TAH - My story - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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TAH - My story

TAH - My story

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My "story" only began in Dec 2004...it started with long and heavy periods, and I mean wearing a nitetime pad with a super plus tampon for 14 days...well, this was so unusual for me that I made a dr appt . immediately...of course they figured it was "age-related"( I am 43) and tried the birth control ring. My dr did do a uterine biopsy right then and there (ouch!) to rule out cancer, so I thought she was on the ball.

I kept a calendar and made note of how much I was bleeding and how often I had to change and if the ring was in or out, etc. Still was having bleeding and they told me it was "breakthru bleeding" due to the birth control....well, the ring wasnt for me.
It was too difficult for me to find it; once the dr found it behind my pubic bone, and once it wasnt there....so we switched to the patch....still had bleeding....they added an estrogen patch...still bleeding.

On and on it went until I asked if any bloodwork would be done...
by now it is March 2005, and I was anemic...so I took iron 3x a day, and I am still bleeding. At the suggestion of the nurse I scheduled a sonogram for a month in advance incase the birth control doesnt get it. So, in May I have it and they see a 4 cm fibroid inside my 8 cm uterus. She schedules me for surgery to remove the fibroid vaginally as an outpatient for June 23!

As soon as I remove the patches, the heavy bleeding starts up again. They could not get me to surgery any sooner. I have a terrrible night on June 6....I had to change my pj's twice in the night from flooding and I almost pass out, tell my husband to call 911, passed a bloodclot baseball size, severe cramping, etc. Well, he tells me my color came back so go back to bed, even though I am begging him to call 911. I talk to the dr on call around 7 a.m. and explain what happened. She tells me go to ER if I am lightheaded. Otherwise, I wanted to come in to see my dr since I am already scheduled that day for a pre-op visit.

A friend drove me to my dr visit and I have a bag packed to go to the hospital cause I feel so bad. My dr says no. go home and rest, and she does a CBC stat and they will call and check on me.
She told me the only reason to put me in today is to stabalize, not to do the procedure or any emergency surgery. And, she reiterates that if the vaginal surgery doesn t remove the fibroid, a hysterectomy is my only other option and it would have to be rescheduled. I am in tears now asking why she would admit me twice if that is my only option.

After I am home awhile they call and tell me my hemoglobin is a "little low" at 8.1.....my research told me 12-16 was normal so I got really concerned. Started talking to friends and a few nurses I know and they agreed. My friends all started calling their drs to see if I could get in for a second opinion. I ended up calling another dr on Thurs, got in to see him Fri and he admitted me to the hospital that day!

The new dr said no way would she be able to get the fibroid out vaginnally as my uterus was 3x normal size and was not prolapsing any and she would probably damage my bladder doing it and I would be right back in the hospital. I also have had 2 c sections and one vbac....my second c section involved hemorraging due to previa. He felt it necessary to do an abdominal hysterectomy and right away. My hemoglobin was 7.3 at his office and he gave me two units of blood that night. Upon my admission to the hospital it was down to 6.6. He was so urgent about my bloodloss and getting it taken care of I have to question what my gyn of 12 years was thinking.

My surgery took about an hour without complication...they removed only the uterus....which had more than one fibroid and was nasty looking (he took a picture and gave it to my husband).
It weighed in the 200 gram range, and he said normal was 40!!!
I wonder what month of pregnancy that was equal to?! I got two more units of blood after surgery and was in the hospital from Friday nite until Tues morn. I didnt take alot of my percocet and was walking to the bathroom without the catheder the day after surgery. I am 3 weeks post op today and feel pretty good..My main objective is the restlessness, as I am used to running 3 kids everywhere. And, I drove for the first time today.

As for my original dr, I did file a complaint with the medical assoc,
although reluctantly. Its a shame someone you trusted for so long didnt do what seemed in your best interest. Thank God that I listened to his plan in all of this and went with my instincts to advocate for myself.

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TAH - My Story

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