needing some encouragement

I haven't posted in a long time. I found out last July that I needed a hyst. Here it is 1-5-01 and still no hyst. the doc has done external ultrasounds, internal ultrasounds, hystoscopy, d/c, and a laproscopy. Now we have been doing the "carefully chart your periods" thing. I have 8 months worth of chartings (i started keeping track of my symptoms back in July when they first mentioned hyst). I have been diagnosed as having: cystocelle, rectocelle, prolapsed uterous, adenomyosis, cyst on Right ovarie, and possible fibroids. My biggest fear is not having the surgery, but having the Doc say "now we need to do this ....." I was all ready to have the surgery, now that so much time has gone by I am getting nervous with all the delays. Will I be getting rid of one problem just to replace it with others. Reading all the posts use to help. Now they just scare me with all the talk of the hormone jungle. Doc said she would be doing a TVH-BSO. (but when is the question). Will I be better off in the long run? Needing some encouragement I guess. Wondering in Ohio.

I have been down your road and just had my hyst in December. Two years ago I started discussing the fact that my periods were getting closer together, longer, and more painful. I also noticed I was getting some bad backaches. In the internal exam they said they felt something, probably a fibroid. I had an ultrasound. That showed two fibroids in the muscle wall of the uterus. They said: They are small, let's watch them and see if your symptoms change. A year later, the symptoms were worsening. I had another ultrasound. Now 3 fibroids and growing and a very thick endometrial lining. Also a cyst on one ovary. I had an endometrial biopsy (negative, thank goodness) then a hysteroscopy and D&C. Because of the location of the fibroids, they could not be removed by the hysteroscopy. Now I am getting 2 periods a month. My symptoms were better for one month after the D&C and then back again. This was last August. We were moving in the fall and so I said I did not want surgery until we were in our new house. We moved Nov. 16 and my hyst was Dec. 5th. I thought I would about lose my mind between moving, trying to unpack some, Christmas shop, etc. all before Dec. 5th....

Well, I am 4 weeks post op and doing pretty good; still tired and sore when I overdo it, but all in all not too bad. At this point I would say I am glad I had it done. I still worry about bladder problems (I have had some discomfort but it seems to be subsiding) and we have not been cleared for sex yet (so that is still an unknown), but I know I could not have continued as I was pre-hyst.

It is a hard decision. I would sit down with your doctor and find out what he is thinking. Get a second opinion too. I did and ended up switching to the second doctor (even though I got the same diagnosis-- the second doctor had a much better surgical reputation). This is major surgery and it deserves close consideration. Only you know how you can tolerate your symptoms or if those symptoms are ultimately dangerous (i.e. too much blood loss, etc).

Good luck. I know what you are going through, as do many of the people on this site. Please keep us posted.