Some questions ( sorry long..)

Hi,
My doctor has talked to me about having a hysterectomy due to increased pain. It has gotten to the point now that I am constantly in pain all day, every day.
I am only 29 years old ( just turned it) and I have had these problems it seems like my whole life. I started my menstrual cycle when I was 9 and it started getting worse after that. I wasn't ovulating and going every two weeks. Keep in mind, I was still in elementary school at this point. After a while, and a few accidents, everything started getting in order. I was very regular for years, up until I was 23. It was so regular that I went every 28 days at 8 am..
Well, when I hit 23 it seemed to get worse. I would have painful, heavy periods. I would spot..etc. Well, when I was 25 I went to the doctor due to the pain. He found a cyst that looked like cancer. He wanted to take the cyst out immediately. Well, I kinda hedged on it because it was 3 days before Easter and my husband and I were going out to town to have some parenting time with his kids for Easter. I asked if it could wait until I got back on Monday. Doc said no.. NOW!!.. well, of course that gets us nice and scared. We cancelled our flights and I had the surgery. Luckily it wasn't cancer but was an enormous (4 inches in diamter) endometrial cyst. It had evidently gotten bad. I was then diagnosed with Stage IV endometriosis. I was put on the Lupron for 6 months. That did not help. I had to have another surgery in that 6 month time frame to get rid of another 4 inch cyst that had been created.
Well, doc says at this point, if you are going to have kids, now is the time, although it is highly unlikely considering the point your body is at now. I had a 1-5% chance of pregnancy. Well, we hadn't thought about it but then it seemed necessary. We then looked into alternative for pregnancy such as fertility drugs.
However, we had to get an OK from my cardiologist before that could happen. Well, I had an echo done December 31, 1997. I was called back by the doctor 3 days later saying I needed to come in for more tests they found a problem.
Well, it seems as if I was misdiagnosed as a child and I really had atrial septal defect in my heart and I had to get it fixed. I was in the early stages of congestive heart failure and if I didn't get it done relatively soon, I would die.
Well, pregnancy was put on hold. I had the surgery and came through it relatively well. However, docs say that my heart is too damaged. Pregnancy is not going to happen. IF I did, I would most likely have a heart attack in my sixth month. So, my husband and I put away the idea of having a child. We have now gotten on a waiting list to adopt a baby.
NOW..sorry.. here comes my question. Now that I have already ruled out pregnancy, should I go ahead and have the hysterectomy with all the problems associated with a hospital stay and my heart ( they still have to watch out for a number of things) or go back on the Lupron for a second round and put it off for a few more years?



Thanks


SMG

You can try lupron (which not many people like), you can have the endometriosis excised and retain your ovaries, you can have a hysterectomy (keep ovaries or leave them) -- as you may know by now treatment of endo is really controversial. Sometimes hysterectomy helps, sometimes it doesn't. Before you have your ovaries removed (if that's what you and your doctor decides) I'd make sure to find out all the risks involved with your heart condition and hormone replacement therapy. You might go on over to the hormone jungle and see if there are any ladies there with special considerations with hrt and heart conditions. At 29, I seriously doubt that you'd want to go without hrt -- that's a misery all it's own. The studies are conflicting as well about the risk of heart attack after hysterectomy increasing and whether or not hrt decreases that risk.

I'll list some links here for you to check out and then you and your doctor should have a frank discussion about endometriosis, possible treatments, and how they will affect your heart condition:

https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...?threadid=8804

https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...?threadid=4565

https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...?threadid=8782

I guess I was a lucky one because I didn't have any of the side affects of the Lupron that I hear so much about.. had a little bit of hot flashes but that is it.. I did notice that I cried a lot more but that may be normal b/c I am not a overly emotional person to begin with so it may have just made me normal
I am seriously starting to look at my options but am a little nervous. My mother had a hysterectomy at 33 so it is in my genes.
I am just really nervous about the situation with my heart. When I had my heart surgery my husband and I made up wills and verified the life insurance. I wanted to make sure that he and the kids were well taken care of with regard to the house, the wills..etc..
I guess I am just nervous because I feel like that is all I have been having is surgeries for the past 5 years. I had two laps done in 1997 for the endo. I had a heart cath, a TEE, and then the heart surgery in 1998 so I am reallly, really hesitant to go for another round of being in the hospital.
However, my husband and the kids are starting to be affected by it and it stifles our time together to do things as a family.
Will look into the Lupron and all the options with the surgery. Just hate to think that I will be in menopause for more than 3/4 of my life. .. ( that is if I live a long normal life)

Hi, My name is Mattie.

I had surgery 6/12/00, went into menopause (surgical) immediately. I would love to have a ovary transplant.

I'm trying to say, unless you have cancer or very severe problems. Dont Do It.

I also have had surgery for asd repair in 1990. I was in congested heart failure and stages of pulmonary hypertension. It will take your body a long time to heal from your asd correction, I strongly recommend that you wait.

You've gone through a lot in a very short period of time. Take the time to research every option and find the one that is right for you and your family. You need to feel comfortable with the decision. Good luck!