Desperately NEED YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE... AM PETRIFIED... SO MANY QUESTIONS...

Hello to everyone. It has been a while since coming back into your OUTSTANDING site and am so grateful to be a member of such a place where I know despite not "knowing" any of you, it is like coming home to a safe place with people who truly care! I have been trying to avoid the "H" word, but it seems that there is nothing left for me to do. I have tried everything from going back on different kinds of birth control, to hormone therapy etc. and am desperate to have my situation resolve itself. I have EXTREMELY HEAVY BLEEDING soaking through 3 pads and a diaper, SEVERE cramping and pain, CLOTS THE SIZE OF FETUSES, FIBROIDS ETC. and my Doctor finally told me that it was long overdue to have a hysterectomy so that "all" my problems will be solved. I am not interested nor want any more children, but the hysterectomy SCARES ME. First of all, what are the chances I will die during surgery? I have three boys that are MY LIFE and do not want them to lose their mommy as well. Is there any way that this surgery could be performed while I am awake? For instance, something like a Cesarean section where they sleep the bottom half instead of complete? Do I keep my ovaries or get them out? I have already had abnormal cervical cancer cells that are continuously being treated and do not look forward to worrying about ovarian cancer as well. The symptoms are sadly often misdiagnosed until it is too late and again, I want to live for my God and for my Three Boys. What else should I take out? Will it cause my bladder or other organs to fall? What about my sex life? Will I stop feeling or acheiving orgasms? Are there any other options besides a hysterectomy that are PROVEN TO WORK, and not that "we will have to wait and see?" I reside in Texas and am on SSI so I ONLY HAVE MEDICAID. I am assuming that because of this my options are even more limited as far as if I do have the hysterectomy, having it laproscopic or because of the insurance, having me sliced open... Any and ALL YOUR REPLIES will be GRATELY APPRECIATED MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY!!!!! I cannot sleep and this is destroying me with worry. I will continue to check in hopes of replies and again, GOD BLESS YOU ONE AND ALL THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS OR OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. Wishing you ALL a blessed evening!

I'm so sorry to hear you are in such a state of panic. It seems like alot of information, options, and possibilities all thrown out at once and it's hard to sort through them all. I would deff. talk to your doctor and see what he/she recommends as far as taking your ovaries or not. I had my partial hyst. in 2007 and planned to keep my ovaries. After the doctor went in, it was a necessity to take the right ovary due to so much endometriosis and so many cysts. I did keep the left, but having surgery next Tues. to have it out. I never felt pain free, never enjoyed sex, etc.. and so this surgery was welcomed. I think for diff. people it's different on orgasims. I never had an issue and noone I've talked to has either. Sometimes scarring from the surgery will be an issue, it is for me. My doctor will remove the scar tissue as he can, (but it will build up again) kind of a never ending cycle. I know many women who have a partial or full hyst and never have another problem. That will be something you can talk with your doctor about (leaving your ovaries or keeping them). There is always a chance you'll need them removed later on down the road, but in my opinion it's worth a shot if you can to keep them. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that this is a wonderful site with so many great girls willing to share their stories open and honestly! Try to relax, that will help your symptoms at least, and don't be afraid to grill your doctor with all your questions. There is always a "CHANCE" of something going wrong in surgery, but that's so slim. I would ask your doctor about doing a spinal block instead of anesthesia. That's something I've heard that they do more and more often these days. God is so good!!! He will protect your and always be there for you! Lean on him to comfort you and take away your worries. You're three boys will have their mom/wife for a very long time!!!
Hope this helps some how, sorry I can't offer more advise!

Hi, I read your post quickly and didn't read the replies yet. I didn't want to lose my thought. I just read a post that outlined having a hysterectomy with a spinal anesthesia and twilight medication. I found it while I was searching anesthesia options and spinals. I was hoping I would be able to tell you exactly but - the memory. Good luck

Thank you kind ladies!!!!! Already very blessed to have ones such as yourselves who care enough to answer! I will continue to look up info and in the meantime, WILL WELCOME ALL REPLIES.
GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Brook24 I'm so sorry to hear you are in such a state of panic. It seems like alot of information, options, and possibilities all thrown out at once and it's hard to sort through them all. I would deff. talk to your doctor and see what he/she recommends as far as taking your ovaries or not. I had my partial hyst. in 2007 and planned to keep my ovaries. After the doctor went in, it was a necessity to take the right ovary due to so much endometriosis and so many cysts. I did keep the left, but having surgery next Tues. to have it out. I never felt pain free, never enjoyed sex, etc.. and so this surgery was welcomed. I think for diff. people it's different on orgasims. I never had an issue and noone I've talked to has either. Sometimes scarring from the surgery will be an issue, it is for me. My doctor will remove the scar tissue as he can, (but it will build up again) kind of a never ending cycle. I know many women who have a partial or full hyst and never have another problem. That will be something you can talk with your doctor about (leaving your ovaries or keeping them). There is always a chance you'll need them removed later on down the road, but in my opinion it's worth a shot if you can to keep them. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that this is a wonderful site with so many great girls willing to share their stories open and honestly! Try to relax, that will help your symptoms at least, and don't be afraid to grill your doctor with all your questions. There is always a "CHANCE" of something going wrong in surgery, but that's so slim. I would ask your doctor about doing a spinal block instead of anesthesia. That's something I've heard that they do more and more often these days. God is so good!!! He will protect your and always be there for you! Lean on him to comfort you and take away your worries. You're three boys will have their mom/wife for a very long time!!! Hope this helps some how, sorry I can't offer more advise!

THANK YOU BROOK! You have already helped me feel better and cannot thank you enough for taking the time to write me back. It is appreciated more than words could say.
Wishing you a blessed day!

Right hope09. There are (some) women who have the option of a regional anesthetic. Definitely worth looking into if your fear is that great, myboricua.
If you decide to have your cervix removed due to abnormal paps, that may or may not have an effect on your ability to orgasm. If it helps to ease your mind, my doctor told me that about 75% of her patients reported that sex was even better post-op.
As far as ovarian cancer, the incidence of that is quite low. Do you have a family history of it? If not, keeping at least one can mean avoiding hrt and all it's possible complications.
As far as prolapse, there are things that can be done during surgery to prevent anything from falling, for example, the use of ligaments to hold up the vagina, or the tacking of the bladder.
There are alternatives out there for a number of women and it is important to talk about those with your physician(s) before deciding on surgery.
Take care and please keep us posted!

	Quote:
I have EXTREMELY HEAVY BLEEDING soaking through 3 pads and a diaper, SEVERE cramping and pain, CLOTS THE SIZE OF FETUSES, FIBROIDS ETC. and my Doctor finally told me that it was long overdue to have a hysterectomy so that "all" my problems will be solved. I am not interested nor want any more children, but the hysterectomy SCARES ME. First of all, what are the chances I will die during surgery? I have three boys that are MY LIFE and do not want them to lose their mommy as well.

Hello there! I really do understand how you feel--these are the symptoms I was having before my hysterectomy (which was just last Tuesday!). The difference is I have 3 girls instead of 3 boys. But the clots, fibroids, cramping and pain, heavy bleeding--even the fear of dying on the op table--that was ME!

Here I am on the other side of the surgery--living, breathing, feeling as though the whole thing was a relative breeze! I think it would have to be the biggest fluke on earth for someone to die having a hysterectomy. Not that it couldn't happen, but you could also get hit by a truck while sitting in your living room. (Read a news report the other day where a car plowed through someone's living room). That's gotta be about as rare as dying from a hysterectomy. But we sit in our living rooms.

The decision about whether to keep your ovaries is a different thing, and of course, totally personal. In my case, I don't have active abnormal cells, but I do have a family history of breast and kidney cancer. My brother (who died of a particularly rare kidney cancer) had a great doctor who took me aside one day and said, "women siblings of men with this kind of kidney cancer are often susceptible to reproductive cancers. Get checked often!"

My doctor knows all of this, but she thought it best for me to keep my ovaries. If you do eventually have to give up your ovaries (which is not a given even if you have cancerous cells in other parts of your body), other hormone-producing areas in your body will gradually take over some of the ovaries' job, but if it's at all possible to keep them I'd go for that. (See Dr. John R. Lee's book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause). But as others have said, that's got to be a personal decision made after a heart-to-heart discussion between you and your doctor.

I can identify with your insurance concerns as well--but in the end, even with the high deductible I have--I "only" ended up paying $2000. (Mine was done completely vaginally, no abdominal incisions). I could have worked out a payment plan even for that, but I had been "saving" for this.

I'm still recovering--so I can't speak to how it all turns out. But so far, so good. I really feel great--and am thrilled at the thought that I've said goodbye to all those awful years of pain and severe bleeding.

No worries! You'll make the right decision for you, and there's so much information on this great site to help you do that!

Best to you!!!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by cmtsp Right hope09. There are (some) women who have the option of a regional anesthetic. Definitely worth looking into if your fear is that great, myboricua. If you decide to have your cervix removed due to abnormal paps, that may or may not have an effect on your ability to orgasm. If it helps to ease your mind, my doctor told me that about 75% of her patients reported that sex was even better post-op. As far as ovarian cancer, the incidence of that is quite low. Do you have a family history of it? If not, keeping at least one can mean avoiding hrt and all it's possible complications. As far as prolapse, there are things that can be done during surgery to prevent anything from falling, for example, the use of ligaments to hold up the vagina, or the tacking of the bladder. There are alternatives out there for a number of women and it is important to talk about those with your physician(s) before deciding on surgery. Take care and please keep us posted!

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR REPLYING! It is greatly appreciated. How awesome it is to have ones that we can reach out to regarding every aspect of this situation. I should be hearing soon about all the details as to Dr., what exactly will be done etc and will post so all are welcomed to PLEASE continue commenting on their personal experiences. Wishing you a blessed day.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Sophie525 Hello there! I really do understand how you feel--these are the symptoms I was having before my hysterectomy (which was just last Tuesday!). The difference is I have 3 girls instead of 3 boys. But the clots, fibroids, cramping and pain, heavy bleeding--even the fear of dying on the op table--that was ME! Here I am on the other side of the surgery--living, breathing, feeling as though the whole thing was a relative breeze! I think it would have to be the biggest fluke on earth for someone to die having a hysterectomy. Not that it couldn't happen, but you could also get hit by a truck while sitting in your living room. (Read a news report the other day where a car plowed through someone's living room). That's gotta be about as rare as dying from a hysterectomy. But we sit in our living rooms. The decision about whether to keep your ovaries is a different thing, and of course, totally personal. In my case, I don't have active abnormal cells, but I do have a family history of breast and kidney cancer. My brother (who died of a particularly rare kidney cancer) had a great doctor who took me aside one day and said, "women siblings of men with this kind of kidney cancer are often susceptible to reproductive cancers. Get checked often!" My doctor knows all of this, but she thought it best for me to keep my ovaries. If you do eventually have to give up your ovaries (which is not a given even if you have cancerous cells in other parts of your body), other hormone-producing areas in your body will gradually take over some of the ovaries' job, but if it's at all possible to keep them I'd go for that. (See Dr. John R. Lee's book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause). But as others have said, that's got to be a personal decision made after a heart-to-heart discussion between you and your doctor. I can identify with your insurance concerns as well--but in the end, even with the high deductible I have--I "only" ended up paying $2000. (Mine was done completely vaginally, no abdominal incisions). I could have worked out a payment plan even for that, but I had been "saving" for this. I'm still recovering--so I can't speak to how it all turns out. But so far, so good. I really feel great--and am thrilled at the thought that I've said goodbye to all those awful years of pain and severe bleeding. No worries! You'll make the right decision for you, and there's so much information on this great site to help you do that! Best to you!!!

Oh Sophie525! Thank you for sharing! How awesome to find ones, especially those that have experiences so similiar to mine, that take the time to reach out and share how this not only had affected them but the difference after surgery. Please keep me informed of your progress (if you do not mind sharing) as you go along. It will be greatly appreciated. God bless!