hysterectomy

[Guest guest]

I have been reading many comments by members related to not pursuing

hysterectomy as an option. From what I can tell, have read online,

have researched about fibroids, etc, they are very fickle fellows and

no one particular treatment guaranteees success. Short term maybe,

but not permanent.

I have just had another night of excessive bleeding and clotting and

am really fed up with, not to mention exhaused by, the situation. I

have not " exhausted " every option available as I am trying to weigh

the type of fibroid problem (submucosal) with the long term outcome.

I also do not hunger for surgery, but if I have to go through it, I

only want to do it once.

People have spoken to " other problems " associated with

hysterectomy....I would like to hear what those are especially if the

ovaries are left intact. My doctor has never said that she would

take everything and I think that would be problemmatic for me if she

did. I am well beyond child-bearing (in age and state of mind) so

the lack of uterus doesn't concern me. Maybe I am missing something

more health related to the outcome of a hysterectomy. I realize that

this is a fibroid egroup, so I don't know if there are any folks

associated that can speak to what life is like after hysterectomy

(ovaries intact). I hear alot of concern, but am trying to decipher

the fear factor vs. the reality. I cannot continue this love affair

with something that has caused me so many health issues for the past

3 months.

I am seeing by gyne this week, and want to be prepared for

discussion. I have been treated so far by Depo-provera which hasn't,

in my opinion, worked. Of course, I have only had one dose in 3

months and the next is scheduled for Thurs. I do not have the

dimensions of my fibroids as most of you do, but will get them this

week as I am having a repeat ultrasound. My understanding is that

they were small as my uterus is not enlarged. 3 months ago before

the D&C, my hematocrit was 35. Since the D&C and Depoprovera, I have

had some sort of bleeding continuously, from spotting to severe. My

guess is that it is pretty low. I cannot tolerate iron ( I am one in

a thousand that gets flulike symptoms and extreme diarrhea) and have

started taking a multiple vitamin with Fe.

I would appreciate thoughtful responses to my questions.

Debbie