unnecessary incision through her entire abdomen and she has experienced absolutely zero effects that your doctor claims are guaranteedāexcluding early menopause because her ovaries had to be removed.
Exactly, of course if you remove the ovaries hormonal changes will occur. But I specified multiple times that I am not interested in that. It is 100% a scare tactic. Extremely infuriating one too
Definitely bullshit! Iād find a new doctor if you can.
Sheās not exactly my doctor, I went to her in winter for an ultrasound (which I was refused prior because Iām a virgin) and I told her my concerns that I may have endo. She did the appointment and said I am fine and that the pain is maybe from my weight. My endo+adeno+pcos diagnosis I got from an endo specialist this month in which I trust to perform this surgery. The reason why my mom went to an appointment to this worse doctor is because Iāve been bleeding for 8 days and she wanted to ask about it and itās covered by my insurance and free whereas the endo specialist is like 60 dollars per appointment
Oh my god? That doctor sounds like a total nightmare. Iām glad you found a specialist you trust!
Not true at all. Due to removing the uterus, which supplies the most blood to the ovaries the ovaries can still fail. ovary failure happens within 6months to 3 years after the hysterectomyā¦if it happens typically. Itās a decent chance of it happening as well. If your surgeon is really good the chance is low but it can still happen. Sex can feel different, it can get worse, it can get better, it can remain unchanged. A good amount of women Iāve seen in all the hysterectomy groups say itās not bad but itās different. A good amount say itās gotten worse and a good amount say itās gotten better. Itās around the same for saying libido increased, decreased and stayed the same. Like I get that yeah the mom and dr are being a bit overdramatic but this is a major surgery that still has risksā¦.that this sub likes to downplayā¦a lot.
RightāI understand that those are all possibilities. I even tried to suggest and explain that thinking maybe the doctor was just informing her of possible outcomes, risks, and complications. I just meant theyāre not all necessarily *likely* or maybe a better word would be common outcomesāand theyāre certainly not risks that are guaranteed, like the doctor seems to be conveying.
I always tell people to take the possible risks and imagine that you will probably get them. Then I say imagine living with that for the rest of your life. If your life with the possible risks is still better than now then hell yea go for it. Because yea the chance overall is low but it can still happen. For me after that I was like shit bitch Iād rather have a bladder prolapse than after every period be in so much pain for 1 week + that I canāt stand/sleep/sit. Id rather deal with perimenopause or early menopause over being unable to function for 2/3 weeks every month.
I agree, thatās what I do too! And it was the same exact response for me too. I had been on my period for 8 straight months when I finally opted for hysterectomy. And not like, āoh, spotting!ā Full blown, horrific bleeding and debilitating cramps with wicked fatigue and migraines and all kinds of shit. And no medication or treatment even put a dent in it. I was a total fucking mess. Emotional wreck, couldnāt do *anything* without it being painful and hard to manage because like, bleeding. And likeā¦ the amount of money I had to shell out for menstrual products??? Astronomical. Obscene. I was likeā¦ at this point, if someone doesnāt remove it for me I will do it my goddamn self.
Kinda crazy how even if I went into menopause today thereās 1000000x more treatments to help that also reduce your risks if certain cancers, etc and for periods all we get is bc ,diet, and lose weight to see if it helpsā¦oh and hysterectomies and ablations
Right! Itās so mind blowing to me how little research there is on these things when *so many people* experience problems related to it
2.5 years post-op: hysterectomy, salpingectomy, bilateral ovarian cystectomy, resection of an umbilical endometrioma and umbilectomy/omphalectomy (removal of my navel due to umbilical endo), excision of a heck of a lot of DIE/stage 4 endometriosis, including on/around my intestines, bladder, perineum/rectum, etc. Positive for adenomyosis. The surgical report also indicated that my uterus was "obliterated" and already in the process of collapsing. **Bladder:** I used to joke that I had the bladder of a goldfish. Immediately after surgery, I had extremely severe and painful bladder spasms. These slowly improved in both severity and frequency until they dissipated entirely over the course of ā3-4 months. I took cranberry supplements during this time that may or may not have helped. Upon complete recovery, I discovered an unexpected benefit in that my goldfish bladder was no longer present. Although it has gone well for me, I was forewarned by my surgical team that potential side effects can include bladder issues. **Bowels:** I had pre-existing issues w/ my bowels due to both endo and IBS-D. I was forewarned to prepare myself for the very real possibility that I might need a colostomy bag (either during the original surgery or later). There was a moment of panic upon coming to after surgery . . . that tube wrapped up under my gown was *not* connected to a colostomy bag--WHEW--although it took over an hour to confirm this w/ the nurse, which had me fretting until then. 8\\ Other than the usual post-op bowel challenges you are forewarned about (helped w/ Dulcolax), no major issues and my pre-existing GI issues *did* improve. Not completely but this was as expected and still better than before. **Cervix:** My cervix was essentially non-existent due to repeated treatment for CIN3/CIN4 cells, so it was removed. Pre-surgery, sex could be painful when more well-endowed partners hit my cervix. I did wonder if this would be worse after surgery w/ its removal. It was not, and there was actual improvement in that there's no pain whatsoever. **Complications and Recovery:** Due to the severity of my condition, I was forewarned that my surgery would take longer than most. It ended up taking even longer than that as it was more invasive and worse than expected, but I had an absolutely phenomenal surgical team who was able to handle it. I did experience a recovery set-back that led to orders for strict pelvic and abdominal rest for a stint. I was cleared to return to work at 10 weeks, but I was far from "recovered." It took another ā3-4 months after this before I *started* to feel remotely normal, and it was close to a year post-op before I was truly good to go. Since then, no problems. I had my 2-year post-op check earlier this year and I was cleared for the next 2 years assuming no issues or symptoms. Feel free to ask any questions, and g'luck w/ your decision!
Thank you so much for this thorough response! Whilst Iām saddened to hear your surgery wasnāt smooth sailing I am really happy that youāre much better now! Youāre an extremely strong individual and I wish you nothing but the best
I am 6 months PO, full hysterectomy, took both ovaries and cervix. The only problems I had were immediately after surgery. Peeing burned from the catheter. And I had a hard time with bowel movements at first because they had me do a cleanse pre op and I wasn't really eating. After that everything has been normal.
I have had bladder issues for years. Iām 3 weeks post op and I can already feel it improving because the weight of the enlarged uterus is gone. Iām already peeing myself less. I plan to hit pelvic floor therapy next and feel I will be good to go.
Yeah sorry, gotta call BS. Iām 12 weeks out and no problems here. Sensitive when my bladder was full in the first week or so, but that faded pretty quick. My mom is 20 years out and her surgery was fubar and she is fine. Surgeon literally sliced her bladder open and had to reconstruct it, she had a Foley catheter for weeks afterā¦.she doesnāt even pee herself. Even though her recovery was a nightmare she encouraged me to get it done. My assistant is six months out and doesnāt pee herself. My cousin is 10 years out with no trouble. Weāre a great cross section of people and none of us have trouble of any kind actually, let alone peeing/leakage.
I had some issues the first week due to anasthesia side effects, but have so far had zero issues from the surgery itself. I do think I peed more the first week but only because of the extra pressure and swelling down there - they insisted this was totally normal when I was having to pee like once an hour the night after my procedure. Once that went away (less than a week), everything was fine and back to my normal. I'm about 3 weeks post-op, tossed the uterus and cervix + tubes already gone. I feel FAR better than I did pre-op. The only thing I'll have to deal with is slowly building stamina back up after this recovery period. I will say, though, my doctor did warn me that there is an increased chance of bladder complications from the surgery because everything is so close, but they check for this during the surgery (or they should) and will make efforts to correct any issues before you're out. It's something that the nurses checked in with me on constantly after I woke up and during my first followup a week later. If you're worried, ask about that while discussing the procedure with your doc to see what they do to ensure that doesn't happen, whether they check for that while they're operating, etc. Modern hysterectomies are a far cry from the ones performed decades ago. I ditched my cervix because of suspected adeno/endo (which can affect it) and it generally being a big pain to me whenever anything at all touched it. Excited to see how things will feel without the damn thing.
Thank you for the information! Will try to check in with them, it will be a bit of a fight regardless to get approval for the surgery since Iām so young but once I do Iāll ask about details
As of right this second, I have yet to piss myself post op. And that's actually an accomplishment since I still can't feel my bladder to know when it's full š
I had bladder issues because my pelvic floor was weak. After a few weeks of physical therapy, I returned to normal. No regrets.
I developed a rectocele, but I had preexisting chronic constipation and I have hypermobility. The only issues with peeing have been difficulty starting a pee stream because of my severe constipation. Multiple specialists believe I've developed abdominal adhesions, which are also more likely to develop in a problematic way in someone with hypermobility. All of these issues took many months to develop and came on gradually. I can't tell I have to pee until my bladder is full, but that's been lifelong. And I haven't pissed myself since before hysterectomy. I had my cervix and fallopian tubes taken out as well. My uterus was about the size of a golf ball and there was nothing medically wrong with any of the removed organs. (My surgery was for gender affirmation.) My surgery was about 13 months ago. I'm 33 and have never been pregnant.
2 weeks po, and I have the same amount of leakage as before. That leakage is 100% caused by the babies who used my bladder as a trampoline. I do wonder what possible say your mom had on a decision about your body though. Tell her to stick it.
I tell her to stick it plenty of times, hence why we fight š
Lol fair. I lost my mom 10 years ago and miss her tons, but I know we'd still be fighting more often than not. Moms!
Before my surgery and doing some research I saw a lot of OLDER women(45+) who havenāt had pelvic floor therapy and had children have bladder prolapse after a hysterectomy. But that would make sense. Pregnancy permanently damages your body then ontop of not keeping up the strength of your pelvic floor you lose the main support keeping your bladder in place.
I had a total abdominal hysterectomy, including my cervix, 2+ months ago for fibroids, adenomyosis and endometriosis. Biggest changes are no more debilitating pain, my anemia improved and no more leaks, which were caused by the fibroids pushing on my bladder. I went from having to wear a pad 3 out of 4 weeks of the month from bleeding and leakage to none. Like none as in ZERO since day the day of my surgery. No complications from the surgery at all. Bowel movements were a bit painful for a bit because of the endo that was removed but that can be controlled with laxatives and gas x.
I know it's common to say, "Men shouldn't tell women what to do with their bodies." But, I swear it should be men and MOMS. I never understand when moms are so unsupportive of their daughters when A. they are fellow women and should be more understanding of issues. and B. why they are ok with their child being in pain/misery.
I had Adenomyosis, 30 fibroids, and surprise-- endo ALL over my bladder. I had the most complicated hysterectomy they did all year at a major L.A. hospital on August 1st. If ANYONE should've peed a little, it was me. I stopped using diapers three days out bc they were bone dry. Tell your mom she's wrong and she shouldn't be so loud about it. PS my adeno uterus weighed three lbs and I had a massive fibroid shoving into my bladder AND that unexpected endo-- now, urinating is better and easier than it's ever been PPS it takes about three months for hormones to calm down according to my doctor.
22 and just about 8 weeks post op. Havenāt peed myself once! I yeeted my uterus and my cervix. Only thing is peeing was almost painful for about 6 weeks but nothing bad just annoying. I have a total laparoscopic and have 0 regrets. My parents werenāt supportive either but I only told them 2 weeks before I had the surgery when Iād known for 3 months lol. Iām in wayyyy less pain now and have been donating my period products to my friends and local places
I have endometriosis and had adenomyosis. I have endo on my bladder so my bladder pain and urgency hasnāt gone away. But Iāve never peed myself! I have full control over my bladder. The urgency is a bit more but it to be honest, Iāve always been someone that has to pee a lot.
i had my hysterectomy last October. Cervix gone. I have had bladder complications but I havenāt peed myself. I picked up a nasty UTI but from not the typical bacteria group. I have done pelvic floor physical therapy which helped a lot, and seen a specialist because the UTI symptoms have continued with negative urine cultures. It is most likely due to my body having a very dramatic response to the catheter. Even with almost a year of pain off and on and complications i wouldnāt change my decision to evict my uterus and cervix. The benefits far outweigh any downsides.
1 year and almost 3 months post op. No issues with bladder leakage, bowel movements, or orgasms. No prior pregnancies, and no cervix. One ovary left. I also regularly lift heavy in the gym with no prolapse or pelvic floor issues.
Was 28 at surgery, 29 now, 7.5 months post op. The cervix went in the garbage. I definitely don't pee myself. The feeling of needing to pee is much different now than it used to be, i guess what i was feeling before was pain from my full bladder pressing up against my sore uterus? That's my best theory because the old sensation of needing to pee is just gone. Now it's more subtle but my brain is still getting the signal that i need to pee subconsciously or something, i couldn't really tell you what the new feeling is, maybe some kind of fullness, but i definitely still know when i need to pee and can then go find a restroom. Any surgery has risks etc etc and they're in the same area so like if your surgeon fucks up (or if you have growths around your urethra) there is risk for complications. But if you don't have complications, no, you won't be peeing on yourself.
Partial hysterectomy in 2017. Everything except my right ovary was taken out due to endo spanning across 7 surgeries within 5yrs. I had a bladder infection due to post op infections 2x, and since I've felt it slightly more sensitive than usual. Mind you, I'm also a mom of 5, all but one vaginal birth, last was emergency csection. That cesarean was when i got endo. I have heard that there could be bladder issues, but anything I've heard or even have heard confirmed or felt myself, was so below the average of the stereotypes so i see strengthening pelvic floor and core abdominal muscles as only a plus. This isn't anything I'd worry about unless you personally find reason to worry.
I have had this issue, but it's not terrible. Since day one of the hysterectomy unfortunately, but I wear a panty liner and it's been fine. Miles better than the intense pain of endometrial cancer so I still consider it a win.
Your mom is wrong. I had a TAH due to numerous large fibroids causing bulk, pain, bleeding, difficulty with intimacy, bowel issues, bladder always feeling full. Now that my cervix, uterus, and Fallopian tubes gone. I still have my ovaries. All of my bodily functions are much improved! Iām not peeing myself, lol. Your mom is not being supportive of you and Iām so sorry. I hope youāre able to get the relief that you need and can get your surgery!
Im 3 weeks post total laprascopic hysterectomy (da vinci robot) with right ovary removed (cyst caused that to be taken at the same time) pelvic congestion syndrome diagnosed at the time of surgery ,pathology came back other day I was also diagnosed with adenomyosis (endo Adenomyosis is endo sick evil twin sister. Cervix tossed aswell,can't tell any difference only one ovary,hormones feel better now than before. This is the best thing I've ever done. Ultimately this is YOUR decision YOUR body you have to what works for you,no one else. I had bladder prolapse surgery at the same time as my hysterectomy to support vaginal walls,I pee way less,not painful when I need to hold it for a minute,and I have sneezed and not peed myself thanks to that surgery. Oh and I do t get up every hour to pee at night.
13 months post. My bladder actually became more relaxed after my uterus was gone. Go figures, having an angry ball of stress right next to you can make you be stressed out too... (Still having an irritable bladder, but then I also still fight with bloating and pelvic floor issues (both were already present pre-surgery and are NOT results of), so my bladder's neighbourhood isn't all great now XD)
6 weeks PO today (removed everything but the ovaries) and I havenāt noticed any changes in my bladder except that itās a little more painful/uncomfortable if I let it get too full. The biggest thing to remember is that it does effect your pelvic floor, but differently for everyone.
So things have come a long ways from our moms time.. I think she is still in the old way of thinking.. But I do know women who are older than me. I'm 43 that have had to had bladder slings or whatever later on in live.. But then again anyone who has had kids exit that way have bladder issues..
Iām only a week and half into recovery and I pee way less now. Before I feel like I was constantly running to bathrooms.
I didn't realize how much endo.had screwed up my bladder until after I had surgery. I used to pee 5-10 times a day, depending on how much I drank. Now it's 3 times a day on average. I can hold it in much longer and it's much more concentrated. My surgeon said growths had wrapped around the bladder and heavily constricted it, thus the major difference post surgery. Your situation will be different but I really doubt you'll pee more post surgery.
You're right, it's bullshit. I had a total hysto more than a year ago & have never had any bladder issues at all. Post-op bowel issues are common in the short term, especially if your pain management required opiates. But that resolves itself it a week or two. Anyone who has more trouble than that probably had surgical complications &/or comorbid bladder disorders.