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Showing results for tags 'hysterectomy'.
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I've been going through some "stuff" for several weeks now. It started with a distended, hard belly and lots of discomfort. After visiting my GP, getting bloodwork and an x-ray, then being sent out for ultrasound and CT scan, it was discovered that I have a huge ovarian cyst. The thing is literally the size and shape of a rugby ball. I feel like I have a rugby ball in me. There's more, but I'll spare all the details. The verdict: The cyst must come out. My gyn/surgeon feels that "everything else" must come out, too. I agree with her on the ovaries - both of them (long story, too many details). This will mean "instant menopause" when I get them out! She also wants to take out the fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix. I'm opposed to having the uterus and cervix taken out just to prevent the possibility of future cancer. The cyst is almost assuredly benign (preliminary tests show this). There is no history of cancer with me or my family. My 98-year-old granny still lives in her own home and is going strong, for pete's sake. I'm fighting the uterus/cervix removal idea. I have many reasons for this, including sexual function and the ability to have the "deep" vaginal orgasms I have. These actually involve the contraction of the uterus and stimulation of the cervix...without those organs, no more (or very diminished) "deep" orgasms. Yeah, there are still clitoral orgasms (inferior to the deep ones I have), but even those may be diminished, especially due to the loss of hormones. Even my sex drive itself is at risk. I fear above all that I'll lose interest!!!!! The loss of my libido would be devastating to me, not to mention my husband. Surgery is this Thursday. I'm studying everything I can get my hands on, frantically absorbing it all. I have to make decisions about things like HRT. I'm faced with many articles and tons of information. It's overwhelming. Then, there is the long recovery and who-knows-what with emotions, mood swings out of the blue, all sorts of physiological changes, and so much more. Meanwhile, our swing profiles are on "invisible" now. There is no way to know how long I'll be out of commission. No way to know when we two will have our sex life back on track (hoping we'll get it back like it is now). Apparently the surgical recovery before any sort of penetration can be attempted (and then only carefully) is 6 weeks. Many articles I've been reading indicate that it can be months or even a year to get back on track sexually. I really hate that for both myself and my husband!! I've read everything here in the archives that I could find. Most of the best threads on menopause and hysterectomy are much older threads. I read many valuable tips and facts (some quite sad - some more optimistic). The most helpful of all to me were written by ElusiveBiFem. However, they were all pretty old. I don't think this subject has been here much in quite awhile. Are there any women here who've been through menopause, whether natural (gradual) or surgically-induced? Anybody had their ovaries surgically removed? How has it affected your sex life? Your life in general? Any tips to share? Any thoughts for me? Anybody still swinging who's been through this? How long did it take you to get back in the saddle with swinging? In what ways has it affected your swinging life? Thanks for anything you all can offer.
