Someone Please HELP!!!

I'm was scheduled for a TAH/BSO for August 4th. I h ave severe endometriosis, its basically everywhere. Good news doctor told me Friday I'm going to get to have it done by why of Da Vinci. This made me very happy. Now I have all of the peopel out here telling me that a hysterectomy isnt going to help me, that with endometriosis its always going to be there. I'm being told I need to look into all these natural hormone creams and not do the procedure and that I shouldn't do the HRT. I have a month before my surgery and as if being confused, scared, nervous, aprehensive, angry and all of those other great adjectives that just aren't coming to me right now; now I have all these other questions. Just when I thought I was getting comfortable with my decision and what it ment for me I'm more confused then ever.

Any words of advise would be greatly appreciated. I find the advise I've read here from people who are going through this and have gone through this is almost better than what the doctors can tell me.

Both my sister and I have that too. She had her surgery a couple years ago and is doing great. She had a total hysterectomy and I just had a partial one done on June 16th. best decision for both of us. I talked alot with my dr and he was very helpful. You need to talk more with your dr about your concerns and they should be able to help you and even have someone in the office that had it done recently so they could talk with you also.
Hope this helps. Good luck

when you say the endo is "everywhere" do you mean everywhere as in all reproductive organs or everywhere as in all over your abdominal organs/tissues?

I have not had endo confirmed via lap, have had adenomyosis confirmed on ultrasound. My OBGYN strongly feels I have endo based on symptoms. I"ve learned alot from this site and from the struggles of a friend. Please consider this before you allow anyone to operate on you.

Hysterectomy will only resolve endo growing on your uterus/cervix. Removal of the ovaries will only resolve endo growing on your ovaries. But endometriosis can implant anywhere in your abdomen, and occasionally shows up in other areas of the body.

Endometriosis implants differ from "regular" endometrial cells in that they can manufacture their own estrogen supply. Even if you remove the ovaries, any endo implants that remain can continue to cause problems.

The ONLY way to have a chance at complete relief from endo is to have the implants totally excised by a skilled surgeon, preferably one who specializes only in endometriosis. You can find references for specialists here on this site. Most OB/GYNs will "burn" the implants, but this often leaves most of the implants behind with the added complication of possible scar tissue and adhesions.

Hysterectomy will only work if the only site of endo implants is on the uterus. It really doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. You don't want unnecessary or ineffective surgery.

Oh, regarding HRT. If all of the endo isnt' removed, any added estrogen will "feed" it more.

Thanks for the advise.
wtpdf - I was diagnosed via laproscopic surgery about 4 years ago now. The doctor I'm seeing is a specialist with endometriosis and is very thorough. My fallopian tubes are destroyed I have it on all reproductive organs as well as my intestines and other organs. I have a reoccuring endometrial cyst that has been removed twice from my left ovary that causes alot of pain. My doctors plan is to remove everything and leave me without hormones for a while, this will cause the remaining spots of active endometriosis (if any) to die off. Then I will be placed on HRT.

You have gotten some good information but I just want to give you a heads up. While some doctors believe that any remaining endometriosis will dry up if no HRT is used following an oophorectomy, there are other doctors and studies that indicate that as soon as endometriosis is introduced, the endo can plump back up again. It is good to hear that your surgeon is a specialist with endometriosis as the key for treating this condition is the removal of the endometriosis implants, not the reproductive organs. The more skilled the surgeon, the higher the chances of success since a hysterectomy is not a cure for endometriosis.

Some doctors combine excision with medicine such as progesterone, Lupron, or an aromatase inhibitor to try to dry up any remaining endometriosis. Also, once estrogen replacement is started, some also add progesterone or progestin therapy to try to help keep any remaining endometriosis at bay.

If you have any specific endometriosis questions, feel free to pop over to our Endometriosis Support forum.

I wish you all the best for your upcoming procedure.