Appendix out at the same time?

Just got back from a great pre-op. I now know everything there is to know about hysterectomys! My wonderful, talented Dr. also suggested that he just take out my appendix while he was in there. Just curious, has anyone else done this or has it been suggested? As far as I know nothing is wrong with mine and I don't need it - Do I? This would be purely preventative.

Any ideas?

Great news as well - no bowel prep, I can shave myself and he is going to give me an unofficial tiny tummy tuck!

I am feeling really good about my visit to the castle and I am truly blessed with the best Dr. in Atlanta!

I think that years ago it used to be standard to remove your appendix during a hysterectomy but not any more. The only reason I say this is because a co-worker recently died of appendix cancer. Before she died she was distraught because she had had a hysterectomy and couldn't understand why they didn't remove her appendix.

I didn't ask my doctor about removing it but when we were discussing the removal of my ovaries he said that surgeons weren't in the business of removing things that *might* cause problems later on.

Appendix cancer is extremely rare. That person is the only person I've ever heard of that had it. It's so rare that doctors haven't even been able to study it.

I had my TAH/BSO in June due to Ovarian cancer....and yes, they took my appendix out along with everything else....no extra charge!

I dont know if that's standard procedure in my area, or just due to the cancer aspect of my case. It's a good question, though, and I'll try to remember to ask my gyn/oncologist next time I talk to her.

K9

when my friend had her hyst a couple of years ago they removed her appendix, i got appendicitis 2 years before i had my hyst so it wouldnt have mattered

I asked my gyn to take it out while he was in there. He said, sure, provided there are not a lot of adhesions that would make it a more complex surgery. My DS had abdominal surgery when he was an infant and they just took his appendix out too and did not tell me until after the fact.

when i asked my surgeon he said he didn't remove the appendix .His reason being that the peritoneum where the uterus sits is a 'clean' area - when you remove the appendix you open part of the bowel which is a 'dirty'area. He says he tries to avoid cross contamination from the two areas during one operation as this increases the risk of infection.

Mine said basically the same thing as the previous poster. In my surgery report, it says that my appendix was 'visualized', and found to be fine, so they left it.

From what I have read here, I think it's much more common to leave it alone.

I dunno, my doc said he was going to remove mine, but when he got in there, he decided it was to close to something or other (cant remmber cuz i was still out of it)

I'm glad he didnt tho. If it aint broke, dont fix it.