Hysterectomy

It's a very important decision, do they give you advice about which procedure is more beneficial in specific cases?  Do you know anyone who has had any of these operations and how long they suffered ill affects from the surgery?  Are there other alternatives, or is this the last resort for your situation?

 Rukia, you sound so defeatedly resigned...and I can understand that coming from where you've been. I wish that there was a way to make you understand that surgery is going permanently from the frying pan into the fire. I understand your concern for your husband, too, but let me say this. Hubby and I have been house buying for three decades and, yet, if we could have me intact again, we'd both walk away from our equity with the shirts on our back. Sometimes, I even think it is worse for him. Sometimes, men understand the engineering/architect of this better. Ask your hubby to read what I've written. Rukia, the reason that your surgeon is talking about attaching your ovaries is 'cause he knows that he is undermining their current structural support. Think about it. 

  (sigh) And I'm one of the lucky ones. I know a woman who was diagnosed with MS following her surgery (due to hormone deprivation according to her specialist). Another has RSD and her specialist told her that she was "just another hysterectomy cripple". She has extensive nerve damage. Te Linde's "Operative Gynecology" 6th Edition notes all that I've mentioned above and goes on to note the "rapid aging" following hysterectomy.

  I'm not a doctor but I think there is a big clue for you in that you were fine when you were pregnant. There's one hormone dubbed the "hormone of pregnancy"--progesterone. Have you had your sex steroid/thyroid hormone levels tested? Have you seen an endocrinologist who is not also a gyn surgeon? Normally, the uterus is simply doing as the hormones tell it to. Taking it out may relieve some symptoms but it may not address the underlying cause which could continue or worsen. Btw, one of the reasons for endo? Surgical transplantation of endometrial tissue. 

  One other true life experience. A friend had a history much like yours and she'd had a hysterectomy because of it. Finding herself more miserable than ever, she asked one of the world's leading endocrinologists what had happened to her? He replied that she should read "Once A Month" by Dalton and then she'd understand. The book is about decades of proven results by simple diet changes. Seems women can go into a fasting state within hours that leaves them unable to absorb progesterone--and progesterone is crucial to a woman's health. You should be able to find a used copy of the book for a few bucks and it is an easy read.  You've got some time to try it and it is one of those things that ,if it doesn't help, it shouldn't hurt. Same for Vit A (not beta carotene) seems some people can't convert beta carotene and need the much lesser known Vit A. A S. African study showed a 95% cure rate which has since been duplicated in the US.  In an ideal world, the many doctors you've seen would have already suggested the above; however,  today's medicos get handsomely paid by the treatments, almost nil for a patient's good health.

  An "intact" woman can feel the sphincter like cervix: if you have the cervix removed or only a fragment of it left, well, folks, that leaves you with a hole in your pelvic floor- which your bladder and bowel tend to fall thru. Especially since the uterus and its' ligaments are major structural supports to the bowel and bladder. Without those suspension ligaments, stool no longer is positioned correctly. Btw, those same ligaments are conduits for blood and nerve supply for the pelvic area. Think uterine arteries...and how large they have to be to support a baby's growth. Then think of this huge blood circulation circumvented. Again, circulation/innervation that is important to the entire pelvic area.

  And the ovaries? Well, they get about 80% of their blood supply from the uterine arteries so keeping them functioning after a hysterectomy usually doesn't happen long term. Sex? Well, the uterus contracts pleasurably at orgasm, the cervix likes to be touched (hence the desire for penetration), and the ovaries spew oxytocin-the hormone of mating and maternal behaviors. What happens when you don't have your ovarian sex steriods? Well, you feel tired and you no longer have the emotions that you used to. That is on top of the very negative health consequences like osteoporosis, heart disease, mental decline, depression, etc..

  You probably can still go to the American Heart Assoiciation's site and search under hysterectomy for some more on  that.

  So what would I have you do? First, go to the HERS site and spend some time there. Call HERS and ask for help in finding a physician who will treat you conservatively. Sadly, it is always easier to take a destructive approach than a conservative one. Too many women are losing their sexual, reproductive, and endocrine organs because the destructive approach pays more and pays quickly. Ask yourself if a man would be losing his sexual, reproductive, and endocrine organs for non cancerous reasons? And if men aren't castrated over benign conditions, then why is it OK to do it to women? There's a huge disparity of treatment between the genders in this. Frankly, the medical profession tends to view women as being somehow lesser in this regard. I say that you are as deserving of conservative care as any man.

  Another thing...the removal of the uterus, of the cervix, of the ovaries, does not mean that you won't get those cancers. You can still get those cancers... where the organs used to be. Don't fall for the cancer scare tactic. Lay people, get your records and sit down with a medical dictionary. Lab reports usually don't even require the dicitionary. I wish I could say that you can trust in what your doc is telling you but the numbers don't lie. Only a small fraction of the hysterectomies done in the US are medicallly necessary.

  As to what friends and family might tell you? Suppose you were very different in a way that you lived in fear and dread of someone finding out? Or, maybe, you can't even face yourself with your situation? Everyone else is a sexual being. Able to feel sexual excitement. The media plays on it.. only you've lost that loving feeling. What lengths would you go to keep your secret?  To not be alone anymore? To not watch someone else enjoy what is no longer available to you? 

  You see, I know the questions. I know the bladder and bowel problems. I know the alienation. I just don't want you to know them as well. Reading a brochure from an institution that stands to profit from your loss is not researching. If you can't or won't call HERS, then at least go to ebay and buy a used gyn text to see what gyns tell each other about this operation. The older ones-maybe 25 to 30 years old are cheap and they tended to be very forthright. 

I was 26 when I had mine and I have never looked back, all the years of pain etc etc were over. Have faith in your Dr and know its for the best, Im 47 now and know that my life has been much better because I had my op when I did. Recover varies I had 4 children the youngest was 6 months old when I had mine and I managed by being careful and allowing my body to tell me what i culd and couldnt do, I had a very supportive hubby who assisted with the heavy housework till I was full recovered....ignore the neigh-sayers they havent walked in your shoes.

Hi honey,

What a great article . . I know you are worried and I will be around whenever you want to talk to me . .  As I said on the phone the other night try and focus on all the positives.

Cheers Kellz

Well, I'm sure I can reply to this while only using one account!! Aren't I just so clever!! lol

Ru, as you've read here...there are those who will argue this procedure - several times in fact!! The bottom line - you do what you need to do.

There are pro's and con's to all things in life. My sister had one several years ago and although there are some downfalls - the ups were more rewarding for her.

1. She is no longer in constant pain
2. She no longer has a 8 days on 2 days off period
3. she feels free
4. is more active

and the list of positives can go on. To each pos I write - I'm sure someone can list a neg next to it...

At the end of the day - if its serious enough to consider, be mentioned by your GP or whatever...then its an option to seriously consider.

Well written matey and thank you for sharing..

Cheers

OB

At this juncture after so many treatments, your reproductive health has taken quite a beating......  I would not move to a hysterectomy, instead I would delay this action.  In the meantime, I would ask that you do just a bit more research into the following: 1) think about what you see as reproductive health and what not only constitutes it, but maintains it for women; 2) consider that while the body has multiple parts - it may indeed act as a unit with a wide array of interdependency amongst the many parts; 3) you may want to broaden your research so that it is not singularly focused on the topic hysterectomy, per se. 

As a woman who has already had a total hysterectomy, knowing the various organs that can be removed during surgery in no way provides the information one really needs.  The HERS Foundation's (hersfoundation.org) Female Anatomy video provides some additional issues to ponder.  Articles at the Weston A Price (westonaprice.org) organization on "Rethinking Reproductive Health" and "Wise Choices: Healthy Bodies" sheds light on what nutritional components support reproductive health.   Surgery created pain and debility beyond any nightmare and has required 11 years of research in attempts to understand what was done and endlessly trying to find ways to mitigate the results, and my efforts continue today because I have not been able to get back to my pre-surgery health.  Yes, I was healthier pre-surgery, in spite of gyn issue compared to what resulted from a hysterectomy.

Dear Rukia,

As a person who had a Hysterectomy several years ago, I can state, FIRST HAND AND

KNOWLEDGEABLE on this topic, DO NOT HAVE ONE DONE.  My advice to you is to get

more opinions on alternatives.  Go to three, four, five more doctors.  Just do not have a

Hysterectomy.  You use the internet, so go online.  Go to the HersFoundation.org website.

Go to the 'Blog' area and read all the statements other women have made about this.  I am

not the only one to cry out about this.  If I save one woman, I will be at least grateful after what

happened to me by having one done.  My life will never be the same.  I was talked into having

my Hyst. due to Fibroids.  I know you have a lot to deal with right now, but do not further your

complications.  I beg you to do this (rather not do this).  Please go to this website and read.  It

will open your eyes to the insane operation doctors talk women into doing.  I could not be more

serious.  I surely hope you heed this advice.

Sincerely,

TimeBird

You will find the correct information concerning a hysterectomy at, hersfoundation, on the web.  I wish I would have found them before I was tricked into this operation..  For instance a woman no longer experiences uterine contractions or uterine orgasm after her uterus is amputated by hysterectomy.  I have never been worse in my life since I was given a hysterectomy, it has changed me completely as a woman.  I no longer have a natural sexual desire and I feel tired and sick to my stomach most of the time now along with many other post hysterectomy consequences.  I would say that the recovery from a hysterectomy and or castration removing the ovaries is never, the consequences are so severe.  You may also want to read the blog full of women and men on the Hersfoundation web site it is very telling and will save many women from being mislead about the consequences of hysterectomy and female castration.  My advise to you is read all of the information on the Hersfoundation site.

 I know this is a difficult decision, and you are wise to gather all the information you need. The information presented above doesn't mention the common consequences women experience after hysterectomy. These are most easily understood in a brief anatomy lesson that explains the functions of the female organs and what happens when the functions are gone.

The uterus is a hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ that supports the bladder and the bowel. It is attached to broad bands of ligaments that provide structural integrity to the pelvic bones and organs. The hypogastric plexus is a large bundle of nerves that attach to the uterus and branch out to the vagina, clitoris, and labia. There is a rich blood supply to the uterus, vagina, clitoris and labia. The ligaments, nerves, and blood supply are severed when the uterus is removed which results in compromised support, feeling, and blood flow from the waist down. 

The explanation above states "The smaller option which will still give you your period is a subtotal hysterectomy. This is just mostly your uterus leaving a fraction above the cervix." However, it is only the stump of the cervix that remains when a subtotal hysterectomy is performed, so menstruation ceases, unless they inadvertently leave to much of the cervical stump. 

Although PCOD and endometriosis are difficult to treat, there is conservative treatment that will give you relief of symptoms until you reach menopause, when your problems related to menstruation will stop when menstruation stops. 

There is a short but very important video every woman who is considering undergoing a hysterectomy should see: "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs" at www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy. There is a chart on HERS website that reports the adverse effects of the surgery. Click on "Adverse Effects Data" in the navigation bar at the top of the page.

Thanks Liz, I hope everything goes well for your operation and you recover quickly. I hope this fixes all the problems you have with your periods now. All the best, Lynette xx

Great article liz, well laid out and easy to read, hopefully I won't need one, but you never know for certain til the day comes. Hope all goes well for you and a speedy recovery.

Karen. xx.