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Complicated hysterectomy vs. alternatives
I have an extensive history of surgeries... Abdominal cyst(near ovary)/ Appendix removal, Classic c-section/tubal, Gastric Bypass(Lap RNY), developed very large incisional hernia in abdomen, repaired with patch (2 sections) from breast bone to pubic bone and abdominoplasty/panniculectomy.
I have experienced very heavy periods since csection, was told weight related, lost weight and it worsened. Dr. recently discovered my iron levels are extremely low (7). After doing stool sample to check for intestinal bleeding believed it is related to menstrual cycle, I agree because from the start of period for about 10 days (typical extent of period) I am very tired, unable to concentrate/focus/think etc. The GYN I have consulted with offered alternative of mirena- but due to extensive problems with hormonal birth control in past I don't want any hormonal treatment. Dr is currently suggesting ablation even though I have had classic csection. Stated he can analyze and measure scar area and determine if possible. I can not find any information on ablation following classic csection except that FDA and manufacturers do not recommend it. Also concerned if ablation will solve problem. I have no qualms aboout a hysterectomy, the GYN is the one concerned since I have surgical history may be complicated removal.
I have experienced very heavy periods since csection, was told weight related, lost weight and it worsened. Dr. recently discovered my iron levels are extremely low (7). After doing stool sample to check for intestinal bleeding believed it is related to menstrual cycle, I agree because from the start of period for about 10 days (typical extent of period) I am very tired, unable to concentrate/focus/think etc. The GYN I have consulted with offered alternative of mirena- but due to extensive problems with hormonal birth control in past I don't want any hormonal treatment. Dr is currently suggesting ablation even though I have had classic csection. Stated he can analyze and measure scar area and determine if possible. I can not find any information on ablation following classic csection except that FDA and manufacturers do not recommend it. Also concerned if ablation will solve problem. I have no qualms aboout a hysterectomy, the GYN is the one concerned since I have surgical history may be complicated removal.
thanks again. I didn't expect to have hyst outpatient, but ablation could possibly be. No with my history of surgeries, my husband and I have joked about my taking "morphine trips" every so often. He has teased that as I get my fill of taking care of the kids and the house I go have a surgery and trip on morphine for a day or two... HAHA...Not this is just humor... I have spoken to my insurance and have gotten approval for second opinion. I plan to see about it next week. I just can't understand why the dr wants me to consider alternatives, especially if I am willing to get hyst. I could see making a suggestion of alternatives if I wanted to keep my uterus, but like I said I am done with it and all it does is provide the inconvienience of a period, which is horrible... And now since it is affecting my health and quality of like, why keep it?
your absolutley right the urerus is an organ for childbearing thats it.....I have worked in health care am currently going to full time college to up my degree..I have never ever heard of a hysterectomy being done out patient ..You will spend at least one night they will put on electric pressure hose ( stocking on legs) to prevent blood clots you are right you will need to be monitered...I spiked a 101 fever my first night not ill just bodys reaction to such trauma but they put me on antibioitcs anyways...
It sounds as though you feel your quality of life is low....your done having babies bleed way to much get it done.;.....your problem will only get worse with time...and as you said if you got 10 or more years till menopause keep your ovaries thats your choice...but you can get by just fine infact better with the hysterectomy it will cure your bleeding and pain,,,,,wont miss the monthly either !!!!! I hope you find a doctor to do the procedure heck your tubes are tied no more babies,,,,,,should be a 1/2 hr operation if they leave in tubes and ovaries.......have doc explain benifits/cons of leaving cervix in that can be done too...if ya leave it you will still need pap smears....thanks for writting back hope I was of some help to you....good luck finding a doc who will do what you want its completley reasonable...
It sounds as though you feel your quality of life is low....your done having babies bleed way to much get it done.;.....your problem will only get worse with time...and as you said if you got 10 or more years till menopause keep your ovaries thats your choice...but you can get by just fine infact better with the hysterectomy it will cure your bleeding and pain,,,,,wont miss the monthly either !!!!! I hope you find a doctor to do the procedure heck your tubes are tied no more babies,,,,,,should be a 1/2 hr operation if they leave in tubes and ovaries.......have doc explain benifits/cons of leaving cervix in that can be done too...if ya leave it you will still need pap smears....thanks for writting back hope I was of some help to you....good luck finding a doc who will do what you want its completley reasonable...
In response, I am 35. Like I said I am through with childbearing, 3 kids age 15, 6, and 3. Never had a problem conceiving, so with the last had tubes tied. (He was the only planned pregnancy also).
As I said I am all for hyst. get it out and be done with it, I would prefer to keep ovaries since I still have probably 10 years till menopause. I have never agreed with hormones (BC was horrible experiences, even pregnancy changes were horrible...very moody and irritable/depressed). Plus I have concerns about weight issues with hormones. That was first option and I declined it immediately (was offered IUD-mirena but it too has hormones that can have affect). Doc is suggesting EA but as I mentioned everything I read stated that previous classic (vertical-top to bottom) csection makes me not a candidate. I also have concerns with it actually working and recovery. If it is an outpatient procedure, and I am sent home a few hours after procedure... I could take pain meds go to sleep and bleed to death etc due to very low iron. So essentially I would have to insist that it is done as an inpatient procedure so my blood loss could be monitored. I live an hour from nearest ER/hospital. I know that my period completely wipes me out and I cannot imagine how I would handle the "possible bleeding for up to 6 weeks." I would be dead.
I know that hyst is a major surgery, can have complications etc. I know the risks and what possible side effects can occur both physical and mental. I know that the belief is that many drs. suggest hyst because it is the simplest and definite solution, and that they are over performed, but why go through the try and see if EA works if I could care less about having a uterus?
No one can tell me of any definite reason for it to remain beyond childbearing...it doesn't contribute anything except occupying the space and occasionally contracts during orgasm (maybe that's the cramping I occasionally felt... back when I had the energy to have sex that is...) Forget about the whole inconveinience of having a heavy period,wearing the disposable incontinence pads to bed, the overnights for the daytime, (tampons wont stay in) not wanting to leave the house because of leaks, etc...having to run to the toilet because you can feel the flood of clots rushing through... Right now I am dealing with losing 10 to 15 days of my month due to being anemic. Even taking the extra iron, the first day of my period and I cannot think, have no energy. I usually don't improve until 10 to 15 days later. I am a full time online college student...I can barely do school work half the month. I used to take 9 credits in 3 month semesters, I am currently in my 5th month of the current courses. My body takes the temperature of what I drink...If I drink coffee then I am hot, if I drink iced tea then I am cold... so I drink constantly (probably consume 2 -3 gallons a day) all day so I can maintain a normal temp by alternating. I avoid going outside at all costs because I am usually cold and I live in WI. I used to walk 5 miles a day...now I am lucky if I walk anywhere. I had Gastric bypass to lose weight and get my life back and be able to enjoy my kids...but I can't now with this.
As I said I am all for hyst. get it out and be done with it, I would prefer to keep ovaries since I still have probably 10 years till menopause. I have never agreed with hormones (BC was horrible experiences, even pregnancy changes were horrible...very moody and irritable/depressed). Plus I have concerns about weight issues with hormones. That was first option and I declined it immediately (was offered IUD-mirena but it too has hormones that can have affect). Doc is suggesting EA but as I mentioned everything I read stated that previous classic (vertical-top to bottom) csection makes me not a candidate. I also have concerns with it actually working and recovery. If it is an outpatient procedure, and I am sent home a few hours after procedure... I could take pain meds go to sleep and bleed to death etc due to very low iron. So essentially I would have to insist that it is done as an inpatient procedure so my blood loss could be monitored. I live an hour from nearest ER/hospital. I know that my period completely wipes me out and I cannot imagine how I would handle the "possible bleeding for up to 6 weeks." I would be dead.
I know that hyst is a major surgery, can have complications etc. I know the risks and what possible side effects can occur both physical and mental. I know that the belief is that many drs. suggest hyst because it is the simplest and definite solution, and that they are over performed, but why go through the try and see if EA works if I could care less about having a uterus?
No one can tell me of any definite reason for it to remain beyond childbearing...it doesn't contribute anything except occupying the space and occasionally contracts during orgasm (maybe that's the cramping I occasionally felt... back when I had the energy to have sex that is...) Forget about the whole inconveinience of having a heavy period,wearing the disposable incontinence pads to bed, the overnights for the daytime, (tampons wont stay in) not wanting to leave the house because of leaks, etc...having to run to the toilet because you can feel the flood of clots rushing through... Right now I am dealing with losing 10 to 15 days of my month due to being anemic. Even taking the extra iron, the first day of my period and I cannot think, have no energy. I usually don't improve until 10 to 15 days later. I am a full time online college student...I can barely do school work half the month. I used to take 9 credits in 3 month semesters, I am currently in my 5th month of the current courses. My body takes the temperature of what I drink...If I drink coffee then I am hot, if I drink iced tea then I am cold... so I drink constantly (probably consume 2 -3 gallons a day) all day so I can maintain a normal temp by alternating. I avoid going outside at all costs because I am usually cold and I live in WI. I used to walk 5 miles a day...now I am lucky if I walk anywhere. I had Gastric bypass to lose weight and get my life back and be able to enjoy my kids...but I can't now with this.
I agree with you...was wondering your age Im 47 had my hysterectomy last year BSO this past summer in hind sight I shoulda done it all at once I knew I had an ovarian cyst but the doc didnt want to Its my body I shoulda been more insistant...there is not a real reason to have a uterus post childbearing years...yeah it may prevent bladder from prolapsing it may also turn cancerous,,,,,I feel great to know I will never ever have to worry about any female cancer ither than breast,,,,,
did your doctor tell you to take prenatal with an exra iron that seems like a lot of iron to me please at least ask your pharmicist too much iron can destroy your liver.If you cannot get a second opinion freely or easily call your insurance and explain situation you have the legal right to a second opinion and to get the best health care YOU feel is right for YOU,,,I hate when doctors think they are so God like your doctor is your employee he.works for you either get him to do what you want or find someone who will.....times are tough a hysterectomy costs 10k easy,,,,,,he will likely take the job.
did your doctor tell you to take prenatal with an exra iron that seems like a lot of iron to me please at least ask your pharmicist too much iron can destroy your liver.If you cannot get a second opinion freely or easily call your insurance and explain situation you have the legal right to a second opinion and to get the best health care YOU feel is right for YOU,,,I hate when doctors think they are so God like your doctor is your employee he.works for you either get him to do what you want or find someone who will.....times are tough a hysterectomy costs 10k easy,,,,,,he will likely take the job.
I do take B-12 and iron, (have recently increased iron) along with prenatal (good multivitamin) and calcium due to having had gastric bypass. I am at a normal weight, 5'3 155lb but my main thing is I cannot see a reason for a dr. to recommend ablation, especially if I am more than willing to have hysterectomy. I have no desire to retain my uterus... I cannot find any information to explain it's purpose post child bearing. I would retain my ovaries...
hysterectomy is indeed a major surgery like you I have had numerous surgeries most laproscopic my abdomen looks like connect the dots....Id advise you to get one more opinion and if second doctor agrees get the hysterectomy insist on laproscopic transvaginal one..sometimes they leave cervix for support so you wont have any prolapse this is an especiall good option if overweight as prolapse risk increases.....If both ovaries are healthy its gonna be your call to leave both or one,,,,removal of tubes and ovaries is called a BSO not hysterectomy...I opted to have my healthy ovary removed because after(one ovary had lg cyst)a hysterectomy it is near impossible to detect ovarian cancer until late stages...thus I went right into menopause..am taking or rather using a bioidntical hormone patch called vivelle...may on here use it have heard nothing but good its just estrogen.....I curious as to why your gyn is concerned all I can think of is increased scar tissue but it would e a good time for him to reduce that...when you have repeated pelvic surgeries of corse its a losing battle to remove all scar tissue but they can reduce it for example from 50%to 15 % another thing your doc may be conncerned about is addhesions..and if you have those he should remove them anyways...after your hyster and your completley healed theres an awsome health page on here written by Mary53 it tells her method for breaking up addhesions so you wont get any from hysterectomy.......definatley get a second opinion.....ask about iron supplements they are fat soluable not water so you mussent over do...also ask your doctor for b 12 shots will increase energy,,,harmless good wishes
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