Complications and risks for TAH

Hello,

I am scheduled for a TAH in November, my surgeon has warned me that one of the major risks I would be facing is a temporary colostomy. I have severe endo, with a lot of adhesions, from what she has said I am "a mess" I have had previous abdominal surgeries including TVT sling, and appendectomy, and laprascopy. She also mentioned I have a frozen pelvis.

Has any one had experience with this risk? has it come true for anyone? In some ways the surgery it self does not really worry me its the complications my doctor has mentioned that make me a bit nervous.

thanks!

Marleen

Though I did have my hysterectomy and appendectomy because of endometriosis, I did not end up with a colostomy. For one, my OB/GYN would NOT touch my bowel as he said the risks of removing the endo there was too great. Years later, I had surgery with an endometriosis specialist and he was able to excise the endo from my bowel without the need for a colostomy!

I did have surgical complications with my hysterectomy and because all of the endometriosis was not removed, I did continue to live with symptoms from it along with the issues from the complications. My recovery was a long and drawn out one but I did live through it! It sure wasn't what I had planned and I wish things had gone better. But I had weighed my pros and cons and felt I made the best decision for me. Unfortunately, a hysterectomy is not a risk free surgery and I was one who ended up with the less than stellar outcome.

What type of a doctor will be doing your surgery? Do you have an endometriosis specialist? The more skilled your surgeon in this area, the better your results can be.

Have you had a second opinion about what might be best for you? Has your doctor discussed all the pros and cons with you? Will a colo-rectal or general surgeon be involved for in case you need a colostomy?

It is perfectly normally to be concerned about the outcome of a hysterectomy. It is a major surgery and there are significant risks involved. Throw in a more complicated diagnosis or two and the risks can increase and make it more scary! You are doing the right thing by considering the risks and trying to prepare yourself.

There have been ladies on the site who have had a colostomy so you might want to do a site search to read their threads. Several of us have also had complications in varying degrees.

I wish you well for your upcoming surgery and hope that everything goes better than excepted!

s

Thanks for your suggestions and comments Weiser,
I have not seen a specialist and probably wont before my surgery, I have a pre op visit scheduled with my Dr. about 2weeks before surgery and I think I will still have more questions for her! I really trust her as a surgeon, she was actually the one who performed my first sugery when my left ovary and tube basically blew up 7 years ago from infection and endo, that one "specialist" suggested was only a large cyst. I have complete faith in her and this decision has been about 4 years coming..she gave me all my options and let me work it out and was able to always answer any questions I had. She has an amazing bedside manner too!

I appreciate you replying and I will look for the other threads that you mentioned. Thanks!

My doctor would not touch my bowels either. He did leave some small deposits of endo there, and should it become necessary I will seek the advice and services of a specialist to deal with it.

Best wishes as you go forward.

I am due to have a TAH on November 8th. I have had several abdominal surgeries and the doctor is concerned about that. I have had two c-sections, abdominoplasty with a hernia repair, gall bladder, total colectomy on 10/26/09, and then emergency exloratory surgery three weeks after colectomy to clear up infection. So needless to say the doctor is very worried about adhesions.

During my surgery consult with her she stated that I was very high risk and went over list of complications. One big one was the chance of having to have a temporary ostomy if my intestines have fused to my uterus due to adhesions. So I feel your concern. It is scary to think about.

Hopefully that will not be needed and everything will go textbook!

I would love to hear from others that have had several abdominal surgeries going into a TAH.

I had a TAH with extensive lysis for adhesions. My doctor said I was a "bloody mess." I'm sure he cut loose everything he could find, but everything is "going" fine. Ok, sorry, bad joke.