Post-hysterectomy Questions

[ChaoticTribe]

So I didn't know where to post this - in the FtM boards the bottom surgery board is for phalloplasty and metoidioplasty, not hysterectomy.

Over a year ago, I had everything from cervix to ovaries removed, but kept my vagina and always want to. I like having it.
I have heard that this can cause problems with prolapse because there may not be internal structures to 'hold things in' basically.

Is this something I have to be worried about? What steps can I take to prevent something that traumatic from happening to me?

[Bombadil]

Kegals can help a lot. If you don't know what kegals are you can google and there's lots of great information. Keeping yourself healthy and at a healthy weight will also help. There are other exercises as well I believe that strengthen the pelvic floor.

[mm]

If you have not been pregnant, your muscles have not been sketched and you should have good support for your vagina.  Do you still see a GYN could ask he/she what an exam shows for support?  I wouldn't be too concerned about losing support.

[ChaoticTribe]

Okay, I will definitely set some reminders in my phone to do Kegels. I used to do them because I heard it was good for tightness - I didn't know it could offer support and prevent any sort of bad things from happening. I just know that my ligaments might not be attached anymore, since the things they were once attached to aren't there, know what I mean?



Also, I've never been pregnant so yes I don't think my muscles are stretched out. I haven't had a pelvic exam since the surgery though - maybe I should.

It's not something I thought would happen soon, but I know some old people can get prolapses and my fear was that if I went another 40-60 years of life without the uterus and attached ligaments and all that, perhaps it could be bad? Maybe not though. I guess there might not be a whole ton of research out there on it.


Definitely good to know I can strengthen the muscles though, and if there are other things I can do that are good for me I would certainly do them as well.

[Bombadil]

Another thing to keep in mind is prolapse is not the end of the world. Lots of women who give birth deal with it. There is partial prolapse and full prolapse. I suspect some day I might deal with the prolapse issue (ugh) but it is treatable. Sometimes surgery is needed but there are other treatment options as well.

You might be interested in this article: http://hysterectomyconsequences.com/developing_organ_prolapse_after_a_hysterectomy

If you do think you are having a prolapse, go to the doctor. Deal with it early. Just trust me on that.

[ChaoticTribe]

Thank you for sharing that link, there is a lot of good information on that page and I see they link to many other articles.

I don't think any of that is happening right now, I just get really paranoid. I have anxiety and since I have been having some issues from taking testosterone: (acne, weight change, body-hair fears) it's begun to make me fear that I would have complications due to other medical treatments I have had.

I was looking for information about FtMs and acne and came across some kind of site that basically just listed every horrible thing that can happen to anyone, and when you get anxious like me it sets your mind into a spiral of worrying for hours... I am on anxiety medicine, which helps control it a lot, but doesn't completely stop - it just makes it easier for me to 'snap out of'.