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pain durring intercourse so I had hysterectomy
I am 28 years old, have 2 kids, and had an abdominal hysterectomy 2 weeks ago. The doctor said my uterus was enlarged, dropped and tilted. I was having pain durring intercourse. I didn't enjoy sex anymore and it was causing problems in my marriage. The doctor told me the only solution was hysterectomy, so I did it. He did abdominal and he also tacked my ovaries up. I am regreting it now, for several reasons. I still have both my ovaries, but people keep telling me "you are going to gain weight and lose some of your sex drive maybe even have to take hormones". Is this true? I am scared to dealth. I am a thin person and luckily don't "didnt" have to worry about my weight, but I am very active and don't want to take hormones. I feel like I was kind of rushed in to doing it, by my husband, and I had no other options. Do you have any advice? I just feel so young to have done something like this.
I was 25 when I had a total hysterectomy meaning they also removed my ovaries,I took hormones for about three years after surgey then stop,main ely because I would just forget to get them it was the only medince I was on at the time.I have never lost my sex drive and if I did it was just because I didnt feel like having sex,most woman use there hysterectomy as means not to have sex.At the age of 49 i begin to think alot about turning 50 since I quit taking my hormones,I thought should I be on them I quit seeing ob,so my family dr suggest I see one because I had alot of questions,turns out by not begin on any hormones i have now sever osteopesoios,I now take the vellie dot patch,and bio-identical hormone,bonvia,and 50,000 units of a prescription vitamin D once a week.
I broke my left wrists in five places had to have four pins,shattered my right wrist now have a plate and 5 screws those were the first sighs of osteoporosis.Mary has some really good advice on her post though everyone is different you have to do what you think is best combine of the info u read and u will have your answer,though when I searched for a doctor to help me i looked for one that knew about bio-identical hormone and really i had never her of it till I seen it on Dr.Phil his wife takes it.Best of luck to all the ladies going thru this...
Sorry to hear that you had so many problems and that your problems were caused by hormones. I am sure you are as frustrated as I am regarding the information out there concerning women's health and options. I am assuming you were on Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT). And, I assume you were on a synthetic estrogen without the synthetic progestins. I have heard so many stories where this has caused havoc in the lives of many women. But, again, there are so many misunderstandings.
I have never been on Hormonal Replacement Therapy, but would not give up the hormones I use to replenish the hormones my body lost due to my hysterectomy back in 2000 for anything. But, as I said, this is a gigantic subject and there are so many variables and also misunderstandings....almost just too big for even this forum! I would never be on Estrogen (estrodial) only and I would never use anything but a tailor made dose of the hormone for my body in a bioidentical form, without balancing it with Bioidentical progesterone. Progesterone has multiple effects outside of the reproductive system.
I found some information that might be helpful in understanding this hormonal jungle (that's what another website calls it and it's a great name!)
Progesterone is thermogenic, raising the core temperature. It reduces spasm and relaxes smooth muscle. Bronchi are widened and mucus regulated. Progesterone receptors are widely present in submucosal tissue. Progesterone acts as an antiinflammatory agent and regulates the immune response. Gall-bladder activity is reduced. Other effects include normalizing blood clotting and vascular tone, zinc and copper levels, cell oxygen levels, and use of fat stores for energy. Progesterone also assists in thyroid function, in bone building by osteoblasts, in bone, teeth, gums, joint, tendon, ligament and skin resilience and in some cases healing by regulating various types of collagen, and in nerve function and healing by regulating myelin. Progesterone appears to prevent endometrial cancer (involving the uterine lining) by regulating the effects of estrogen.
So, even though I don't take the Progesterone (again...NOT Progestin) to protect the uterus, since I don't have a uterus!...I take it for those little cell receptors in my lungs...in my brain, etc. My legs cramp up when my body is low in it (I get checked for levels every three months) my thinking gets all confused and foggy and I sort of space out, if you will. I also combated Osteopenia by reversing it after adding the Progesterone years ago (if only I'd known...I had to reseach this for almost a year). Progesterone is known to build back bone...testosterone, too. The jury is now out again on just how much estrogen helps protect against bone loss. Our bodies tend to crave estrogen, though and will get it somehow and will get it from the fat in menopausal women....so, again, even if I were not supplementing with estrogen, I would still take the Progesterone. I get mine from a compounding pharmacy.
But, the little bit of estrogen I use (Vivelle Patch) keeps the receptor sites on the cells open for the Progesterone to get through.
Well, this just cracks the surface. Check out a few books on the subject...Northrup, Schwartz, etc. Great stuff. There is hope out there...might not be for everyone, I guess, but do keep researching. Northrup does have many suggestions for those who do not want to use any hormones at all.
Take care, Mary
I have never been on Hormonal Replacement Therapy, but would not give up the hormones I use to replenish the hormones my body lost due to my hysterectomy back in 2000 for anything. But, as I said, this is a gigantic subject and there are so many variables and also misunderstandings....almost just too big for even this forum! I would never be on Estrogen (estrodial) only and I would never use anything but a tailor made dose of the hormone for my body in a bioidentical form, without balancing it with Bioidentical progesterone. Progesterone has multiple effects outside of the reproductive system.
I found some information that might be helpful in understanding this hormonal jungle (that's what another website calls it and it's a great name!)
Progesterone is thermogenic, raising the core temperature. It reduces spasm and relaxes smooth muscle. Bronchi are widened and mucus regulated. Progesterone receptors are widely present in submucosal tissue. Progesterone acts as an antiinflammatory agent and regulates the immune response. Gall-bladder activity is reduced. Other effects include normalizing blood clotting and vascular tone, zinc and copper levels, cell oxygen levels, and use of fat stores for energy. Progesterone also assists in thyroid function, in bone building by osteoblasts, in bone, teeth, gums, joint, tendon, ligament and skin resilience and in some cases healing by regulating various types of collagen, and in nerve function and healing by regulating myelin. Progesterone appears to prevent endometrial cancer (involving the uterine lining) by regulating the effects of estrogen.
So, even though I don't take the Progesterone (again...NOT Progestin) to protect the uterus, since I don't have a uterus!...I take it for those little cell receptors in my lungs...in my brain, etc. My legs cramp up when my body is low in it (I get checked for levels every three months) my thinking gets all confused and foggy and I sort of space out, if you will. I also combated Osteopenia by reversing it after adding the Progesterone years ago (if only I'd known...I had to reseach this for almost a year). Progesterone is known to build back bone...testosterone, too. The jury is now out again on just how much estrogen helps protect against bone loss. Our bodies tend to crave estrogen, though and will get it somehow and will get it from the fat in menopausal women....so, again, even if I were not supplementing with estrogen, I would still take the Progesterone. I get mine from a compounding pharmacy.
But, the little bit of estrogen I use (Vivelle Patch) keeps the receptor sites on the cells open for the Progesterone to get through.
Well, this just cracks the surface. Check out a few books on the subject...Northrup, Schwartz, etc. Great stuff. There is hope out there...might not be for everyone, I guess, but do keep researching. Northrup does have many suggestions for those who do not want to use any hormones at all.
Take care, Mary
let me say i had the same thing took the hormones lowest does for 10 years , had to have breast surgery and my gall bladder removed because of the hormones , if you google this you will see that hormones can cause this not always but can it did in me. good luck.
I am sorry you are so stressed out over all this. I have to say that Mary covered pretty much of everything so I will also add that I did have a total hysterectomy and am currently taking an hrt, and have not had one ounce of trouble since having my surgery. I am not big on hormone replacement myself but have opted to use some for a year or two while my body adjust to the hysterectomy. I really can not say on the weight gain except that I have not gained nor have I lost weight since having the surgery. As for the sex drive, I gotta tell you, mine went into overdrive since being on the hrt. So sometimes it can make things better. I think everyone knows how their body works and if it is not working for you then you need to talk to your doctor. Honestly, I think having my hysterectomy was the best thing that I ever did.
Hi,
First of all, I am sorry you are having to go through all this anxiety right now while trying to recover from major surgery PLUS handle a husband and two children. And, now you are having to listen to horror stories.
Second, I feel like I am on a mission to get people to "turn blue" but it is a great tool MedHelp has added. I was resistant at first but it is nice as it seems to keep you in closer touch with the community. But then I have hung out here for a long time now. Even if you just go to your profile and add that you are "female" you will turn blue. And, then you can Private message, etc, once you do, if you want to.
Now to the concerns you expressed. I am assuming that the doctor "tacked" up the ovaries because maybe they were drooping too? or being pulled down by the uterus as it was drooping? I would have to dig out my anatomy books to get this visual :) Now I will say this...thank goodness you still have your ovaries. I am assuming that they will be working again soon. When people say they have had a hysterectomy I always ask if the ovaries are still in place. It makes all the difference. Now there are some theories that the blood supply to the ovaries might diminish, as it does in regular menopause, but you will benefit immensely (in my opinion) having them still there. People giving you horror stories are not helping. A radical hysterectomy and a hysterectomy are two different things and you had a hysterectomy. There is hope! Having said that, any type of stress or trauma is surely going to goof up you system/hormones and so it might take time, but they should provide the hormonal balance that you need soon once things settle down. Two weeks recovery after an abdominal hysterectomy is a very short amount of time...you need time to heal both inside and outside and emotionally.
Now on to hormones. Hormones are not necessarily the enemy. They can get out of balance in our bodies even without supplementation...but they make us who we are. The icky side effects (including the things you mentioned such as weight gain) can happen from taking standard HRT (the ones used in the study a few years ago which caused so much concern about HRT). But, HRT was developed by the pharmaceutical companies in response to the bioidentical (or at the time called "natural" or botanical hormones)...which cannot be patented. Thus Premarin (synthetic estrogen) and Provera (synthetic progesterone) was developed. YUK.
Please take a look at my profile and if you dare :) dig through some of my older posts...but I have a ton of old posts...so you have to sift, but I strongly suggest you do lots of research on this, as you have by asking questions here, so you can arm yourself with knowledge. It is a big confusing issue. I use the bioidentical hormones since I had a total or radical hysterectomy. But, I have many friends who use them and did not have a hysterectomy,but they wanted to start to replace a balance of hormones once they hit perimenopause or Menopause. You have seen the books by Suzanne Somers, and perhaps the books by Christianne Northrup and Dr. Erika Schwartz....all have tons of good information on this subject. Keep in mind that you might have to seek out a doctor who works with these hormones and understands them fully in case you are ever interested in pursuing using them...just in case those ovaries do not give you what you need. You will be able to figure all this out...you just need time and a chance to start understanding how/why hormones can help you....or how supplements can help you if you need just a little bit of help and are not necessarily needing hormonal help.
My suggestion is this: When/if someone starts to give you the horror stories you are being subjected to, tell them that you are researching all of the side benefits and side effects of having the surgery and that there is so much information out there that contradicts what you have been told ...and that you are going to be just fine.
OK...getting long winded here! Try to get ahold of "The Wisdom of Menopause" By Northrop....even though you are not in menopause you will find the book very helpful. The uterus does release some hormones, but again, it is my understanding that if you have ovaries....you will be okay. I am the product of a Mom who had only One ovary.
If you have any questions let me know and I will see if I can help. Oh, you said you were active...that is going to be so helpful. I am active and have always been and I struggled with weight big time while growing up ...so,I totally get the concern about weight....but I don't suspect this will be a problem for you (again...those ovaries will hopefully work well and if not, you can look into bioidentical supplementation...not a fountain of youth, but a very big help). Lifestyle in general is so important...a healthy one, of course. I have had good luck trying to manage my weight...but also as far as keeping the organs in the body where they are supposed to be...it all adds up.
Take care and heal well and try not to worry.
Mary
First of all, I am sorry you are having to go through all this anxiety right now while trying to recover from major surgery PLUS handle a husband and two children. And, now you are having to listen to horror stories.
Second, I feel like I am on a mission to get people to "turn blue" but it is a great tool MedHelp has added. I was resistant at first but it is nice as it seems to keep you in closer touch with the community. But then I have hung out here for a long time now. Even if you just go to your profile and add that you are "female" you will turn blue. And, then you can Private message, etc, once you do, if you want to.
Now to the concerns you expressed. I am assuming that the doctor "tacked" up the ovaries because maybe they were drooping too? or being pulled down by the uterus as it was drooping? I would have to dig out my anatomy books to get this visual :) Now I will say this...thank goodness you still have your ovaries. I am assuming that they will be working again soon. When people say they have had a hysterectomy I always ask if the ovaries are still in place. It makes all the difference. Now there are some theories that the blood supply to the ovaries might diminish, as it does in regular menopause, but you will benefit immensely (in my opinion) having them still there. People giving you horror stories are not helping. A radical hysterectomy and a hysterectomy are two different things and you had a hysterectomy. There is hope! Having said that, any type of stress or trauma is surely going to goof up you system/hormones and so it might take time, but they should provide the hormonal balance that you need soon once things settle down. Two weeks recovery after an abdominal hysterectomy is a very short amount of time...you need time to heal both inside and outside and emotionally.
Now on to hormones. Hormones are not necessarily the enemy. They can get out of balance in our bodies even without supplementation...but they make us who we are. The icky side effects (including the things you mentioned such as weight gain) can happen from taking standard HRT (the ones used in the study a few years ago which caused so much concern about HRT). But, HRT was developed by the pharmaceutical companies in response to the bioidentical (or at the time called "natural" or botanical hormones)...which cannot be patented. Thus Premarin (synthetic estrogen) and Provera (synthetic progesterone) was developed. YUK.
Please take a look at my profile and if you dare :) dig through some of my older posts...but I have a ton of old posts...so you have to sift, but I strongly suggest you do lots of research on this, as you have by asking questions here, so you can arm yourself with knowledge. It is a big confusing issue. I use the bioidentical hormones since I had a total or radical hysterectomy. But, I have many friends who use them and did not have a hysterectomy,but they wanted to start to replace a balance of hormones once they hit perimenopause or Menopause. You have seen the books by Suzanne Somers, and perhaps the books by Christianne Northrup and Dr. Erika Schwartz....all have tons of good information on this subject. Keep in mind that you might have to seek out a doctor who works with these hormones and understands them fully in case you are ever interested in pursuing using them...just in case those ovaries do not give you what you need. You will be able to figure all this out...you just need time and a chance to start understanding how/why hormones can help you....or how supplements can help you if you need just a little bit of help and are not necessarily needing hormonal help.
My suggestion is this: When/if someone starts to give you the horror stories you are being subjected to, tell them that you are researching all of the side benefits and side effects of having the surgery and that there is so much information out there that contradicts what you have been told ...and that you are going to be just fine.
OK...getting long winded here! Try to get ahold of "The Wisdom of Menopause" By Northrop....even though you are not in menopause you will find the book very helpful. The uterus does release some hormones, but again, it is my understanding that if you have ovaries....you will be okay. I am the product of a Mom who had only One ovary.
If you have any questions let me know and I will see if I can help. Oh, you said you were active...that is going to be so helpful. I am active and have always been and I struggled with weight big time while growing up ...so,I totally get the concern about weight....but I don't suspect this will be a problem for you (again...those ovaries will hopefully work well and if not, you can look into bioidentical supplementation...not a fountain of youth, but a very big help). Lifestyle in general is so important...a healthy one, of course. I have had good luck trying to manage my weight...but also as far as keeping the organs in the body where they are supposed to be...it all adds up.
Take care and heal well and try not to worry.
Mary
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