LSH: Lap supracervical hyst

I am scheduled for the above surgery on 6-8-10. I am having it due to heavy bleeding and painful periods. My doc says I may have endometrosis but will not know until after he is inside. I am very nervous and trying to decide if I should do this. I am very scared that even though the plan is to leave my ovaries intact that I still suffer early menopause. I am pretty terrifeid of menopause since I have a history of anxiety attacks. Anybody had experience with this?

Angie,
If you have not done so, I suggest checking out the endometriosis forum on this website. There are some stickies at the top of the forum with a lot of links to information about endometriosis and how to go about finding a specialist.

https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/forumdisplay.php?f=236

I would highly recommend getting a second opinion. If you have endometriosis, a hysterectomy will not cure it! You may continue to have pain after your surgery, and you may have other complications arising from unnecessarily removing an organ.

However, I am having an LSH (the same surgery you are scheduled for). I am having one, along with an LSO, because I also have adenomyosis, which is different from endometriosis. I am having the surgery Friday with an endo specialist because he wants to make sure to excise (cut out) any endo he may find during the hysterectomy.

Anyway, you deserve to have a second (or even a third!) opinion before having an irreversible procedure.
Best wishes
drjp

Hi (((angie)))!

You have come to a great place for information and support!

If you are having any doubts, I would recommend postponing surgery until you can really determine if this surgery is right for you! Once the surgery is over, it can't be undone!

Depending on what is causing your symptoms, there may be less invasive options that might help including the Mirena Coil, an ablation, birth control pills, and more. What have you tried so far? Do you have a specific diagnosis besides possible endometriosis?

If endometriosis is suspected, you owe it to yourself to find the most knowledgeable and skilled surgeon you can find. As mentioned above, a hysterectomy isn't a cure for this condition. If endometriosis exists in areas other than the on the uterus, it can continue to cause pain and issues even post hysterectomy. The key for treating endometriosis is the skillful removal of the actual endometriosis implants and not all general OB/GYNs are able to find and remove all of our endometriosis.

Has your doctor suggested a diagnostic laparoscopy or hysteroscopy to see what might be going on before you undergo a hysterectomy? Have you had a second opinion about what might be best for you?

A hysterectomy is a major surgery that comes with a whole list of possible complications and risks so you don't want to rush into one if it is not the right choice for you. You are doing the right thing by asking questions now!

Early menopause can occur in women who have had a hysterectomy, even if they retain their ovaries. The blood supply to the ovaries can be interrupted with the removal of the uterus and sometimes a new, good blood supply is not established. Additionally, some doctors decide to remove the ovaries if extensive endometriosis is found during surgery. Thus, it would be wise to discuss your concerns about menopause with your doctor prior to heading into OR and learn all you can.

I know this can all be confusing, scary, and frustrating! It is okay to have questions and fears! Check around the site, read through our articles and resources, check out what other women have done, and while you are doing all of that make a list of all of your own pros and cons and questions. Then review your notes to see if you are headed in the right direction for you!

Whatever you decide, we are here for you! Never hesitate to post any of your questions and we will do our best to answer them based on our experiences and research!