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To do it or not to do it? Scheduled and terrified.
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12-22-2007, 01:23 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 72
Hysterectomy: January 13th, 2008
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To do it or not to do it? Scheduled and terrified.
Hi, all:
I am happy to have discovered this site. I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy in January and am scared and hope I'm doing the right thing. Would love to hear from any of you if you were in a similar situation.
I'm 47 and have had a fibroid for more than 10 years. I am not a candidate for any of the non-surgical fibroid removal methods. In the last 4 years it has started to grow quickly and is now quite large (too large to do anything but an abdominal procedure,) is in a bad position and is starting to press on my bladder and urethra. I put up with the heavy periods but now I've had occasions in the last month when it was hard to urinate. I've had a bladder infection and the Dr. feels that I could end up hospitalized with urinary retention and possible later kidney damage. I have constant bladder and rectal pressure which has worsened. I'm also having bad constipation lately. I also have significant prolapse that would be fixed during the operation.
Yet I'd continue to live with all this since I'm scared that the devil I know may be better than the devil I don't know. I am of the mindset that one doesn't undergo surgery for anything less than cancer. That lifestyle improvement may fix one problem but cause others. What of all the complications I read of? Will I ever want sex again? One ovary has a cyst but the Dr. says to keep them anyway at my age. Oh, yuk. Any advice?
Thanks, everyone.
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12-22-2007, 03:17 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 58
Hysterectomy: January 16th, 2008
Ovaries: Undecided
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To do it or not to do it? Scheduled and terrified.
I can't give you any answers as I will have my surgery after yours, but I do understand your concerns. For me the decision was easy because of the adverse impact on my life from my fibroid enriched uterus.
While there are very real complications that can occur, I think that the complications get more press than the easy recoveries. Talk to your doctor and research here and other online site and make sure you have all the information you need to make the right decision for you.
Best wishes.
Cassie - 42, TLH 1/16/08
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12-22-2007, 03:33 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 7,531
Hysterectomy: October 23rd, 2006
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To do it or not to do it? Scheduled and terrified.
its very normal to have all the thoughts youre having. i'm glad to see that your dr wants you to keep your ovaries. i think you'll be happy with them still providing you with hormones and your life probably wont change too much once you recover. i kept my cervix and ovaries and the only way my life has changed is that i dont get a period. my ovaries are working great and life is good waiting is the hardest part...hang in there.
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12-22-2007, 03:55 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 374
Hysterectomy: December 11th, 2007
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To do it or not to do it? Scheduled and terrified.
Hi
I had my SAH just 12 days ago, and had lots of doubt about surgery.
I only found out I had a fibroid 8 months ago, after a series of infections - which i thought were virus'. I was actually quite well before my operation, and feared having surgery and being worse off..
..but, I'm soooo glad I have had this done now - woke up feeling lighter and better than for a long time. Obviously it is major surgery, and I had to plan everything very carefully - it's not easy finding a few months out of your life..
Turns out I had 2 fibroids, and a very enlarged uterus - it definitely grew quite rapidly in the last few months (someone suggested to me that it knew it's days were numbered..lol).
I'm single at the moment, and I was worried about the sex issue too, and I know I have mountains to climb when i get into a new relationship. However, I feel very 'normal' if you know what I mean...and all my worries seem to have been for nothing.
Obviously this is just my experience, and you need to get as much as info. as you can before you make a decision..but most people on here and I believe that the decision and the waiting is the hardest part...and the benefits can be fantastic...
good luck
x
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12-23-2007, 11:15 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 554
Hysterectomy: June 25th, 2012
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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To do it or not to do it? Scheduled and terrified.
Have you obtained more than one opinion on whether or not you're a candidate for any other alternatives? Have you been seen by an interventional radiologist to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for a uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)? Your gyn is not really qualified to make that call since gyns are not educated in interventional radiology - and in some cases are quite biased against this procedure since it's outside of their domain. I had a 10 cm fibroid that was compressing my bladder in half. It was treated successfully over two years ago with embolization. My gyn said the only option for me was an abdominal hysterectomy.
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12-24-2007, 12:47 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 159
Hysterectomy: November 20th, 2007
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To do it or not to do it? Scheduled and terrified.
You definitely have more than one devil you are dealing with. Although I do agree with Ambrosia about getting a second or even third opinion. You do not mention what type of doctor you have been seeing regarding these problems.
Not everyone has complications after surgery. You just don't hear too much from them because they are out living there pain free lives.
Only you (and your doctor/doctors) can make the right decision for you. I only recommend educating yourself as much as possible about what is available for your specific situation. Then ask questions and more questions.
Best of luck with your decisions and possible upcoming procedures.
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