Wrong surgery/ovary question

Hello,

I am scheduled for a vaginal hyst next Monday. I've been asking questions in the Pre-op forum. I had BIG problem with my doctor's office, who scheduled me for a total abdominal hysterectomy, removal ovaries, and staging. I wonder who was scheduled for my surgery. I received the wrong consent form in the mail last Thursday and have been trying to resolve it since. Finally, today the doc called me. He listened attentively and offered to fix it. Said he agreed it was not the surgery we discussed and that he would have remembered that when he got into surgery, even if the form and information on the form was wrong. I was not too confident of that! He offered to contact the hospital to correct their records also. I feel better that the correct surgery is scheduled. I really started to get upset when no one could help me and the hospital couldn't change it and I couldn't reach the doctor for 5 days (with less than a week until the surgery.) I am still going to leave a note on my belly..not here!


The doc did encourage me to relinquish my ovaries..but I am still using them..and I don't want to go on HRT...at least before it is necessary. I am 48 years old and have no signs of menopause yet. I held my ground to keep them. Anyone with thoughts on that?

Thanks

Hi, Linda!

Sorry for all the mix-ups you were having. I'm sure you were quite upset about hving the papers filled out incorrectly. I've been with my doc forever, and I know he knew exactly what I was to have done (we talked about it a kazillion times before I went to the castle), but that didn't keep me from reminding him one last time while he was scrubbing that he was supposed to leave the ovaries if they looked good. Then I asked the anesthesia nurse to remind him once I was out . I just wanted done what I wanted done. It's so important to be pro-active for our health care!

As far as the ovaries, did he have a good reason for wanting to remove them? I would think that if they look healthy and they are still working that you would receive many benefits from having them left in. I've read that even after menopause your ovaries can continue to release hormones, just in very small amounts. I have my ovaries and I'm so happy about it! I feel pretty much just like I did before surgery, and there was no HRT to sort through. Talk to your doctor about it and see what his reasoning is, then make the best decision you can.

I know your surgery is soon, so good luck! I hope all goes well for you.

No joke, write on your belly!

There are too many stories. I know the next time I'm out, I'm writing on myself first. When I had foot surgery, they came in while I was awake and drew on the foot and the place where the problem was. They did it when I was awake so I could confirm it!

Of course it's scary--but it always feels better when there's something you can do.