I’m 35 years old and have recently had an elective hysterectomy with the recommendation from my gynecologist.

By Kristie Harris

I got my first period when I was 11-12 years old and had severe pain and bleeding for as long as I can remember.
In my teen years I was put on the pill and tried numerous different ones to help ease some pain and bleeding, however none of them worked. Any doctor I saw simply told me I “needed to try a new one” and that I “needed to lose weight for them to be more effective.”
When I was 19 I was diagnosed with CIN3, and underwent an operation to remove the growing cells that could have become cancerous. Since having that operation I was considered high risk, so I have religiously had Pap smears every 6-12 months to ensure everything was ‘’normal.’’
I had always had really heavy periods; the cramping and pain would stop me in my tracks for at least a week or two, or even up to a month - sometimes more! I was always told “this is normal” and “I should take ponstan or panadol to help ease the bleeding and pain.”
I had my son at 28 years old in 2015.
It was an incredibly difficult pregnancy, as I was also dealing with the breakup of my fiancé and me. I left him as he was violent; he didn’t want me to have my child. I haven’t heard from him since I was 6 months pregnant, and I did the whole pregnancy with my mum and brothers supporting me. I still to this day wonder how my son came out so perfect, because I was such a mess. Oscar was born emergency C section.
After his birth, I was recommended the Mirena to help with my history of heavy bleeding and pain. I had it in for 18 months, and throughout that time experienced the worst pain I had ever felt in my life! I went to my doctor and told her to remove it because I couldn’t take the debilitation any longer. It turned out my body was rejecting it and it had moved out of place - which was causing the issues I was having.
The doctor then recommended I try the Implanon. She put it in and told me “this was going to solve any issues I was having relating to my period.” I had it in for around a year and a half and found I was bleeding heavier than ever before, and would spot constantly in between periods.
I had to wear pads 24/7 just in case I bled…
I had the Implanon removed and was then informed that I needed to be on the mini pill. I tried a couple of different ones, however the pain and bleeding was progressively getting worse.
In 2018 I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and was given medication to help control it. Throughout the journey of struggling with mental health my small business was born. I had always been really creative, but had let it go due to the demand in my corporate career.
Creating again was giving my mind something else to think about and I was finding it a lot easier to cope.
Fast track to the last 12-18 months, where I was bleeding 3 out of 4 weeks (and was having to take time off work as I was so depleted) so I went and saw a different doctor and gynaecologist.
The doctor did a different set of tests to anyone before, and recognised I had PCOS straight away. I also had some tests which identified the endometriosis. I have NEVER been so relieved in my life to finally have some answers.
I had a Laparoscopy in February this year, and I was told “this was going to help with some of the bleeding and pain.” The gynaecologist did say at that point though “that it may not work”, and “if it doesn’t we could explore a hysterectomy.”
By the end of June I was back in excruciating pain again, with constant bleeding. I went back to the gynaecologist and asked for the hysterectomy, and he was fantastic and didn’t hesitate. I was then booked in for the 6th of August.
I am now on 4 weeks post hysterectomy. I haven’t bled since day 2 post op, and I feel like a brand new woman. I cannot believe it took this long for professionals to work out what was wrong and assist me with a solution!

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