surgical complications

[DDinAZ]

I had an A&P repair in Dec 04. It was done vaginally and the doctor did not mention anything about a possible hyst. I am a nurse and read the pre-op top to bottom and nothing anywhere mentioned the possibility. While I was on the table the "doc" called my husband and told him that my uterus "had to come out". He was at work and my mother was with me at the hospital. He has NO medical experience. He is a surveyor. Being a nurse and a prior scrub tech I have never seen this happen. The "doc" told my husband that it didn't have to be done during this procedure but it was going to have to happen because it also was "prolapsing". Correct me if I am wrong, doesn't the anterior and posterior ligaments also suspend the uterus? Wouldn't the A&P repair fix the uterus also? This "doc" essentially abandoned me after the op. He visited me once during my week stay in the hospital. I feel so violated and essentially raped by this that I cannot look at babies or talk about the "procedure" to this day without crying. Even typing this I am crying. I know that the "doc" couldn't do this without my husband's consent but based on what he was told he thought it HAD to be done while I was in surgery right then. I have struggled with feelings of resentment towards him and my mother both for almost 6 years even though I know that they did what they thought was best for me based on what information they were given. I just need help getting over this. Also, my bladder was back in the same shape it was before surgery within 3 months. Now I will have to have open surgery to fix it this time. Is this a common occurance? Shouldn't the procedure have lasted longer? Do I have any other options other than surgery? I have tried keigels and everything else I could find to help both before and since. What are my options and do you have any suggetions on how I can deal with my feelings?

[J. Kyle Mathews, MD, DVM]

Sorry to read of your experience.  Your case appears to be a complicated one.  I would therefore suggest, as I do with my own patients, to obtain a second opinion.  Reading your post, I am not sure why you would have to have an open procedure.  It would be beneficial to get a second opinion for a doctor that is a member of one of the following societies:

American Urogynecologic Society AUGS  http://www.mypelvichealth.org/

Society of Pelvic Reconstructive Surgeons  SRS  http://www.sprs.org/

Society of Gynecologic Surgeons  SGS   http://www.sprs.org/

JKM

[LollyDoll]

Wow I am so sorry to hear about your experience in the O.R.  I also am a RN and I find it appauling that the surgeon handled your hysterectomy in that way.  I am curious about your age and have you had children yet because surely the MD should have taken that into condsideration and discussed that issue with your husband as well.  I also am not sure about the laws for informed consent when a procedure is heading a different direction; I assume the MD was within the bounds of the law by calling your husband?  I know personally I would have preferred to have been given the option to decide for myself even if it meant complications and more surgeries later to take out the uterus.  So I completely feel for you and your situation.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that I would persue legal action with the medical board and also civil litigation.  Was there no discussion whatsoever during your pre-op consult of the possibility of taking the uterus at the time of procedure if indicated as necessary?  

Good luck to you and thanks for sharing your experience.  I am headed to the doctor today for my surgical consultation.