Re: Hysterectomy decisions

[Guest guest]

There is a " positive " support group for women who have undergone

hysterectomy. HysterSysters. It was a spin off from Beth Tiner's

sans-uteri group and, generally, the women on that list can help you through

the surgery etc. There's a link to it from my " Subscribe " page on my

website. Other than that, the only " positive " people I have been able to

find on the internet that believe their hysterectomies were the " miracle

cure " is the adenomyosis group over on delphi forum. The pain those women

were experiencing from endometriosis and adenomyosis was incredible. The

hysterectomy was a godsend by comparison. Nonetheless, they have many

adjustments to make post-procedure and have, therefore, formed their support

group/network on the internet.

All doctors are not liars. They don't always give out complete details and

that is not the same thing as being a liar. The thing is, if you can keep

your uterus, your cervix, and your ovaries through some other less-invasive

procedure, why wouldn't you want to at least try it? Why go through major

surgery if a less invasive procedure with quicker recovery time and lower

morbidity rate will allow you to keep all of your organs as well as the

hormones they naturally produce?

Hysterectomy was the only thing offered to me by 14 gynecologists. UAE did

the trick -- but I had to seek it out -- no gyn was even going to discuss it

with me. My recovery time was less than 2 weeks -- I know that hysterectomy

could not beat that. No major surgery. Uterus, cervix, ovaries intact.

Hormones as bad as they ever were but still doing their job producing what I

need. I could go on but have already done so up the negative side and down

the positive side with UAE on my website.

You should definitely visit some of the list groups for women who've

undergone hysterectomy and " talk " with the women from hystersysters to get

their perspective. They're out there to help support others through a

hysterectomy and are more than willing to help you see it through their

eyes.

Carla Dionne

mailto:cdionne@...

http://www.uterinefibroids.com

member, /list/uterinefibroids

>It would be nice to hear from the other side of the street once in a while.

>

>I personally know people who wouldn't go back for the world, and it gets

>really tough for us out there who have to try to decide what our best

option

>is. We get to the point where we're made to feel that all doctors are

liars,

>and we're scared to death.

>

>Has anyone out there ever had a postive experience with hysterectomy? Or

>know someone who has? Hearing about the both sides of life after

>hysterecomy might help those of us on the fence to make a more informed

>decision.

>

>Anyone else frustrated with not knowing what to do and not knowing how to

>finally decide?

>

>Those of you who are in process of deciding whether or not have a hyst--are

>you as frustrated as I am?

>

>

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[Guest guest]

I made the decision to have a hysterectomy long before I climed into

the net for advice. Personally, I dropped Hystersisters because I

could go for 3 days without checking my mail and have 750 e-mails to

sift through. In the beginning it was intersting but later found the

same women were writing and I got tired of the complaining. I have

made a decision to have a TAH. Ovarian cancer runs in the family and

not to many choices when it comes to removing the bigger then a large

grapefruit fibroid I've got growing. I've also taken the Lupron

everyone is so negative about. For me....I feel better then I have in

3 years and this monoster is shrinking. I'm keeping a positive

attitude. I know sevveral women who have said I won't regret my

decision to have a hyster. I'm only 44, no children but there's no way

in hell I'm going to continue putting up with the bleeding like I have.

I'm really looking forward to not dealing with this monthly

inconvience. If you care to write me at yaabird@... I'd like to

hear from you. Another positive site is Suneys Happy Hysterecotmy. It

will make you smile :) :).

--- UFFDAKAB@... wrote:

> It would be nice to hear from the other side of the

> street once in a while.

>

> I personally know people who wouldn't go back for

> the world, and it gets

> really tough for us out there who have to try to

> decide what our best option

> is. We get to the point where we're made to feel

> that all doctors are liars,

> and we're scared to death.

>

> Has anyone out there ever had a postive experience

> with hysterectomy? Or

> know someone who has? Hearing about the both sides

> of life after

> hysterecomy might help those of us on the fence to

> make a more informed

> decision.

>

> Anyone else frustrated with not knowing what to do

> and not knowing how to

> finally decide?

>

> Those of you who are in process of deciding whether

> or not have a hyst--are

> you as frustrated as I am?

>

>

>

------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> eGroups.com home:

> /group/uterinefibroids

> - Simplifying group

> communications

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Anyone else frustrated with not knowing what to do and not knowing how to

finally decide?

Those of you who are in process of deciding whether or not have a hyst--are

you as frustrated as I am?

I am!!! When all these problems started happening I had put it in my head

that I would probably have to have a hyst. Never heard of other options. So

I am torn between the two. I am 37 and don't mind having h., but is it

really necessary. I have heard about other options but that fibroids could

return, you could bleed to death on the table etc.. So which is better? The

chances or the lifetime of finding hrt that works etc. I belong to another

list that is huge (so big in fact that I can't keep up with it) Anyway all

of these women have had h or are about to and they swear by it. They help

each other out with different remediies for this and that and for the most

part never hear any complaints.

sandy

______________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

>I made the decision to have a hysterectomy long before I climed into

>the net for advice. Personally, I dropped Hystersisters because I

>could go for 3 days without checking my mail and have 750 e-mails to

>sift through. In the beginning it was intersting but later found the

>same women were writing and I got tired of the complaining.

I didn't really give Hystersysters much of a chance when I went on the

internet initially -- the volume of email has always been a problem. But I

find your comment about " the same women...complaining " interesting. I had

the impression it was a " Positive " support group started by women who were

tired of the complaining over on sans-uteri. Personally, I do read the

sans-uteri daily digest because I appreciate the effort that Beth Tiner

makes in putting together that single digest. I don't see the posts as

complaining like some women do -- I see the posts as women trying to help

each other through the minefield of aftereffects they are suffering with

post hyst. The most experienced women post the most frequently and often

throw their 2 cents in -- but I guess I just never registered it as

complaining. Is that what the posts at hystersysters are comprised of? Or,

is it truly just blatant complaining?

>I have

>made a decision to have a TAH. Ovarian cancer runs in the family and

>not to many choices when it comes to removing the bigger then a large

>grapefruit fibroid I've got growing. I've also taken the Lupron

>everyone is so negative about. For me....I feel better then I have in

>3 years and this monoster is shrinking.

Well, my fibroid was MUCH bigger than a grapefruit and I can agree with you

that shrinking of the stupid thing has definitely made ME feel better. (of

course, mine is shrinking because of uae--not lupron) Why do you write that

there aren't many choices when it comes to removing your fibroid? Can you

share with us why you chose to dismiss 1) myomectomy 2) myolysis 3) uterine

artery embolization? All 3 are viable options and I am extremely interested

in what went into the process of discounting each one of them for you.

BTW, is it your impression that by removing your ovaries you will avoid

ovarian cancer entirely?

Dr. Toub (over on OBGYN.net) has written the following about ovarian cancer:

" The lifetime average risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 70 (about 1.4%). While

this is only about 1/10 of the lifetime risk of breast cancer, it is a very

difficult cancer to detect and treat. As the average age of menopause is

(depending on the source) about 52 years, if a woman is having abdominal or

pelvic surgery above the age of 45, it is reasonable to offer removal of the

ovaries as an option. It may not prevent ovarian cancer in every woman,

since there is an entity called peritoneal mesothelioma that resembles

ovarian cancer and can appear in women even if they do not have ovaries. "

Did your doctor tell you about peritoneal mesothelioma?

>I'm keeping a positive

>attitude. I know sevveral women who have said I won't regret my

>decision to have a hyster. I'm only 44, no children but there's no way

>in hell I'm going to continue putting up with the bleeding like I have.

> I'm really looking forward to not dealing with this monthly

>inconvience. If you care to write me at yaabird@... I'd like to

>hear from you. Another positive site is Suneys Happy Hysterecotmy. It

>will make you smile :) :).

Do you have the website address for Suneys Happy Hysterectomy? I'm always

looking for websites that will offer " balance " so that I can link to them

from my website.

Carla Dionne

mailto:cdionne@...

http://www.uterinefibroids.com

member, /list/uterinefibroids

[Guest guest]

My mother had a vaginal partial hysterectomy in approximately 1968. She

definitely retained her ovaries, and I believe she retained her cervix, as well.

She was completely delighted then, and continues to be some 30 years later. She

could tell for several years when she was ovulating, and went through normal

menopause in her 50's. She had no emotional trauma regarding the loss of her

uterus - aside from being annoyed when people referred to spayed and/or neutered

animals as " it " since she had an equivalent operation and didn't feel it made

her into an " it "

She now has breast cancer (she had a modified radical mastectomy last February)

and is on tamoxifen. One of the advantages of having a hysterectomy is that it

removes the risk of uterine cancer as a consideration with respect to taking

tamoxifen. I don't recall the specifics, but I know that tamoxifen is not the

only medication that it has been easier for her to make the decision to take

because of the lack of her uterus. Although I am not currently heading for a

hysterectomy, because it is very likely I will need to take tamoxifen (since

both my mother and maternal grandmother have/had breast cancer) it is one of the

factors that make hysterectomy an acceptable alternative for me, should the need

arise.

>Has anyone out there ever had a postive experience with hysterectomy? Or

>know someone who has? Hearing about the both sides of life after

>hysterecomy might help those of us on the fence to make a more informed

>decision.

>

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[Guest guest]

Thank you yaabird! I will probably take you up on your offer to e-mail you

privately. I really appreciate your response.

[Guest guest]

Carole:

Please keep us up to date on how you're doing. I am also contemplating a

hyst for fibroids, but am trying progesterone first to see if it helps my

symptoms.

Uffdakab

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I have read your email with interest and have found it very useful. I have

made the decision to have a hysterectomy due to fibroids and other

dysfunctional bleeding. The op is due on the 19th October and I will keep

you informed as to the outcome. Everyone I have spoken to who has had the

op says it's the best thing they ever did!

Carole

Re: Hysterectomy decisions

> My mother had a vaginal partial hysterectomy in approximately 1968. She

definitely retained her ovaries, and I believe she retained her cervix, as

well. She was completely delighted then, and continues to be some 30 years

later. She could tell for several years when she was ovulating, and went

through normal menopause in her 50's. She had no emotional trauma regarding

the loss of her uterus - aside from being annoyed when people referred to

spayed and/or neutered animals as " it " since she had an equivalent operation

and didn't feel it made her into an " it "

>

> She now has breast cancer (she had a modified radical mastectomy last

February) and is on tamoxifen. One of the advantages of having a

hysterectomy is that it removes the risk of uterine cancer as a

consideration with respect to taking tamoxifen. I don't recall the

specifics, but I know that tamoxifen is not the only medication that it has

been easier for her to make the decision to take because of the lack of her

uterus. Although I am not currently heading for a hysterectomy, because it

is very likely I will need to take tamoxifen (since both my mother and

maternal grandmother have/had breast cancer) it is one of the factors that

make hysterectomy an acceptable alternative for me, should the need arise.

>

> >Has anyone out there ever had a postive experience with hysterectomy? Or

> >know someone who has? Hearing about the both sides of life after

> >hysterecomy might help those of us on the fence to make a more informed

> >decision.

> >

>

>

>

> Visit FindLaw at http://www.findlaw.com for free case law, web guide, and

legal news, and get your free @JusticeMail.com address at

http://www.justicemail.com

>

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