LAVH: I am so scared and confused

Hello Ladies,

I just joined this site last week and have found it SO helpful. Thank you to everyone for sharing your stories.

I am in peri-menopause with Ademonyosis, fibroids, monthly hormone induced migraines, enlarged uterus (not severe), and severe pain during sex. I am 44 years old (newly remarried - will be two years in July) and I feel like I am a homoronal wreck and a different person during PMS. The migraines have been getting worse over the years, and it is affecting my work. My prescription drugs are not cutting it anymore.

I mentioned in a previous post, I am so confused as to whether I keep my ovaries (if they are healthy) or not. While I am leaning toward keeping them, I am so worried about the hormonal imbalance I will continue to deal with. I haven't felt normal in over a year. I am foggy headed, get dizzy, lost weight, then put it back on, diagnosed with Vitamin B deficiency, and hyperthyroid (that is now in balance). I am not able to articulate words properly, my short term memory is TERRIBLE. Lack of concentration, heart palpatations, the list goes on.

I just want my life back! I want my personality back! I want ME back. I am so scared the hysterectomy will only make things worse.

Any advice from my Hystersisters would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much!

Michelle

Hi I have the same thing and have had that problem for the past 5 years, just a year ago they found endometriosis, and pcos and some how all the pain has come back. So I am going in about 9 days for mine and I have to say with all the research I have done over the past 6 months, I would have your ovaries taken out if they are giving you that much trouble.
At least with them gone they can put you on a hormone regiment that will be more consistent than our crazy ovaries are doing.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by sistersara27 Hi I have the same thing and have had that problem for the past 5 years, just a year ago they found endometriosis, and pcos and some how all the pain has come back. So I am going in about 9 days for mine and I have to say with all the research I have done over the past 6 months, I would have your ovaries taken out if they are giving you that much trouble. At least with them gone they can put you on a hormone regiment that will be more consistent than our crazy ovaries are doing.

Thank you for your post Sara. If I hadn't read all the things that are negative about removing your ovaries at my age (44), I would just say go for it. I do not want to increase my risk of heart disease and osteoperosis (sp?). My cousin tells me to have them removed, as she didn't and then had to have them removed later. But then my friends who have had hysterectomies tell me to leave them.

I just want "ME" back!!!!

I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery and pray for a speedy recovery!

Hi there, dont be scared..... I wanted to keep my ovaries too but was strongly advised to have them removed and now I'm glad I did.

Have been put on the lowest dose of HRT which is working well and is much better than having to go back and have them removed later.

Thank you. I am in the same boat too I just want me back. I was honestly starting to believe that I was going crazy or just loosing my mind but turns out all of this is due to my hormones and for that reason I am totally ready for the TLH-BSO. Do what you think is best again this is just what I have come to realize is best for me. Your only a couple of days behind me girl, hopefully time will fly.

So here's my story in a nut shell. I'm 46, I've been peri-menopausal since age 39. I was put on mild anti-depressants about 7 years ago to take care of the mood swings and hot. I'be been dealing with Niagara Falls periods for years. My Dr. said it was "normal". I finally went to a GYN last May. Had an ablation in September. It helped with the bleeding, but then the fibroids had a growth spurt. I discovered yesterday at my post-op that the pathology report showed Ando in the walls of my uterus.

I had LAVH...... uterus and cervix removed, kept my ovaries because they were healthy. I feel great! You need to do what's best for you.

Now I just need to be patient while I heal. I feel like I have "Me" back. I feel great!

I had my surgery over 3 years ago. I too wanted my life back. I was anemic, grumpy, mean and achy. I had horrible heavy periods. So I had the surgery. My doctor informed me that she was going to remove my ovaries however during the surgery she allowed me to keep them. I now have a quality of life that I thought I would never have. My body went through pain withdrawl. I by the summer of 2008 I was able to go on a trip and truly enjoyed my trip to Florida. Good luck on your recovery.

Hi Michelle.
I am wondering what your dr. is advising about the removal of ovaries.
These symptoms sound all too familiar to me. I was there just a few months ago. The anemia was brutal. Had the mental fog, weakness, heart palpitations, terrible lack of concentration, and no idea why. I had an abcess show up out of nowhere under my arm. Fever came same day, and by night time I went to the ER. That's when they took all of the blood work to show how anemic I was. it took a few months to find out what was causing the anemia- and get to the OR for hysterectomy, but now just 9 weeks post-op, I feel so much better. Your fears are valid, but remember that you are on a journey from sickness back to good health and you will be better soon. (Are you taking any iron?)
Please keep posting, we care.

Decided to have ovaries taken also due to my moms recent diagnosis and now remission from ovarian cancer. I was not originally going to have them taken out but in 5 or 10 years I would have worried about suffering the same fate so dr and I agreed to go forth.
I cant give you any insight on how its going to effect you as I am only 6 days post op. Left the OR with a patch and 3 days later switched to oral. Seems fine so far.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by jpjhooper Decided to have ovaries taken also due to my moms recent diagnosis and now remission from ovarian cancer. I was not originally going to have them taken out but in 5 or 10 years I would have worried about suffering the same fate so dr and I agreed to go forth. I cant give you any insight on how its going to effect you as I am only 6 days post op. Left the OR with a patch and 3 days later switched to oral. Seems fine so far.

Thank you JPJ, I would have made the same decision based on your mom's history. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. I wish you a speedy recovery. Take Care!