Am i doing the right thing

[shazzd]

Hi all well after several laps and years of pain and months are waiting ... in 7 days time im due to have a hysterecomy eeeek .. feeling really poorly headachy and sick probably due to anxiaty .... advice needed xxxx

[Chrissie66]

Hi Shazz

Oh, it's so hard to give advice without knowing the whole story....but if you're worried about whether you're doing the right thing seven days before the op....

What have they told you in terms of how it will help? Because presumably you know that hysterectomy does not cure endometriosis and can even make things worse - have a read of this dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

Have you tried other treatments such as the menopause injections and the coil and the pill? Is the endo confined to your womb, or all over? What's the bleeding like? Whereabouts is the pain coming from? And are they going to deal with the endometriosis when they do the hysterectomy, and if so how - by laser, or excision?

C xxx

[Hidden]

Hi there, I know exactly how you feel- was in exact same position 8 weeks ago.

Im 28 and had a hysterectomy and prolapse repair and boy was I scared- have history of endo and then prolapse due to birthing complications which got worse-making my need for hysterectomy more urgent.

Every case is different so ask ask ask, eg where you have it affects the need for and success rate of a hysterectomy eg endo on uterus will be helped by hysterectomy -elsewhere maybe not as good a treatment, really depends on each individual which is where your doctor answering all your questions comes in to assure you.

I am so so so glad I had mine- early days but feel so much better- more alive which sounds so corny but so true. Not weighed down with pain. I took sepsis after which meant another longer hospital stay but even after that Im still very glad I had it done. I kept my ovaries because of my age, but this meant they had to be VERY thorough at getting rid of EVERY bit of endo or else my ovaries would assist it growing back. But they are very confident about the surgery being a success- I had 2 top dr's in theatre so Im pretty confidant too- and I believe this attitude helps too.

As for recovery -Im out doing walks with short jogs. More than I was 'fit' enough for before due to pain I was in- I fell that good! Wounds heal really quick with laprascopic surgery which I had, my prolapse repairs took longer but still quick. you will feel groggy and sore when you come round but pain relief works so make sure and ask regularly for it. take in plenty of books etc for 2nd day- you'll not feel like reading on first and wont be able for much else the 2nd day. but by 3rd- ready for home fingers crossed and no looking back.

The only way to e confident Is through your doctor answering all the questions and fears you ave so write them down and ask- even ring hospitaland check dr comes to see you pre op if need be or ring their secretary and ask for an appointment prior to your surgery.

All the best- hope things work out well for you

x

[JennieJo]

Hi, I really sympathise - I had a hysterectomy and my ovaries removed a few years ago as a result of endo, recurrent cysts and adenomyosis in my womb, and I was scared too. I think the important thing is to ask as many questions as you can to reassure yourself that it's the right thing for you.

As someone else has pointed out, the endo can return after a hysterectomy. Are they planning to remove your ovaries? If not the endo may be more likely to return but removing them can cause problems too - I suddenly lost my sex drive and it took a good couple of years to sort out the right HRT for me. Also after about six months I started having pains similar to the ones I had before (though nothing like as bad) which I'm pretty sure is the endo again. But everyone is different and you may not have any problems at all.

I don't regret having a hysterectomy as my womb was shot to pieces, I'd given up having more children and now it's wonderful not having to cope with heavy, painful periods. However I wouldn't say it's been an easy journey,

So if you are having any doubts, I would definitely make sure you've talked everything through with your consultant and ruled out any other options available to you.

Good luck!

[stephchad]

Woooah horse!!! One thing that I have seen time and time again on this site is the number of women who have been told to have a hysterectomy have suffered just the same afterwards. Removal of your overies causes your face and body to age rapidly.

I was told myself that the best course of action was to take luprn depot for six months, get pregnant and have one child and then to have a hysterectomy.

With a lot of research and pushing my doctors I now have surgery booked with a specialist surgeon who will be able to remove my stage 4 recto-vaginal endo with complete obliteration of the pouch of douglas.

The surgery that you are planning cannot be reversed, and has many other complications afterwards. Doctors and surgeons do not have to live with this or the reprocussions afterwards.

In my mind, the ONLY real reason to have a hysterectomy is cancer, which leaves you with no choice. Put the breaks on this surgery and read as much as you can on this.

I just posted a blog entitled "Advice to sufferers". Read it. I have been doing A LOT of research, and Im still not finished. If you have any questions, or you need pointing in the right direction, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Stephanie

[LenaVanAusdle]

It's a scary prospect because it is so permanent. This is solely based on MY experience, everyone is different. Talk to your doctors, talk to other women who have gone through it. Ultimately you're the one who has to live with the decision you make.

I was 30 when I had mine done. It has to be a "radical" or complete (ovaries removed as well) for the endo to not return and you CANNOT do hormone replacement therapy. My doctor said doing HRT is like pulling a weed, but leaving the roots and fertilizing it. It's going to come back. I had terrible hot flashes for about 2 years, and it's harder for me to lose weight (I also have PCOS), but I feel 1000x better after. Besides the occasional twinges of sadness at not being able to have children with my sweet husband, I do not regret it for even an instant. What I had before my hysterectomy was not a life. It was a soul-sucking misery with no end in sight. I have a life now. I'm active and healthy and happy. The pain I suffered for over a decade is just a bad memory.