Hi All,
I am so grateful to have found this site and everyone here!
I'm getting my hysterectomy because after having a hysteroscopy and D&C, I was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer "Architectural Grade 1, Nuclear Grade 2, FIGO Grade 1" on April 16. Have been scrambling to get all pre-op tests (tomorrow is ct scan and I'm done) for my gyn/oncologist, whom I have not seen yet but I expect to get an appointment and surgery scheduled next week when all tests are in her hands.
Am 61 and had endometriosis with debilitating pain from my first period on my 13th birthday, two laparoscopies done one in the 80's and one in the 90's to cauterize the endometrial tissues off my uterus, bowel and colon (the second one found over 300 tissues of varying sizes and took a lot longer than the surgeon expected!!!). Only percocet would alleviate my pain prior to the last one. Was on birth control pills after the last laparoscopy (still had some pain but manageable at that point) until I stopped the pill at age 51 and immediately was menopausal. I was in heaven -- no periods, no pain, few menopausal symptoms. 10 years of bliss and then....I started having random spot bleeding recently.
When I got the diagnosis, I wasn't exactly surprised given my medical history and want the hysterectomy done ASAP! Good riddance to it all, I say!
What makes this diagnosis and my pending surgery particularly difficult for me, however, is last year my husband (66) was diagnosed with rectal cancer, had surgery and now a permanent colostomy bag, the cancer metastasized to the liver and he could only tolerate 2 chemo treatments (he almost died from them.). Now, he is terminally ill, on hospice and maybe has up to 3 months to live. No children, hardly any family & they aren't nearby. I picture me recovering in one room while he's dying in another with a "two for one" paid caregiver. We're too young for this! However, I'm fortunate to have his brothers ready & willing to be here to help us both, though, and of course I have some of the most supportive friends one could ever hope to have as well. So I know I will get through this. But the timing sure is lousy, isn't it?
My biggest regret is I didn't have a hysterectomy in my 40s but the ob/gyn then thought it would be too dangerous with a fibroid on an artery that he was too afraid to remove because of the potential of catastrophic bleeding. Apparently I have no fibroids now or polys, thank goodness.
I am SO ready for my female problems to be over. I'm sure some of you can relate to that.
Best wishes to all you hystersisters out there!
Why are you getting your hysterectomy?
