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Hysterectomy

SheWolf

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So my doctor was nervous telling me that I may never be able to have children, or be able to carry till full term. She said if I were 45 and was done having children, she would recommend that I have a hysterectomy... my uterus and my left ovary removed.

My sister had a total hysterectomy at 24. She takes hormones, and I don't want to do that.

My doctor is trying to find a fertility and surgical specalist who can save my uterus and my ovary, because we agreed that a hysterectomy would be the last option.


My mom and sisters think that I am making a hysterectomy sound worse than it is. I was up all night last night, worrying that no specialist can help, and that I will have to have a hysterctomy. I am not very upset by not having children, I am more afraid of going through menopause in my 20s like my sister, and I don't want to take hormones. That part scares me really bad.

They keep telling me, if the uterus has to go, and she leaves one ovary then I will not go through menopause. But I am still nervous. I'll only have one ovary, wouldn't that cause significant hormonal changes? What if something happens to that ovary? It's hard for me to believe I'd feel the same hormonally without a uterus and one ovary. It seems like my hormones would drop or something and I would have health concerns, but the doctor said my bad ovary is probably not working right anyway. :shrug:

Could she laparoscope the bad ovary and try to save it if I insist on that, and let her take my uterus? I would feel better with two instead of one?

I know some other people here have had hysterectomies, so I thought I would ask for their input and a better way of looking at a hysterectomy as a possible outcome.

My mom says, that a good way of looking at this, is that I would not be in pain if it comes to a hysterectomy. I have endometerosis going on, and other issues that surprised me, but with a hysterectomy of the uterus and one ovary, I wouldn't have as much month to month pain. I would also not have to start menopause, right?

I am still nervous about it. I am waiting on seeing if she can find a specialist that can help me, and preform two surgeries at once. Because saving my uterus and ovary will require at least two surgical techniques.


I would be happy to hear some input and personal stories. I am sure hearing something like this would upset anybody, and my fears are perhaps common.
 

Someone who works for me told me that if she had known how much better she felt after her hysterectomy, she would have had it done in her 20's. She doesn't take hormones that I know of.
 
Fisher said:
Someone who works for me told me that if she had known how much better she felt after her hysterectomy, she would have had it done in her 20's. She doesn't take hormones that I know of.
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Thanks, that means a lot. It's just a major surgery and it can't be reversed. I am kind of scared for so many reasons. Thanks.
 
SheWolf said:
Thanks, that means a lot. It's just a major surgery and it can't be reversed. I am kind of scared for so many reasons. Thanks.
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I don't know anything about hysterectomies, so I can't help with any factual info, but maybe I can at least provide some validation

Yes, it is a major operation so your concern is normal. There's nothing wrong or abnormal about being scared. But you're doing the right thing by reaching out and searching for information.

I hope things go well for you.
 

Are you considering this because of endometriosis?
 
Fisher said:
Someone who works for me told me that if she had known how much better she felt after her hysterectomy, she would have had it done in her 20's. She doesn't take hormones that I know of.
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I had mine at 31, took hormones for about 2 weeks and hated 'em, haven't taken any since. LOVE IT! Mood = 100% better, no swings at all anymore, Face = no more acne, Weight = no more fluxations of 10+ pounds, LIBIDO - very healthy
 
Uhm, my understanding during mine is that if one ovary can be left behind you won't need hormones. Mine both had to go, and I'm glad, I'm much better without those hormones apparently.
 

Your doctor is the one to ask re leaving one ovary. My answer would be that, with one ovary, you would not go through your change. I can see why you wouldn't want to at a very young age, which you are. But if my doctor said I wouldn't go through the change? I'd be in in the heartbeat. If the doctor was only leaving the ovary in to please me, and he/she thinks it should be removed? I'd be in for THAT in a heartbeat. No ovaries and no uterus eliminates the possibility of two deadly cancers: ovarian and uterine.

I agree with you about the hormones, by the way. My mom took pure estrogen (that's what they recommended in "those days" -- she got breast cancer ten years later.) Estrogen, which is NOT what they supply now, increases the growth rate of any present cancer. (At least that is my understanding.) Since I believe we often have cancerous cells that our body 'handles,' I wouldn't be real keen on taking any hormones -- 'cause that's what most of them do. (How to sabotage your body's defenses in one easy step. Ha!)

Howsome Ever! Before I did anything, I would get a second opinion. And ask tons TONS of questions. I'd get my "fodder" for question-asking from the internet. Sites like this: Facts about Hysterectomy
 
Long, long ago in a far away time and place my wife of that era required a partial hysterectomy as you have described. While she did not desire to have children afterwards the finality of that possibility did have a short term emotional effect. Afterwards there were no appreciable differences in her physical or emotional well being even though she did not use any type of hormonal replacement therapy. Actually HRT was still in its infancy then. She was 27 years old at that time and did quite well.

Talk to more specialists to ease your mind and know there may always be some angst about the unknown for awhile. You most probably will be fine.

Hoping one man's observation will help ease your concerns, I am

wishing you all the best

Thom Paine
 
If she only had a partial, she may have still had the "required" hormones. Though in my case all was removed and I was the better for no hormones, a difference was noticeable though, unlike your observation of no change, which leads me to suggest perhaps she still had at least one ovary.
 

You are correct as is the similar option for the OP

Hugs to ya' Hon

Thom Paine
 
SheWolf said:
Not just because of endo. I have other issues, but didn't want to post it all.
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I think Maggie and Sangha gave you some great advice. I echo much of what they said. It is a major operation and it should be taken seriously and it is wise to do research and consider getting a 2nd opinion. It's normal to be a little frightened. I personally, was completely freaked out but....that's just me. I had one recently ( 1 1/2 yrs ago). Mine was partial.

I don't know about you but information is most effective in calming my nerves about things like this. I liked this site, unfortunately I found it after my procedure, HysterSisters Hysterectomy Recovery Support | Diagnosis | Recovery

If you do it, take the time you need to recover. Everyone is different, don't feel like you should be up and bouncing around in a week. Every woman I have ever spoken too needed more time then the two weeks they tell you will need. Let yourself rest, take the pain meds etc. Get a bunch of movies or books or whatever you need to help yourself stay still while you recover. Eat lots of ice cream.
 
My wife had her uterus and cervix removed about 7 years ago. She still has both ovaries. The only thing that she was disappointed with is she thought she was going to have a laparoscopic surgery, but once the doctor saw in there they had to cut her abdomen (like C-section) instead. Her uterine fibroids were so big they couldn't come out using the laparoscopic option (which is a quicker recovery). Since the surgery she has very much enjoyed not having a period anymore.
 
Thanks. I found that sure earlier today, but it was confusing to register. I will try again.

Did they take both your ovaries or leave one?

And the recovery you describe doesn't sound too bad.

 
I know they are doing the surgery with davinvchi robotics now.
 
SheWolf said:
Thanks. I found that sure earlier today, but it was confusing to register. I will try again.

Did they take both your ovaries or leave one?

And the recovery you describe doesn't sound too bad.
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The site was nice because, I hope this is the right one, you could talk with other women who have already experienced it.

I was able to keep both of my ovaries but I have a cyst on one of them. At the time my doc said she wanted to leave it but if it did ever need to be taken I should not need hormones as long as I still have one ovary.

Mine was complicated because of the adhesions. But a friend of mine had to have it done recently and recovered very well, about 6 weeks. But the ice cream was critical to her recovery too.
 

If you can keep your ovaries, I do highly recommend it. You will go through menopause eventually, no matter what route you take, but even just a partial hyst can make menopausal symptoms onset earlier than the average. I have no idea what the actual medical issue you are dealing with is- feel free to pm me if you want, and I will have a better idea what the other options may be.

If you have no ovaries at all, menopause will be sudden and will likely require hormone replacement long-term, which can cause problems of its own, but the same can be said of no hormones as well.
 
I have a cyst on one too. She said its an endo cyst. I would hope to keep both like you did. Did they laparscope your cyst?

And the reason I don't want to do hrt is because it made my sister crazy, and I hear hrt increases cancer risk. I want to keep my ovaries. That is the most important thing to me.



 

Apparently there are different kinds of cysts, many present no risk. This was the case with me. Almost two years later (I just got another ultra sound to check on it) and it is still there but has not changed so they said it does not concern them. What did they tell you about yours?
 
They said that that ovary may not be functioning and its twice the size it should be

 
My mom and one sister seem to think a hysto may be the best option. But my sister who had a total hysto at 24 and takes hormones, thinks I should hold off on getting the hysto if I can.
 
Now you have me thinking about having one.
 
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