pros and cons of TVH -EVERYBODY HELP

My dr. has given me the choice of a vaginal hyst. or an abdominal incision. I want to hear your thoughts. Dr. said that the abdominal incision was easier for him but the vaginal will be easier on me so he would rather do the vaginal. But he did leave the choice up to me. (I am keeping my ovaries if that makes any difference.) I've heard good and bad about the vaginal hyst. but I wanted to hear from as many of you guys as possible.

Hello Apenn,
Well here is my experiance. After many years in discomfort and pain I finally made the decision to have my surgery. My Dr said that she would do the TVh due to my uterus was small enough and the surgery would be easier on me then the abdominal surgery. That was never a option for me , unless if complications arouse. If you look below I had several procedures done and with no complications. I believe my DR did what was best for me and my recovery was much easier due to that . So my opinion and it is only mine.. Would be to go the TVH way it was much easier on me and I was glad to not have the scar from the incision . I do believe that Tvh is less complicated then the other and should be done unless not possible.. May god be with you and help you make the right choice for yourself .. Be well
Loreine (((((((((hugs))))))))))))))

I had a TAH only because i did not have the choice my uterus was way too large (15lbs & 38cm) to take out Vag.

I had an LAVH on 6/13. I cannot even say I had much pain at all after surgery. I am SO glad I didn't have to have an abdominal. My recovery time was quick and relatively pain free.

If my doctor had said I could have either, I would have chosen a vaginal. I'm not big on discomfort.

Good luck with your decision.

You're fortunate to have the choice Personally, if I'd had the choice, I'd have gone with the vaginal (I had a boatload of other things repaired so that wasn't an option for me).

Healing with a vaginal is faster cuz you're not dealing with a multitude of layers of skin, etc., that are stitched or stapled. Of course you'd still have internal stitches, but I've gotta think that the fewer there are, the better off you'd be.

Good luck in making the decision that is best for you

Elissa

I was given the same choice - I went for TVH and kept ovaries.

I asked my doctor the pros & cons of a TAH & TVH and he said I would have an easier recovery with TVH than TAH. I believe he was right - I have a girlfriend who had TAH a year before me and she said that I recovered quicker than she did (we are the same age).

I had TVH on 9/30 and have had only slight cramping sometimes the 1st few days. Today I am 13 days post op, have been driving since day 5 (with MD approval), and somedays forget I had surgery. I am still resting a lot because my energy level is down but I don't have the incision to deal with. I don't have anything to compare to as the only other surgery I have had was to have my tube tied a few years ago and that was lap procedure. The pain on this was less than that even.

Everyone is different, but this was perfect for me.

I had TVH with repairs. There was miinimal post-op pain, very little "swelly belly". Didn't have to worry about an external incision rubbing on anything. Any time one can avoid going through the abdominal wall, I think it makes recovery easier.

The only negative I know of is that you can't keep the cervix with a vaginal approach if that is important to you. (I don't miss mine at all!!!)

You're lucky to have the choice! If there was a clear medical reason to do one or the other, your surgeon would have said so. Good luck!

hi apenn thanks for this question this is the same one that i had as well,my doc was in a toss up at first he said i should have the lah and then i said with my endo wouldnt it be better to have me open to be able to see it all,then the last convo i had with him before i had my cone biopsy was he was gonna make sure that there would be enough room down there and such for the vaginal,i realise that they do put gas in there to move the organs so they can see everything,but i know alot could even be missed with the scope,but i have the trust in my doctor,however i think if i would have the choice i would settle for the abdominal,but that is only me,i can handle the pain and the longer recovery time cause it would just give me the piece of mind knowing that everything would be taking care of and hopefully it would be once and done...Godd luck with any choice that you make and im sure it will be the right one for you!!!

Hi apenn,
I faced the same decision. I ended up with a LAVH due to my insistance. My doctor admitted that a TAH with the big incision was easier for him and originally wanted to do that. I just didn't want the longer recovery that went along with it. I have no regrets at all about my decision. At 3-4 weeks post-op I felt so good I hardly could tell I had Surgery. Just two one inch scars in lower abdomen and you can't even see the one in the belly button. I like to stay active and hate being confined to doing nothing so the LAVH was the way to go for me.You still have to take it easy because it is still major surgery and it does take time to heal,I just think it goes a little faster this way. Good luck in your decision and I hope whatever you decide, you have a quick and speedy recovery. Sandy