Upcoming surgery

Hello everyone,
I have just gathered all of my records and am getting ready to send them out to the surgeon I have chosen to review them.

I have stage IV endometriosis and have struggled for the last 8 years to keep going strong when this disease is trying to sink me! It is on my bladder, bowel, cul-de-sac, uturesacral ligaments etc..... I have a frozen pelvis.

I had diagnostic and laparascopic surgery 3 1/2 years ago. To some extent some symptoms subsided for awhile, but if I thought my ovaries hurt before surgery, it was nothing compared to after. My doctor did do a partial oopherectomy on my R ovary due to an endometrioma in it. My ovaries were stuck to the back side of my uterus which actually made my back hurt, but when he unstuck them and they came around front again I was much more aware of their presence.

Until now I have not been willing to give up my reproductive organs as sole treatment for this disease, but I can't go on like this anymore. I have searched out a specialist and am going out of state to have surgery.

Although, I am very knowledgable about endometriosis, I have no idea what to prepare for as far as having a hysterectomy goes. I don't know what to expect physically and emotionally. I don't know where to start researching HRT. I won't know until I speak to the surgeon, but it won't surprise me if he recommends not taking HRT for a short time.

Any help and advice is much appreciated.

Thanks, Kim

Hi Kim,
I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with endo. You'll find lots of ladies here who have endo ...

Here is a link to our Resource forum, specifically to some links for information on endo and adenomyosis.

https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/for...s=&forumid=161

I also found The Endometriosis Sourcebook to be an excellent source of information on endo.

As for HRT ... every gyn is a little different. Some put their patients on estrogen right away after surgery, others have their patients stay off estrogen for several months post op. So much depends on your age, the severity of the disease, your medical history, the perferences of your gyn.

I had my TAH/BSO at age 46 and didn't take any estrogen for 3 months post op. During this time I took Megace - a progestin - as an extra precaution against any endo remnants that might have remained. At 3 months post op I started taking very low dose estrogen (0.3 mg) and at 5 months I began taking Estratest H.S. (0.625 mg of estrogen and a small amount of testosterone). I'm doing great on this, not not everyone does well on this particular ERT.

Keep reading and discussing your options with your new gyn. We'll do our best to provide support, whatever you decide.

Beth

Hi Kim,

Welcome to Hyster Sisters!!

I'm sorry that you have been in such pain and discomfort for so long and that you are now facing surgery, but am very glad that you found us and posted.

You'll find lots of information to help you prepare for your surgery and recovery in our

Pre-Op Hysterectomy Page

Post-Op Hysterectomy Page

and you can read about hormones in the Hormone Jungle.

If your doctor does not recommend HRT, we also have a forum called The No-Hormone Desert Oasis for those sisters who are unable to use HRT or who prefer not to.

Please keep on reading and researching and come back to post any questions that you may have. We'll do our very best to help.

's

Karen