Have you had a hysterectomy?

[sweetheartsok]

Wow...what a coincidence...I just came on here to take my mind off of my Hysterectomy surgery on Monday. I too have endometriosis and have suffered for many years....last 6 months I haven't been able to do anything without ending up in excruciating pain. I'm 41 years old and never had children biologically but I do have two gorgeous daughters that we adopted and we brought them home right from the hospital. So even if you can't have children biologically there are other alternatives.

If I were you I would get at least another opinion from another endo specialist. You have to way the positives with the negatives. I wish I would have given up hope of having my own child when we adopted our girls and had the surgery way back then. I was 30 years old at the time and had been trying for 6 years. I think I suffered way more then I had to by holding on to that hope and in the meantime I have put on 50 lbs from fertility drugs, antidepressants and danazol (male hormone used to treat endo).

Only you can decide what's best for you. I know now that I could have also been happy without children. Took me till I couldn't have them anymore to get there but I'm there and I encourage you to put yourself first. Pain changes people.

I'll pray for you...I'll post how my hysterectomy went. Hopefully not to painful.

Hugs!!

[tjdmom]

I had one a year and a half ago.

[WV~Yorkies]

I had a partial last September. I keep my overies. I was so anemic that I had to have it done. I was taking iron infusions every month just to try to maintain my levels.. any lower and I would had to be hospitalized.

I don't regret having it. Sometimes I do wish I had got a second opinion.

[inabowbina]

Thanks everyone for telling me such private stuff it really helps. I have had endometriosis for 6 years now. And the past two years i have been in ridiculous pain. Every day my pain is like a 5 then i get on my period and i end up in the hospital because i pass out from pain. I have a really amazing doctor here in Illinois Dr Charles Miller he is a wonderful infertility doctor and is a specialist in endometriosis. I have seen so many doctors the last 6 years about this i have had surgery lazer out the endo but its on my bowel, bladder. ovaries i also have it in the muscle walls of my uterus its called something when its in the uterus i forgot though. its frigging everywhere. My doctor does not want to preform the hysterectomy but i come to him crying like every month. lol. i just seen him a few days ago. and we decided to try a procedure where he cuts nerves in the back of the uterus to will help with the uterus pain and cervix pain and he will clean me up the best he can its 75% successful compared to 85% successful with a hysterectomy. if it doesn't work But i really really hope it does. Then i will go in for a hysterectomy and leave my ovaries. Im still going to have crazy bleeding and with a hysterectomy i would have been able to eliminate that problem but i have nothing to loose i will at least be able to say i tried everything. The thing that freaks me out with a hysterectomy is how the heck sex will feel without the cervix and having just a cuff at the end. Im ok with the kid thing i really don't want any i never have but i will have my ovaries and their are amazing women out their that will carry your baby for you. blows my mind how nice some people can be. it just really stinks to have to deal with this so young. non of my friends can relate to me. really appreciate you guys talking to me

[sweetheartsok]

Inabowina.....is it a luna that he is going to perform? The only pain that it helped me with was the pain caused by the endo in my cul de sac. Now for that it was a miracle because it never came back. One side effect I did notice was that my sensation to urinate changed. I only felt pressure of a full bladder but not the sensation that is normal. I find the negative to that is by the time I realize I have to go it actually hurts because I am so full. So you have to learn to go before you get to that point, which I did and have had no problems. I'm pretty sure I also read somewhere that it can affect your ability to orgasm. Make sure you asks lots of questions about the side effects and again way the pros and cons.

Had my hysterectomy on the 21st of September and was amazed that I woke up without the pain I had before surgery. I was so happy!!!! I had a complete TAH/BSO.....it was very painful but my doctor also said that she had a really difficult time with my surgery because she had trouble even finding my ovaries and uterus because I was such a mess. I had a lot of abdominal pain afterwards and still have quite a bit of pain, lots of swelling. I had hot flashes and night sweats the first week but they seem to have subsided. Migraines seems to be an issue for me so far I have had two doozies. I'm not taking HRT because we are trying to eliminate whatever endo is left in my body. That's why I don't understand why you would have a hysterectomy and keep your ovaries. Endo is feeds off of estrogen...which is made in the ovaries. Chances are you would still have problems if you don't get rid of it all. If you want a good resource for hysterectomies join Hyster Sisters....it's awesome. From my experience so far my hysterectomy is a blessing and I feel like a new woman. I know several woman who have also had them for endo and all say it changed their lives for the better. I know it's a difficult decision because you are so young but definitely consider it in the future.

Keep us posted

[lillymae]

Yeah that. Why would you keep your ovaries? Do lots of research before surgery. If you keep the ovaries you will still have to take hormones and you still run the risk of endo. I had my histo at 34 and it was the best thing I ever did. For the first time sense I started having periods I finally feel human. I was on HRT for the 1st year after and started having migraines then I quit taking the HRT and the headaches went away. Every one is different with the HRT some need it and some don't. i have hot flashes once in a while some big some little but all in all I'll take those over the period hell any day. For me the worst thing about the surgery was the cath. The best things are no more pain and no more acne.

[lil fu fu girl]

I had a total vaginal hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy. Which essentially is the removal of everything that is female, when I turned 40. I had a cyst that had ruptured through my ovary. I bled internally for almost two months while my Gyno said that it was all in my head! Finally I found another Gyno that would open me up for orthoscopy. The internal damage from the clots and bleeding had destroyed so much, that everything needed to go. After the vaginal surgery (mentioned above), I was up going to the bathroom within 7 hours, so I would recommend that surgery to anyone. However, you are so very young.... I would definitely get another opinion or two. It cannot hurt, you have been going through it for this long... what is another month or two to really find out all your options. Hang in there.

[J_is_my_initial]

I had a full hysterectomy but I had already had my dtr. I was in so much pain every month that when I went to the gyno I told him straight up, If you suggest a hysterectomy I will not refuse it. Best thing I ever had done, though if I had been younger, I might have though differently. Good luck on whatever you decide.

[nyteacups]

ALTHOUGH I CANT IMAGINE YOUR PAIN BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD GO TO EVERY LENGTH TO WEIGH ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS YOUR STILL VERY YOUNG AND ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THE DESIRE TO HAVE CHILDREN THAT MIGHT VERY WELL CHANGE WE CAN NEVER PREDICT WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD I WILL DEFINATLY KEEP YOU IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAY THAT THE FIRST SURGERY THAT YOU MENTIONED IS SUCESSFUL AND WORKS FOR YOU ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD WILL NOT GIVE YOU SOMETHING YOU WONT BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND IF YOU NEED A FRIEND PM ME

[WV~Yorkies]

Ask your doctor lots of question. Write them down and take them in with you.

I seen someone said that you still had to take hormones if you keep your overies. That is not true for me. I keep my overies and do not take any hormones.