I'm considering having the ablation done because I'm tired of periods. But I don't know that I'm yet mentally ready to really be done having babies though, let's face it, at this point it would take a star in the East and a visit from an angel.

Susan - please yell, "Get out get out GET OUT!" as you get wheeled into surgery.

Susan W., and all, it's been 20 years since I had my hysterectomy, and I still smile every time I walk by the "feminine hygiene" aisle without having to buy anything. Well worth it.

Hi, I'm Bennett. I mostly lurk, posting occasionally in Literary or if cats are mentioned somewhere. I live in Texas, am another librarian, and currently have two cats. Nothing much else interesting, sadly.

Susan - please yell, "Get out get out GET OUT!" as you get wheeled into surgery.

I wouldn't be surprised if my doctor got the reference...

"Hyster sisters" is in fact a website for women about hysterectomies. Lots of useful information, and a big forum. I haven't had a hysterectomy (yet) but I was diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia about a year ago, and that's the recommended treatment. Instead I got an IUD and that seems to have done the trick for a bit.

My ob had an early hyst for the same reason I did, and she was great. One query about my feelings on never having (bio) children, to which I replied with a fervent "I am totally fine with that" and it was scheduled right away.

Bennett, I also sail through feminine hygiene aisles with a happy song in my heart. Which I sing whenever I fold my pretty panties that I can wear without fear every day in a month, and wash my non-bloodstained sheets.

Not to mention it's given me time to go from, "Wow, surgery=scary! No more uterus=strange," to "So damn sick of this get it out out OUT."

Have you considered laproscopy? I had fibroids removed that way and my oh so tactful doctor* said "you know, you're 38 and unmarried, it would be easier to just do a hysterectomy". Point being that the fibroid removal was very easy. I felt fine in 3-4 days.

*my regular OB/GYN had warned me that he was a great surgeon, but didn't have a good bedside manner. I called my guy after the appointment and said "I see what you mean"

I had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago for stage IV endometriosis. I should have done it much earlier! So nice to be rid of the pain, blood loss, and headaches.

I had a hysterectomy in February, and while the surgery was no fun, my awesome doctor gave me pictures. And, since I was home for two weeks and had plenty of painkillers, I quit coffee.

I guess that is the first part of my update - Still living just outside of DC, at the same University, but with the top job and all the headaches of budget cuts, etc., but with a Dean who seems to totally appreciate me and the problems. Some days I would love to leave, others NSM. The DH is still trying to rid the world of weapons, so we have been able to travel once or twice a year and our 7 year old has been to 9 countries, which is a very, very different childhood than either of us had. We love our little town, and we started hosting a pot luck on the First Friday of every month for the families with kids at the bus stop that has expanded to many more -- and which people now volunteer to host themselves.

The 7 year old is in 2nd grade, loves math, her horseback riding lessons, having sleepovers, reading, and bugging her cousin hippocampus to put her in a book.

Have you considered laproscopy? I had fibroids removed that way and my oh so tactful doctor* said "you know, you're 38 and unmarried, it would be easier to just do a hysterectomy". Point being that the fibroid removal was very easy. I felt fine in 3-4 days.

We don't think it's just the fibroids. I've always tended to heavy and sometimes painful periods without any apparent underlying cause (and believe me, given my tendency to health paranoia, I made sure to get thoroughly tested), and it's gotten worse the last few years. What it finally came down to is that I'm 45, am completely sure I don't want more biological children even if my blood pressure issues didn't make it hella high risk, and for all we know natural menopause is another 5-10 years away for me, so let's get this done so my life will no longer feel like it's being ruled by unpredictable bleeding spells.

(Though I'm sure if the fibroids were larger and seemed more likely to be the main root cause of my issues, my doctor would've recommended that route. She's been my gyn for about five years now, and I trust her judgment.)

I had a hysterectomy in February, and while the surgery was no fun, my awesome doctor gave me pictures. And, since I was home for two weeks and had plenty of painkillers, I quit coffee.

If you don't mind my asking, how painful was the recovery process? Like, am I being too optimistic when I think, "Two weeks off work where I have to take it easy! Time to catch up on my reading and binge-watch some of the shows I've missed over the past 10 years or so!"

The DH is still trying to rid the world of weapons, so we have been able to travel once or twice a year and our 7 year old has been to 9 countries, which is a very, very different childhood than either of us had. We love our little town, and we started hosting a pot luck on the First Friday of every month for the families with kids at the bus stop that has expanded to many more -- and which people now volunteer to host themselves.

This all sounds so lovely!