endo on both ovaries, keep the healthiest or forget it?

Hey all,
I have surgery scheduled for Wednesday, (lavh/rso). I have endometriosis on both ovaries but the right is by far the worst. I wanted to keep the left as it is least severe of the two to avoid hormone replacement. (I am 30.)
I've been ovulating from the left side this week b/c it is that time again. After having Mirena removed 2 months ago this is the worst my left side has ever hurt. It's almost like my body knows what is coming up or I am being super vigilant. I would like some honest opinions about whether or not I should just get rid of both since now my left ovary is acting up.
I've read some posts that ovaries shut down after 5 years anyway. Confused and wanting some advice from others who have had endometriosis and hysterectomy. I don't want to have to go through this again. Please offer any advice.

Thanks
butterfly

when i went in for my surgery , i told my doctor to take whatever she needed. she opted to 'clean up' and leave my right ovary for hormones sake. and let me tell you, im glad she did. i didnt want to do hormones because i have a lump in my breast, its benign, but i dont want to take any extra hormones and aggravate things. i feel like leaving the one ovary for now, has helped keep me level, it kicked it a few weeks after surgery, and except for a little more easier to cry and a little more easier to anger, im not having any menopausal symptoms. im glad i kept it. and i guess if it poops out on me in a few years, ill deal with that then. she did mention to my husband while i was still out in recovery that i may have to have it removed later but for now, its okay. im 42, well, ill be 43 tomorrow. anyhow, thats how i feel about it. every one is different, and everyone has a different experience, this is just mine. good luck with your decision and your surgery.

I have a healthy right ovary and face the decison of whether to have it removed with everything else.... so I can relate to your post.
Do you trust your doctor's advise? What is your body telling you? If you have to go on hormones even if your ovary is left, will you 'regret' having made that decision? Do you want to face another surgery - considering the fact your ovary is not 100% healthy? Do you trust your doctor to go in and decide once inside?
I am sure you have considered all these things.
I am 32. Menopause and hormones seem like a lifetime away, but I go in tomorrow to tell the doctor y/n.... the decisions we face.

kmsbtrfly: I hope you are able to make a decision that you are one hundred percent confident and comfortable with for you and you alone, as it is your body and your future.

Have you had a second opinion about what is best for you? Any chance you have seen an endometriosis specialist? The key for treating endometriosis is to remove it. Any that is left can cause issues even without a uterus and even without ovaries.

My hysterectomy was for endometriosis and my surgeons have cleaned up both of my ovaries each time so I still have both of them. This was determined to be the best decision for me. I am almost 10 years post hysterectomy and they are both still working!

If the ovaries continue to function following a hysterectomy, they can work for many, many years. Generally speaking, those of us post hysterectomy will enter menopause about 3-5 years earlier than if we had not had a hysterectomy. (If it helps, my mom didn't go into natural menopause until 20+ years following her hysterectomy.)

There is no cut and dry answer for your question. No two of us will make the same decision for the same reasons. Even if we did, we still might not have the same outcome.

Talk to your doctors about what is best for you. Learn what you can about endometriosis and hormones and then make the right choice for you!

S

Thank you both, I guess I'm just concerned b/c after surgery I'm hoping for pain free and if I have to cont. feeling leftover discomfort from an endo ovary then it just isn't 100% worth it. I will look into the specialist idea though~less than 36 hrs out.

shanlenora~good luck to you w/ your decision as well, hope that you too receive the information you need in a timely manner. I think it's hard for us b/c we are supposed to have many years before the dreaded M word knocks on our door. I haven't read much research about hrt therapy for those who have been on it for an extended amt of time. All I know is that my aunt was 27 when she had a TVH and is regretting not keeping at least one ovary @ the young age of 47 now. (itching, burning, dry, irritation)

Weiser~I will definitely take your advice about the specialist. I didn't realize this was even an option. Thank you

kmsbtrfly: Another question to ask the doctor tomorrow, thanks. That particular area works just fine and I'd rather keep it that way. Seems either way one turns there is no.... frustrated with this process.

More concerned with the decision and then the consquences of it, than the surgery or the recovery. Suppose those things will hit me next week.

Good luck to you in your process of decision making - hope it goes more smoothly than mine : )