Lap V Lap Hysterectomy

[Guineafowlrach]

At the risk of summoning a barrage of 'hysterectomies are evil' replies, I wondered if anyone can help me as I am totally lost for what to do next.

I am 41 and I have deep-infiltrating Endo, as many of you do I'm sure. Today I went to see an Endo specialist after an 18 month wait as he is supposed to be one of the best, instead getting to see one of his 'team', who just handed me two leaflets, one on recovery from Laproscopy and one on recovery from Lap Hysterectomy. She told me to go away and decide which one I want to go for.

So... The lap, apparently is usually first port of call, give the place a good scrape out and hope for the best. Thing is, it often grows back, mine is deep near some very tricky areas like blood supplies and my bowel, I also don't want to go back on all those contraceptive chemicals or the mirena coil, as she suggested (oh so painful), and most importantly of all, I don't want children.

She got stuck in to the warnings - she said with hysterectomies you can have a prolapse or something inside collapsing in. How actually likely is that though? I am fit, healthy, never had a child, do lots of abdominal workouts (as I have been waiting 18 months to hear if I might need an op, so I prepared!!). She also warned no HRT is as good as your real hormones. Even the body identical one made from yams? Ill be on it anyway eventually won't I?!

Final thing to consider, and it is something I don't hear many people factoring in, but because of all this, my immune system is permanently taxed, I am always sick or at least run down, bad skin, bad sleep, night terrors, not to mention the near constant sharp pains and the bastard periods that are pure murder. I have been told by the Endo ultrasound doctor, that I am nowhere near menopause so is ten more years of all this worth it to avoid a hysterectomy?

Big message - sorry. Any help gratefully received. Seeing the Endo people again to discuss all this in January....

[Sunset-lady]

I don't think you'll hear anybody judging you for a hysterectomy at any age on this site. These women are warriors living with incredible pain and ridiculously complex medical issues. I would love a hysterectomy but it's all fused together now, so I should have had it 15 years ago! That's the problem if you wait - endometriosis takes hold. You need to do a lot of reading around surgical menopause to find out if you think it's right for you. Some opt to keep ovaries as they want the hormones but others have them removed because the endometriosis returning is worse than the thought of handling menopause. Saying that i think some people on here are extremely knowledgeable and will tell you that endo can grow even without your ovaries. I don't believe HRT is anywhere near as powerful as your natural hormones, but research it. Prolapses can occurr so you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Good luck x