Is there a chance in heck or do I just get it over with?

I am currently 43 years old and childless so yes... making the hysterectomy call is a hard on to make even when you are uncomfortable. Do I wait and see if by some greatest miracle ever I get preg. again or just get it done and deal with the emotional health afterwards?

Just so you know what I have... enlarged uterus due to large fibroid and endo... gyno never gave me a precise size or staging... she simply said the fibroid is about half the size of a uterus (inner wall one) which is distorting it a little... and during the removal of complex cysts on my remaining ovary in march she discovered some Endo on "that" side.

My preg. occured 6 months after she removed my right ovary (pcos with some fibroid like growths) but it ended unkindly after 4 weeks along. I was 42 years old at this time.

Since the miscarriage the uterus seems to be totally heading towards the dumpster. First needing to cure uterus hyperplasia with proestrogen (sp?) for a month. Then the fibroid seen during the miscarriage ultrasound to be not alarming now over taking things... and then the discovery of endo... which she did not stage... is it just a LITTLE on that side or all OVER the place... this makes this rush for a hysterectomy a little questionable.

I am a thin person, 5' 6" at 110 lbs, so I look about 2 months preg. all the time... some days worse due to the bloating. Mensies NOT heavy just more clotty and painful (but not so bad I can not due most normal activities). I due have some pressure on the bladder... so I do tend to go pee more often to normal peeps would... and sometimes I have painful bowel movement during mensy. Intercourse not the most comfortable thing in the world but tolerable still... I do have a mild mensy type pain all the time and quick stepping or turning movements irritates my pelvic region.

Anyhow.. My gyno thinks I have a VERY slim chance of ever getting fertilized again... due to everything that ails the uterus is also on the same side of the remaining ovary. BUT if you had a slim chance and knowing the above... would you gather a second opinion on this before jumping into something that is irreversible???

Sorry for making this so long... I just need some opinions for those who may have already been there. Thanks in advance for your help

Hi there,

I'm so sorry for all you're going through!

I was initially diagnosed with fibroids at age 30 back in 2001. I had a myomectomy to try to make it possible for me to have children.

Fast forward to today, at age 41 (close to 42), it has not been possible for me to become pregnant and I have more gigantic fibroids with a host of symptoms and hysterectomy is my only option.

It's not an easy choice to make at all! My doctor told me I have slim to no chance of becoming pregnant (and I don't have the cysts or other issues). The odds at our age are low to begin with and the fibroids reduce it even further. Once we're past 42-43, egg viability becomes extremely low. They can't check my eggs right now because my uterus is too big to get at them, so I was planning to see if I have any that could be harvested post hysterectomy (per the recommendation of my doctor and a fertility specialist), but they aren't very optimistic. (Even if they can harvest eggs, I believe the success rate per attempt is below 50%, that drops to 25% around age 43)

That being said, I think it would be completely worth it to get a second opinion. I did the same thing and had to face the fact that there was no opportunity for me.

Get more specific information on your condition - have the endo staged, figure out exactly what's going on with the fibroids. Make sure you have all the information you need to make the decision with confidence.

Good luck to you!

Diane

I'd get a 2nd opinion, and any more specifics you can. You may hear exactly the same thing, but unless you know you've at least investigated everything, chances are you could sit and wonder later, did I look into everything? And maybe there are other options you haven't heard yet. Then you can make a better choice. It's a rough choice, esp in your situation.

I agree on the second opinion, but having said that, sometimes it does not make it any easier to grieve the loss of the 'option', however small.

I have had problems forever, and when I was 38 started fertility treatment, which actually worked against the odds. After my daughter was born, we tried the treatment again and again since I couldn't let it go. Oh, it was awful. Eventually my periods lasted for 6 months at a time, with heavy flow etc. I did get pregnant again last November and lost it in 5 weeks. After that everything got worse again, until I had to make the final decision.

I am now 42 and am now 5 weeks post op (as of today) and am sure I made the right decision. They finally confirmed the endometriosis, but I got to keep my ovaries. I know now I have no choice regarding pregnancy, but also now I don't need to worry about bleeding, pads, bedding etc. We are in the process of adopting and I can be a better mom since hopefully the pain and problems will be gone. I do grieve the loss of the 'option to be pregnant' quietly since my DH feels like it is time to move on. I am not sure that I will every quite be finished being sad about that, but I have accepted it.

My thoughts and prayers are with you - this is not an easy decision or path to follow. Try to find out as much as you can, and then try to make the best decision you can with the information you have. You have many wonderful sisters here who provide wonderful support.