Hysterectomy date expected any day....and the doctor has scared me half to death.

Hi

I've been suffering with life crippling PMDD for my entire adult life. The Moodswings last for 2 weeks out of every month and are so bad that I have been hospitalised once (mistakenly diagnosed manic depressive) for 8 months and I have almost killed myself about 3 times.

It made living any sort of normal life or forging normal healthy relationships difficult so It was SUCH a relief when I realised there was something actually medically wrong with me and I wasn't just bonkers.

Me and the GP went though all the typical medications, The pill, anti depressants, mirena coil etc but It took about 2 years of experimenting with various medications before we found the first one that worked. Zoledex which essentially pushes your body into a 'fake menopause'

I can't even begin to describe the change in my life... it's like I have my life back!!!

unfortunately due to complications with the medication, they can only give it for 1-2 years and then you have to stop and I am coming up on 18 months with it.

Yesterday I had an appointment with the specialist and she said she was going to have to take me off it.

Nooooo!!!

She initially wanted to put me back on the pill... I have tried it, it didn't work... I totally broke down in the surgery... cried and sobbed.

I have been mentally preparing myself for a hysterectomy for 2 years. I knew it was most likely where I'd end up... I don't mind trying something less invasive if there is another option but I have tried all the options the Dr could think of.

In the end the doctor agreed to put me on the waiting list for a hysterectomy. Now I have researched it, I know what it involves and that's it's invasive, risky and that i'll be on HRT for most of my adult life. That I will need a minimum of 6 weeks off work but maybe upto 3 months.

But she went off into a big speech about how I would age 10 years over night, that my skin and hair would be effected. How I would almost certainly get Ostio-arthritis when I was older and have brittle bones.

Basically that I was making a big mistake... that giving the Full hyst (both ovary's and womb) to anyone under the age of 40 was irresponsible and she felt like she was failing me even considering it.

I challenged her to come up with an alternative but she couldn't think of another option because I really have tried them all.

I wasn't worried... but now I am..... im 37, I didn't think that was especially young.

My life has completely turned around since starting the zoledex im terrified of losing the control I have gained.

Is she right? is it a mistake?

Yowser, Boy I'm glad she isn't my Dr. I'm 5 months away from my surgery. I DID NOT age over night. My hair is fine, my skin is a little more oily because I don't take bc pills anymore. My sex life is fantastic. I'm a happier person to be around because I'm not bleeding and hurting 24/7. The point is everyone is different and not everyone comes away with all kinds of problems. I had mine done with the Davinci. Yes it took a few weeks to start doing normal things again, but my recovery hasn't been bad at all. Have you considered a second opinion from a different Dr. Finding the right Dr is the most important thing you can do. I fired my old one and LOVE my new one. He is fantastic. If you have your ovaries removed you may need hormone replacement and you may not. I have read several ladies responses on here and they are doing great without it. Hang in there and talk to us all you need to.

Just because they went to medical school and are a doctor doesn't make them right. Get another opinion.

This is second hand information but I was talking to a friend of a friend and she told me she had to have both her ovaries removed during her hysterectomy but has never felt better. She wears a HRT patch on her hip and says sex is better then ever and she had gained no weight. It didn't seem to be a death sentence for her. She is in her early 40's, not that much older then you.

This is a major surgery, and should only be done as a last resort. But it does sound like it's your last option. If there's nothing else to try, what else are you to do? The things your doctor listed COULD happen. But stating them as a certainty is not accurate and not fair. I think if you look around this site you will find most women aren't having all these issues. With any major surgery, there are risks. The important thing is to educate yourself on the risks and decide for yourself if these are risks worth taking. It sounds like your quality of life is very low if you aren't taking the Zoledex. So (for example) gaining 10 pounds post op may be a very acceptable risk for you if you're happy and have your quality of life. Explore this site, there is lots of great information here. Ask us all your questions, we are here to help.

Please get a second opinion! I would not go into surgery with a doctor that did not support me or try to scare me as yours did. It is one thing to be realistic and a hysterectomy is MAJOR surgery with a lot of possible complications, but it is something else to freak your patients out.

Second opinion. You need to feel confident the treatment is the right decision for you.

I agree with all the other posters about getting a second opinion. I think she is listing the worst case scenario but the problem is she is more assuming then anything else. If she doesn't support the need for you to undergo a full hysterectomy and is willing to do this otherwise. You need to be in the hands of somebody who believes in what they are doing and you feel very comfortable with, without the negativity!
Lisa

Besides a second opinion to be sure you and your doctor are the same page and you will be supported throughout this process, you might want to look for a physician who might be willing to prescribe Zoladex long term. It is not done by many and you would need to address the long term implications, but there are some physicians prescribing it long term.

Thanks guys,

Sorry for the late reply but I have finally got my date. 12th of May which is pretty terrifying as it's only 4 weeks away.

I sought a second opinion and I have found a new doctor who agrees the hystertomy is the right step forward. The new doc wasn't all sunshine and butterfly's she agrees with the old doc about the risks but thinks that going back and repeating failed medications is also not an option.

She was very pragmatic about the options and said while she could prescribe the zoledex for about another 12-18 months in the grand scheme it wasn't really buying me any time it was just delaying the inevitable op and a few years wasn't really going to make much difference.

I do feel better now, I know its a big step but I know what life was like before and im not willing to go back there.

Sooooo with just 4 weeks to go.

Any advice, anything I should prep for? magic hints and tips on how to get though the recovery process?

Also I have been told a minimum of 6 weeks off work? how mobile will I be during that time and is 6 weeks realistic? or could it be longer (err I know it 'could' be.. but what's the average for people going back to work) My job is high stress/high demand im a consultant out on client sites, its not physical but its mentally challenging and im sat at a desk for most of the day, often 12-14 hours per day. I pretty much like out of the boot of my car and sleep in hotels more often than my own bed. ... wow really selling my career choice her aren't I?

My resource manager has blocked out 8weeks in the diary, the plan is that I go back to work after 6 week but spend 2 weeks home based working from my PC. Is that realistic? I guess my biggest worry is the demanding hours/sitting all day if my tummy is still sore and im still tiring easily.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by leiela Thanks guys, Sorry for the late reply but I have finally got my date. 12th of May which is pretty terrifying as it's only 4 weeks away. I sought a second opinion and I have found a new doctor who agrees the hystertomy is the right step forward. The new doc wasn't all sunshine and butterfly's she agrees with the old doc about the risks but thinks that going back and repeating failed medications is also not an option. She was very pragmatic about the options and said while she could prescribe the zoledex for about another 12-18 months in the grand scheme it wasn't really buying me any time it was just delaying the inevitable op and a few years wasn't really going to make much difference. I do feel better now, I know its a big step but I know what life was like before and im not willing to go back there. Sooooo with just 4 weeks to go. Any advice, anything I should prep for? magic hints and tips on how to get though the recovery process? Also I have been told a minimum of 6 weeks off work? how mobile will I be during that time and is 6 weeks realistic? or could it be longer (err I know it 'could' be.. but what's the average for people going back to work) My job is high stress/high demand im a consultant out on client sites, its not physical but its mentally challenging and im sat at a desk for most of the day, often 12-14 hours per day. I pretty much like out of the boot of my car and sleep in hotels more often than my own bed. ... wow really selling my career choice her aren't I? My resource manager has blocked out 8weeks in the diary, the plan is that I go back to work after 6 week but spend 2 weeks home based working from my PC. Is that realistic? I guess my biggest worry is the demanding hours/sitting all day if my tummy is still sore and im still tiring easily.

Sounds totally realistic to me as long as you have an average recovery with no complications.