new, with stupid questions re hyst

Hello, I am new here and I am so sorry if these questions are stupid! I am 45 with 4 children. I'm really sorry for those of you who have pain and other terrible problems. My prayers go out to you. I didn't have any pain, the only symptom that I had was stress incontinence. To my shock, I was diagnosed with uterine prolapse, enterocle, rectocele, cystocele and bladder prolapse one month ago. Last week, I had an operation to fix them but I didn't get a hysterectomy because I had too many unanswered questions about hysterectomies. I don't know a lot about hysterectomies, so please excuse my stupid questions. If a woman is done with child bearing then what is so bad about getting a hysterectomy if you have uterine prolapse and posterior/anterior problems? Doesn't getting rid of the uterus help the pressure down there and make things less likely to prolapse again? I know this has to be done by an excellent surgeon so that he supports the vaginal vault after the hysterectomy. Also, if the statistics are higher for women 45-60 years of age to get ovarian cancer, then wouldn't a total hysterectomy be better for this age woman to get? Especially since ovarian cancer is such a silent cancer...you don't know you have it until it has been there for some time. I know that hormones are a big factor but don't they have ways to help women with the hormone problem?

I am just searching for answers.

HELLO MARIE ANN

you should know by now, there are NO stupid questions. I'm 51

and have a 5 lb. with no real symptoms. I guess I was

hoping it would shrink by itself. It has to come out, and maybe

I will then know just how bad I feel once I make it to the other

side. Talk to your MD. He or she should give you the best info

along with all the other conditions you are dealing with. And

there is always the second opinion. I'm sure you will find all your

answers. Welcome to the land of hyster.

Gerrimac Tah HUGE fibroids

Hi

I think to take healthy organs out for preventive reasons has fallen out of favour unless there are extenuating circumstances. Hormone therapy is not always successful and there are reports that it may not even be safe. Of course the decision of what to do is something to be worked out between you and your doctor because you two are the ones who know your body best.

Hi--

No question is in this forum is ever Stupid!

You don't mention if you have a family history of cervical/uterine/ovarian cancer.

If you do have a family history of these types, you should also consider that in your decision.

My personal decision was to pull it all out on 11/11/03. I will have to deal with the hormone jungle -- but I'll take my chances with that rather than cancer!

Take care -- research, research, research -- and make the right decision for you.

Shari

Hello, and welcome. I am fairly new here as well. I like you saw a doc for stress incontinence and was shocked to find out that I have stage 3 cystocele, rectocele, uterine prolapse and entire pelvic floor descent. I just turned 30 three weeks ago and this is definatley NOT how I expected to enter this new stage of life. I have seen 2 docs and BOTH have suggested hysterectomy with the other repairs, i believe because of the extenuating circumstances of the whole pelvic floor descent. I am scheduled to see a specialist (urogynecologist) in Monday and I expect no different reply from her either. I have no attachment to my uterus, I have had my family and desire no more children, I am wondering as well what kind of a long-term impact a hysterectomy will have on me, my hormones and my physical body. I too have many questions. So don't feel like any question is stupid, I'm sure we ALL at least think them.

Rach73 & marie anne. I have the same problems (prolapse of everything!) so I'm searching for answers too, and interested to learn what you learn. So many on these boards have their hysterectomy for other reasons, and I'm wondering if all the repairs that are needed will make our recovery from the hysterectomy different/longer/more difficult, etc. I haven't read many posts that have the "trifecta" of uterine prolapse, rectocele, & cystocele/urethrocele so I really don't know what to expect either.

Let's "support" each other

i too had major prolapse, as my family doctor put it, everything is falling at weird and wacky angels. I had a hyst (TAH) with suspension (also used mesh), rectocele, cyctocele and entrocele repairs. So I had a vertical incision (she needed lots of access to do all the repairs) plus internal incisions. The recovery period went better than I expected. I had a couple of bladder infections (very common complaint). My biggest complaint was the last internal suture was "poking me" when I sat. The surgeon trimmed the end when I saw her next.

I took 9 weeks off work. Doctor recommended 8, but with dr appts and long weekend, it was actually 9 weeks when I returned. Each week I felt better and had more energy. I could have gone back at 7 or 8 weeks, but the last week off (it was in the summer) I was able to get things done that I really wanted to do.

I still watch how much I am lifting, last thing I want to do is to have another prolapse. I am working on strengthing my pelvic floor muscles.

Hopefully this helps,
Levanah

Wow, I know I wasn't the one who initially posted, but thanks! I feel the same way, it is really hard to find all the answers on our conglomerate of issues. All I can really find online is what it is, the stages of, and the outcome...which for moderate to severe seems always to be surgical. But as one of my gyne told me when I asked 'WHY'...if done correctly, it can be fixed. That is why I am seeing a specialist. Neither of them are willing to perforn the surgery...they don't feel comfortab;e with their level of experience. My doc refered to himself as a 'bread and butter' OBGYN. He does tubals deliver babies and all other 'typical' needs. I do however respect his honesty and the fact that he didn't use me as a guinea pig!!! So, yes I think we should 'support' each other(Pun intended). Thanks again. I'll let you all know what I find out on Monday...I have a list (maybe book) of questions for the specialist. Rachel

I'm 36, married, no children and had my surgery because of major prolapse. I felt that my recovery was really good - no problems really, just sitting (episiotomy was uncomfortable). I had pain for 3-4 days but after that I took Motrin for soreness (like riding a bike for hours).

It took a few weeks for the bladder to remember what to do and it's not a happy thing to have those first few BMs but it all works out. Just remember to never strain! (thats what advanced my problems).

I still get the swelly belly a bit in the afternoons but it's worth it. I now sleep through the night, can work out without having to hit the bathroom and nothing is "poking" out anymore.

Granted, I can't do squats anymore at the gym but other than that I can do whatever I want. I had the surgery done for my quality of life - the incontinence drove me crazy, the cervix/uterus poking out drove me crazy and then I found out I had posterior problems as well. I just wanted it all fixed and if I do decide I want children one day I still have my ovaries and both my sisters and best friend have offered to carry one for me.

Get a specialist to do it - my gyn said that she could do it but she'd rather me have someone who does this every day so she sent me to a uro/gyn she know & he took care of it all (she was there to assist him during surgery).

I'm 51, post-menopausal and when I asked whether the doctor was going to take everything, she quoted statistics on women who get ovarian cancer and why have to worry about that in the future? I agree wholeheartedly. I was already in menopause (though I've been having more hot flashes since the TAH/BSO), so really wasn't using what was in there that much anyway. I'd rather have it all taken care of so I woudln't have to go back in for surgery in the future!