Ladies, your thoughts on hysterectomy, please
I am 34. I had a full hysterectomy at age 28. I had already had my son by then and was unable to have any more due to a kidney disease that left me with one kidney.
I have had NO side effects from the surgery other than hot flashes. I feel great. I had extremely aggressive endometriosis. I was having laparoscopy done at least once a year to remove endometrial scars from all over my internal organs. The last one showed endometrial scarring leading up my one remaining ureter, leading to my kidney! They were very concerned and decided a hysterectomy was the way to go. Like you, I was concerned and scared and sought numerous opinions. All opinions led to the same conclusion. I was also informed that leaving my ovaries in could cause the estrogen to produce more endometriosis. That is an opinion that is still debated, but I have read literature that leads me to believe it is true. Estrogen causes endometriosis to continue to grow. I also did not and was not allowed to take HRT. I experienced my very first hot flash the nite of the surgery. Seemed cliche to me, but there you go, it happened. To this day I still have one or two hot flashes a nite. That was my only side effect. I actually went into estrogen withdrawl and lost 50+ lbs in about 4 1/2 -5 months. A little bonus I was not told about! I also no longer gain weight in the places I used to. Must be the lack of estrogen. I have not had any other bad effects. I actually LOVE not having my period, mood swings etc. I was one of the fortunate ones that had NO pain from the endometriosis, just massive bleeding ALL the time.
When they remove organs, they send them to pathology to check them out. I had a small cancerous tumor in my uterus that I was unaware of and they did not see on utlrasound. I was lucky. I had already had many massive "chocolate" cysts removed. One of them was the size of a coconut behind my uterus that they did not see on an ultrasound either! Another the size of a tennis ball was on my one ovary, I had had that ovary removed a few years prior and they found it then. I also had numerous fibroids they were not aware of when they did the hysterectomy.
So, my two cents here is to, yes, get your second opinions, but to seriously consider the surgery. You will enjoy such a better quality of life without those heavy periods.
I do not believe that the doctors would reccommend a surgery to just make money. That is NOT how most doctors work. The ones that do, and they are a VERY small percentage, really give a bad name to the majority of doctors that are only concerned with the health and welfare of their patients. Especially a gyno, they have chosen that specialty to help women in all aspects of female health, they don't just randomly and for profit decide to remove a womans uterus. That is a crazy notion.
Good luck to you!
IUD's are not that safe!
In response to the postby Miller.........
IUD's have many ill side effects. Loss if placement, pain from them, and the lack of proper studies on their effectiveness to name a few.
I would seriously consider alternatives to the IUD. Past problems with IUDs has caused them to be used less and less, yet now they are once again being used for this purpose. I would really do alot of research before opting for that form of treatment.
IUD risks
IUD Complications
The IUD has been associated with a number of health risks that can occur. IUD problems include:
Uterine puncture: Occurs in one to three out of every 1,000 insertions. Usually realized right away. If not, the IUD may migrate to other parts of the body necessitating a surgical removal of the IUD.
Expulsion: As much as 7% of all IUDs will be expelled by a woman's body within the first year, mainly within the first few months. Women who fail to realize that their IUD has been expelled are likely to become pregnant. An expelled IUD accounts for 1/3 of all pregnancies that occur to women using an IUD.
Tubal infection: The process of inserting an IUD may cause naturally occurring vaginal bacteria or an STD to be pushed up into the uterus leading to infection. Mild cases can be cleared up with antibiotics. In some, more serious cases, the IUD may need to be removed. In very rare, but serious instances, the infection may require surgery and possibly leave a woman sterile. Infections that are left untreated may be fatal.
IUD problems
Potential side effects from using an IUD include:
Mood changes
Acne
Headaches
Breast tenderness
Pelvic pain
Cramping
Increased bleeding during menstruation
Nausea
Misplacement of IUD requiring surgical removal of the IUD and/or uterus.
There is an increased risk of pelvic infections, particularly for women who have more than one sexual partner. This can lead to serious complications requiring surgical intervention including hysterectomies.
daysma, thank you very much for this information. Not having my period anymore does sound very tempting and that's something a couple of my friends say.
And welcome to A2K!
Update!
Looking back, I cannot say how much you all helped in making my decision. Thank you all!
I am going to the hospital on Monday, January 7 and expect to have the surgery on Tuesday.
I'll let you know how I am doing when I'm back home.
All the best and good luck, urs!
Hopefully, bigdice will give us an update next week.
All right!! We'll be thinking of you.
I am sure he will, CJ! Thank you!
By the way, that's a very nice side of this experience - so many people care. I am really touched.
Best of luck, urs. Make sure bigdice takes good care of you.
Thinking of you urs and wishing you the best for a quick recovery!
Thank you, Swimpy. He will! I think he is a lot more nervous than I am.
I will be thinking of you. Get well soon!
Thank you!
I am going out for dinner now - if I stay home I'd probably cry all evening. I am so emotional...
I'm looking forward to knowing you feel better.
You and Bigdice are in my thoughts.
Urs--
You are in my thoughts. Bigdice, too.
Hold your dominion.
Good luck and get well soon.
Thinking of you -- hope it all goes as smoothly as possible.
Thank you all so much! I'll check in as soon as I am home again. Leaving in 30 minutes...
Godspeed (and me not a believer).
