Trying to decide whether to cancel hysterectomy???

I have a tough decision! This is long, but here is my story so far:

I had 6 weeks of back pain. My doctor ordered xrays and cat scan - found nothing - sent me to physical therapy. After 4 weeks she sent me back to the doctor because she said she believed the problem was not related to bones or muscles - but something else.

I had about a week free of pain. Then I woke up with bad low belly pain. I called my doctor (had not gotten to him since the PT) and he was on vacation with no backup. So I called my GI doctor (a friend) and he saw me. He recommended I see a gynecologist because of the location of the pain - said he did not believe it was a gastro issue. But he had me start an antibiotic just in case...

Two days later it was a Saturday (my doc was still out of town) and the pain got really bad - so I went to the ER. They did a cat scan and found fluid (said I needed an ultrasound but they could not do it on weekends). They started me on a second antibiotic. He also recommended seeing a gynecologist.

That Monday I had a CA-125 test (recommended by a doctor friend).

Tuesday I finally saw my doctor - and he said the CA-125 was okay - but he believed I had a ruptured ovarian cyst and I should take advil - the pain should go away in a few days. Also on this day, I developed a reaction to one of the antibiotics (or both?) - looked like I had bad sunburn (raised spots) over about 2/3 of my body. So the doctor said to stop both antibiotics.

A week later I was still in a lot of pain - so he referred me to a gynecologist. She examined me and said she also believed I had an ovarian cyst and it could take another week for the pain to go away (it's about 3 weeks at this point). She gave me Lortabs. She also sent me for an ultrasound.

The ultrasound technician said she saw uterine fibroids - the largest was 4.5 cm in diameter - ovaries looked fine. When I went back to the doctor - she said that perhaps the fibroids were dying and that was causing the pain - to come back the next week and keep taking pain pills.

The next week she did another examination and touched my bladder and I flinched - so she decided to do a urine culture to make sure it was not a bladder problem. The whole time this was going on, I've felt bloated and urinate often - and urinating definitely relieves some pressure in there. She started me on another antibiotic and another pain medicine that day (pain med is ultracet which does not help).

The next week she told me the urine test was fine and she was still not sure what was causing the problem. But at this point I had had pain for 7 weeks - and been taking pain meds for 4 weeks - so we discussed a partial hysterectomy - uterus only - laproscopic. She had me make the decision. To be honest, I was relieved because I thought this would finally be the end to my pain. Once the decision was made, she was very supportive and optimistic.

This past week I had a pre-op appointment. I was originally scheduled for surgery on Aug 24 - but we changed it to Aug 3 because I felt like I could not take the pain and the pain meds that much longer. I went home excited and anxious to have the surgery.

The whole time the pain has been worst sitting down - bad lying down (I've had to take sleeping pills to sleep) - and least standing up. Well last night I went to bed expecting the bad pain - and miraculously, as suddenly as it all started, there was no pain lying down!

I got up and continued with my cleaning/preparing for surgery fury - worked all morning relatively pain free. I ran some "prep" errands. The seatbelt still hurts (maybe a tiny bit less than before) - and I am feeling pain sitting here typing on the computer.

So now I am trying really hard to decide what to do? I hate to have surgery if the problem will clear itself up?! But I spent the last two weeks arranging everything to be away from work (and August is my busiest time of the year so it was very challenging to arrange!!!). And I'll feel like such a fool if I cancel it - then end up having to re-schedule later and put everyone out again.

I did not mention - I am 60 years old, had my last period 11 years ago - so going into menopause is not a problem (plus they are leaving my ovaries). I'm a tiny bit concerned that maybe there is cancer or some other issue going on in addition to fibroids? So I'm wondering if even if the pain is lessening, maybe it's still a good idea to go ahead?

Sorry this is so long!!! I'd love some advice?

Have they done an endometrial biopsy? Had you had fibroids before, or are these new/fast growing? Have you had a 2nd GYN opinion, or GYN oncology opinion----I say that because at age 60 new uterine growths are, I believe, "suspicious". I would personally get a GYN onc opinion and then decide. I would not have surgery without a 2nd opinion (well, I did----that's why I suggest not being like me) because there are some unanswered questions here, and you do have a bit of time. You may still have the surgery, but a different perspective on the situation would be good. Its major and irreversible. And if there are other concerns you want someone aware of them in advance. Good luck with your decision.

I'm not really sure about previous fibroids. I have not been to a gynecologist in 8 years - no period - no problems - just had a pap smear with my GP. Have not had a recent endometrial biopsy - but had two horrible (pain!) ones 20 years ago. But the whole thing was very sudden. And my doctor did not push the hysterectomy on me at all - made me wait through 7 weeks of pain before even discussing it... Why do you wish you had not had one?

What I'm sorry about is not getting a 2nd opinion---I needed the surgery for cancer but ended up with a 2nd surgery due to not getting a 2nd opinion from a GYN onc in the first place. I don't know that you need a biopsy, but I think a discussion as to whether you do would have been something to have. Anything that is major surgery really warrants a 2nd opinion, its nothing against your Dr----2 opinions may be identical, or you may learn something totally new. Any new growths, although you don't know how new, after menopause, would lead me to at least 2 GYNs, if not a GYN onc, now that I've seen how differently GYN oncologists can do things. You may still decide to go ahead with the hyst, but if heaven forbid you had complications, you would know for sure not to 2nd guess yourself. In the end, its up to you how to proceed, I wish you the best in making your decision.

Thanks - I'll try. Problem is there is not much time now... and I'm in a small town with not many choices...

Hi anne! Just my two cents here, but I completely agree with greyown regarding the benefits of a second opinion. I get the sense from the title of this post and what you wrote that it is not urgent to have your hysterectomy immediately and that you have some doubt? Is it possible to postpopne your date back to the end of August or even September if your pain has somewhat subsided? Getting a second opinion (even if you need to travel, as I did for my second opinion) may give you a lot of peace of mind and also arm you with more knowledge. As greyown says, it's a major surgery and irreversible.

For me personally, I wanted to ensure that I knew as much as I could about MY personal situation before I went to the operating room, and I learned along the way that surgeons are human too....each of them is not perfect and they each often have their own biases. In the end I saw three surgeons and it absoloutely changed both the kind of surgery I had (I was able to have an LSH despite what the first surgeon said) and the confidence and peace I felt about my procedure. I believe this has helped me in my recovery and I only wish the same for you and everyone else on here!

In the end, it's your body and your decision! HUGS and wishing you the best with your decision.

Hi anne17.

I hope you are not in pain today. I agree with the recommendations for a second opinion, and I also agree that perhaps you should try the gyn-onc for that opinion. I was reading through the cancer threads a few weeks ago when I started having back pain and realized from my reading how ignorant I am about a lot of gyn issues. If you go on to have the hyster and a gyn-onc does the surgery, for example, s/he does some sort of pelvic wash to check for cancer and/or the spread of cancer cells??? (It's good and insightgul reading!) Regardless of feeling 'foolish'--although reconsidering is the wise thing to do--I would not proceed with a surgery unless I knew it was necessary. Suppose the tech/doc was a bit off and you actually did just have an ovarian cyst rupture...ya know? A hyster is a major surgery and you want to know that it's the right thing to do for your body and symptoms.

Hope it turns out well for you 'cause I too am having back pains that keep me up all night while I am awaiting an appointmnet to the neurologist next week--so I know what it's like to only sleep about an hour or so per night.

Take care and I hope it's resolved for you soon.