Vaginal Hysterectomy - LAVH - Diabetes - Gillian's Story

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Vaginal Hysterectomy - LAVH - Diabetes - Gillian's Story

Vaginal Hysterectomy - LAVH - Diabetes - Gillian's Story

Date : 06-25-2000 - 02:38 PM - Readers : 3331

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Hi,

I’ve been meaning to write my story for sometime now, so at last here it is.

I had been in pain for years at every period, painkillers where getting stronger and life was being affected.
Two years ago it became much worse, clots and unbearable pain, although not a terribly amount of blood loss apart from clots.

As I was a diabetic type 2 taking oral control, I felt very nervous about how I was to deal with this, medication, hysterectomy etc. So I searched online for another diabetic to see how they coped, but could not find one.

My Doctor had me fitted with a Mirena Coil that has a slow releasing hormone to stop or lesson periods - this worked for 8 months well and then it came back with vengeance. I decided a Hysterectomy must be my only option but my doctor was very much against this route for me, saying the survival rate for a diabetic was not good!! As you can imagine I was horrid and felt hopeless. My search on the Internet continued to find a diabetic that had been through this - and survived! This brought me to this site and finally another diabetic that had experienced the hyst and was doing well, I was relieved to say the least.

Not getting anywhere with doctor I decided to pay with the only savings I had to see a gyno privately. He recommended a vaginal hysterectomy, but with a Lap first to see what was happening. He told me he had done this operation on diabetics many times, but my diabetes should be under good control.

I was now booked for the operation of a Lap and TVH on March 9th and had my diabetes under good control. All diabetics having any operation should make sure they have good control beforehand, having an HB1C to test your blood and overall control for last 3 months. Incidentally, hormonal problems that affect the endocrine system includes period problems, PMT, thyroid problems and diabetes!

I was terrified when I went in for the lap and hyst; I nearly had to be dragged in the hospital. Thankfully they were very kind and understanding, gave me something to calm, but I had to wait nearly 6 hours before going down to theatre, although I didn't know much about this as the calming drug had quite an effect on me! My blood sugars were monitored throughout this period, during the op and every 20 mins after op. I did not take my oral medication for diabetes on the day of the op, so my sugars did not drop, as I couldn't eat. This was fine, no side effects.

When I came round from the operation I felt a little sore and had a pump attached to my wrist for pain medication, slept most of that day, although Gyno came round and told me during the Lap they found severe endometriosis and adhesions, bowel badly effected, had to do an abdominal hysterectomy instead of vaginally. Oh well, I couldn't have cared less, it was over I was alive and the one thing I noticed is I could see things properly again. Now that might sound weird, but the pain had been for so long I didn't see things clearly anymore - now I could!

I was in hospital for 5 days and then went home. During the first 5 weeks I did get six urinary tract infections and had to take a lot of antibiotics, but also took supplements to counteract that. I also had spasms in bowel for the first few weeks, got quite worried about that, but they assured me it would return to normal and it did! I healed well and am now 4 months post, feeling fine and doing all the things I could never do beforehand - you know like making dates without thinking about periods or pain, going away, planning <g>

So, if your still with me here and your diabetic, don’t worry, just make sure your diabetes is under good control, get help from your doc if it isn't and wait for the hyst. I know that’s a nuisance, but you must remember we suffer infections more than non diabetics, so its worth waiting a few more months to get good control and have less problems later.

Please feel free to email me anytime.

Gillian.

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