Endo Biopsy & Why Opposed to Hyst.?

[Guest guest]

Kay:

Yes I’ve heard of endometrial biopsies – and I’ve had them several times –

including annually for the last several years. Some women complain of

intense and painful cramping – but really it’s for a very short period of

time. I’ve only experienced pain with endo biopsy once. I use acupressure

– on the lower part of the breastbone and back of the neck – during the

procedure which for me really relaxes the uterus. You might want to take

ibuprofen before, but remember, it really is over quickly. And, in my

opinion, if there’s even the remotest chance of malignancy – well worth the

reassurance you get from negative results.

Here are links to some info about endo biopsy:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003917.htm

http://lib-sh.lsumc.edu/fammed/atlases/emb/emb.html

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010315/1131.html

Lola:

As to why I seem so opposed to hysterectomy – for me it’s because I believe

it is NOT the healthiest or safest or wisest decision for most women. BUT,

women are not only recommended or offered hysterectomy by docs – they are

often railroaded into it, one way or another. Women trust their docs to

recommend what is best for them, the patient. Those docs are instead

recommending what is best for themselves, the docs. Hysterectomy is a

simple and fairly quick surgery from which the docs make a nice piece of

change. More skills and/or referrals to different docs are often required

for other procedures. Instead of gaining those skills, keeping up to date

with the science, and making those referrals, the docs make what I consider

to be a selfish and egotistical and outdated decision to do what I consider

to be taking advantage of the patient and RECOMMENDING a procedure which is

much more drastic, has many more potential negative health implications and

life-altering ramifications, and is completely irreversible – when it just

plain isn’t necessary in most cases. To allow a woman to truly CHOOSE

hysterectomy is one thing – but without offering the truth and unprejudiced

information, that is not what happens.

When I hear women post-hyst complain of problems, it seems like they always

say " my doctor never told me. " And, many also say that they cannot get

adequate assistance from their docs in dealing with those post-hyst

problems.

For a doctor to recommend something which is unnecessary and has the

potential to harm a woman’s health when that is not necessary is, in my

opinion, misogynistic, selfish and a violation of the trust we are supposed

to be able to have with our docs.

I don’t doubt that hysterectomy “cures” the fibroid problem – and I don't

doubt that the relief from fibroid symptoms seems worth-it to many women

--(heck, some of us have experienced times when death seemed like an

attractive alternative) - it’s the side effects that I believe are not worth

the risk. Obviously, not everyone suffers serious side effects; and those

who do don’t generally suffer ALL of them. There are women who believe hyst

is the best thing they ever did. I happen to believe that most of those

women who had hysterectomy for fibroids would have been as much, if not

more, pleased with some other form of treatment. All procedures are a

gamble. Hysterectomy has some bigger and badder potential pitfalls than

other procedures in my opinion – and you don’t need to take the risks. Yet

docs who recommend hysterectomy over other procedures are recommending that

women take unnecessary risks with their health and well-being.

You wouldn't have your foot amputated for an ingrown toenail -- wouldn't

even have your toe amputated for one - not even just the tip of the toe . .

..

How many docs do you suppose would recommend removing a man's testicles if

he had a few benign tumors on them?? - or the male organ most analogous to

the uterus - the prostate - look at the hoops medical science is jumping

through to try to save the prostate as often as possible -- even in the face

of confirmed cancers. Docs aren't removing prostates willy-nilly!

I feel we have a lot of social / cultrual myths which have grown up around

this practice & I think we need to get away from those myths and look

squarely at the evidence -- the science. I don't believe that most docs are

doing that when they make most hysterectomy recommendations.

That said, there are cases where hysterectomy is wise -- even required.

Show me a confirmed malignancy and I'll be signing the consent forms and be

gratified that it's available.

We’ve discussed the risks of hyst here many times – a couple other good

sources to learn about them are Plourde’s book “Hysterectomy,

Ovary Removal and Hormone Therapy What All Women Need to Know . . .” and an

ancient one by W. Cutler “Hysterectomy Before and After.”

Pat

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