5 days untill my hysterectomy

• By lindasharon
• Posted August 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm
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hi everyone, I am new here. I hope your surgery goes okay, I too am 42 and awaiting my hysterectomy eagerly. I have been bleeding heavily for 7 weeks and am so tired and weak. Does anyone know how long I will be down from being able to work? I work at home as a transcriptionist, so I type and can lie down in between times, do not have to drive either or lift. I have had 2 c-sections. My last one was 13 years ago and the day I went home I went to Wal Mart and was fine from there on, no problems and was in no pain. So do you think I can come out of this the same way? Is there much difference between c-section and hysterectomy in terms of healing, etc?

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• By Faith2
• Posted July 6, 2009 at 2:46 pm
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Ladies,

With all due respect, removal of organs is hardly mind over matter. There are bio-physical changes that occur that cannot be denied. There's no question that a good attitude can help a person prevail over adversity, but a physical change due to surgery is a physical change. You also are comparing reasons for hysterectomy due to cancer with non-cancer, non-life threatening reasoning and reasoning that is based on fear of the 'what ifs'. I can say without reservation, having been hysterectomized because my fear was preyed on and the changes that have occurred, even though I kept my ovaries, are more than noticeable, and there's lifelong damage I now have that I did not have before. There are plenty of women who are more than willing to attest to the changes their bodies have gone through as the result of a hysterectomy. The problem with this type of surgery is there's no going back once it's done - it's irreversible. So my point has been to be absolutely certain that this type of surgery is being done for the right reason, and, with all due respect, fear is never a good reason to have surgery. Being informed, understanding all of the risks and benefits, not having them whitewashed, and getting more than one opinion is the best way to make a decision. Afterall, it is you, the patient, who lives with the consequences, not your doctor. Hysterectomy will not cure HPV either, so the idea that you're safe from HPV related disease is incorrect. I don't make one cent from encouraging women to be informed. Can the same be said about a dr who's willing to remove perfectly healthy ovaries or uterus because a patient is in fear?

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• By Emkaytx
• Posted July 6, 2009 at 1:18 pm
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tnsweetness, tomorrow I will be 6 weeks post op of radical hyst.. I am really feeling great! I have a lot of tolerance for pain, and the first day out of surgery when they made me stand up and take a few steps - I thought I was going to die!, but I didn't and it got better each day. Find some healing tape or CD. It helped me! Matter of fact, I think it healed me in one area of lymph drainage I was having after the surgery. I was draining so bad, I had to see urologist to verify if I had a hole in the bladder. Had all the test to check kidneys, ureters, and bladder and nothing found....went home upset, put my healing cd on, and the next morning - GONE! no drainage. So it is mind over matter.....if you read all the gloom and doom stories your mind will focus on those, think positive. At one time I had to quit reading because it scared me more! "As yee thinketh, so shall ye believe". I still have radiation and chemo to go. ( mine was cancer), but I am thinking the positive! Now don't get me wrong...I wasn't positive all the time. I had a week of depression and self pitty. I cried it out and talked it over with my husband and felt better. I am going to believe I won't have any of the long term side effects of chemo and radiation! That is what I have to believe, and if I do, I will deal with it - positively!

I did find that after my cone biopsy and getting the path report in my hands, it was very detailed of where the cancer was, so the cone biopsy do reveal alot to the oncologists.

I pray all will go well for you. You know your body! Good luck and I pray for you a speedy recovery! You will do fine! Come up with a positive phrase and keep telling yourself it.

Blessing to you!

Emkaytx

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• By tnsweetness
• Posted July 6, 2009 at 12:05 pm
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thank you soo much trissy for that encouraging story, the doctor doesnt think its cancer, well my leep showed clear margins, but i am sooo tired of the reacurrance,i just want it all to stop,i have hpv which is whats causing this i was diagnosed with it 18 months ago,i know in my heart this is the right thing to do,something is just telling me it is, i pray they dont find cancer! but if they do i hope it hasnt spread and all will be removed. once again thank you so much reading stories like your gives me hope, tomorrow is the big day,7 30 am surgery time, its 11.00 here now, alls i can think about right now is will i be alive tomorrow at this time! i know it sounds crazy to some people but that is just one big worry i have and i hope i can tollerate the pain, i do that really well or at least i did for the leeps i was having.so we will see,,hugz to you and congrats on healing sooo well!
sweetness

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• By Trissy
• Posted July 6, 2009 at 11:19 am
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Hello tnsweetness

Thought I would share my battle with you. One year ago I found out I had cervical cancer [at the age 34]. The Dr's told me I was in the first stages. After a cone biopsy they realized I was in stage 2B.

I had a radical hystorectomy [Uterus, Cervix's and part of the vagina] they do not take your ovaries with a radical hystorectomy the reason they call it radical is because of the removal of part of your vagina...

anyway after the hystorectomy I was up the next day to make my 5hr trip home [my husband driving]. I felt great. Took pain killers for 2 days and by the 3rd day I was at my son's hockey game!! It did not slow me down. When I went to the dr's for my pre-Op appt 6 weeks later I found out the cancer did spread to my uterus and vagina and had to do 27 days straight of Radiation and once a week Chemo for 6 weeks..... the cancer did not spread to any lymph nodes [they removed 27 of them and they all came back clear]. During the radiation/chemo I was a walking zombie but now have a clean bill of health!!

I am in menopause [the radiation zapped my ovaries]. I am 35 now and am to young to go through this but you do what you have to do!!! You will know what is best for you....I am not on anything to help me with the hot flashes....it is hard but every time I have one I think "I am still alive this is nothing!!!! " The drugs they give you to help you get over the flashes cause cancer so please think about that and do your reseach before you take anything.....I talked to alot of dr's and nurses and seem to get more negative feedback than good.....The Dr's also are scared that you might go nutting after your ovaries are gone but to me that is mind over matter....if you think you are going to go nuts you will!!

BE STRONG YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!!!

Take care

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• By mariet117
• Posted July 6, 2009 at 9:42 am
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I wish everyone who is getting ready to have the surgery good luck. I am 2 weeks post op and I am getting better everyday I guess I am very sore on the right side. Especially upon waking up in the morning I feel like I can barley move, but as the day goes on I am ok although there is still some pain. They say it gets better. How long did everyone else's pain last.

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• By pepsicolarocks
• Posted July 6, 2009 at 1:47 am
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Dear Tnsweetness,

Sending you the warmest of wishes on both your surgery and recovery. I am also 42 years old and will probably be undergoing a hysterectomy of my own, very soon. I have lots of friends and family members who have had hysterectomies and each one of them has told me that it was the best thing that has ever happened to them. I have also read articles about how having a hysterectomy is the most effective way of preventing recurrence. It seems the biggest draw back of having a hysterectomy, is not being able to have any more children. Don't get me wrong, I don't wish to try and undermine the fact that this is a major surgery, but it sounds as though you have made an informed decision to move on with your life and I applaud your determination. Best of luck and God bless you!!

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• By TracyTexasLady08
• Posted July 5, 2009 at 3:03 pm
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I'm 11 weeks post-op from having a TAH. I was sore for couple of weeks. I have a hubby and a 11 year old son, who helped me out. I'm going thru menopause and I still have my ovaries. I'm on Hormone Replacement Therapy. Sex is great now! Good luck on your surgery and keep us posted!!

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• By Potinia
• Posted July 5, 2009 at 8:17 am
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Best to you during this time of surgery and recovery!

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• By Faith2
• Posted July 5, 2009 at 1:05 am
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Dear bmood,

A subtotal hysterectomy is removal of the uterus leaving the cervix in place, a total hysterectomy is removal of the cervix and uterus, a radical hysterectomy is removal of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, lymph nodes and part of the vagina. An oophorectomy is excision of an ovary, bilateral oophorectomy refers to excision of both ovaries. Castration is also the medical term for removal of the ovaries or testes, or destruction or inactivation of them.

The trend used to be to take everything for fear, (emphasis on the word fear) of ovarian cancer. After the realization that ovarian cancer is rare (unless ovarian/breast cancer gene in family history) and that a woman enters an instant, surgical menopause when this is done, the trend among surgeons today is changing to retain ovaries with acknowledgement of the importance that intact ovaries have a lifelong function/production of hormones, which contribute to cardiovascular, bone, sexual, emotional health in women, to name a few.

Cervical dysplasia does not translate to ovarian cancer. To date, other than in the case of advanced invasive cervical cancer that's metastasized to the ovaries, I've not read anything that suggests a connection that HPV/cervical dysplasias cause ovarian cancer.

I am keeping you in my prayers tnsweetness and I do wish you all the best.

(And, oops, it's Hippocratic oath!)

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• By tnsweetness
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 4:51 pm
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thank you all for your replies, and yes bmood thats exactly the way i feel, i want it ALL removed,no chances for me being back in that OR room! i just want it all over with and on my way to a great recovery, i don't work except here im my home<which is work> but hubby will be here for a week before returning to work and then my cousin will be staying a whole 3 weeks with me so i will have lots of help and can rest when needed..thank you all and wish me luck and pray for me:-)

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• By bmood
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 10:35 am
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hello tnsweetness,
Regardless of the desirability of NOT getting a complete Hysterectomy as compared to a partial one where the ovaries are kept, let me put in a short comment. I can assure you that in the long run, it is far better to have it ALL removed rather than run a risk of Ovarian Cancer. If you are prone to have reoccurring problems, it is best to have it all removed. I have seen what Ovarian Cancer can do. Don't take a risk. B Mood

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• By Faith2
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 10:18 am
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Dear tnsweetness,

A cold knife cone can also remove dysplasia and is effective in eradicating diseased tissue. Obviously, having a hysterectomy is your decision. Having been scared into having a hysterectomy myself, only to learn later that I had other options, I do feel that it's important to let other women know this. Not to get between you and your doctor, but to let women know that they always have the right to see more than one doctor including more than one specialist, sometimes 3 or 4 - it's amazing how different perspectives may offer alternative, less radical solutions. Women also have the right to other options and to be absolutely informed of the risks, long term effects, etc - essentially being informed which far too often, they are not.

I don't know if your grandparents had ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is rare. I think it's extremely important that doctors help patients understand their fears and work with options as opposed to just removing organs to quell fear or even prey on fear, as happened in my case.

Often, the women who feel great relief post-hysterectomy are those who have suffered with heavy periods, anemia, etc, due to fibroids - to the point where it interrupted their quality of life. Often during the menonpause, benign fibroids that are estrogen dependent, decrease and things improve without surgery. Of course, this is not every woman's situation, but unnecessary hysterectomies are done way too much in the US and this is a well published fact. Over 600,000 hysterectomies are done each year in the US and as many as 1 in 3 women are hysterectomized by their mid 60s.

I'm hoping that you've gotten all of your medical records so that you understand the level of dysplasia, because dysplasia does not automatically translate into cancer. I also hope that you have a thorough understanding of your female organs, how they interconnect and that your doctor has been up front with all info. Their hypocratic oath is first, do no harm. I wish I could say that the surgeon who hysterectomized me took that oath seriously. I realize you have much on your mind and I wish you all the best.

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• By flowershoplady
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 10:17 am
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tnsweetness, one of the things to consider is that having a hysterectomy for CIN1 is very non-standard, quite unusual. and, developing cancer from mild dysplasia would be quite unlikely, particularly as you're being 'watched' and monitored. a hysterectomy may be done for dysplasia when there's already been previous surgeries/procedures and there's no longer enough cervical tissue remaining to do another one....but again, probably not recommended for mild dysplasia. have you seen a gynecologic oncologist who has recommended a hysterectomy for your dysplasia? have they suggested/considered a cervical conization?

and, you'll see many women on the hystersisters site who had all sorts of problems prior to their hysterectomy, dealing with life altering symptoms, such as abnormally heavy bleeding, and, yes, for them, the hysterectomy is a relief as it alleviates those symptoms. and, i think it's great when you hear women who feel fine a week or two post hysterectomy, but a lot depends upon the type of surgical approach, whether it's davinci or abdominal, for instance. for most women, the recovery is fairly major, with absence from work ranging from 4 to 6 weeks.

i don't think many doctors tell you in detail that surgical menopause is much more difficult than natural menopause, that there are risks of prolapse, that there are risks of hernias, that urinary control can be impacted, that sexual response is altered.

and, i understand you have fears of cancer....but have the doctors explained the risks for you? i think a good analogy is that some women also fear breast cancer, but rarely have a mastectomy unless they 'have' to because there's no better alternatives to keep them healthy.

i'm not 'anti' hysterectomy.....for some of us, it's the best, and sometimes only, option for us to be healthy. it can be a very appropriate and necessary surgery with excellent results and prognosis. but, as faith2 posted, many doctors, particularly in the u.s., are quick to perform hysterectomies when there are other options that could be just as effective in resolving a medical condition and significantly less life altering.

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• By ansay
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 9:40 am
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tnsweetness,

I had a abdominal hystrectomy in dec. I was fortunate that my ovaries were left. I had a cone before the hysto and did not have enough cervix left for another.
I can tell you that for me it was not that bad, I was off pain meds in about a week but did take 800mg of ibup.
I had my entire family over for Christmas dinner 9 days after surgery. I was a lil sore but had a great time. Everyone recovers different but for me it wasn't so bad. Best of luck keep us posted. Prayers and healthy wishes coming your way..

Michelle

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• By tnsweetness
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 3:07 am
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and also i would like to add, EVERYONE heals different, i might have a really hard time in healing, thats a chance i will just have to take, but there are alot of woman on hystersisters and a few close friends i know that says there hysterectomy was the BEST thig thats ever happened to them and if they had to do it all over again, they would, so that gives me hope, i hate all the negativity and horor stories of the hysterectomy that causes people bad things afterwards, so i will have to take the chance and hope that i too can be one of those woman that say :this is the best thig i could have ever done!"

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• By tnsweetness
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 3:00 am
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hello faith,
the reason i am getting a hysterectomy is reacurring abnormal paps and hpv positive,my doctor has discussed EVERYTHING with me, both of them have, i TRUST them both whole heartly,they have been my doctor for 25 years,she got rid of my bad cells 25 years ago and now i have them again but the leeps AREN'T helping,although the good sign was clear margins, so i am praying its not cancer, but i REFUSE to wait for it to turn into cancer,like i said the leeps arent doing anything the cells are still coming baCk abnormal because of this hpv
i know a hysterectomy WON'T clear my hpv virus, but i do know that i won;t get cancer in my ovaries,uterus,cervix,she will be removing fallipion tubes as well as scar tissue,and alot of fibroids,the reason for the ovary removal is theres alot of cancer on my side of my grandparents and i dont want to be back on the operating anytime soon, so take them while i'm there,which was my decision me and my doctor has discussed everything and like i said i do trust her,shes been here with me for 25 years,with my very first abnormal pap,i know i will have to continue my paps for the vagina walls,but you know what i know this is whats best for me, i have prayed and discussed everything with my doctor, i have a 7 yr old and i want to be here alive for her to raise her,i know i am doing the right thing, i feel that from my body,i am scared, but sometimes life can be scary knowing sometings in your body and treatment isnt helping it, so yes to me this is the best thing and i do hope my hpv goes dormant and i start having normal paps again, thats what i am dreaming of!!
i didnt wake up one day and beg my doctor for a hysterectomy, i was hoping these leeps would take care of the dysplasia, but they HAVEN;T.so this is what i know is for the best!
tnsweetness

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• By Faith2
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 2:19 am
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It may also be worthwhile to research how sexual function is altered with hysterectomy. Have your doctors discussed this aspect with you? If you are asymptomatic (no symptoms) now, you will notice a difference post-hysterectomy as nerves that innervate the uterus, cervix, vagina, etc are cut and blood supply is diminished.

Hysterectomy is often presented as a 'no big deal' surgery and I can assure you, since I've had one, it's one of the biggest deals a woman can face. As FSL indicated...if no other option exists because it's invasive cancer and it's a life saving measure, then you do what you must to survive. However, hysterectomies are often recommended way too much and when other options exist. This is something not to take lightly because of the wide range of long term effects and because this surgery is irreversible - I can't stress that enough. Removing ovaries is castration - that's the medical term. The uterus does much more than carry a fetus. It supports other organs such as the bladder, rectum and intestines. It contracts during orgasm enhancing the experience, as it is a muscle. The uterus, cervix and vagina are all actually connected - similar to the head, neck and shoulders. The cervix is responsible for lubrication during sex as well as enhances orgasm from the 'tapping' that occurs against it during sex. The upper part of the vagina tents during orgasm. When a hysterectomy is done, the nerves that interconnect all of these organs are cut and the blood supply to all of these organs is compromised. Has your dr discussed this with you?

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• By flowershoplady
• Posted July 3, 2009 at 7:34 pm
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i will echo faith2. if you have options other than hysterectomy, explore those options. if you don't have options (already had multiple leeps, etc.), then i'm sorry you need to have a hysterectomy and wish you the best and that all goes smoothly. and, remember that a hysterectomy doesn't 'cure' you of hpv and you still need to follow up with paps and hpv testing - vaginal dysplasia isn't common, but it's also not rare. and, ask if your surgeons are doing preventive measures such as culdoplasty with your hysterectomy.....the uterus does lots more than just serve as an organ for pregnancy. the key is to be well informed.

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• By Faith2
• Posted July 3, 2009 at 6:26 pm
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Hysterectomy is NOT the only option for CIN III, ladies - which is NOT cancer and if ovaries are healthy, do NOT need to be removed! Your ovaries produce hormones that you need for the rest of your life! Hormone therapy only attempts to mimic what the ovaries actually do. Do you know why, tnsweetness, your doctor is removing your ovaries? Are those of you contemplating hysterectomies getting 2nd opinions? I also hope that you understand that a hysterectomy does NOT cure you of HPV. A hysterectomy is not recommended as primary treatment for cervical dysplasias and even CIS (carcinoma in situ) according to the ASCCP guidelines. Do you understand completely the side effects of having a hysterectomy and oophorectomy, because you will be signing a consent form stating that you do, and these surgeries are irreversible.

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