Will a hyst help me?

I just need to know I'm doing the right thing!!

I've been through the whole course of things and I still can't decide if I should have a hyst or not.

I've tried the hormones, birth control, physical therapy, back brace and even had a roller ball ablation last fall.

Since the ablation I don't really even have a period anymore. It was a god send, but I still have horrible back and leg pain.

Every doctor I go to quickly states "you need a hysterectomy". When I had the ablation, they didn't find any fibroids (which shocked the Dr.) her comment was that my uterus was "spongy". She feels that I have adnomyosis. She told me that I would know when it was time for a hyst.

I'm 32, finished having children but afraid to have a hyst. No one is sure what the leg/back pain is from and tell me once I have the hyst I should know if that is the cause of it.

My biggest fear is that if I have the hyst I will wind up on hormones. She said I can leave the ovaries but I've read on medical sites that because of the shock of a hys they often shut down within a year of the surg. I'm not ready to give up the whole big "o" part of it, but if it helps the pain then I consider it a even trade.

I guess I'm posting this to find out if anyone else had the problem with back pain and a hyst helping. Also if anyone had problems with the ovaries shutting down. After watching my family members go through menopause and throw Christmas trees out the back door, I don't think my husb or kids are ready for that side of me.

I'm tired of my back hurting all the time and not having any energy to keep up with my kids.

Can anyone relate?!?!?!?

Can you tell me what medical sites you found the information on? One of my doctors told me the shutdown theory is NOT true so I want to find out if the sites you mention are credible. I would also think if the "shock theory" were true they would shut down right away, not in a year. What does your doctor say?

I had a hyst nearly 3 years ago and my ovaries are still ticking at age 46.

I have heard of a hyst helping back pain , but she had fibroids. When you say no one is sure why you have back or leg pain, who have you seen and what tests have been done? I don't think it's a great response to say "have the hyst and if back is better then that's it". I'd want to be confident other causes were ruled out. If the adeno is bad in itself then have the hyst. You don't mention pelvic pain but I would think you have it with adeno, unless you have referral pain to the back instead of abdomen.

{{{{{{Boscofix}}}}}}No one can help you make the decision to have a hyst but YOU and your doctor. I know it is a difficult decision especially at age 32 but many women have had them at much yonger ages. It does sound as though you may have adenomyosis(spongy uterus) but there are other symptoms besides leg and back pain. Do you have irregular periods, painful periods, heavy bleeding with the passing of clots? I read somewhere that the clots can be "black" in color. I know mine were. Please read all you can on this site and discuss your fears of surgery, HRT, etc. with your doc. Weigh the pro's and con's and even seek several medical opinions. Then you can make an informed decision with hopefully no regrets. Good luck to you!

Emily s

Couple of things

Firstly - the ovaries can be "shocked" into shutting down as late as 12 months after surgery. They can shut down permanently, or, more frequently, as a temporary thing. It doesn't have to happen immediately after surgery, by any means. This info, btw, was from www.mdconsult.com

The other thing...your back and leg pain. Have you undergone other tests? I'm wondering if a pain clinic would also be able to help pinpoint exactly *why* you're in such pain.

I'm concerned that you might be looking at hyster to end your back and leg pain - unless there's a definite pelvic cause to your pain, it might not give any relief at all - I'd sure hate you to have this major surgery as a "it might help" thing, you know?

I know, I'm a worry wort

It's definitely worth seeking a second, and maybe third, opinion.

Best wishes.
Tess

Hi Boscofix

Gosh, I'm sorry you're at this stage in your desicion making. It can be very nerve racking! I've been there.

I had my hyst 2 weeks ago primarily for adenomyosis. I had extreme bleeding, clotting and pain. I also had extreme back pain that was like sciatic nerve pain shooting down my left leg. This is common with adenomyosis. When I was considering my hyst I was scared to death because I felt I was too young (34) and had the same concerns about my ovaries that you do. One of my options for treatment was an ablation like you had. I opted not to do that because everything I read suggested that ablation would take care of the bleeding, but not the pain. I was very confident in my DR's diagnosis and had also read that there is no other lasting treatment for adenomysis besides a hyst. I haven't had any back pain since my surgery but yours sounds like it is worse than mine was.

A friend who had a hyst for the same thing put it to me this way, "You are so young. Do you think you can deal with this for the next 15-20 years?" She was right, I couldn't.

As far as the ovary thing, I'm way too early in my recovery to give you any sound advise about that. Although my DR said it's common for ovaries to "shock" for about 10 days post-op but they normally kick in after that. He also said that if your ovaries do shut down, you were going to go into early menopause anyway, even without the hyst. (I know, that's probably a controversial comment but I thought I would mention it anyway).

I would really read all you can about adenomyosis. There are a lot of sites with information on the internet. I would definatley explore the cause of your back pain before you decide on a hysterectomy. Just read, read, read girl! And talk to your DR about all your concerns.

Hugs and good luck to you!

Hi

I had my TAH LSO on June 3, 2002, so I think I might be able to answer some of your questions.

I talked with 3 different Dr.'s about the whole shocking of the ovaries and them shutting down. All 3 seemed to conceed that yes it can happen, but it seems that the younger you are, the less likely it is that it will be a permanant thing. Mine actually shut down for the first 2 months following the surgery. For having only one ovart left, I sure have a really good amount of PMS symptoms. This month my left breast hurt so bad, that if I didn't know better, I would have thought I was pregnant!!

Are you having bad cramps each month still since the bleeding has subsided mostly? I had just about the same thing done. Endometrial ablation last August. Bleeding was almost non existant, but the pain started getting bad in October already, and by Dec. was on Darvocet. Jan & Feb was 1 Vicodin every 4 hrs., and March & April 2 Vicodin every 4 hours. April is when I ended up in the ER with such severe cramps I could not sit, stand, eat,see straight, etc. They had to give me Tordol through an IV. When I saw my GYN he told me I was "spongy" as well. When they did the Hyst & took left ovary, they found cancer high up in the cervical canal (undetected 6 wks. prev. on pap smear), excessive & extensive amounts of adenomyosis in the uterous (not there in August) & a 1 inch cyst on the left ovary that was not there in August. I had started having bad pains in my back and down my left leg. The Dr. said it was from the pressure. Not to say this is what is causing yours, but see if (s)he can do some more testing to see if they can determine what is going on.

It's not an easy decison, but once you decide, either way, let it be from knowledge and the heart. For me it was, "It hurts, I'm not using it...GET IT OUT OF THERE!!!!" Very easy decison for me to have made, but I am 5 yrs. older than you.

Good luck!!!

Chris

Hi. Have you had a pelvic ultrasound done? Have they done an MRI on your back to make sure there isn't a disc or nerve, or degenerative problem in your spine? I had back surgery 3 years ago, pain in my right hip, radiating down my rt. leg to my knee or foot. The MRI showed a herniated disc. I ended up with surgery. Just make sure, first, that it isn't something else, don't take someone's word for it. You can always seek other opinions, from specialists, and talk to your family doctor about ruling out any back problems. I had some cramps and back pain before surgery - endometriosus, fibroids, enlarged rt. ovary and uterus. The pelvic ultrasound showed some of the problems, but it was worse when she got in there to do surgery. If it is a female problem and causing the pain, it's definitely worth the surgery. It takes awhile to recover, but hey, all surgeries are like that. You owe it to yourself to be sure before you do anything. Don't worry about ovary removal, if needed. I had that done, started hormones right away and did well. Only had 1 dosage adjustment several days after starting initial dose, improved within 2 days. I'll pray for you. May the Lord guide you to those who can provide answers that satisfy your questions.
Love,
DebraDeeH
"angel"

Tess,

Where on MDConsult.com? I went to their website and there was not any OB/GYN service on there- just cardiology ,respiratory, etc. I am not a member, but could try their free service, but there's no choice for gynecology. Please advise.


I have been told by two gynecologists that the shutdown theory is not valid. One woman told me her's shut down one year after surgery at age 44- however she then added every woman in her family went into menopause between 39-45.

I have asked Dr. Nosunchuk (he has a website on ovarian failure) to send me the actual studies he refers to on his website. Dr. N is a prominent speaker and writer about "ovarian failure after hysterectomy" but he never gets specific about actual data. By the way Dr. N isn't a gynecologist, nor is he an MD. He is a DO (osteopath).

While I wait for Dr. N to get back to me with studies on "ovarian failure after hysterectomy" I did review several other websites. In all cases none of the "doctors" were gynecologists. One was a chiropractor , Dr. N is an osteopath and on two other sites they weren't doctors at all. One site , which appears to be run by a nutritionist, says one study indicates a "50% risk of ovararian failure within 5 years after hysterectomy."

If you consider that the majority of hyst patients are over 40 anyway, I think the "shock" theory doesn't hold much water.

Three doctors that Chris talked to conceeded that it CAN happen but I don't get the impression that it happens frequently. I would imagine that some of these cases involve surgical error on the doctor's part.

I wouldn't let fear of ovarian failure get in the way of obtaining relief from your symptoms.

How to access MD Consult.

Get the trial version. Mine is the full subscription, and I don't honestly remember *what* the free trial gives you, in terms of accessing the whole site. However, I recall that any option *did* give you access to the majority of the Textbooks..which can be found...under "Clinical Knowledge".

Access the Reference Books. There's a wonderful ob/gyn volume there. If you utilise the search tool, you can also access a virtually unlimited selection of journal articles, etc, too regarding the specific search term. The Patient Handouts are also very good at relaying information to patients.

Hope this helps - the site IS aimed more at the health professional than the layman, but it's still a very valuable resource.

I'd also add that gynecology, like any other discipline, is NOT an exact science. Different doctors will invariably have different opinions about certain things..I think the important thing is, that we don't automatically disregard someone *else's* point of view, simply based upon what we've heard ourselves.

Best wishes,
Tess