"Catch 22" Tired of being tired.

So I am not new, but I rarly come here. My heart goes out to you all. Bear with me, if you will. Here is my delemia. Since age 16 I have delt with endo, cysts and cervical cancer. I've had at least 14 surgeries I can count. The last one was 2 years ago. Doc removed one ovary and one tube. I can't even tell you how many cyts I have removed but it hit double digits. My periods are so bad. I have anemia. The poison they gave me for the cervical cancer destroyed my bone mass so I take meds for that now. My life consists of constant pain and I have to depend on pills for that too. =( I don't know how many pairs of clothing and bedding I can keep on buying but I am only 38 and about to ready to wear diapers at night. Doc say's (and I've seen five so far) a hyster would greatly impact my bone mass. I've tried many of hormone treatments to control the bleeding in the past and nothing worked. Now that I've become a smoker, I can't even go there. (Yes, I need to quit) Easier said than done. I've tried and failed. And with endo, there is no guarantee that it won't come back. Including the cyst's. The endo as of right now is under control, but I have two 6 cm cyst's on the left and right side. Doc says he will do the hyster for me but as usual no guarantee's in life. I can't decide what to do, so I am deeper and deeper into a horrible depression. First, my fertility snatched from under me and now a life with pain. I am not asking for anyone to make a choice for me but rather ask "What would you do?"
Thank you so much for reading-

Signed- Lost

As you know, a hysterectomy is not a cure for endometriosis. The key for treating it is the skillful recognition and removal of the actual implants.

With cervical cancer issues in the picture, you want a doctor who is going to be able to skillfully, carefully, and completely remove all the affected areas.

Do your doctors know what is the root cause of your cysts? Any chance it is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)? Are the cysts connected with the endometriosis? Knowing what is causing the cysts could allow for a better idea of how to treat them.

Besides the issue of a hysterectomy, are you also considering an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries)? That opens up the door to a whole new can of worms, I mean health concerns! As a smoker, using HRT might not be wise. If your doctor cannot remove all of the endometriosis, estrogen could be a problem. But no HRT can also create new health concerns.

So,

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Irelandsangel "What would you do?"

I would look for a doctor who specializes in treating endometriosis and a gynecological oncologist. Between the two, they should be able to address your issues.

I would also recommend keeping a detailed symptom diary that you share with your doctors.

My truly goes out to you as work through your options, weigh your pros and cons, and determine what is right for you! Surround yourself with knowledge and the most skilled medical team you can find as you make your way through this decision process!