Parts: what to take and what to leave

Well my surgery is scheduled for 10/4 for a total hysterectomy. I have a fibroid/uterus which measures 17 cm. I have tried to wait out menopause, hoping it would shrink on its own. Tried the depo-pravera (spell?) shot to shrink it, which didn't work. I am 53 and have had it! The news my gyn of 20 years never gave me was that the fibrod in addition to causing all the expected problems, could also cause kidney damage if left in place. My new gyn just informed me of this and other details.
The biggest question I still grapple with is the ovaries. She is leaving it to me, but has suggested the risk of cancer outweighs the remaining years that my ovaries will be beneficial to me. I am trying to decide which parts of me are truly disposable! Cervix must go because of veneral warts 30 years ago which is apparently a precursor to cancer.
Feedback appreciated.
Spalady (New to site)

My doctor also left it up to me. But since I had already begun to show signs of some early menopause, and I was concerned with the cancer thing, I decided to let them go. I told him to take it all. Once I said that he said that he agreed with me completely, but her couldn't tell me that before. He didn't want to sway me and then have me blame him I guess. I haven't had any real problems with menopause. I did have to wait 6 weeks to start on hormones because of the endo none of us knew about. I had hot flashes and some night sweats, but I didn't become a raging lunatic or anything like that. My symptoms cleared up after just a couple weeks on the Prempro. And I've been happy with my decision. Hope this helps, but it still will have to be your call, not anyone elses. Good Luck!

My first dr said he would take the ovaries and do it no other way, cuz the risk of cancer these days was so great. Now, I don't have any history of cancer in my family, and with other factors like not wanting to go through regulation of hormones, not being able to take them etc.,...I decided to find another dr. I asked myself: Well, the breast cancer is very high these days too, should I have them removed as well jsut as a precaution? The risk of me getting kidney stones again is very great...should I have those out too? I know it sounds silly but as Martha would say "It's a good thing"...and I add to keep as natural and balanced as possible.
My second dr, who is doing the surgery, said this: "If you have no history of cancer in the family, if they are not bothering you...I highly suggest you keep them. The body has an amazing way of adjusting to things when we leave in what we can. And HRT is very good, but there is no concrete proof that women are better with it.There is only conjecture and myths, and if you look this up at Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins....You will agree.The studies out show that it does benefit heart and health, however, your ovaries can not be replaced in doing this job-If it were my wife, I would tell her to leave them. Also, many many women who have to go on HRT have thyroid problems later. We want to avoid these things as much as we can."
So with this new info, and because I have a chioce,. and luckily there is no history of cancer in my family...I am keeping them.
Don't know if this helped or jsut confused you more!

But I know for me, this is the right decision. Menopause is more natural with the ovaries too....sometimes not so rough to go through.
It is a personal call, and only you can tell what is right for you. Best of luck and I will be going in for mine on Oct 1st. Maybe I will be able to get online with you after it so you know what exactly happens. Or you can just speak with these other ladies here....they are wonderful!
God Bless
Peanut

I'm BRAND new here; just registered. Just found out that I need to have a hysterectomy. Have a fibroid -- about the size of a grapefruit. It must be resting on my bladder because I have to go to the bathroom some days every 5-10 minutes! Anyway, my dr. recommended that he take out my ovaries also, and talked up the hormone replacement therapy. I've been researching online and am really unsure of whether to have my ovaries out or not. I have no history of cancer in my family. I'm not thrilled with the idea of all of a sudden being thrown into menopause (I'm 46). Do I have them removed? Do I leave them in? Do I do the HRT? What would happen if I didn't take any hormones??? It just all seems so artificial. Help!

Thanks for your input. I think for me it is my age (53) that makes the idea of removing the ovaries a little more acceptable, but still confusing. For every negative I hear, someone else has a positive experience. I think I will have to trust my intuition on this one. (Wish I had done this on the stock market instead of following the advice of the experts!)

Good luck to you Peanuts on the 10/1 date. I will tune in after my return from the hospital to see how you are.

United we Stand.
SpaLady

Dear Spalady:

Making the decision is about the hardest thing to do. I am 45, and am keeping my ovaries, even though there was colon cancer in my family. Actually, deciding to or not to go ahead with the hysterectomy in the first place was the thing that kept weighing heavily on my mind - 24/7! I have a deep faith in the Lord and I had prayed much but no answer came. Then I found this site, went on the Message Boards and so many of my questions were answered and fears were allayed. Right then and there I called the nurse and we scheduled my surgery (October 10). What peace of mind I had! I took it as my answer from God. Daily I refer to this wonderful site and am continually encouraged that I am doing the right thing. I pray you will find that peace, also.

harleygal

Hi SpaLady and QueenBean Welcome to Hyster Sisters. I'm so happy you've found us

The decision of whether or not you should keep your ovaries or have them removed is one of the hardest decisions. I know: I was right where you are, last year, when I was offerred the option of "taking it all out, while we're in there".

In the end, I kept mine and I'm happy I did: I've since found out that our ovaries keep on producing healthy hormones, in minute quantities, even after menopause. Supplementing our hormones is easier than replacing them entirely.

Personally, I think that if our ovaries are healthy and there is no family history of ovarian cancer, then, why have them removed? Oopherectomy is an irreversible process.

Wishing you the best of luck in your quest for answers.

Thanks Dany. Your response has brought me some peace. I think leaving in my ovaries would at least leave me some of my own hormones for a while. Then perhaps I could supplement with additional hormones if needed.

I agree with everything Dany said, but I want to give you my story as a woman (over 50) who had her healthy ovaries removed.

I had my TAH/BSO before I found Hyster Sisters. My surgeon decided it would be in my best interest to have them removed. I thought I didn't need them anymore, so I agreed. At that time, I didn't realize how beneficial the ovaries can be, even after menopause. I thought I'd just start HRT after surgery and live happily ever after. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Surgery went fine, and I was recovering nicely.....until 2 1/2 weeks later when I began to have pain in my thigh. Several days later I was admitted to the hospital with a massive blood clot in my leg. What I hadn't known before surgery was that I have an inherited blood clotting disorder and this is what caused the clot. I can never take hormones.

For 18 months I had frequent and intense hot flashes. My doctor finally prescribed Effexor, which is a mild antidepressant, but which also can reduce hot flashes by up to 60%. It has helped but I still get hot flashes and wake up during the night soaked with perspiration.

Whether or not to keep your ovaries is a difficult decision Only you and your doctor can arrive at the decision which is best for you. I'll leave you with this thought........if you weren't having a hysterectomy, would you ask your doctor to take your healthy ovaries?

Best wishes to you,

I am having a vaginal hysterectomy on Oct 30th. I'm wondering if I should leave the ovaries in-prev had an ovarian cyst yrs ago on the right side and I believe the other one is cystic. I wonder if the vaginal hysterectomy is one of those thing sthat I should tell the dr.(who is a young female and great) if they look too cystic take them out or will she be able to see them going thru the vagina. I don't remeber if she will be doing a vaginal entry or a LAVH, will know at my pre-op check up next month. I don't know if anyone had ovarian cancer in the family but colon cancer is a big one. Anyway just have to think on this a while longer, glad someone brought it up. Goo luck to the person who is having her hyst done in a few days who started this conversation!