Just Diagnosed, Scared, Need Some Support

Hi, I'm a newbie looking for some support and info and hopefully a buddy or two to help me through this! I was just diagnosed with uterine fibroids and have also suffered with severe menorrhagia for quite some time. I have been told that I need a hysterectomy, although it is not scheduled yet. I have an appointment to go in and discuss this with my doctor. I am actually wanting the hysterectomy because the symptoms are so bothersome and restricting, but at the same time, I am very scared because I don't know what to expect. I would love to find someone to basically "hold my hand" and walk me through this. It would be very helpful to me to have a friend who has been there. Any volunteers??? Thanks in advance!

Hi Andyswife,

It sounds like you need a good

Your post brought back memories of the day I found out I had (2) large fibroids. I was so scared.

I did not understand why it was happening to me. I felt so lost. I thought...I am having a bad dream..and I will wake up and it will all be over.

You have come to a good place to ask your questions. There are a great bunch of ladies on this site. ready to help.

Your Dr. said you need a hyst..and possibly you are a candidate for an alternate procedure such as a UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization)?? The procedure helps to shrink fibroids and leaves the uterus intact. Or maybe you are a good candidate for a myomectomy, removal of the fibroids only and the uterus is again left intact.

Also, possibly you are a candidate for a less invasive hyst such as a LAVH, a TVH, a LSH or the DaVinci Robotic?? Not all hysts are abdominal surgeries. Go to the *Hysterectomy Checkpoints* link at the top of the web site...click on the *Pre-op* link..and scroll down on that. It goes over the *different* types of hysts and *questions* to ask your Dr.

Also, you might get a 2nd opinion too. I got two opinions myself. A hyst is *major* surgery so it never hurts to gather more information.

Just take a deep breath..and we are here to help if we can. It may seem like the end of the world and it isn't. We Hyster Sisters are here to give you a cyber hug anytime you need it.

Sending best wishes~

Mary

Hi andyswife, I'm new too so I just wanted to say hi. Unfortunately I don't have any advice for you (yet) but hopefully we can hold hands through this together. You can read my other post to see my info. I don't have surgery scheduled either...too scared to commit. Why are we so bent on holding on to our dumb uterus, even though we don't need them and it causes us so much grief???

i want to wish you the best of luck with your surgery. take your time and do lots of research on the different types of hysterectomies. a second opinion is always a good idea too.
good luck

Hi Andyswife! I wish I could give you a big hug! Please close your eyes and pretend I just gave you a good hug! I LOVE this site and am so glad that you found it! Female health problems can be so scary. I am having my surgery to get everything removed on April 14th. I cannot wait for the surgery. I am in so much constant pain that I want the surgery to get rid of all the pain. I have endo, and have had 3 surgeries, but the problem comes back worse. Good luck and keep coming back here. This site will hopefully help calm your nerves and give you the additional support you need. We are all here for each-other! Welcome aboard. Good luck with your health and I really hope you feel better soon!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by andyswife Hi, I'm a newbie looking for some support and info and hopefully a buddy or two to help me through this! I was just diagnosed with uterine fibroids and have also suffered with severe menorrhagia for quite some time. I have been told that I need a hysterectomy, although it is not scheduled yet. I have an appointment to go in and discuss this with my doctor. I am actually wanting the hysterectomy because the symptoms are so bothersome and restricting, but at the same time, I am very scared because I don't know what to expect. I would love to find someone to basically "hold my hand" and walk me through this. It would be very helpful to me to have a friend who has been there. Any volunteers??? Thanks in advance!

Hi andyswife, I am from Tucson so not to far away. I had a tvh with a&p repairs and bladder sling . I also had severe menorrhagia due to uterine cycst. I totally get where you are coming from. Its like periods control your life. I'm sure you will find lots of friends and support on this site. It has been very helpful to me many times, even if it was just reassurance that others are going through the same thing. Feel free to send me a message via private e-mail on this site, you can get there by clicking on your user cp. Good Luck !

Best Wishes,
northwest35

Oh, I am so excited to be in contact with other ladies who have experienced or are facing the same things I am...what a comfort! You know, I had basically done a lot of investigating online myself and pretty much had myself diagnosed before I even went to the doctor, so the verdict was not really a surprise to me. I have been suffering for so long that the idea of having even everything taken out does not bother me. But still, I am scared and I don't know what to expect. I am somewhat in the frame of mind that I just want done what will end this once and for all. If something less invasive might or might not work or might work for only a given period of time, then I'd rather just have the hysterectomy and be done with it. I will turn 46 years old next week, so my situation is not that I am mourning the potential loss of any uterine functionality. I really don't need it any more and it is causing me grief! I don't mean to say this in a way that would sound insensitive to someone who would do practically anything to avoid a hysterectomy, but this honestly is where I am at with the whole situation. I WANT the surgery and to be free of the pain and the heavy bleeding and the horrible restrictions that have been placed on me by my condition. I would love for anyone who feels so compelled to e-mail me and chat further. I'll definitely be a frequent poster as well, I need lots of info and advice and to hear the stories of others. I sure am glad I managed to find my way here!

hi andyswife,
i had my TAH on Feb 20th so I am almost 7 weeks post op (Wed. will make 7). anyway, i had a large uterine fibroid and all three doctors i saw said the same thing that i needed an abdominal surgery. i was scared too. i remember when they first did the vaginal ultrasound and found it. i had been having pains for 5 months. she recommended surgery and i told her i wasn't ready-i got the depo shot to try to shrink the tumor or help manage the pain. i had a 1 month shot and then a 3 month shot. the pain didn't go away for very long. it helped a little but it came back so we scheduled my surgery after i couldn't take the pain anymore. i had my post op appt. today. the doctor said i am doing well. i won't lie to you, its painful but what i figured out is that this pain we have post op is better than the one we had before hand! and in my case (they took everything because of my age and i wasn't having any more children) no more periods. i can tell you that it was a blessing to have this surgery. i can now move on with the rest of my life. i spent 14 months in pain. (i didn't have long periods or anything else like that) but i had horrible pain. i spent one week in bed not able to even move!! so this 6 week journey of recovery was well worth it.
i agree with the others to seek a second opinion but take this seriously. i put it off and caused myself more pain than was necessary. i was taking 2 darvocets at a time and still having pain! anyway, this site is incredible-you will make friends that will comfort you, guide you and just hold your hand.
blessings!
marta

Hi andyswife,
I am also new to this site and have been diagnosed with fibroid tumors. I am anemic, have PAINFUL cramps and 6 months ago I had an endometrial ablation. (You may want to ask about this procedure with your doctor. It might be a good place for you to start.) Unfortunately my fibroids are starting to get out of control and I have periods 2 weeks on 2weeks off with incredable cramping! My doctor would like to do a hysterectomy as well. I am finding the more I read/research/ and talk to people the stronger/less scared I feel. There are so many options out there. If you can, take your time, get a second or third opinion and research what's best for you. Good luck with your journey. I know exactly where your coming from!
las45

Welcome Andyswife! you will find all sorts of info on this website. I'm new here too, been in healthcare for a long time and didn't even know they were able to do hysterectomies through a laparoscope! so when I saw that, I did more research and that's what I have scheduled now. I also kept putting it off, mainly cuz of work but no longer! so do your research and the best of luck to you!
Susie