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big op - been offered an open hysterectomy to remove fibroids. Has anyone else gone through this?

RachRaspberry13
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I have suffered with fibroids all my menstrual life. I am now 52 and now I'm offered an open hysterectomy. So many fibroids ranging in size and in awkward places that they can't do key hole. Has anyone else experienced this? I haven't had a bleed for 5 months but still have pains, inflammation and groin pain affecting my walk. Bladder feels constantly pinched. I think they thought by now menopause would sort this but clearly it hasn't and they've offered to do this. I am just concerned it's got so bad they have to do it now. Been told recovery around 8-12 weeks? Just feel this is not normal?someone reassure me - has this happened to anyone else? 

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    Hi RachRaspberry13 and a warm welcome to our forum, 

    I am so sorry to hear you have suffered with fibroids for all this time - it must have caused you quite a bit of trouble and discomfort and I can imagine you are torn between wanting to find a solution to this ongoing issue and being a bit apprehensive about the prospect of having an open hysterectomy. The NHS website has useful information on what happens during a hysterectomy and how it's performed and you can also find out more there about recovery. 

    There are many members of our forum who have had a hysterectomy before and I hope that they will come and say hello and share their personal experience with you. 

    Wishing you the best of luck for the procedure - I hope it will all go well for you.

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Hi

    I'm really sorry to hear about your pain and suffering, I hope you are able to get some good advice and make the best decision for you! I'll be following along if that's okay with you  .

    I actually came to this forum for a completely different reason but I thought I'd pop in to your thread whilst I'm here. I also have a long history of fibroids - I had a laparoscopic myomectomy in early 2011, but by the time I got pregnant with my first child in October of the same year, the fibroids had returned with a vengeance.

    I've now had two children and highly unlikely to have any more (not by choice - I was widowed in 2015 and I'm not getting any younger but hope springs eternal...) and my fibroids are now enormous (can see/feel some of them through my skin) and I look about 5 months pregnant. My GP mentioned a hysterectomy to me and I am not keen. I had an ovary removed a few years ago (14½cm cyst) - open surgery - and honestly that was stressful enough, plus i have another big surgery coming up soon so the last thing i want is more surgery and more months of recovery (although it would be nice to get my abdomen back to normal i guess).

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