Pre Op second thougths...

Hi everyone,

I am 38 and scheduled for TAH (keeping ovaries) on Dec. 6 for large fibroids and now I am having second thoughts about the whole thing. Up until yesterday I was 100% sure that this was the right decision for me. The reason I am having the surgery is because I get bad cramps and heavy bleeding during my period and a week or two before I start having intestinal problems. Now I am thinking that I can live with these problems. (trying to talk myself out of the surgery) I know that there are women out there who have a lot worse sysmtoms then myself (again trying to talk myself out of suregery). I think I am starting to think of the complications that come with surgery. I know that the percentage is low for anything major happening but it's still on the back of my mind.

Does anyone have any comments/suggesions to help me out here? I know that the bottom line is that it is my decision and only I can make that decison.

Thanks for any help you can give.

I made the decision on my own to have the Hyster. and a TAH is the only option due to the size of my fibroids and a broad ligament. My symptons are also not as severe as some LIW here. Just very long and very heavy periods. However there is a bit of cancer on my cervix(not invasive yet) that I could have had removed via laser and then a myomectomy for the fibroids.(recovery time same as TAH plus 2 weeks) However, since I was not concerned about fertility I chose the hysterectomy. I go in on the 8th and have second thoughts every day!!! I say to myself "Self, let the fibroids be, take the 2 weeks for the laser surgery, they'll catch it on another PAP if they don't get all the cancer." I picture myself running from the hospital. I just put a post up about pain meds because my dr just served me one heck of a blow. I was counting on morphine and instead he said he only gives Vicaden shots. Might as well just give me some Tylenol!!!!! Now I'm really having those thoughts. But ya, know what? I know I should do it, and I know I will do it. I want to live a normal life with out having the possibility of the big "C" hanging over me, I want to feel I can go out again without worrying If I'm going to bleed through my clothes! This is the right decision for ME. I'll be having those thoughts right up until the anestheiseoligist (sp) has me count to 10 backwards. Hang in there! We here are all nervous, all a bit aprehensive. I believe it is a normal reaction! Ultimately you need to do what is right for YOU. Maybe write a pro's and con's list. That helped me make the decision when I saw all the pro's and the one con! God and I had several conversations. It helped too. You will be in my prayers! You'll make the right decision whatever it is! Keep me updated I'l keep a look out for you here! Good Luck and God Bless!

Hi 517

I to have been having the same problems as you but for about
12 years!!! My doctors just kept telling me the pains in my pelvis/hip area were due to a pinched nerve during daughter #2 pregnancy. I personally don't think that is the cause, but then again what do I know? Since my son was born in 1994 my periods have been really screwed up. They have tried just about every BCP including Depo but all they did was make me sick to my stomach and really bit**y. I just wish I could get my doctors to listen to me now. I have 3 kids, one in each grade level. High school, middle school and in Kindergarten.

This has interfered with my day to day life. I can't take my son to the park for too long, it hurts and then I have severe bile attacks (have no gallbladder, removed in 1985) and have to be close to the bathroom because I never know what or when it is going to hit. Same goes for taking my daughters to the mall for very long.

If this is interferring in your day-to-day life, I say what the heck? Will you feel better afterwards, probably. Will you be able to do some of the things that you couldn't do before because of this crap...YES!!! Just hang in there.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your decision making.

DogMom & Whooper,

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. I knew I could come here for support. I already feel better about my decision. I know that I will go through with it, I think it's just the last minute nerves setting in and I needed to tell someone my thoughts.

Good luck to you DogMom I will be thinking about you on the 8th when I am shuffling my way down the halls of the hospital. Keep in touch with recovery.

Whooper keep going to different Dr's until one listens to you. I am lucky it only took me two Dr's before one listened. I too was on many different BCP with no relief. Keep me updated if you find a Dr that will do something for you.

Thanks again for the support.
Email: toto0517@yahoo.com

My TAH surgery isn't until January 19. I have second throughts several times a day. I have heavy bleeding and horrible cramps... This past Wednesday I had a D&C (for diagnostic reasons). I feel great...I had my period going into the OR and was bleeding up a storm. Immediately after and since the surgery, I have had NO bleeding and NO cramps. Too bad we can't have a D&C each month I thought to myself if a D&C can make me feel good..just by taking away the pain of the periods each month. Imagine how I will feel after I get this 5 month sized fibroid out of my abdomen... OK!!! I'm sold...

I think it's normal to have 2nd thoughts. Do your homework and be informed. This website is a great resource of information and support. Utilizing the benefits it can offer will help you decide if you are making the right decision for you.

Take care and God bless,

We all have second thoughts. Mine for my son, he is only 4 years old and I know that this will be hard on him but, I know that keeping my uterus,ovaries and cervic only cause me problems I no longer am able to deal with everyday situations. Fertillity is not a concern. God has graced me with a child that physically I don't believe I was meant to have. If you don't want to have anymore children, relies that your problems will probably only get worse.

God gave me a son and now I must take care of myself so that I can take care of him.

I should be given my surgery date this week. The doctor promissed me it would be in December if the Urinalogy doctor ok'ed the time.

There is no need to suffer.

May the Lord be with you.

Scout

Hi 517wa86,

I'm 38, with fibroids also.

First, give yourself complete permission to not have a hysterectomy. You don't have to. There's no disgrace in backing out. You do totally have a choice. You can live with your current situation. You can try changing your diet, or hormones, or have one of several procedures to deal with fibroids.

That said, fibroids don't often get better on their own. And if you're likely to need a hyst at some point, why not just do it now and enjoy the rest of life without the hassles and worries. Or so my reasoning goes, anyway.

While you're writing up your list of pros and cons (which I think is a great idea) be sure to take into account the "risks and possible complications" of *not* having it done. Some I've come up with are the possibility of one of several kinds of cancer (not in my family, but...), hemorraging, anemia, weakened immune system (everything I've caught in the past 3 years has really wiped me out for weeks), reduced interest in sex due to pain and cramps, possibility of developing relationship troubles, increased likelihood of getting in an accident of some sort due to being tired and spaced, the health risks of not being physically active (and I'm often not, 'cause I don't feel good), etc. I'm sure you have a few that suit you particularly well. Maybe think of the careers you can't have. I've considered park ranger type jobs lately, but there's no way I could be away from the darned bathroom out doing trail maintenance, for instance. There's lots of stuff the bleeding, pain, and fatigue will keep me from doing in life.

Also try this - my DH and I just did a little math last night. He was asking me if I was sure I wanted to go through with this, and be out of commission for several weeks. Try comparing the time you'll be suffering from pain, cramps, fatigue, etc.

Here's the formula:

Subtract your age from the age at which you think you might go through menopause. In my case Mom hit it at 55. I'm 38. That's 17 years more to put up with this.

17 years is 204 months. So that means at least 204 periods (more, if you stick with 28 days, but let's use months for round numbers).

I was being conservative, and estimating that I feel bad enough to interfere with thing I want to do 5 days/period. That's 1020 days! I actually feel bad more like 7-10 days, but that's just the really bad days.

Let's be pesimistic, and say you take 8 weeks to feel pretty good, and get back to regular activity after a hyst. That's 56 days.

I figure feeling bad for 56 days vs. 1020 is a pretty good trade off!

Just for fun, I did the math on the 24 year old woman who posted here recenty (sorry, I forgot your name). If she would naturally hit menopause at 55, then she has 31 years, or 372 months. If she'd be out of sorts for 5 days/month that's 1860 more days of that.

Plus there's the expense of birth control, pads, tampons, sheets, annual exams, days off work, not to mention all that chocolate!

I sure wish that my insurance approval would hurry up! It's going to be a crampy Christmas otherwise.

Boy. I just did some more math. 1020 days (the number of days I optimistically estimate I would be in pain without a hyst) is almost 3 years. Three years of cramps and fatigue and bleeding. Three years of not going camping this weekend, not riding my horse, not thinking clearly about my work, not being interested in sex, planning my life around bathrooms, getting behind on chores, letting the yardwork get out of hand, not going to the gym, not feeling good, not being happy and energetic....

Geez. I'll take 6-8 weeks instead, thanks. Where's that gurney already?

I'm glad I popped in to this thread Horsewoman! Good thing one of us around here knows how to do math. It would also be interesting to factor in to that math how many hours we've ALREADY sacrificed! That would really sell the hysterectomy.

Thanks for taking the logical way to this event. Our emotions can often get the best of us. I'm very much OK with my TAH/BSO. No second thoughts... just anxious to get it over with and finally get some sleep.

Linda,

I like your math. I never thought of it that way. Maybe
I should take that kind of reasoning into my doctor's appointment on Monday

I talked to my mom earlier today and found out she was about 48-50 when she started going through menopause and wasn't finished for about 8 years. So figure if she started that at 50 (I am 36) and didn't finish until she was 58, I have another 18 years of this crap. NO THANK YOU!!!

I may not have a job outside of my home, but it does interfer with what I can do with my son and daughters and that is just too much interference for me.

[Edited by whooper on 12-02-2000]