| Total hysterectomy | Hot Conversation |
I have been told by my GYN that I will need a total hysterectomy. This came about because I had had excessive bleeding for months. A D&C was performed and I was told that there was no sign of cancer. After I said no to surgery, she said there were precancer cells. Have anyone else had this problem. I do not want unncessary surgery.
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ReginaLove, that is SO great to hear! As for soy, it may help with menopause symptoms -- it it controversial. The best way to use soy is in the form of whole fermented soy foods (miso, tempeh, tamari and natto). Non-fermented soy foods such as soy mi
Agreed. I never thought I was vain until I had a mastectomy at age 39. I was devastated and told the doc I wanted to wake up with implants. Now at age 60, I am lopsided and wondering if I was just avoiding the inevitable. You get what you get and you
Sounds very interesting.Spike, you are awesome! Love your perspective, thanks for sharing.I will turn 53 in 6 weeks and still break out.
May I also assume that your skin is still quite oily and shows no or very few wrinkles? If so...
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!
1) Your skin doesn't look like beat-up luggage now, and probably never wi
So sorry for the stress this is causing you! My advice: get a second opinion and do whatever makes the most sense. I haven’t had a hysterectomy but in my case, I avoided it by talking to several doctors. I had uterine fibroids that were causing excessive bleeding. Two male doctors immediately recommended hysterectomy; I went to a third doctor who happened to be female. She said she also recommended hysterectomy but told me that I had a choice of just removing the fibroids (myomectomy) or having a total hysterectomy. I opted for the myomectomy and all went smoothly. I have friends who also have fibroids — most had hysterectomies; some had myomectomies. I would say to anyone facing major surgery: always get a second opinion.
I went with the total hysterectomy I went to the doctor also for excessive bleeding I wanted to jump up and kiss the doctor. The quality of life is so much better not having to work around that time This is a strange fact But…I live in the northwoods I think every bug out there would bite me. Black flies were the worst. It did not matter if it was my time or not. Now I hardley ever get a bug bite Just a observation..
Ditto – the best thing i ever did.
I agree. My hysterectomy was partial but I was ssooo glad I had it done. FYI, I had fibroids that were growing.
I had a total hysterectomy almost ten years ago. Never had a regret. What I do regret is the many years of excessive bleeding and general misery . I would always need to be near restrooms, checking bedding etc. Not to mention the anemia and that issue of feeling tired. Chewing ice was a habit that is common with anemics, I did that too.
I did , however, stop the hormones when the link with breast cancer was apparent. Fortunately, I have adjusted well.
Good luck with this very personal decision.
Why would you want to take chances with precancer cells? Be still and the answer will come. You have to trust your doctor but if you don’t, then you can start with finding another doctor. That one decision made right here !
P.S. I had a total hysterectomy done 6 months ago. I am cancer-free and so grateful for everything. I could have waited but I would never have been at peace. Remember, you have to feel good about your decision no matter what it is.
I had a total vaginal hysterectomy for recurrent fibroids and a salpingo-oophrectomy (tubes and ovaries removed) under spinal anesthesia – the residual of which is great for post-operative pain control – started immediately on Estradiol for hormone replacement therapy – back at work in 2 days with no problems – that was five years ago and I’m sorry I didn’t push to have the procedures performed earlier – my quality of life has improved remarkably, my bones are in great shape thanks to the hormones (ask your Doc about the latest research regarding hormone replacement) and no periods or cramping – I used to have a really rough time. Uterine cancer is rapidly becoming the number one killer of women and I think your Doc is acting appropriately in recommending surgery but if you’re not comfortable then get a second, third and/or fourth opinion.
Norak -
I must say, it’s a little disturbing to me that so many women welcome hysterectomy as the answer to their problems. I’m NOT being judgemental here, I swear, I just want to point out that sometimes doctors do hysterectomies because they are expensive and quick, and statistics show that **some** are unnecessary. Bottom line, PLEASE get a second opinion. If you need the hysterectomy, then go for it. Your life, health and wellbeing as a whole are more important than any singular organ in your body but please get as much info as you can so that you can make an informed choice.
Ok, the rest of you — let the brickbat-throwing begin! ^_^
As I said this is a personal decision ……….
No brickbat throwing (smile). I am a retired nurse and have yet to miss my blood gushing, clot passing, Kotex and tampon expensive uterus! I did however, question the ovary removal, having trained at a time when leaving one ovary for hormones was the standard. My GYN recommended removal of both so that ovarian cancer never had to be a worry. He had experience with this happening after hysterectomy. I opted for the total. I was past child bearing and my decision was easy.
I have worked for a health insurance company and understand your point also. Unnecessay surgical procedures are also an issue that hospitals review because it can hurt their accreditation process. But that is another topic…
Well they discover I had cervical cancer that is the reason I decided to have hysterectomi. I was bleeding
Five to Nine:
I agree – Norak – please explore all your options – get a second opinion – look at the pro’s and con’s of getting a hysterectomy or not. It took me 6 years and two OBGYN to make a final decision. Don’t think of it as a quick fix – because it isn’t.
Lynn
Well, I would run, not walk, for a second opinion, mainly from your doc adding the “precancerous cells” comment when you declined further surgery. Saying no does not cause a change in diagnosis!!
I’ve always had cycle troubles. Five yrs ago, it got so bad, I ended up in and out of the hospital/ER for excessive bleeding. On the last trip to the ER, I was bleeding so heavily, I could not stand up, and felt like I was passing a football. (Sorry for the graphics, but I’m sure many can relate.) After fielding some goofy questions like “are you pregnant”, they finally gave me a checkup. I had uterine fibroids that my previous OBGYN had not told me about. (I had had a D&C cancelled on me in June when she went on “vaycay”, and I never went back to her.) One had gotten so large, it had caused a prolapsed cervix! No wonder I couldn’t stand up and couldn’t stop bleeding!
The ER doc asked if I was done having children. Hubby was there with me – we both immediately answered YES. He asked me for clarification – in his words: “is that ‘yes’, or “Hell yes’?”. Ha! We were both Hell Yes respondants. I was 45 and did not want to start over with more little ones. So, he scheduled a total hysterectomy right then, writing up directions for no food or liquids, etc etc. I was happy to finally have someone take the cycle problems seriously, and happy to have an end to the constant pain. But, there wasn’t a happy ending to be had quite yet. Why? Something so simple, yet so costly – the SHIFT CHANGED at the hospital! Somehow, communications failed, and I was left in the E/R with no surgery. My husband had stepped out in the parking lot to pace and have a smoke, and didn’t know about it either.
The next thing I know, some new doc is standing there, a woman OB who was called in as a consult. She declared that there was no way she was “allowing” me to have a hysterectomy, and had cancelled the surgery. After much arguing, she finally performed a myomectomy right there in the E/R (she didn’t even do an outpatient surgery thing – nothing at all), and tried to send me home. (And we were fully insured at the time.) I was outraged, and refused to go home! I’d been bleeding so heavily for so long, I could hardly stand up, but this yahoo wanted to clip, snip and shove me out the door. I ended up staying the night, but the witchy woman never removed the prev doctor’s orders to have no food or drink, so the nurses would not even bring me a glass of water. It was horrible. My husband finally snuck in a Sprite. The next morning, this witch reappeared by my bedside so inform me that she would not “allow” a hysterectomy, but that she’d like to schedule me for bariatric surgery (yes, I am overweight), and after I’d lost about 50 lbs come back to her for the hyst. (And the previous dr had scheduled three blood transfusions for me because I’d lost so much, and the witch cancelled them! We didn’t find that out until a month later.)
Can you guess how that ended? LOL!
What a witch.
Anyway, the following three months were runarounds with a new OBGYN who ran multiple tests, including uterine biopsy (just slam your tongue in a car door for a similar experience), etc etc, ruling out cancer. However, he refused to do a hysterectomy as well, and was trying to do all kinds of alternative treatments, from the Depo Provera shots (instant menopause) to implanting a Mirena IUD (like I wanted anything else up there?!?). It was a long waste of time, money and insurance. By the time I realized we were getting no where but sucking up insurance benefits, my hubby was laid off, and we lost our coverage. I never did get the surgery.
I greatly regret it all. I spent the next YEAR trying to get strength built back up. I couldn’t work, couldn’t lift anything, and was just useless. I wish I’d have had my head on straight sooner (I just wasn’t up to all the conflict with the drs) and found someone new who would have just handled the problems. The only thing I got out of all the mess was a clear bill on cancer of the uterus and a prescription for Provera to help keep estrogen levels down.
Of course, each woman must decide for herself what is right for her – no one else can make that call. But, I’d surely get a second opinion, and make sure your doctor is LISTENING to you, and not plowing through with what they feel is the best plan for a woman of your age (disregarding your personal choices). As I learned too late to help, many doctors seem to only have their medical training recommendations in mind, and don’t really see the woman as an individual or consider her preferences. I know I would still feel so much better if I had had the total hyst.
My experience with it all made me reconsider relationships with the medical profession, and I don’t hesitate to question anything. After all, they could have graduated with a “C” average from medical school, as well as not having people skills! LOL! Seriously – it made me realize my complacency in not getting a new dr right away only cost me and my family (in terms of my energy/health declines) – no one else.
While you are deciding, I would strongly recommend taking Vit D supplements. I also learned very late how much this could affect your health. I dont’ want to take a prescription med like Boniva, etc etc – but did not realize how much damage I was doing to myself because I couldn’t have milk or eggs. I am now taking those supplements, and it does help the aches and pains.
In the end, speak up and never be afraid to make the choice that is right for YOU! : )
Thanks for letting me know about your experiences. I will definitely get a second opinion. I trusted this doctor in the beginning, but after this I just don’t know. I definitey do not want to have unnecesary surgery, since I just had the D&C on 2 Oct and Lapband surgery on 14 Oct. I feel that I am still healing from that surgery and I tried to explain this to her, but she acts as if there is such an an urgency. Also I had heard that this surgery can be done vaginally, but she never suggested that to me. I seems that the recovery time is much less than with the open surgery. Has anyone out there heard of this. Please let me know if you have. Thanks for all the support and goid info from everyone.
Hi Norak -
Yes, I’ve heard of the vaginal hyst, but that is not always an option – not sure of the restrictions, but it is worth asking about. I’ve heard about going thru the navel too, but again, no details.
If you recently had lapband surgery, I can’t believe she is pushing another surgery so soon… and I’d guess they would have to release the band for other surgery, wouldn’t they? I’ve heard they are adjustable, but even so, the heartburn would be a nightmare…
An EXCELLENT website for information and support on hysterectomy is
http://www.hystersisters.com/.
They have a lot of info that would be more specific than most would address here, and you can probably find someone who has been in your shoes, and tried diff options. I hope you will check out the website for other information.
(Try this page – it is about options and alternatives to hysterectomies.)
http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/view_opt.htm
: )
I am also an RN and I am facing possible hysterectomy. I had abnormal cervical cells AGC and I know these are more serious than regular cervical abnormalities. I have assisted in multiple hysterectomies. Some women are thrilled to have them, others are not. Many are unnecessary. I’ve seen women diagnosed with pre cancer and then on Path no cancer. I don’t want to have a hysterectomy, but if I have to because of cancer and it is possible I would have a vaginal,no scar or nothing, great recovery. The latest research shows that removing the ovaries “incidentally” before age 65 adds to increased mortality in older years. this is because, even tho they don’t produce estrogen anymore, they are still hormonally active, producing testosterone (we like that)and DHEA and other hormones. Search this and you will find that removing the ovaries does not necessarily prevent ovarian cancer (periotneal cancer) and that this practice stems from a male medical practice done for decades because the guys thought it was better. Bottom line, always get a second opinion!!
KIKI
My surgery was done vaginally. I had three little incisions – one above each ovary that is how they extracted them and one in my belly button of the “camera”.
I was told that they try to do it this way – but it depends on what they find once they get in there. They have to inflate your stomach when they do it this way – so it is pretty uncomfortable for the first couple of days ( and you look about 6 months pregnant which my bitchy sister-in-law had to mentioned - she wishes she looked 6 months pregnant on a good day then she would be half the size she is – but that is a whole other story) – but recovery is about 6 weeks – compared to 6 months.
I live in Canada so I have no idea what the cost difference is. But if you have the option to have it done this way – I would so recommend it.
Lynn