Taking the decision for abdominal subtotal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy – Gill’s story

The post Taking the decision for abdominal subtotal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy – Gill’s story appeared first on Hysterectomy Association. I had an abdominal subtotal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy just over 3 months ago. It took me 1 ¾ years from diagnosis to making a decision to have a hysterectomy. I hope my reflections might help others who are going through this journey. I suppose my periods started getting heavier 3 or 4 years ago. It’s funny how the volume of bleeding goes up slowly without you noticing how bad it’s become. Just over 2 years ago I was very tired and I asked my GP to do a blood test which came back as anaemic. The iron tablets prescribed made me uncomfortably constipated and whilst taking them I noticed a lump low down in my abdomen. I wondered if this was my constipated bowel, but it didn’t go away after the iron tablets. My periods had also lengthened and become unpredictable. So I went to the GP who referred me to a consultant gynaecologist. I have private health insurance and I saw the consultant that evening. He took my history, examined me, and I had an ultrasound. He diagnosed a fibroid uterus the size of a 16-week pregnancy (the lump) and said a hysterectomy was, essentially, my only option. I wasn’t that surprised as my aunt had also had fibroids and a hysterectomy at 42, but his blunt manner left me reeling. A follow-up email in response to all the questions I had (I had really struggled to take the news in)...
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Your Stories bilateral salpingo oophorectomy total abdominal hysterectomy Source Type: news