Pre op

Hi, Iam new here, I've been diagnosed with Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts, prolapse of the uterus etc..Am due to have my hysterectomy on the 23 of this month. I just really need you all to talk to as am really scared. Any advice etc would be great! Thanks in advance X

My hysterectomy was for a different reason than yours, cervical cancer. I too was scared, more so about the anesthesia than the surgery itself. If you can tell us what it is you're scared of I'm sure we can all help alleviate that some.

So glad you found us! You will do great! It is natural to be nervous leading up to surgery and this is a big one! But there is a huge community of women here to support you. I have included some articles below that will start you in the right direction!

I had my TAH a year ago and have no regrets. This surgery is meant to improve your overall health and well-being and given the history you have listed below, I am very confident that you are making the right decision. Good luck to you and remember, you can ask us anything!

Questions for Your Pre-Op Hysterectomy Appointment
Prepare for Hysterectomy Tips
Preparing Your Home for Hysterectomy Recovery

Hi Hay to HysterSisters!

All of your fears, feelings, emotions and anxiety are very normal. This is one tough surgery to face and digest. It is such an overwhelming experience, it is hard to know where to begin. I remember when I was told I needed a hysterectomy . I went back to my car and . This was not what I wanted, but it was the best alternative given my condition.

((Sarrie22)) gave you some excellent advice and great links to get you going. And always remember, the ladies on this site know exactly how you feel and what you are going through. Ask what ever questions you have, and we will try to answer them for you. You can also get on and just vent your fears and feelings - it really does help.

Being nervous before surgery is normal, but if you have any unease about it, now is the time to make sure you have weighed all your pros and cons and are making the right decision for you.

I don't want to compound your fears, but I am not confident a hysterectomy will solve all your problems. I had a hysterectomy for endometriosis and I know first hand a hysterectomy doesn't solve endo and can be a lot of complications. For those reasons, I have a bit of a different perspective to share with you.

A hysterectomy is not a cure for endometriosis. Endo can exist whether or not you have a uterus. So if you don't go into surgery with an expert surgeon, those troubles may or may not be over. It's a gamble I lost. I wasn't able to use an endometriosis specialist for my hysterectomy, so I took a chance with my general OB/GYN. He couldn't remove all the endo and it become problematic over the years. I ended up back in OR a few years later--that time with a specialist who was skilled with excision of endometriosis. It's been over 8 years since the second surgery and I am still endo pain and symptom free--even with two working ovaries.

Looking back, I wish I had done a bit more leg work to see if I could have found a better alternative. A gynecologic oncologist might have been able to clean up the endo better if I couldn't find a way to see a specialist. And maybe with a different surgeon on a different day, I wouldn't have had all the complications.

I don't regret my hysterectomy per se, but it's possible I could have made some different decisions that would have allowed things to go a lot better.

My best advice is to make sure you are 100% sure you are making the right decision for you and you have chosen the right medical team for you. A general OB/GYN is not usually the best choice when it comes to endo, and you may find a uro-gynecologist would be elpful since you have prolapse concerns which could require some extra technique to prevent future prolapse. Yes, unfortunately things can prolapse after a hysterectomy. Pelvic surgery and menopause are to unfortunate risk factors.

And what about your ovaries? Do you know what causes the cysts? Knowing can help you make the right decision about them. Removing the ovaries can open up a Pandora box of problems, so it's important to seek additional opinions to be sure you make the best decision for you!

Thank you all for your support, and in answer to some of your questions..Iam nervouse something could go wrong, my overies are both blocked and covered in Cysts, but the Gynae wants to save one of them, if he can. The pain Iam in is unbearable have had endometrial ablation a couple of years ago for heavy bleeding and am still suffering with my periods. Have been with Gynae for years and we've tried lots of different treatments, but nothing has worked for me. This is my only option now, to improve the quality of mine and my family's lives. Although Iam am scared, I know it's the right thing to do for all of us! I have decided that I want to keep my cervix as there has never been any problems etc with it and army mum had a full hysterectomy she now has a prolapse of her vaginal walls, so any advice about keeping the cervix would be great! Xxx

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Hay I have decided that I want to keep my cervix as there has never been any problems etc with it and army mum had a full hysterectomy she now has a prolapse of her vaginal walls, so any advice about keeping the cervix would be great! Xxx

If your uterus is prolapsing, that means your cervix is, too. The cervix is the bottom of the uterus. It would be unusual for your surgeon to suggest you keep the cervix since it is already part of the problem. It would have to be pulled up and reattached, and it could prolapse again--it's already weak.

Have you consulted with a uro-gynecologist and not just your regular OB/GYN or gotten a second opinion from someone else? It's a good idea to get a second opinion before having any major surgery no matter how much you love and trust your doctor. Not all doctors have the same knowledge and experience, so you owe it to yourself to be sure you have the surgeon with the best skills, irregardless of everything else.

If your mom suffered from prolapse, you may have a genetic predisposition to it. Also, did your mom have her ovaries removed with her hysterectomy? Menopause is a risk factor for prolapse. Without enough estrogen, the vaginal walls can thin and connective tissues can become weak.

Please, get some other opinions before moving forward.