CONTEST: How will you remember 2008? - Chance to win an EndoFEMM for participating!

Well this year 2008, will be remembered, I was told I had to have a total abdominal hysterectomy oophorectomy in August. Eventhough I work in a hosp, (cardiology), this was still an experience. I found this web site on my own looking for more insight to what to expect other than just knowing what the proceedure would be. Hyster Sister's was the answer, reading and talking with others with near or same situations was a great comfort and prepared me well. My belly is still quite large and I am on Premarin, I was very symptomatic. Still healing inside. I have to say this event by far is up there with giving birth, both are life changing events. I have always had OBGYN problems from the start but now most of the pain I strugled with is gone.
I have recommended Hyster Sisters to my Doctors office and I tell many of my pre-op patients who are going to have a hysterectomy about the web site.
Thank You so Much for being their and Sharing your knowledge with all the "sisters."

I will remember 2008 as the year I don't ever want to relive.
Dad has a major heart attack and quintuple bypass
Sister had a toxic gall bladder removed
I had 2 surgeries
Mom disowned me.
The one good thing I will carry on from 2008 is this site and the sisters I visit with daily.

I will remember 2008 as the year I finally have grown to live in my new body and not think about it all the time! I'm comfortable with my meds, deal with all my symptoms routinely day to day and am back to living my life to the fullest! And, I got two new grandbabies a week apart this year! That makes 9 and counting. I just count my blessings everyday!

i will remember 2008 as the year i had my tah bso - no more pain/periods/etc! its also the year that i found out about this wonderful website and made new sister friends here!

I will remember 2008 by a friend who just had their first baby girl. Also by the death of my baby nephew. My oldest son turned 13. I've been at my job for 10 yrs. My mother in law tried to kill her self with pain pills. I had to have a mammogram done at 33. My prayers were answered I don't have cancer. I'm hoping that 2009 will be better.


Summerlyn

I will remember 2008 as the year I would like to forget. I am usually a very healthy person and have never had any medical issues. 2008 changed everything. I had an ablation in March, Colonoscopy and Laperoscopy in July and a hysterectomy right before Christmas and was in horrible pain since July related to Adenomyosis. I have also had a household of 3 kids, 3 dogs (a new puppy) and a husband to look after. However, my most memorable moment was in May (Mother's Day Weekend). I came home from work, opened the garage door and had a flood of water come gushing out. I then open the door to the kitchen and found a waterfall coming from my kitchen light fixture.... I waded thru about 2 inches of water and found the upstairs bathroom faucet on with the sink plugged. My 6 year old daughter had left the water running for about 8 hours! Our entire house was flooded from the 2nd floor to the basement! We were able to dry out most of the house, however, we had to have the kitchen and bathroom replaced. We had just built our home in 2004. I look back and laugh now, but I was devastated at the time. It took 5 months for our house to be back to the normal chaos. So I really hope 2009 is a much better year!

I will remember 2008 as the summer of too many wildfires in the state of CA. My husband was gone a lot but it paid off in the end. We were able to celebrate our son's (our baby) 5th birthday at Disneyland for a week. What a great time we all had as a family.

i will remember 2008 as the year that i gave up pop (some of you may call it soda) of all kinds and i gave up caffeine. i'll admit, its not easy, but it is best for my health! i sometimes just close my eyes and go "ah" when i hear the pop top being opened. i gave it up the day before my surgery and havent slipped yet - which is amazing. i wistfully think of...

The day that I was declared 'CANCER FREE'!!!

Smiley

I will remember 2008 as being the most medically challenging year for me personally - a year I am still recovering from but am more than glad is over.

On March 25th 2008 I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ breast cancer - DCIS they call it. I was lucky - stage 0, although my cancer was both estrogen and progesterone positive -- meaning it was generated by my hormones. What made things complicated was that on March 26th - the day after - one of my doctors - the first of many - recommended that I get a full hysterectomy and have everything else removed as well - especially my ovaries- as a sure fire way to prevent a breast cancer recurrence. I knew I needed one for years, but I was too young then -- that was in my 30's. But now, just on the heals of a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 52? Whoa...that was a bit quick for me. I told the doctor I would address it after my lumpectomy and my radiation treatments were over and I had some time to resume my normal life. But boy, that was a double whammy.

I have had gynecological and hormone problems since I was 12 - intense cyst production, extremely heavy periods, irregular periods and absent periods - until I graduated to Stage 3 endometriosis in my 30's, and intramural fibroids (multiple) and multichambered ovarian cysts in my 40's and 50's. I haven't even mentioned my infertility and infertility treatments - none worked, so suffice it to say that for most of my 40+ years of my life I have been in nothing but pain each month by a reproductive tract that abandoned me long ago.

But, my gyn issues trained me well in terms of coping with pain. The myriad tests and procedures I had to go through in 2008 for the breast cancer - some were immensely painful - were nothing compared to what I have coped with my entire life. My lumpectomy and the 4 weeks of radiation treatment were tough but they prepared me for my hysterectomy and I am doing well. For the first time in 40+ years I am pain free, finally.

The best part? I know that I have done absolutely everything I could to prevent a breast cancer recurrence. I know that there are no guarantees in life, but I have hope. So far I have gotten a great prognosis from my oncologists.

Do I have hot flashes? Yes! Am I sweating? Yessiree. Am I an insomniac? But of course! Moody and teary? Of course...but these things are a tiny price to pay for all I have been through. So now I am off to live my life - sweaty but happy!

Best to all!!