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Oopherectomy questions
Hi,
Today I was schedule to have a bilateral oopherectomy on October 12 for cysts on both ovaries. I had to hurriedly set up the surgery date in order to fit in with my work schedule and plan to make an appointment to see my doctor before the surgery to ask some questions, but I thought I'd run them by you ladies first.
I've noticed several people here mention that they had to stay in the hospital after this surgery. I'm having my surgery laparoscopically (hopefully). Will I still be required to stay in the hospital or can it be done outpatient? (I had a breast reduction two years ago, which was a four hour surgery and I went home that evening. Is a laparoscopic oopherectomy really that much more involved?
Second, I only have a week that I can take off from work. I'm a professor at a community college and while I can teach some of my classes online for a few days, some of them I won't be able to work out that way. I can sit down to lecture, though I do have to carry books or pull a wheeled tote bag across campus. Is this doable or am I being overly optimistic?
Third, my husband wants to know if losing my ovaries means I'm going to lose interest in sex? (Of course, he'd think of THAT!) Also, how long is it before you can be intimate again after surgery?
Okay, I think that's it for now.
Thanks and hugs,
Lisa
Today I was schedule to have a bilateral oopherectomy on October 12 for cysts on both ovaries. I had to hurriedly set up the surgery date in order to fit in with my work schedule and plan to make an appointment to see my doctor before the surgery to ask some questions, but I thought I'd run them by you ladies first.
I've noticed several people here mention that they had to stay in the hospital after this surgery. I'm having my surgery laparoscopically (hopefully). Will I still be required to stay in the hospital or can it be done outpatient? (I had a breast reduction two years ago, which was a four hour surgery and I went home that evening. Is a laparoscopic oopherectomy really that much more involved?
Second, I only have a week that I can take off from work. I'm a professor at a community college and while I can teach some of my classes online for a few days, some of them I won't be able to work out that way. I can sit down to lecture, though I do have to carry books or pull a wheeled tote bag across campus. Is this doable or am I being overly optimistic?
Third, my husband wants to know if losing my ovaries means I'm going to lose interest in sex? (Of course, he'd think of THAT!) Also, how long is it before you can be intimate again after surgery?
Okay, I think that's it for now.
Thanks and hugs,
Lisa
I am scheduled to have a cyst and my right ovary removed next Monday (9/17) and my doctor is going to try to accomplish this via laproscopy. In my situation, it will depend on whether or not she can successfully remove the cyst in this manner, so she may have to do a laparotomy (bikini line cut) if she's unable. As Casey mentioned above--if your surgery is for cysts the doctors normally do a biopsy right there to see if there is any malignancy. If so, they will then do a full abdominal incision and full hysterectomy including samples of lymph nodes. And, it's important that this be done by a GynOnc. One will be on hand for me in case this happens.
Depending on what ends up happening will determine how long a recovery time is required. My doctor told me that if it is done laproscopically I should be able to be discharged that evening (my surgery is 10:30 a.m.). A more invasive incision would require a few day stay at the hospital.
Keep an eye out next week for my post--I plan to send a note to let everyone know how things went. I'm sure I'll have more info from first hand experience for you at that time.
Depending on what ends up happening will determine how long a recovery time is required. My doctor told me that if it is done laproscopically I should be able to be discharged that evening (my surgery is 10:30 a.m.). A more invasive incision would require a few day stay at the hospital.
Keep an eye out next week for my post--I plan to send a note to let everyone know how things went. I'm sure I'll have more info from first hand experience for you at that time.
Hi, I had an abdominal procedure, so I can't speak to a laproscopic procedure, but from what I have read and my own intuition says you'll need at least 2 and probably 3 weeks to recover.
If you return to work too early it could take several extra weeks to fully recover. Based on my experience I have felt good a couple of days and thought I could go back to a somewhat normal routine and I would pay for it for several days! Apparently the internal stitches and healing takes longer than the external. Can you arrange for a sub? I can't believe tha college doesn't ahve something available for a medical emergency.
Also, why are you having the surgery? Is it for cysts? If so, what if they turn out not to be benign (has your doctor even mentioned this possibility, because he should. Not trying to scare you or anything, but my doctor said if it looked suspicious he would convert my surgery to full abdominal).
Regarding desire, I too was very afraid of the effects of losing both ovaries. I am happy to say that my libido is as good as before surgery (which has been very good in months prior to surgery).
I have desire, but have to wait until I am physically ready, which doctor says is at 6 weeks.
You will have to ask your doctor about it, but maybe you can stock up on some extra before surgery (if you are willing and able). That could be fun!
I basically am the same person I was prior to surgery, there was no mysterious transformation that some people warned of, although I do have mild mood swings and sweats. My doctor prescribed PREMPRO, but I have not taken any (I fear the side affects could be worse than my current symptoms).
Well good luck to you and make sure you ask your doc all the pertinent questions and get a sub setup. This is not the time to be super woman!
If you return to work too early it could take several extra weeks to fully recover. Based on my experience I have felt good a couple of days and thought I could go back to a somewhat normal routine and I would pay for it for several days! Apparently the internal stitches and healing takes longer than the external. Can you arrange for a sub? I can't believe tha college doesn't ahve something available for a medical emergency.
Also, why are you having the surgery? Is it for cysts? If so, what if they turn out not to be benign (has your doctor even mentioned this possibility, because he should. Not trying to scare you or anything, but my doctor said if it looked suspicious he would convert my surgery to full abdominal).
Regarding desire, I too was very afraid of the effects of losing both ovaries. I am happy to say that my libido is as good as before surgery (which has been very good in months prior to surgery).
I have desire, but have to wait until I am physically ready, which doctor says is at 6 weeks.
You will have to ask your doctor about it, but maybe you can stock up on some extra before surgery (if you are willing and able). That could be fun!
I basically am the same person I was prior to surgery, there was no mysterious transformation that some people warned of, although I do have mild mood swings and sweats. My doctor prescribed PREMPRO, but I have not taken any (I fear the side affects could be worse than my current symptoms).
Well good luck to you and make sure you ask your doc all the pertinent questions and get a sub setup. This is not the time to be super woman!
LAST SECTION:
You will hear all sorts of comments about this. Just don't close the door....check it out for yourself. I am assuming you have taken many statistics classes as a teacher...well, need I say more? I have been asked by health care professionals why I was on Progesterone (not Progestin, such as in Prempro)....since I do not have a uterus. After my surgery in 2000 (for an initial dx. of Ovarian cancer after a cyst was drained) I was put on Estrodial, (Vivelle patch) which is a bioidentical. Three months later I sat in the doctor's office in tears telling him I found sex truly disgusting for the first time in my life (47 at the time) and he said, "well, that's typical after the type of surgery you have had." Then he gave me a low dose of testosterone and although that did help very much in that department, my brain fog was unbelievable....anxiety, weight gain, etc...A few months later, after digging into research to find out why I felt so awful, I found the book "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Christianne Northrup, MD. Northrup's advice from her previous book proved to be life changing for me when I was faced with Severe Cervical dysplasia (Not due to HPV) two years prior. The advice I got from Northrup led me to the right decisions regarding the treatmenat I sought for this problem.
So, I got the book and once again, she "saved" me....I learned about the importance of adding bio progesterone...why it is needed and the protective factors it provides, such as protection against breast cancer...and, why. Having said that, PROGESTINS have been suspect in breast cancer, and unfortunately, the two names (Progesterone and Progestins) have become interchangable...so when I said, "Oh, I am on Progesterone" I sometimes get a blank stare.
Lucky for me my OB/GYN was willing to work with me even though this arena was new to him at the time (using the progesterone). He sent me to a Compounding pharmacist who helped both of us...me and the doctor. He was truly a teacher for both of us. My OB/GYN routinely offers them to women now.
I was glad to learn at least that the estrogen that my oncologist started me on was also a bio (all estrodial is). I use a very low dose to keep the cell receptors open for the progesterone...and to aid somehwhat in bone health (although progesterone is great for this too) bladder funtion, moods, etc....
OK....I just looked at this. And, this was going to be short. Print it out so you can refer to it if you need to...and, try to pick up Northrup's book. Through her I learned of other books on progesterone (for more in-depth reading) and when I read them, I tell you, I hightlighted the whole book. I could not believe how much these books spoke to me and made such sense.
Did I even answer your question? Well, hopefully, you will find the sex response in here (that did not sound right...sorry)....but, the ovaries produce our testosterone...not much, but what we need and it is a very powerful hormone. But, without ovaries, thus without testosterone, I felt like I had not even reached puberty. Now my husband at age 61 is being tested for low testosterone....he is feeling nothing. So, we are not well matched at this time in our lives, sadly. Hoping that will change....Oh, and this hormone is not only good for feeling desire, but for moods, mental clarity, and chemical sensitivities....
The other good books I suggest are by Reiss (Natural Hormones for Women), and also Dr. Erika Schwartz. She and Northrup, too, have a website that is very good. Dr. Erika does a nice job in one of her books on why this whole hormone thing is a problem for all women...not just those who were thrown into surgical menopause. We are living longer, there are more hormones in our food products and shampoos, and we are having fewer to no children (so the progesterone does not have a chance to build up in the body). It is very interesting.
One more thing, if you investigate getting the testosterone, it is considered "off label" as far as I know so if someone says it is not approved for this use by the FDA, well, then they will explain the "off label" thing to you...and it is good to be checked for hormone levels every three months. Also be aware that thyroid can be problematic after menopause, so watch for that, too. I also recommend you steer away from a vaseline type base for testosterone...it does not absorb well. Once I switched to a cream base, it was much more helpful.
HAVING said all of this, I would love to think that you will have no problems at all....but even then, I would say do the research. Just knowing the effects that hormones/no hormones have on the body is so enlightening.
Oh, and on the intimacy thing (when you can resume) , I cannot address that since I had many more things besides the ovaries taken, thus a different surgery. I am sure someone will respond to that.
Hope you don't mind the length of this....THIS IS A HUGE TOPIC!!!!
Take care,
Mary
You will hear all sorts of comments about this. Just don't close the door....check it out for yourself. I am assuming you have taken many statistics classes as a teacher...well, need I say more? I have been asked by health care professionals why I was on Progesterone (not Progestin, such as in Prempro)....since I do not have a uterus. After my surgery in 2000 (for an initial dx. of Ovarian cancer after a cyst was drained) I was put on Estrodial, (Vivelle patch) which is a bioidentical. Three months later I sat in the doctor's office in tears telling him I found sex truly disgusting for the first time in my life (47 at the time) and he said, "well, that's typical after the type of surgery you have had." Then he gave me a low dose of testosterone and although that did help very much in that department, my brain fog was unbelievable....anxiety, weight gain, etc...A few months later, after digging into research to find out why I felt so awful, I found the book "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Christianne Northrup, MD. Northrup's advice from her previous book proved to be life changing for me when I was faced with Severe Cervical dysplasia (Not due to HPV) two years prior. The advice I got from Northrup led me to the right decisions regarding the treatmenat I sought for this problem.
So, I got the book and once again, she "saved" me....I learned about the importance of adding bio progesterone...why it is needed and the protective factors it provides, such as protection against breast cancer...and, why. Having said that, PROGESTINS have been suspect in breast cancer, and unfortunately, the two names (Progesterone and Progestins) have become interchangable...so when I said, "Oh, I am on Progesterone" I sometimes get a blank stare.
Lucky for me my OB/GYN was willing to work with me even though this arena was new to him at the time (using the progesterone). He sent me to a Compounding pharmacist who helped both of us...me and the doctor. He was truly a teacher for both of us. My OB/GYN routinely offers them to women now.
I was glad to learn at least that the estrogen that my oncologist started me on was also a bio (all estrodial is). I use a very low dose to keep the cell receptors open for the progesterone...and to aid somehwhat in bone health (although progesterone is great for this too) bladder funtion, moods, etc....
OK....I just looked at this. And, this was going to be short. Print it out so you can refer to it if you need to...and, try to pick up Northrup's book. Through her I learned of other books on progesterone (for more in-depth reading) and when I read them, I tell you, I hightlighted the whole book. I could not believe how much these books spoke to me and made such sense.
Did I even answer your question? Well, hopefully, you will find the sex response in here (that did not sound right...sorry)....but, the ovaries produce our testosterone...not much, but what we need and it is a very powerful hormone. But, without ovaries, thus without testosterone, I felt like I had not even reached puberty. Now my husband at age 61 is being tested for low testosterone....he is feeling nothing. So, we are not well matched at this time in our lives, sadly. Hoping that will change....Oh, and this hormone is not only good for feeling desire, but for moods, mental clarity, and chemical sensitivities....
The other good books I suggest are by Reiss (Natural Hormones for Women), and also Dr. Erika Schwartz. She and Northrup, too, have a website that is very good. Dr. Erika does a nice job in one of her books on why this whole hormone thing is a problem for all women...not just those who were thrown into surgical menopause. We are living longer, there are more hormones in our food products and shampoos, and we are having fewer to no children (so the progesterone does not have a chance to build up in the body). It is very interesting.
One more thing, if you investigate getting the testosterone, it is considered "off label" as far as I know so if someone says it is not approved for this use by the FDA, well, then they will explain the "off label" thing to you...and it is good to be checked for hormone levels every three months. Also be aware that thyroid can be problematic after menopause, so watch for that, too. I also recommend you steer away from a vaseline type base for testosterone...it does not absorb well. Once I switched to a cream base, it was much more helpful.
HAVING said all of this, I would love to think that you will have no problems at all....but even then, I would say do the research. Just knowing the effects that hormones/no hormones have on the body is so enlightening.
Oh, and on the intimacy thing (when you can resume) , I cannot address that since I had many more things besides the ovaries taken, thus a different surgery. I am sure someone will respond to that.
Hope you don't mind the length of this....THIS IS A HUGE TOPIC!!!!
Take care,
Mary
TRYING AGAIN!
Hi,
I am going to address only the last paragraphs and hope someone else can help with the first two.
I will start by saying that this is an area where my passion is strong. I will also add that I am not a doctor. I work as a teacher and mental health therapist with troubled teens. But, I have researched (and used) bioidentical hormones for seven years. My sister is a nursing instructor, and has also had this surgery....she has several articles published on Perimenopause in medical publications, so when she had to have her ovaries removed, she was prepared and knew what doctors to talk with regarding getting help when she started to feel poorly. She has been successfully using the bioidentical hormones for almost 14 years now. She is 68 and is happily married now for over 44 years and just completed participating in several baton twirling parades (!) in Florida. She is my idol.
I am constantly saddened and dismayed that women are given so little information, and often wrong information, regarding how they are going to feel after the surgery. I have spent hours and hours talking with friends who have been through this....my brother has had his assistants in his office who have had this surgery call me....neighbors, our dogs' Vet (!) and my old weight training teacher. They all wanted information...they have seen me go from felling unwell to feeling pretty good (I am still holding out for feeling wonderful although I have those days now and then).
I have also spent hours and hours and hours typing responses on this website and more recently on the menopause forum on Medhelp. When I post, I recommend that you avidly do your own research and do it thoroughly so that you will have answers when or if problems arise...and, you will be confident in what you know. The past few times I have posted, my comments were basically negated and dismissed by other well-intentioned posters and although I totally understand that this is a controversial topic to many, I will repeat that I don't think it is understood well and there is so much misinformation out there.
At the risk of sounding very arrogant, (I am far from it, my perspective at least :)) but I feel that the medical community is 10 steps behind the times on this whole issue. When people talk about hormones, automatically they think of HRT, the synthetic hormones, such as Premarin and Pempro) . I would not touch those with a ten foot pole. There are even some hormones that are processed much like the bioidentical hormones, but go through an additional process which makes them Not Bioidentical. Cenestin is one of them. So, that one is made from soy and yams, not horse's urine, so you would think it is okay, but it is not. The bioidentical piece means that it is identical molecule for molecule to what the body once produced, whereas the others are one molecule off, and therein lies the problems.
The Premarin type of hormones were the ones studied in the Women's Initiative years ago that got such a bad report that they stopped the tests. The bio's were not used in this. And, since they are "natural" they cannot be patented, so the drug co's have not glommed onto them for money making ventures with the "studies" that would go along with the $$$ they could get from producing the hormones. In fact, HRT was developed in response to the use of the bioidenticals in the 60's...And, the drug companies could not produce them to be natural in the body or they would not have gotten a patent for them. Sorry, but these may be natural if you are a horse, but they are not for humans...to say nothing of the treatment of the horses producing the uring, etc...but that is another post altogether.
So, now that I might have you thoroughly confused, I will give you some resources....and suggest you check the archives on this forum under "general" and look for anything that says "Hormones" or "To Mary 53"...you may have to go back a ways...I have not posted much recently, unless it had to do with surgical adhesions...another interesting situation!
Continued....
Hi,
I am going to address only the last paragraphs and hope someone else can help with the first two.
I will start by saying that this is an area where my passion is strong. I will also add that I am not a doctor. I work as a teacher and mental health therapist with troubled teens. But, I have researched (and used) bioidentical hormones for seven years. My sister is a nursing instructor, and has also had this surgery....she has several articles published on Perimenopause in medical publications, so when she had to have her ovaries removed, she was prepared and knew what doctors to talk with regarding getting help when she started to feel poorly. She has been successfully using the bioidentical hormones for almost 14 years now. She is 68 and is happily married now for over 44 years and just completed participating in several baton twirling parades (!) in Florida. She is my idol.
I am constantly saddened and dismayed that women are given so little information, and often wrong information, regarding how they are going to feel after the surgery. I have spent hours and hours talking with friends who have been through this....my brother has had his assistants in his office who have had this surgery call me....neighbors, our dogs' Vet (!) and my old weight training teacher. They all wanted information...they have seen me go from felling unwell to feeling pretty good (I am still holding out for feeling wonderful although I have those days now and then).
I have also spent hours and hours and hours typing responses on this website and more recently on the menopause forum on Medhelp. When I post, I recommend that you avidly do your own research and do it thoroughly so that you will have answers when or if problems arise...and, you will be confident in what you know. The past few times I have posted, my comments were basically negated and dismissed by other well-intentioned posters and although I totally understand that this is a controversial topic to many, I will repeat that I don't think it is understood well and there is so much misinformation out there.
At the risk of sounding very arrogant, (I am far from it, my perspective at least :)) but I feel that the medical community is 10 steps behind the times on this whole issue. When people talk about hormones, automatically they think of HRT, the synthetic hormones, such as Premarin and Pempro) . I would not touch those with a ten foot pole. There are even some hormones that are processed much like the bioidentical hormones, but go through an additional process which makes them Not Bioidentical. Cenestin is one of them. So, that one is made from soy and yams, not horse's urine, so you would think it is okay, but it is not. The bioidentical piece means that it is identical molecule for molecule to what the body once produced, whereas the others are one molecule off, and therein lies the problems.
The Premarin type of hormones were the ones studied in the Women's Initiative years ago that got such a bad report that they stopped the tests. The bio's were not used in this. And, since they are "natural" they cannot be patented, so the drug co's have not glommed onto them for money making ventures with the "studies" that would go along with the $$$ they could get from producing the hormones. In fact, HRT was developed in response to the use of the bioidenticals in the 60's...And, the drug companies could not produce them to be natural in the body or they would not have gotten a patent for them. Sorry, but these may be natural if you are a horse, but they are not for humans...to say nothing of the treatment of the horses producing the uring, etc...but that is another post altogether.
So, now that I might have you thoroughly confused, I will give you some resources....and suggest you check the archives on this forum under "general" and look for anything that says "Hormones" or "To Mary 53"...you may have to go back a ways...I have not posted much recently, unless it had to do with surgical adhesions...another interesting situation!
Continued....
Oh Boy...I am trying to cut and paste a long post to you and I somehow "cut" it wrong. It will need to be pieced together...I will try again to post in correct order. The first time I tried to post it I was over the limit for words...Luckily I saved a copy for myself!
Mary
Mary
Lucky for me my OB/GYN was willing to work with me even though this arena was new to him at the time (using the progesterone). He sent me to a Compounding pharmacist who helped both of us...me and the doctor. He was truly a teacher for both of us. My OB/GYN routinely offers them to women now.
I was glad to learn at least that the estrogen that my oncologist started me on was also a bio (all estrodial is). I use a very low dose to keep the cell receptors open for the progesterone...and to aid somehwhat in bone health (although progesterone is great for this too) bladder funtion, moods, etc....
OK....I just looked at this. And, this was going to be short. Print it out so you can refer to it if you need to...and, try to pick up Northrup's book. Through her I learned of other books on progesterone (for more in-depth reading) and when I read them, I tell you, I hightlighted the whole book. I could not believe how much these books spoke to me and made such sense.
Continued....
I was glad to learn at least that the estrogen that my oncologist started me on was also a bio (all estrodial is). I use a very low dose to keep the cell receptors open for the progesterone...and to aid somehwhat in bone health (although progesterone is great for this too) bladder funtion, moods, etc....
OK....I just looked at this. And, this was going to be short. Print it out so you can refer to it if you need to...and, try to pick up Northrup's book. Through her I learned of other books on progesterone (for more in-depth reading) and when I read them, I tell you, I hightlighted the whole book. I could not believe how much these books spoke to me and made such sense.
Continued....
I can't give you first hand experience regarding the recovery from a laparoscopy, however, my sister had her ovaries removed that way, and was home in under 23 hours. She would have done better but had a complication that required a second surgery. All in all her recovery was about 3 weeks. I am not sure you will be able to drive for a week. You will be tired and have pain post op and for a few days after. Might be possible to lecture sitting down, try for parking as close to the building as possible. Save your energy for the lecture.
losing ovaries did not make me lose interest in sex, however going through chemo puts a damper on it sometime. I don't truly know how long it will be for you, mine was six weeks. Good for you, making the decision and getting it over with. All the best and keep me posted.
Marie
losing ovaries did not make me lose interest in sex, however going through chemo puts a damper on it sometime. I don't truly know how long it will be for you, mine was six weeks. Good for you, making the decision and getting it over with. All the best and keep me posted.
Marie
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