Why I want a hysterectomy

[Guest guest]

Please, don't feel sorry for me for choosing a hysterectomy. I am at peace

with this decision and know that my quality of life will drastically be

better than it has been this past two years. I do have several options to

choose from, my doctor who is also my surgeon gave them to me, explained

them and after some thought and searching and reading, I made up my

decision. I also talked to several woman in the area, my aunt, and am on the

hystersisters web site.

Bottom line, and if this is selfish of me or childish, I am sorry but I DO

NOT want to be put under for surgery several times. I am scared to death of

being put under, that started when I was in Germany and went in to have my

tubes tied. I came out of anesthesia and couldn't breath, no one told me,

and it may of been because there weren't many at the hospital who could

speak good English, that the air they pump into your stomach can rise,

causing a bit of discomfort or a feeling that you have a small baby sitting

on your chest. When I did get someone to help, she popped my bed up, put a

hand on her hips and in a mean voice asked if that was better. Thank

goodness my husband found a nurse who tried to help me and she gave me

seltzer water, that helped me burp, a lot and it helped a great deal. But

the damage had been done. It scared me. So you see, that is a big thing for

me.

I have been chronically anemic for over 4 years, in this time I have taken a

lot of iron suppliments, I would get my iron level up, then my period would

begin and I would loose everything I gained. So we started again. In this

time, my periods steadily became worse and worse over this 4 years, to the

point that my doctor suggested I think about a hysterectomy and a blood

transfusion. I got a second opinion with an OB/GYN off post who gave me all

my options, several the ones you mentioned in your posting to me Gerri,

again, I said no I would try to wait and see and look into other

interventions. I tried holistic, it helped me a lot health wise but still

didn't do what all the books claim it does. From August to December of last

year I bled every day. Sometimes heavy sometimes light. In April I had a D &

C to see if it would lighten my periods, at that time I got an ultra sound,

both internal and outter, they at that time detected one fibroid. Today, I

have two that we know of.

I know all the con's to having a hysterectomy. I have read that as well as

the con's. I have opted to have one vaginally, with the option to keeping my

overies. I am going to talk further with my doctor tomorrow when I go in for

a biopsy. Yes, maybe at 36 years of age, that may be young to have one, but

my days of having children are over, I have two beautiful children, a 17

year old daughter and a 9 year old son. My husband is very supportive of

whatever I decide and has been there with me through all of this, letting me

cry on him or scream. He has seen me when I have been scared and when I have

been too tired to even get out of bed. The things I have learned and read on

this list have also given me a better grasp on what I need to do and ask. It

has been so valuable.

Woman need to stick together and support one another. We are still, least I

believe, in a man dominated world, one where they don't always understand

and don't want to see what we ask them to, only what they want to. I have

had an OB/GYN who was a complete ass about everything and I wouldn't let him

cut into me for anything, his bed side manner in the office stunk. So, I

have been there too.

Thank you for your show of concern, everyone.

[Guest guest]

,

You have my support and prayers... Only you can best decide what is

right for you: and i can appreciate your fears: I too had a bad

time with the Laproscopy (the air they pumped into your chest wheh

you had your tubal). Those fears are real and are valid. If you

need anything (venting etc) drop a note.

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

-HI ,I to have chosen a hysterectomy-.I am older 48 had to kids

grow and adopted one.Just in the last 3 months I started with all

these and all ready I dont feel like I can do this for years when I

can take those fibroids out and stop feeling this .I agree only

you know what is best for you and your family,I do take my hat off

to those women that have done all this other things to keep their

uters but some of us just can't or will not go though all that month

after month and years of it.But we all do what is best for us and

what we can take so you do it for you and your family and Hope all

goes well!!