Pre- Hysterectomy Information

Hi there,

I am newly registered (today) and am not quite sure what information I need.

I am 34 years old and have had a number of gyny problems since having my first child.

To cut a long story short, I have had endometrial eblation in dec last year and have bled ever since, I was warned many years ago that due to my unusual bleeding during pregnancy and very large uterus and heamatomas (apologies for the spelling) that I may have to have a hysterectomy one day.

I have today been to my consultant and explained the constant bleeding since the operation 4 months ago and the pain and urine infections and generally feeling pretty dreadful since. He has put me onto a couple of anti-biotics and told me to go back in 6 weeks and if the bleeding has not stopped discuss "more serious options" i.e. a hysterectomy.

So I am now in panick overdrive, as I am sure that this is going to be the next step and I want information on what is involved and the different types and recovery periods etc. I know this sounds a little premature, but I know what is coming I was just hoping for another decade before having to make the decision.

Has anyone been in the same sort of position and can advise on the options given to them??

My sister had a hysterectomy at 30, 10 years ago and had her ovaries removed due to endometriosis, I don't have that so I am lucky, but I want to avoid HRT and the removal of my ovaries as it has caused havoc with her health for the past 10 years.

Thanks

Hi Olivia,

You're very smart to want as much info before the decision is right upon you. Stay with the site here and you'll learn all you want to know. Be sure and view all the articles and checkpoints in addition to asking specific questions, and you'll be one educated sister.

Recovery time for most hysterectomies is 6-8 weeks. The vaginal and laparoscopic hysts seem to have shorter recovery times. Still, everyone is different and women recover to different degrees and at different rates.

Whether or not to leave the ovaries is an ongoing debate. Some women want to leave them if they're healthy and others want to remove them to cut down on the risk of future problems. I just posted an article about the risk of developing Parkinson's disease as a result of removing healthy ovares. There are conflicting views on this subject and so it's a particularly hard decision to make. I opted to leave my one healthy ovary and remove the one with a dermoid cyst. So, I guess I split the benefits AND the risk. If both of mine had been problem-free, I'd have left them. But, that's just me. My cousin, the nurse, couldn't wait to get rid of hers and hasn't had any problems on HRT.

I can tell you that, at 45, there was no way I could have put up with the bleeding I was having to endure until menopause when my fibroids MIGHT have shrunk enough to stop causing the floods. I still wish it hadn't come to hysterectomy but, at the same time, I don't regret having had it. I am no longer held hostage by my periods.

Hang in there. You've found the right place. Good luck as you make this tough decision.

Dear Olivia:

Has the doc given you a diagnosis as to the cause for the excessive bleeding?

If your ovaries are healthy, and you have no family history of ovarian cancer, you may want to consider keeping them. The ovaries produce hormones to aid in the good health of your bones, skin, eyes, heart, etc. even after menopause

Keep reading and asking questions. You may even want to seek out another medical opinion before agreeing to major surgery (hyst). Get smart about your symptoms and your options, and make the best choice for YOU.

I am sending huge cyberhugs