A supracervical hysterectomy is a supracervical hysterectomy, right?

Hi All,

This is my first post and I know I should do an intro first but I just have this burning question and I hope someone can help me with it.

I have adenomyosis and am considering a hysterectomy (will go into everything else in an intro, I promise!). My doctor said he would do a supracervical hysterectomy (keeping the cervix and ovaries) laparoscopically. My doctor has been very helpful in the nearly 6 months I have been with him and he is with a well-known medical group. My concern, unfortunately, is money. He is out of network which means we would have to pay the $600 deductible plus 30% of all expenses thereafter- which tend to add up pretty quickly. I haven't worked for nearly a year and a half because of this and money is tight. I know my doctor is an excellent doctor but doctors have been doing hysterectomies since surgery was invented, haven't they? I want to do what is best for my health and if I have to spend more to be with the better doctor then I will do it but if one surgeon is essentially the same as another what is the harm in going with another doctor as long as I find him/her to be well respected and as up on things as my current doctor?

I still haven't decided on a hysterectomy... I feel like I have tried almost everything but I just got married and we definitely want kids but not for a few years. Some days I want to just throw my hands in the air and just get it over with, other days the thought of not carrying my own kids makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry.

Hi newsjunkie76 and

We're happy you joined the Hystersisters community! As you will undoubtedly discover, there is a ton of solid information on the site, and the members have unlimited cyber-hugs to dispense to you at every stage of your journey to good health!

It is not required that you post in the Introduce Yourself forum -- which is designed for new members who don't know "where to begin"....particularly since you have managed to navigate the site yourself and find the Message Board designed for members who have not made a decision to proceed with scheduling a hysterectomy.

I believe that all gynecologists are trained to perform hysterectomies -- whether they are in your medical insurance company's network or not. If you are not pressed for time, in my opinion, it certainly couldn't hurt to check out a gyn in your network for a second opinion, which we always recommend doing anyway before proceeding with major surgery. Who knows -- you might find a doctor who you like and trust and whose performance would be "gentler on your pocketbook."

Many s and Best Wishes,

Thanks for the welcome.

I know I don't need to post an intro, I just figured it would be a good place to list everything I have tried and how I was diagnosed and all that good stuff. Thinking now I might skip it, who is going to cross reference that anyway? lol

I have had a total of 4 opinions which is actually more like 6 if you add on the 2 other doctors in my current doctor's group and they are all, incredibly, in agreement. I am just so afraid that I will have the hyst and still have pain. I have had every test known to man- and some of them 2 or 3 times- but with the lack of a 100% definitive diagnosis I can't help but get nervous. I am currently using a Mirena IUD, the last thing to try before a hyst and my doctor just told me that if he does the surgery with it in or only recently removed adeno won't show up in the pathology! So now, what? Take it out and wait just to be absolutely sure and waste a few more months of my life? Guess that is a topic for another thread...

Hi NewsJunkie76,

I had a LSH and I am still very pleased with my surgery results - 3 yrs on.

I agree with Bizet Woman. Get a 2nd opinion. You might call your insurance company and get some Drs names. Then, possibly ask your current Dr to recommend a Dr. in your network that can do laparoscopic hysts. Drs ~understand~ when it comes down to insurance billing and restrictions. You could always come back to your present Dr. for your gyneo needs after surgery.

Also, a friend of mine just had a hyst with my current gyneo (my LSH Dr.) and he was ~not~ in her network. She and the Dr. sent in a request in writing to her insurance company and she was approved for surgery with him. So maybe a possibility there??

At the time of my hyst, my DH and I were without insurance. It was really scary. If you are considering staying with your present Dr., you might check with your Dr's billing manager and get an estimate of ~all~ expenses. It would let you see what you are working with (on a % scale). I was able to get that ahead of my surgery. Also, you might check to see if your present Dr. gives a cash discount on any expenses. I got that also.

Sending best wishes~

Mary