Sooooo scared....

Hello everyone (I'm French so please excuse my mistakes).

I just discovered this wonderful site today. I read many, many scary things about hysterectomy. I'm scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy (with removal of the ovaries) on October 26th, 2001 and I am scared. I'm 36 years old. I had a LAP done in 1995 where they removed some endometriosis, but now I have a 7cm cyst on my left ovary, still alot of endometriosis and lesions, so my doctor recommended a hyst. I've been doing ALOT of reading. Too much maybe. I am now at the point where I accept and look forward (sort of) to having this surgery done. My periods are painful and experience pain during intercourse. But it's not THAT bad, so sometimes I wonder if I really need this surgery. I've consulted another doctor for a second opinion and he also concluded that this surgery was my best option. Still, I have so many apprehensions and questions. I wonder if I will still have a healthy sex life after the surgery. I will take HRT following surgery, but scared about the side effects. It just feels good to be able to talk about this with other women who are going through the same things. Thank you to everyone who is contributing to this site, I wish I would have found it earlier...

Good luck to you all and I'll visit again soon,

Twosix

Twosix, I'm glad you found this site -- it is a godsend! I hope you find some answers here, along with reassurance to help you get through the difficult waiting period before your hyst.

How come you have to wait so long for your surgery? It might help if they moved it up a bit. Myself and other ladies who have already had their surgery will tell you that the waiting time is the hardest part.

Take care,

Laura

Twosix,
Welcome! We are so glad you found us!

Since you have a long wait before your surgery, have you investigated other treatments? A lap in 1995 was a long time ago! Is another lap a possibility?

There are many success stories from hysters, but please make absolutely certain that your Dr is very experienced with removing endo, otherwise you will possibly end up back in his office before you know it. Also, is the endo actually on the uterus? If not, and you do not have other problems with the uterus itself, will the hyster help you any?

You also state you have a cyst on your left ovary. How is the right one? If it is healthy, you might consider leaving it in place. Your own hormones are usually better for you than man-made ones. And since you have endo, I would recommend you read and consider what the best choice is, taking your age into consideration. Removing the ovaries, only to start HRT right away sometimes doesn't accomplish the goal you had hoped for.

Since I see that you are from Canada, I would suggest that you get another opinion. You might contact the Endometriosis Assn and see if they have any referals for Drs near you.

I'm not trying to talk you out of anything, I just want you to consider all aspects of your proposed treatment.

I wish you the best of luck.

Hello and welcome twosix. Glad you found us.

I had tah/bso March 2000 - cysts on both ovaries, fibroid and cervix problems..so everything was removed. Surgery and recovery were uneventful..and I feel great. I've been on ERT ever since day after surgery and have had no major problems.

We'll be here with you.

Thank you for responding to my post.

I could of had my surgery done in July, but decided against it because of work commitments and the fact that I didn't want to be spending a few summer weeks in bed recovering, so I postponed my surgery to the fall.

As well, when my doctor first talked to me about having to do this (back in early April), I wanted to investigate other options before making a final decision and as people living in Canada know, it sometimes can take more than a month before getting an appointment with a specialist!!!
My doctor also feels it is important to put me on Lupron Depot for 3 months before my surgery; apparently this will help in removing the endometriosis during surgery, so he will start administering the shots in early August.

I'm having my surgery done at the Ottawa General Hospital and my doctor is R. Lussier. Birdbrain, may I ask where you had it done?

Toudalou

Twosix

Twosix, I had my surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. My surgeon specializes in gynecological surgery for dysfunctional bleeding and fibroids, he is also a Professor of Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. I was in very good hands, as I am sure you will be.

Laura

Bonjour Twosix Bienvenue à Hyster Sisters. Je suis doublement heureuse que tu nous ait trouvés, puisque je suis également canadienne française et que j'habite aussi dans l'Outaouais, à Hull. Hyster Sisters est un site vraiment merveilleux. Tu y trouvera de l'information que tu peux utiliser et beaucoup, beaucoup de soutien.

J'ai eu mon hystérectomie en décembre 2000 pour un GROS fibrome et une rectocele. Bien que j'habite au Québec, je suis originaire de l'Ontario et était assurée d'un suivi plus rapide en continuant avec mon gynécologue actuel. J'ai donc eu ma chirurgie à l'hopital Montfort.

En passant, je suis TRÈS familière avec la situation actuelle dans les services de santé: j'ai dû attendre 13 semaines avant d'avoir ma chirurgie. Une compagne de travail qui habite au Québec attend depuis 1 an pour un référence à un gynécologue.

Je comprend bien tes doutes et tes appréhensions: c'est normal. Après tout, une hystérectomie est une chirurgie majeure. Tu vas voir, la période d'attente est pire que la chirurgie

En attendant, tu peux consulter les menus de déroulement (pull-down) disponibles à la page principale de Hyster Sisters (au bas de la page), spécialement la section "Ladies in Waiting". Tu vas y trouver une foule de renseignements pour te préparer pour ton séjour au château.

En ce qui a trait aux ovaires: je suis d'accords avec BarbW. Si ton ovaire gauche est en bonne santé, ça vaudrait le coup d'essayer de la conserver. Même apès la ménopause, nos ovaires continuent de produire des hormones, en quantité infime. Il est beaucoup plus facile de supplémenter nos hormones que de les remplacer entièrement. Pour plus d'informations en ce qui a trait au remplacement des hormones, notre site "soeur" http://www.hormonejungle.com ainsi que le forum de messagerie Hormone Jungle contiennent une foule de renseignements.

En te souhaitant beaucoup de succès dans tes recherches.

Hi Twosix,
Welcome to the site, I found it about two months before my TAH/BSO which I had on May 1st. I don't know how I would have gotten through everything without it. Any questions I would have always got replys. I knew just what to expect before the surgery. I still get on the site daily, I'm recovering now so still have questions. I am 4 weeks today Post Op and I am so glad I decided to have the hysterectomy. I already feel better since having it done. I think my sex life will be even better than before the surgery, I had no sex drive before with all the problems that I had leading to the TAH/BSO. Now I can't wait until the doctor releases me!! My doctor started me on 2.5 mg. Premarin after the surgery, I have had no side effects from it. Good Luck and remember this site will help a lot.

Donna N.

This is a excellent site, I have not scheduled my surgery yet, I will be on June 7. Thank god for this support

I too am soooo scared!!!!! I just found this site today. I am having my hysterectomy Monday June 4, 2001. I am 24 years old and have been blessed with three kids. The doctor told me that I am prolapsed at a grade 3, I have a cyst on my right orary and fluid in my tubes. He said that he was going to try and leave my left ovary so I hope so. My hysterectomy will be vaginally. I think the thing that I am most scared of is " am I doing the right thing" We live in a small town and the OB/GYN doctor drives over from a larger town. I just want to have all the info. I need especially about after surgery effects. This site is GREAT. I really like the Questions to ask at the pre-op it is hard to remember everything that you need to ask.