Patient Stories

It’s been four months since I had my partial hysterectomy. When I told my friends and family that I was having the surgery, they all seemed shocked and sad for me, but I was actually looking forward to it. I had been living with pain for a long time and knowing that I was going to keep my cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes helped me feel like I was going to have a really positive experience.

I understand that some women have doubts and concerns when they start thinking about hysterectomy, but I can honestly say I was 100% sure it was right for me. I was nervous about what life would be like immediately after surgery, but in my mind the recovery time outweighed all the days I had spent at home in pain or bleeding. Of course I asked my doctor a ton of questions, and she answered them (and then some!) so I felt totally prepped on what to expect. I was relieved to know that I wouldn’t go into menopause until a more age-appropriate time.

Lucky for me, I was only in the hospital for one full day and night. After I woke up from the surgery, I was really stiff and sore but I was able to walk (although slowly) within a couple of hours. I walked two more times before I was able to go home. Once we got there, I was so glad to be home! I was stiff and slightly uncomfortable but able to sleep well enough on my side that I felt pretty rested. I did have some stomach pain and gas, so I drank a lot of hot tea and tried to walk around the house when I was feeling up for it. By week two, I was half as stiff and all my stomach discomfort had subsided.

Four months later and I am feeling really great. I am so glad I had the surgery and part of me wishes I hadn’t waited so long, but I really wasn’t ready until I was ready. I had been living in pain for a long time but when the bleeding got so out of control that I had to get a blood transfusion, I just knew I couldn’t live like that anymore. Hysterectomy was a great choice for me. I hope my story helps someone who is thinking about her options.

I have always known that more than anything in life, I wanted to be a mom. When my husband and I began trying for a baby, we were worried that my history of abnormal bleeding and fibroids would mean we would have trouble getting pregnant. We tried for two years before we began fertility treatments. We were so lucky to get pregnant with twins and after a pretty rough pregnancy (20 weeks of bed rest), we now have two beautiful 4 year old girls. Sixteen months later, I was incredibly surprised to learn that I was pregnant again! Our girls now have a little brother and our family feels wonderfully complete.

My doctor and I had been discussing surgical treatment for my abnormal uterine bleeding for a long time, but it just wasn’t an option for me before kids. Once our son was born and my symptoms returned again, I began to start thinking more seriously about hysterectomy surgery. I didn’t want to put it off any longer because I wanted to be totally present for my kids and not have off days when my pain or bleeding meant I couldn’t be the best mom possible.

I was pretty nervous for the surgery but there’s something about being a mom that makes you feel like a superwoman! I knew I had to be strong and that having a hysterectomy was the best choice for both my family and me. Thankfully I have an amazing mom and sister who helped me through my recovery and I was able to rest when I needed to and I was back to being Mom as soon as possible.

I’m telling you my story so that you know you can do this. It sounds so scary and it is a big decision but it really can improve the quality of your life. I know that the surgery is helping me reach my potential every day.

Finding out I am BRCA 1 positive is one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever been through. No one finds out on accident. My Nana died of ovarian cancer three years ago. In the process of her illness, it came out that there was additional family history. Then just one year later, my mom was also diagnosed. As a result, my sister and I were both tested and are both BRCA 1 positive. After receiving that result, I had both a mammogram and pelvic ultrasound every six months with the hope that if there was any cancer, we would catch it early.

My doctor pushed hard for an oophorectomy and hysterectomy. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her, it was just really tough news for me to receive. I am Mom to two young girls and a busy professional. I have spent my life developing my career and raising my daughters who are the loves of my life and this whole experience was just the biggest curve ball anyone could have ever thrown at me. I had absolutely no desire to have hysterectomy surgery but I did desire to be around for my girls as long as possible, so I made the decision to have the hysterectomy with oophorectomy.

I won’t say I’m glad that I did it, because I wish I wasn’t BRCA 1 positive. I wish no one was BRCA 1 positive. But I will say that making the decision to undergo hysterectomy surgery was empowering, because I knew I was making a bold move for my future. I love my life and I am not done living it – not by a million miles. My hysterectomy surgery was more than physical… I had some spiritual and emotional recovering to do as well. When I emerged from the whole process I had an inner peace that I hadn’t had since before we lost my grandmother. I no longer live in fear of cancer and for me the surgery was worth that peace of mind.