Should they stay or should they go?

Hello everyone here at the pre-op support board. I'm new here and was invited to share my story by April Dawn. She's been really kind and suggested that I might get more information and encouragement here.

I'm 34, with kids and a DH. We live in Norway. I've had PCOS and related symptoms that gradually have been getting worse for three years. I have recently been told I need a hysterectomy. Now, I have very heavy bleeding about 14-20 days a month (about a pad an hour on the worst days), many ovarian cysts, weight gain, diabetes and extreme fatigue.
I've tried many things to help. Herbs, some hormone treatments, a progesterone IUD, and a dramatic diet change. I also take Glucophage to help manage the blood sugar levels.

On my last visit to the GYN (last week) he did an exam and a biopsy because I'm not actually having periods at all...all the bleeding is from the endometrium (tissue and blood). I'm a little nervous about this because I am worried about uterine/endometrial cancer. I haven't gotten my results yet. The ultrasound showed many cysts on my ovaries. I'm not a candidate for more hormone therapy(another dx contradicts hormone use) and I have had severe cervical dysplasia.

Right now, I'm on a ten day progesterone treatment that is supposed to empty out the uterus on day 11. I haven't done this before but my GYN said I can expect very heavy bleeding and I've been told not to do anything for a couple of days. I'm waiting on the hospital to send me a letter with the biopsy results, surgery date and the name of my surgeon (this is how it's done here in Norway). I will have another exam done on or around my surgery day and I will get to request whether or not to keep my cervix and ovaries. I don't know what to do about that. If you have any stories or opinions, I'd love to hear them...it's a very difficult decision to make.

Thanks to you all who have read through this. Best Wishes.

Wow you are really going through some bad stuff and I wish you all the best. I have heard if you keep your cervix that you can still have mini periods and with all the problems you are having that does not seem fair to you. I would certainly discuss with your doctor the benefits of both options ( keeping or getting it out )
Im the kind of person that would say " as long as you are in there, take it ALL.. I dont wanna have to come back again .. lol .. I wish you the very best and will say a special prayer for you. Let us know how it works out for you. Will be looking for your posts.

The doctor I ran away from suggested keeping the cervix intact if at all possible for bladder support later in life. The wait is harrowing for you, I know and I'm so sorry. If it were me I'd keep either ovary if it were still viable and not completely entangled with cysts. I have one ovary that is severely damaged by scar tissue from cysts that "somehow" resolved themselves and had already decided to trash (lol) that one. Did your doctor give you an approximate date your results would be back? Nothing wrong with calling and finding out what they said if possible.
from a fellow unsure sister.

It's very reassuring to read your posts, thanks so much Moonflower and Mrs. I am sorry you have also been through so much. I'm going to have to do some more research on my own and maybe a consult visit just to talk about the pros and cons of keeping or removing all the other "parts". To answer your question about the test results...I wouldn't know who to call, actually. My doctor doesn't do the tests, he sends them off somewhere (maybe to Oslo?). Most of the time, if everything is ok, they don't call or write..."no news is good news". But, if something is wrong, I'll be getting either a call from my doctor or a letter from the hospital. The waiting is horrible. Thanks again for your posts!

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Originally Posted by Kitten1972 It's very reassuring to read your posts, thanks so much Moonflower and Mrs. I am sorry you have also been through so much. I'm going to have to do some more research on my own and maybe a consult visit just to talk about the pros and cons of keeping or removing all the other "parts". To answer your question about the test results...I wouldn't know who to call, actually. My doctor doesn't do the tests, he sends them off somewhere (maybe to Oslo?). Most of the time, if everything is ok, they don't call or write..."no news is good news". But, if something is wrong, I'll be getting either a call from my doctor or a letter from the hospital. The waiting is horrible. Thanks again for your posts!

If it's possible "over there" try and get copies of any and all test results just for future reference. Doubtful you'd ever need them again but never hurts, just in case. Even if my results say "normal", I want it on a piece of paper, lol. I would think your doc would get copies of them, ask! (I'm such a fan of ASKING for everything, lol). I send calming thoughts your way, you send some to the rest of us. Like a calming thoughts circle!

Now that you mention it, I would like a copy of all the documents and test results and everything...I don't know if I'm "allowed" to have them, but I'm going to ask. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

*sending calming thoughts your way (and some lavender bubble bath)*