surgery day approaching, last min. Q's

I'm getting closer to surgery day and now questions are beginning to arise.

If I keep one ovary, will I need to have hormone therapy to compensate loss of the other?

Will I have a period every other month now?

Any alternatives to uterine prolapse other than suspension before going through w/ hysterectomy?

Lastly, any advice on how to calm down and keep from freaking out before the day finally arrives.

thanks-suddenly a nervous wreck!

If you have a uterus and one ovary you will still have a monthly. I know that through experience! I have not needed any HRT to compensate for the missing ovary. If you need it, tell your doc about your anxiety and maybe they will prescribe Ativan or Xanax or something to help you stay calm. Good luck and God bless!

Hi Butterfly,
Like Hatter, I can tell you from experience that having only one ovary does not mean Hormone Replacement Therapy (those little buggers are quite the trooper!) Also like Hatter, I did have monthlies every month... sorry!
Try to do as many nice things for yourself as possible as the date comes closer. Take deliberate deep breaths, enjoy putting on nice smelly lotions rather than rushing through the step, take your cup of coffee outside, journal to get all the frantic thoughts out of your brain and on a page... I know life does not always afford the luxury of time but slowing down can really make a difference! I've learned the more calm you are before the surgery, the easier it is to come out the other side.
xoxo
Boo

I had ovarian cancer two years ago and lost one ovary. I still had periods every month and did not have to take anything. With the added work on my other ovary it went psycho and I had a TAH done this past monday to take it out. I told my doc just take everything out b/c I do not want to go thru this healing process again. I freaked Sunday but Monday, once I was there, everything went so fast I did not think about it. When I was woke in recovery I thought I was in a zoo and that I was a giraffe. Not kidding! those drugs must be powerful. I will think of you and hope you have a good recovery. Remember to walk ASAP to help w gas. That is my issue now is gas.

Thank you everyone, your posts are greatly appreciated. These are silly questions that I didn't think to ask my Doc at my last appointment when we scheduled it. It's soo comforting knowing you're not alone b/c in the real world it can seem like it when no one else around you has had this done

	Quote:
Originally Posted by ksmbtrfly Any alternatives to uterine prolapse other than suspension before going through w/ hysterectomy? !

I was so distressed to be told that I needed a hysterectomy to deal with peeing in my pants that I put the operation off for 2 years. Considered and rejected pessary (sp) And - TMI - i even pushed my innards back in when they descended too far. (Yuck can't believe I did t hat instead of going to ER.) So - 2 years and 4 doctors later - I decided I couldn't take the negative impact on my daily life any more, and said "book me!"

Had my operation 4 days ago. sore, but no regrets: TVH, cystocele, rectocele, bladder sling, ovaries out.

I was really thrown for a loop to find out that removing ovaries is now controversial (I'm 48). Duh - what universe was I living in. Spent a lot of time with my head in books, and finally decided (because grandma died of female probably ovarian cancer, and because my menstrual migraines are awful) to have ovaries removed. Estrogen patch went on the day after surgery. It's itchy but I'm sticking with it (ha - no pun intended) for now.

The book I found the most helpful was by Steicher - Essential Guide to Hysterectomy.

good luck

Ahh, you have no idea how good that makes me feel! I've been second guessing myself the last two weeks! I've been diagnosed w/ IC so I was hoping the hysterectomy would help with that too b/c for whatever reason everything feels as though it has shifted and I have pain if I strain when going to the bathroom.

My mom had the same problem as you and had to manually turn her uterus and as time progressed it worsened. She should have had a hysterectomy as well, but she has since passed from other issues.

They say you tend to take after your mother when it comes to menopause and such and she was my age when she began having trouble, so reading this has really helped me put it into perspective. Thank you soo much for your post