New (middle aged) kid on the block

Hi, never done this before so here goes. I am scheduled for hyster. with ovaries as well approx. May-June and am not only nervous but confused as well. I get revolting headaches which happen EVERY month without fail,have been diagnosed with irritable bowel,had a cone biopsy almost 3yrs ago due to pre-adenocarcinoma of the cervix (no probs there since) had a 7.6 x 7.0 cyst removed from ovary Dec 03. Since then have found IBS is more likely to be endometriosis,didn't realise it affected so much of your body.(told ya I was new to all this!)Went to gynie in Jan 03 for six week check up and was told a hyster. was best option as my "insides were a mess" and ovaries will not be staying. Am I clutching at straws in hoping tummy troubles AND migraines will be magically cured and why do I feel like nah I don't really need one that much. Surely the gynie doesn't just need a new BMW or holiday that much??!!

You are not old. You and I think a lot alike. I went to see 4 different doctors 5 years ago.

The last one was impressed with how much I had done reading. He even gave me an article he wrote about my problems. We worked 5 years with my fibroids. Then they grew and other problem indictating things came up and I tossed and turned about wheather he was just going to "harvest" me now.

Well, we talked and in the end I decided I really needed to be sure I was okay, and I could live without checking beneath me when I got up, or sitting causally on my coat, or wearing my sweatshirt around my waist as a fashion statement. Heehee.

I also was past average menapause 51 so I decided. I cried and yelled lots before surgery, but now I am calmer. I knew if I did it, I had to have no regrets no matter if I herniated, got infected or died.

Actually I thought I would die. I didn't.

Bookfairy

Hey - I resemble that remark!! LOL

Ok you middle-aged youngster (I'm older so listen to your elders...)

Bookfairy - you took the words right out of my fingertips!

Leddles, I too tried to manage it, have a great doc, but finally decided total quality of life was important. I'm 10 weeks post-op today, and while I still have some IBS, nothing like before.

And - even better - NOT A SINGLE HORMONAL MIGRAINE SINCE SURGERY!!

Now - I did have a mild scent (those awful perfumes) migraine, but caught it early enough Excedrine worked on it. I'm on hormones (Estraderm patch 0.05) and change it the same time every time I have to change it. My moods are even keel now (my workers are much relieved) and I wasn't even aware I PMS'd.

I don't regret for a minute having the surgery. I love not having to check the chair or my skirt every time I stand up, worry about ruining the sheets, having to explain why I'm away from my desk every 45 minutes or so "during that time", or put up with the hormonal migraines that no drug will take away (not even Imitrex could totally work).

I wish you the very best, and am sending you
s

Susan

Me too. The headaches...I forgot the headaches. I do get the smell headaches too. I thought I was the weird one. Driving home with the window open just in case. I would get sick to my stomach. Trying to find boss and tell her I needed to go home with another headache or tough it thru and hoping I would make it to the end of the day.

The fire drills in the middle of the night. That's what dh calls the messed sheet changes. So far touch wood no night sweats. And the best thing no cancer or cancer scare. Thing One and Thing Two just grew, which was unusual at my age, after all they were to start shrinking at my elderly age.

Cat Maid, how are horomones? Gp said I should probably be on the patch, but worried about mirgrains. Crumps don't want my bones to crumble. Bookfairy

Hi there,
Thanks for answering some of my many questions. Wow! I can't even imagine one month without a headache let alone 10 weeks. I tried to answer before but these pop-ups kept interfering and I think I lost my letter. I know what you mean about trying everything to get your headache to go but you get to a stage when you don't want to take any more pills. I have until May ( I think) to convince myself I'm totally sick of taking painkiller after painkiller to get rid of a headache which I know will go once my period starts and probably many hours in the loo at night,feeling like I'm in labour all over again! (and why always at night I wonder?!) I'm pretty sure I'll convince myself along with everybody over there's help.
Thanks again from "down under"
Leddles

Hi Bookfairy and Leddles,

I had a really long talk with my doc about hormones. My mom is a double mastectomy survivor (76), my grandmom had breast cancer (lived to be 98) and my great-aunt had breast cancer (lived to be 84). My aunt is also having trouble, but nothing major yet (70).

So, you can see what a whammy I have for the likelihood I'm going to develop cancer. We talked alot about quality of life...and what it would be like to have hot flashes at 42...and have to try to work like a dog through it, bone loss, skin dryness, etc., etc., etc., until I convinced him to take my ovaries and put me on the lowest dose of estrogen possible - thus the patch.

I'm really pleased with it...I can't forget it and it keeps the does really constant - the only hot flashes I have had are when I got really stressed and smoked a gazillion cigs (it blocks the estrogen receptors). I know - trying to quit now.

I haven't had any problems with it coming 'unglued' once I figured out exactly where on my behind to put it, so I wouldn't rip it off trying to drop my panties in the bathroom!

I've only had itty bitty problems - gas pains, constipation, the usual bladder pains you've read about, opened the incision a little bit because of an ingrown hair and tiredness. I'm a ace at most surgeries and jump right back in, but this time it has been slower than I had hoped. But, I'm also not pushing myself too hard either.

So - on the patch and no hormonal migraines! I think its wonderful!! Why not try it and see? If you have family issues, you and your gp can closely monitor your hormone levels, double up on your mammograms and actively watch for problems.

good luck - and welcome Leddles!
Susan

Hi Cat Maid,
Glad to see your'e being careful with the cancer concerns in your family ( who wouldn't be?) I went into this section & found the abbrev. terms & now know now that I'm having a TAH BSO!! ta daa!
My sister (also Susan or Sue) had a TAH BSO bout 3yrs ago and highly recommended it as well. Over here in Oz they do hormone implants in your belly, which sis has and I will also have, thank goodness as I could see myself sticking a patch to anywhere BUT where it's sposed to go!
This site definately keeps ya sane sort of...Keep on recovering!!
Leddles