Oh Dear, Oh Dear!!

I just had my pre-op appointment and everything went well untill the lady said " so you're having an Abdominal Hysterectomy, uterus only". I said "no... Vaginal Hyst. cervix out also". Well it ended up that I didn't sign the consent form and went straight to my Gyno's office!! The receptionist (I'm not sure if it was his nurse or not?) said he usually doesn't do Vag. hyst. usually just Abdominal. I said I didn't care which he did as long as the cervix goes too! He'd said Total Vag. Hyst at the appt in August and that he'd take my cervix also because of my ultra heavy periods I was a good canditate to get mini periods. I'm not going to go through all of this just to be on edge again of when I will bleed, I don't care how light it is!!! It might be different if I had a regular cycle but with the PCOS I don't have any regularity at all!!!
They can't take your cervix through an abdominal hyst can they??
Advice please!!!

Leah

I should also say that she's going to talk to the Dr. and phone me back this afternoon. I'll post when I know more.
Leah

Hi M'Lady,

You were sharp to catch that during your pre-op visit. If you are not comfortable with your Dr, then you do have the option to check out other surgeons. It is always a good thing to get more than one opinion anyway. 2 additional opinions is a good starting place. I kept on talking to Dr's until I had complete confidence that my Dr was going to do what she said she was going to do.

This is your body, your surgery, and it should be your informed choice.

s,
Kay

Yes, they can take your cervix with an abdominal hyst - that's what a TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy) is. It would be a SAH (subtotal abdominal hysterectomy) if done abdominally with the cervix left in.

It sounds like you need to speak with your DR, and make sure you're both on the same page about the surgery. The cervix can be removed by either route, and the total healing time is the same for either procedure, but (imho) the vaginal route tends to be a little easier in terms of the early stages of recovery - though it has a slightly higher complications rate. Each procedure is suited best to certain types of conditions; for example, hysts for prolapse are almost always done vaginally, while hysts for cancer or endo are generally done abdominally (so the DR can get a better view).

I hope things get straightened out soon... good luck with your surgery!
s,
-Linda

Oh yes. I had an abdominal hyst and my cervix was removed. You definitely need to talk to the doctor.

I'm confused. I know I'm having an abdominal hyst. but don't know if they are taking cervix/ovaries. If they leave the cervix do you still get a period??? Apparently there are no problems (we know of yet) so they won't take them just for the heck of it...but I DONT want any more periods....mini or maxi!~~

If the cervix remains, you can experience what they refer to as "mini" periods. Ovaries remaining do not contribute to that. If the cervix is removed, no periods whatsoever.

Thankyou for all of the support Sisters!!

The nurse just called back and we've got everything sorted out. I am having an Abdominal, not Vaginal like I'd previously thought... My fault there as he was "telling" me about TVH when I'd asked what the difference was. I guess I was on information overload at the appt?? And yes he is taking my cervix, whew! That was the nurses mistake on the pre-op form which she appologized for. Everything seems to be set and all is well thankgoodness.
I was dreading possibly having to doctor shop again because I really like this Dr. I've been seeing him for 7 years now, he helped me with infertility problems to have my youngest daughter, he's very patient and will take as much time as you need at appts. I could go on but I'm just glad that it's all sorted out!
Thankyou again for all your support!
(I almost wasted a good panic for a bit there!)
Leah

Dear ((Leah))

Sorry, you have me LOL. They can take the whole thing vaginally if they want. I can just imagine the receptionists reaction....well, you were right. None of us would want the wrong part taken - in the wrong way - would we? WeLL Done....I might have been too scared to say anything. I have PCOS too - so if they got me at the wrong time...need I say more ((Soft tender HUGS to you)) donna42

M'Lady

Regarding taking your cervix, you should also make sure that your doctor is aware that there was just an announcement by Merck that a vaccine has been developed for two high risk strains of HPV. HPV is a virus that causes over 90% of cervical cancer. These two strains cause about 70% of cervical cancer.

Thus, you should get tested for HPV before making your decision. If you don't have HPV, your risk of getting cervical cancer is very small now, and will be very, very minimal once the vaccine becomes available (the relationship of HPV to Cervical Cancer is somewhat like the relationship of HIV to AIDS: if you don't have HPV, then you are unlikely to get cervical cancer, and a vaccine for most HPV makes it very unlikely that you will get cervical cancer).

I'm not in favor of taking healthy organs- there is evidence that keeping the cervix aids in pelvic support and sexual functioning (preventing vaginal dryness in particular). Thus, with this great news in the last few days that there is a vaccine for HPV, and thus a much reduced chance of getting cervical cancer if you don't have HPV, you should seriously consider keeping your cervix.

As to whether you will have "mini" periods: as I understand it, most women who keep their cervix do not have mini periods- I had a hysterectomy in May and have not had a drop of blood since, and that seems to be typical of most women who keep their cervix.

Please think carefully about your reasons to take your cervix. The two procedures to keep your cervix are LSH (Laparoscopic SupraCervical Hysterectomy), and SAH (Subtotal Abdominal Hysterectomy).


-Torrie