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To go for it or not
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11-15-2006, 06:00 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 370
Hysterectomy: January 29th, 2007
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
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To go for it or not
I'm currently awaiting the results of one more test, but in the meantime, I've been diagnosed with multiple fibroids and cyst on one ovary. The 2 largest fibroids are a little over 2 inches and the same with the cyst. I have very irregular cycles that are out of control bleeding and pain. My doc has gone over all the options including ablation and hyster. I'm 48 and don't have plans on getting preg., so I'm at a crossroad for a decision. My insurance will probably insist on a second opinion if I decide on the hyst, which is where I'm leaning at the moment, but I have a couple people trying to talk me out of it because it's such a major surgery and I'd lose a few weeks from work. Not to mention the recovery process physically. I realize that the other options are mostly temporary since fibroids can grow back. Plus, I've already had a malignant melanoma (beat it!), so I have a history of cancer and was warned it can return in some way.
SO...what's a girl to do? Does anyone have anything else they can suggest or something I may have overlooked as to how to decide this?
Losing my uterus wouldn't break my heart, trust me. But I do realize what a major move this would be in so many ways. Should I try the ablation first and see how successful this procedure is or just take the plunge and be done with it?
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11-15-2006, 06:15 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 370
Hysterectomy: January 29th, 2007
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
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To go for it or not
Thank you for moving my question to the right place. I wasn't sure where to post it.
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11-15-2006, 06:17 PM
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Posts: 36,890
Hysterectomy: November 14th, 2000
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To go for it or not
A hyst is a major irreversible surgery, with pros and cons. The decision to have one should never be made lightly and a second medical opinion is a great idea!
If it is possible to try an alternative procedure, you may want to try it to see if you can avoid the hyst. The Endometrial Ablation Discussion Group might be a source of some really good information for you!
We have many Fibroid Resources you might want to read through as well as checking out these sites dedicated to fibroid information:
Hope for Fibroids
Fibroid Network Online
Many best wishes to you as you decide what is right for you!
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11-16-2006, 08:40 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 370
Hysterectomy: January 29th, 2007
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
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To go for it or not
In no way am I trying to make this decision lightly, believe me, hence my looking for other opinions. This is the only thing I seem to think about any more. I've ingested so much info, my head hurts.
Thanks so much for the links!!!
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11-16-2006, 04:51 PM
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Posts: 4,793
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To go for it or not
Hi Whtdove3,
I might suggest you check out the different types of hysts. Possibly you are a candidate for a less invasive hyst such as a TVH, a LAVH or the LSH, the surgery type I had.
Here is a Hyster Sisters link that goes over the different types of hysts and questions to ask your Dr.:
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/view_preop.htm
I kinda felt like you did. I was 46 at the time of my hyst and I wasn't looking at any more kids. Also, my Drs felt my fibroids would grow back if I chose an alternate procedure.
Best wishes,
Mary
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11-16-2006, 05:13 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 370
Hysterectomy: January 29th, 2007
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
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To go for it or not
Thanks very much, Historylady. As a matter of fact, I just this moment finished reading about the LSH and I'm going to talk to my doctor about this procedure and see if it's a possibility. According to a chart I found showing all the types of hyster's, I think I would qualify for that one, I have numerous fibroids. I definitely would like to keep the cervix if at all possible.
As for getting a second opinion, I'm sure that would be a necessity for insurance and I found another doctor who does Laparoscopic Surgery, so I'd like to talk with her, also. One question I have for those who've gotten second opinions is, can they just use the test results for the first doctor or do you have to get all tests done again? I wouldn't mind the pelvic ultrasound, but I'd like to pass on the biopsy!!! That was not fun!
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11-16-2006, 05:17 PM
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Posts: 4,793
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To go for it or not
Hi Whtdove3,
My LSH Dr. was my 2nd opinion. I just picked up my records at my 1st Dr's office and took them to my LSH Dr. I did not need a 2nd ultrasound since it had been done very recently with my 1st Dr. I did not have a biopsy so I cannot answer that question.
Here is a LSH link that might help with your research:
http://www.goodgyn.com/lsh.html
Best wishes again,
Mary
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11-16-2006, 05:20 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 370
Hysterectomy: January 29th, 2007
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Removed both
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To go for it or not
My tests were done within this last month, so hopefully, that would suffice.
Thanks so very much!!
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11-16-2006, 05:22 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 13
Hysterectomy: November 20th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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To go for it or not
I had almost the same problem as you, heavy bleeding caused by fibroid tumors, cysts on my ovaries and cervical polyps. I was going to go right for the hysterectomy but the surgeon talked to me about other options. We tried the ablation first. The problem I had was that my cervix was so traumatized by the ablation that it closed up, never to open on it's own again. So, I had the ablation done in May 2005. In February of this year, I started having terrible cramps, like labor. Turned out all the dead tissue, blood, etc had built up in my uterus over the months since the ablation and I was going into labor trying to get it out. A D&C was done in March to remove it all and we hoped that would fix the problem. It did for a few months but on October 8th, the pain started back again. I had an ultrasound done a couple months before that and they found fluid collecting in there again. Upon doing another ultrasound at the on-set of pain, the fluid and the size of the fibroid had tripled in two months. My doc tried to do a D&C again on October 19th but couldn't get around the tumor to do anything so a hysterectomy was decided on. I go in Monday, Nov. 20th to finally put an end to this. My uterus has been going into labor on and off since October 8th trying to get rid of all this crud building up in there again, believe me, it's extremely painful!
The ablation was worth a try, it just didn't work for me because of the complications that arouse from it. This doesn't mean that it will happen to everyone, lots of women have it done and it works great for them, it just didn't for me.
I was told before hand that the ablation would not get rid of the fibroid because you need a higher heat to do that and it would injure other internal organs to do so, so I knew that was a problem. But they figured since I was almost done with pre-menopause, and those kinds of tumors are usually estrogen fed, that it may slow down the growth when I finished producing hormones, that it wouldn't grow anymore. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way. Also, my endometrial lining is growing faster than before, it's like four times thicker than it should be normally, which can lead to endometrial cancer.
Having this hysterectomy is the best decision I could make and I should have just done it in May 2005 but I had to try the ablation to see if it would work. There is the whole thing about major surgery, recovery time, etc. I'm 49, disabled, have no children, a husband that takes great care of me and I don't work so I've got it easier than a lot of women as far as recovery goes.
This probably doesn't help you much but it's my experience with an ablation, if you want to read more, I've been keeping a journal here under Speedy1. E-mail me if you want to talk or have questions.
Dawn aka Speedy1
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11-16-2006, 05:22 PM
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Posts: 4,793
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To go for it or not
Hi Whtdove3,
My ultrasound was also done within the month when I went to my 2nd Dr. Hope that works out for you too!!
Mary
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