TRACY: Re: Hysterectomy? Type 1 diabetic with problems making deci...

[Guest guest]

Traci:

You are NOT alone with this concern! Many diabetic women DO report insulin

sensitivity before the onset of their period. Even as a non-diabetic woman, I

feel that I need to eat numerous meals for symptoms due to apparent fluctuating

blood sugar levels, premenstrually.

But.... why do you think ablation and hysterectomy are your ONLY options for

YOU?

As a lay person I can't possibly see how a hysterectomy could help improve

your blood sugar levels, since the OVARIES are responsible of many of the

cyclical hormonal changes that influence blood sugars, not the uterus, itself.

And removal of your ovaries would certainly be VERY UNDESIRABLE at your age.

If I were you, I would definitely have a consult with an experienced

Interventional Radiologist and discuss whether you would be a good candidate for

a

UAE.

Don't let your gyn or GP rule you out, simply because you are diabetic.

Knowledge about UAE often is scant to nil among those medical professionals who

don't perform this procedue.

UAE has been performed on women with all sorts of chronic non-gynecological

medical conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis and diabetes. Only an

experienced Interventional Radiologist can assess your eligibility for such a

procedure.

I have a rather bizarre history of medical ailments--some very serious

things, but my IR reviewed my chart, and in spite of all that, declared me a

good

candidate. Like many women here who have undergone UAE, I had SIGNIFICANT

symptom relief after UAE, most noticeably COMPLETE RELIEF from heavy bleeding

and

painful pressure on my bladder.

You also might want to discuss the possibility of a myomectomy; removing the

fibroids, and polyps, and leaving the uterus in tact.

And finally, if I were you, and you haven't done so already-- I would first

rededicate yourself to a DAILY EXERCISE regimen!!!!

There has been much encouraging research about the HUGE BENEFITS of daily

exercise in controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes.

including a December 2003 Medscape article, you might want to look up

entitled:

" Exercise in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. "

Yeah, yeah--I know---it's the time of the month when we are least likely to

want to get up and move. But, let the record show:

something as simple as a brisk walk every day, can do A WORLD of good for

your sugars, your weight, AND your mood. But don't take my word for it, keep

your own personal account and see how effective exercise can be for you !

Here's some more information to for you to review.

http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_information/diabetes_women.php

Before agreeing to any procedure, any intervention, ask a lot of

questions--and make sure you are getting EXPERT opinions.

All the best to you!

-Roma

In a message dated 3/23/2004 12:56:47 PM Eastern Standard Time,

tferstl@... writes:

I may finally have to consider a hysterectomy. I am a type 1 diabetic

for 7 years and now 40. I really wanted to have kids but have had

problems with ectopics, fibroids, polyps, cysts, very heavy bleeding

(first 3 days large pad every hour) and shooting pain down leg.

However my periods are regular every 28 days. My doctor and I went

through several options but think that it is best to go route of

hysterectomy versus ablation so I do not have to deal with another

operation down the line if fibroids grow more.