Post-Op members only: Did you keep your ovaries?

My ovaries were both removed during my LSH. I decided to go with the Dr's advice and let them go, he gets paid to know this stuff.

At 55, still having regular crazy-heavy periods, no menopause in sight, a huge fibroid uterus, I was ready to be done with all of it. At my three week post op I was feeling great. I decided, with my Dr's advice, to go on HRT for five years. My parathyroid troubles made the HRT decision easy (osteoporosis risk). I have had some trouble getting and maintaining a comfortable hormone balance because of some weight loss but I feel better on HRT than I did for many years pre BSO.

At 18 months post op, even with the hormone problems, I would make the same decision. OvCa is not something I want to deal with. The information I've seen doesn't give me much reason to be afraid of HRT caused problems after a BSO. Without the PMS I am able to lose weight and that means more to my health than HRT or no HRT!

This is a great thread. Lots of good opinions and ideas.

I had to have a hysterectomy in July (just before turning 50 years old) due to cysts, and told the doctor to remove my ovaries and cervix as well. I didn't want to worry about cancer and wanted to see if my emotional state would improve. I am so glad I did. I started HRT 3 months after the surgery and my emotional state of mind is 100% better than it ever was. I always knew there was something up with my hormones - lived with anxiety, mood swings & depression. Several doctors told me it wasn't my hormones because my blood tests always came back within normal range; however, I always suspected they were out of wack. Since being put on the patch, Vivelle Dot 0.05 mg, I am a NEW woman. Emotions have leveled out, no more arguements at work or at home - always feel great - I swear by HRT! Thank you for that!

chula 2

Chula2
Thank you so much for the vote for HRT. I am just starting it myself, but I, like you always felt there was something going on with me hormonally. I am glad to know I am not alone!

My ovaries were left in at my doctors suggestion (I wanted then out)

Also.... She may have really meant 6 months cause that's the written instructions I had too...."no lifting at all for 6 weeks, then no lifting over a gallon of milk weight until after cleared at my 6 month visit" but I also didn't "dissolve" my stitches my for nearly 5 months. At my 1 year checkup today he even found two still there! Maybe that's the difference though?

	Quote:
Originally Posted by susanlsmith1 Marcia: "This surgery was a cinch b/c I did what I was told, and I didn't do what they told me NOT to do. I didn't lift any more than 5lbs for 6 months. " 6 MONTHS???? Did you mean weeks? I was on lifting restrictions for 8 weeks and thought that was awful. Can't imagine 6 months.

w

Hi,
Yes, I had my ovaries removed. I am 54 and he said I didn't need them anymore. Funny, my sister who is 53 had a hyst. a month after me and her doctor refused to take hers since he said she would still benefit. So now I am having problems with intimacy and she is not. Part of it might have been mine was vaginal and hers was laproscopic but I still think the ovaries being removed really affected me.
At least I don't have to worry about ovarian cancer which is a plus.

i had both removed--I'm 61-thought I was thru menopause. I had cysts on right ovary which was causing a lot of ab and back pain and fibroids--so I just had it all out as the women in my family die of all different kinds of cancer. Surgery was 12/23/2008. I got a vaginal cuff infection 9 days post op and have been hospitalized twice. The hot flashes at night developed recently and required me to change my hospital gowns and linens 4 times a night. i was put on a hormone replacement patch today.

We had planned on leaving both ovaries. My dr. discovered my right one had endo and was attached to my uterus, so he had to take it.

I still have my left one so no HRT...

Kept both, My Dr said my left one was covered with endo. She scraped off. It is painful there every once in a while.

Back in 1994 I had a partial hysterectomy and ovaries were left in until November 11, 2008 they had to be removed due to ovarian cysts

Hello ladies, I'm 37 years old and I had my surgery on December 4th, 2008. I was able to keep both my ovaries because my doctor says it's best to keep as much as you can to keep from being "thrown" into menopause. I feel great other than when I ovulate. That doesn't feel good at all and I don't like that. I need pain medication just to get through those 3 days. The doctor says it will eventually get better.