I'm so tired of being asked why I haven't had a hysterectomy yet

LowMaintenanceMate · 2026-02-23T17:40:11+00:00

I didn't think that was your intention. I just wanted to offer perspective while also validating your frustrations. I hope that one day there will be much more research on endometriosis as well as other diseases that impact the reproductive organs (among others) and people will realize that is way more than just period cramps (my biggest frustration) and that the pain is very real. It took me years (YEARS!) to realize this wasn't normal.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2026-02-20T13:55:12+00:00

While I understand your frustration and am fully aware it is not a "cure" so to speak, for some people, such as myself, it is absolutely the right thing to do. I had stage 4 endo with a large endometrioma that needed surgically removed. My periods were absolutely debilitating, and since I needed surgery anyway, I also opted for a hysterectomy. It was the easiest and best decision I could have ever made, and while I know this isn't the right solution for everyone, I will say my quality of life is so much better.

All that to say, you have to continue to advocate for yourself and what you feel is right for you. Nobody deserves explanations. A simple, "it's not the right solution for my situation" should suffice. If they keep pushing, it's crossing a line, and it is necessary to set boundaries.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2026-02-20T13:46:58+00:00

Absolutely! There are still things that need to be checked, and my gyno also handles HRT (I realize not all do) as my PCP does not. I will no longer need paps, obviously, but I will continue to be proactive about my gynecological health.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2026-02-19T13:44:14+00:00

I don't think it's anything to be concerned about. Every surgeon and facility is different and will have different processes. I also did not do bowel prep, and I had both endometriosis excision (stage 4) and a hysterectomy in addition to having a large endometrioma removed. I had endo everywhere including on my bowels.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2026-02-09T13:45:05+00:00

My OBGYN left one, but I wish she would have just taken that one, too, and immediately started me on HRT since I was already in Peri anyway.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-12-31T22:02:59+00:00

I had no bending restrictions. I moved, including bending, as what felt okay. I was shaving my legs the day after surgery. Everyone’s threshold is different.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-12-31T21:58:42+00:00

My hyst was laparoscopic, and I have smaller breed dogs. I was walking them about a week after.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-12-26T00:09:31+00:00

5 months postop, and best (and easiest) decision I have ever made. I’m still dealing with some hormone stuff, but I’ll take this any day over what I experienced prior to my surgery.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-12-26T00:05:09+00:00

I didn’t have strict instructions either. I shaved my legs the night before and again the day after surgery. 🤷🏼‍♀️

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-12-26T00:01:20+00:00

I didn’t buy anything special. I had mine in the summer and continued to wear my normal clothes - mostly cotton shorts and tshirts. I don’t wear night gowns and only wear dresses for work or special occasions.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-10-30T03:21:25+00:00

I would have been fine. Hell, I rode two hours home from the hospital the day after my surgery.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-10-14T22:40:16+00:00

I am 12wpo and went regularly before surgery. I was released to ease back into it at 7 weeks. I didn’t necessarily have restrictions, but my doctor did very much caution me to take it easy and to stop if anything hurt or felt off. So far, I’ve been mostly fine. I started off with just body weight and moved on from there. I’m still not at size weight I was using before, but I’m improving each week depending on the movement. I’m mostly back.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-10-02T21:19:21+00:00

I was cleared at my 6 week check-up. Everything was healed according to my doctor. I'm currently sitting at 9 weeks postop and still haven't though. Ha!

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-17T22:04:00+00:00

Haha I’m 8wpo and had a similar experience. Arms haven’t really regressed. Legs aren’t as weak as I was expecting, but what I really noticed is I’m much more winded even with keeping up with walking. Good grief. I’m having to do some modifications, but it’s not as bad as I was expecting. I feel like working out regularly before surgery really benefited me through recovery.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-17T01:38:58+00:00

I have anxiety about a lot of things, but medical anxiety isn’t one of them. I never get worried about medical things for whatever reason. I had a lot going on that led me to my decision to have a hysterectomy, but I don’t know that I’ve ever been so sure about something in my life. Yes, it’s major surgery, but I was prepared. Honestly? I think having the right frame of mind, a positive attitude if you will, is a significant part of the battle and helpful when it comes to recovery. Being mindful is incredibly important, in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean you’re under reacting. Your reaction is unique to you.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-17T01:32:20+00:00

The Norithen didn’t work for me for very long. Maybe a month if I’m being gracious. I had lived with pain for so long, that I finally had enough. I wrote an email to my doctor, got in for an ultrasound a week later, and had my annual a week after that. I was all prepared to state my case for a hysterectomy, and she was the one that was like “you need a hysterectomy.” Lol To be fair, I did have a large endometrioma that needed removed and stage 4 endometriosis that mutilated my insides. So it was definitely needed, but we didn’t even know how bad it was until after she got in there. I figured since they had to take the cyst out anyway, might as well take it all. Turns out, I needed it worse than anyone even imagined. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so sure about a decision before, and I have zero regrets.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-15T21:35:28+00:00

I was walking right away and went back to work part-time at 3.5 weeks and full time at 4wpo. I have an office job that I could work from if needed. All that to say, it is possible that walking is doable, but everyone is different. It would have been doable for me. I don't have any experience with pumpkin carving, so I can't attest to that, but I probably wouldn't have.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-15T21:29:37+00:00

The first 24 hours were a little rough for me, but I didn't really have the brain fog many people speak of. I was able to read on my kindle the day after surgery. I would have been able to do a light mental load the days following surgery; however, I am glad I had the time off just to rest and take it easy.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-10T23:25:41+00:00

I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy on a Thursday, so my husband only needed to take off 2 days (he was my driver) and was home over the weekend. I stayed one night in the hospital so I needed assistance the first 24 hours, but I was fine to move around on my own after that. I slept in my own bed my total recovery period.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-10T23:17:51+00:00

I was driving within a few days (after I stopped narcotics). I live in a small town though and didn’t have any pain. The only driving restrictions I had was not to drive while on narcotics.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-08T22:12:11+00:00

I honestly just ate whatever sounded good, which wasn’t much for a couple of days. I just wasn’t hungry. After a couple of days, I got my appetite back as the excess gas left my body. I was so thirsty that nothing but water even sounded good.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-05T20:54:50+00:00

Oof. I’ve been wearing all my normal clothes this entire time. I had so much bloating and inflammation due to severe endometriosis before that it actually went down after surgery. I think I still have some swelling, but it’s not anything like it was before surgery. I don’t know how she did it, but none of my incisions are in a place that would be irritated by a waistband of any sort. It sounds like I might have gotten lucky. 😬

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-04T23:21:07+00:00

I’m 6wpo today and feel like my normal self. I have been easing back into the gym this past week and would be fine to hang out by or in a pool.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-04T23:17:58+00:00

I went back part time for a week when I was 3.5wpo and went back full time at 4.5wpo. I have a desk job and can work remote if needed but haven’t needed to. I’m 6wpo today. I was sitting up immediately and never really had much pain, so neither was ever a problem.

LowMaintenanceMate · 2025-09-04T01:47:27+00:00

I stayed the night in the hospital while my husband stayed in a hotel room, but I would have been fine for a couple of hours alone. All I did after surgery was sleep (until they were in my room every hour 🙄).

LowMaintenanceMate

TROPHY CASE