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Hysterectomy is a serious medical procedure that poses unique, comprehensive, and profound repercussions to women who undergo the surgery. Aside from surgical risks, a hysterectomy can result in various physical and emotional symptoms that can shape a woman's personal well-being, mentality, and life. As there is much at stake with this procedure, ensuring that you are prepared for what may come is of invaluable importance to strengthening your mindset for your life after a hysterectomy and to making this formative experience positive and productive.
Physical & Emotional Side Effects
The removal of the uterus, whether partially or entirely, as well as the removal of other reproductive structures, can create various physical and emotional side effects. Although these side effects can vary, some of the most common symptoms after a hysterectomy include:
The ways in which you perceive, adapt to, and deal with these effects can play a prominent role in how they impact your life. Although new changes, especially new hormonal changes, will certainly create real, tangible effects, they can be managed and overcome successfully. All women respond differently, and being prepared for these symptoms can help you as you consider your treatment options and as you move forward with your life after surgery. If these symptoms interfere with your ability to engage in daily activities, then you should consult your doctor. A number of effective treatment options are available to help you manage or eliminate these symptoms.
Grief and the Sensation of Loss
Grief is a term used almost exclusively to describe the sensation of loss, of losing something or someone, or having something taken away. As such, grief is an overwhelmingly common response to hysterectomy surgery. Although many women do encounter grief, it is not a definitive, automatic symptom. We see the numerous ways in which different people respond to loss and we see that it does not always have to be a negative experience. This means that, ultimately, you have the ability to understand that this experience is simply an experience, that you can choose to accept it, and that you have the choice to use it as a source of newfound positivity.
Emotions are incredibly difficult to analyze. What we know in context of a hysterectomy surgery, however, is that a woman's emotions are strongly linked to ideas, beliefs, and preconceived notions about the female reproductive organs, about health, motherhood, and pregnancy, and about personal relationships and concerns with sexual enjoyment. These are, in many cases, what women associate with being a female, but they are not the only things.
Allowing Time to Heal
As women who undergo a hysterectomy learn more about themselves and about how they define being a woman, many of them find that they are simply undergoing a "healing process" that entails far more than physical recuperation alone. You will learn how to understand new physical and emotional changes, how they impact your life, and how you are not defined by any prescriptive notions. As time passes, women begin to feel like their normal selves or, as is often the case, like stronger women who have been shaped for the better by this experience.
The human mind is an infinitely powerful mechanism that we use to perceive our feelings and filter changes happening to our physical being into sensations we are familiar with and can understand. Although much has yet to be learned about the capabilities of the mind, there is no doubt that making the effort to think positively can improve the way in which you frame this experience and how it affects your daily life. You are still a woman if you have had a hysterectomy. You always will be.
Reaching Out for Support
As awareness throughout the general public and medical community increases, women across the world are able to access amazing networks of support. From speaking openly with friends and family to speaking with women who have experienced the same feelings as you, you can better understand how you respond to life after a hysterectomy and how the people you surround yourself with and the things you do can improve your mindset. At Hysterectomy.com, we are fully invested in providing women throughout the nation and the world with access to the support they need and deserve.
We offer you the opportunity to voice any questions or concerns you may have directly to a world-renowned specialist, Dr. Tamer Seckin, and the chance to connect with other women on our message boards who have also undergone hysterectomy surgery and navigated the healing process. Complete a contact form today or visit our website's forums to learn more.
