Need opnions from forum members regarding Hysterectomy

[carlenehorse]

OK went to my doctor (family doctor) in December and he said my uterus was enlarged and would like to send me to a specialist. I had my appointment with him yesterday and he said I had a large fibroid cyst and I would need a complete hysterectomy. I am 43 years old and my first question to him was since you have to take the ovaries out what about the hormone replacement therapy after the surgery.

Here is where he freaked me out. He said I don't give hormone replacement I only give it when your body goes into menopausal!!!

Well to my understanding your ovaries produce the hormones and if you take them out what will happen to your body? Since you are not getting anymore hormones won't this send your body into menapausal?

Of course he said he didn't think so. Well needless to say I am going to get a second opinion. I know I need the hysterectomy but I want more clarification about the hormone repleacement therapy.

If anyone has had a hysterectomy I would like to here what your doctors said about the hormone replacement therapy.

Thanks so much for all your help.

Carlene

 

[Warpony]

Mine was not complete but my ovaries don;t function properly, my doctor said he wouldn;t start me on hormone replacement unless i started to get uncomfortable symptoms. I did get uncomfortable symptoms but they were not severe enough for me to go back and ask for something. I was 25/26 years old and having hot flashes.

:

my mother had a partial then within 6 months they went back in and took her ovaries, and her doctor told her the same thing. she did fine for 6 months then start having hot flashes and night sweats and then she got really weird and my step-dad forced her to go to the doctor before she made us all stark raving mad. She started on hormone replacement at that point and has been relatively normal since... or at least only as abnormal as she was prior to the complete hysterectomy, hehe. she actually only took the hormones for a year or two and then was weaned off of them, and she seems to be doing fine without them. she has been off of them for probably 20 years now).

 

[carlenehorse]

Warpony thanks for the response. That is what I was afraid of without the hormones. I have had a complete change in my body in the last 6 months. I went from being hot all the time to now I can't keep warm. I am cold all the time now. He didn't understand why I went the opposite way. I am supposed to be having hot flashes but all I get is cold.

Carlene

 

[woodnldy]

Carlene, Why does he want to take the ovary's also??, I had fibroids also that made a hysterectomy needed when I was 42. The Dr asked if i wanted both taken out,. I said no and i have went thru the hormone part of the change since then. Many Dr.s question the hormone replacement because of some cancer risks I understand. If you don't have a large cancer risk I would ask him about leaving the ovary's. You have the right to question the Dr, on their ideas and if they don't give you a good answer then get another opinion. It's your body! Been their and glad it's over. Good luck girl!! Cheryl

 

[Warpony]

Warpony thanks for the response. That is what I was afraid of without the hormones. I have had a complete change in my body in the last 6 months. I went from being hot all the time to now I can't keep warm. I am cold all the time now. He didn't understand why I went the opposite way. I am supposed to be having hot flashes but all I get is cold.

Carlene

I went back and forth between hot and cold. My doctor said that is normal. I normally bounced back and forth in the space of an hour or two, though. I'd have tolerated it better if I'd just been one way or the other so I didn;t have to keep changing clothes depending on whether i was sweating or shivering.

Everyone could tell when it was happening because I'd keep putting on my sweater then taking it off then putting it back on again.

 

[horsefeather]

I had one somewhere around 40ish. Wish I had done it sooner! It took me a little longer to recoup than I think it should have. I had good days and not so good days off and on for about a year, BUT, after that, I was great! I went on hormones almost immediately. Couldn't keep from crying (I am NOT a cryer) so I took prozac. Didn't want to but the Dr. said sometimes when you have a hyst. the stuff in your brain just doesn't produce what it should. I have been on them ever since and I'm 62. Also took a mild hormone, a syenthic (SP) one. I WOULD NOT take Premerin! I asked my pharmasist (sorry, can't find my spell check) and he said the one I was on had been used for years with no side effects. It totally took care of my hot flashes! Without them I could make all the windows in the car fog over

:

Get a second opinion if you need to, and talk to lots of women if possible. I know they say there is a cancer risk, but there is also a risk to your bones without it. My Mom did not have hormones and her bones were bad. Good luck whatever you decide.

Pam

P.S. I had everything out, tried to get the Dr. to take out anything she thought I wouldn't need but she declined to do that

 

[kaykay]

i had one when i was 36 due to a huge fibroid and cervical cancer. I was just sorry i didnt do it sooner. I kept waiting and all that did was make the fibroid bigger. It was so big that I had to have a huge incsion to get it all out. i also still have my ovaries. I did go thru tremendous hot flashes after the surgery but other then that everything went fine. I will say i did too much the first week i was home and ended back in the hospital for a day so definately stay off your feet when you get home!

 

[sfmini]

Funny you should mention being cold, there is a gal at work who was just talking about that. She is freezing all of the time, wears a winter coat while I walk around in a tshirt. Guess my experience of 'the change' is to be a hot number, she is cold.

She mentioned some websites, I will ask her for the links tomorrow, as they address getting cold rather than hot.

 

[MiniforFaith]

I had a partial at 28yrs. But my doctor said if she needed to remove my overies, that she would put me on horm. treatment. But mine wasn't from cysts. It was from endometreoius(SP) and from problems with having my daughter early.. Get a second opinion, I think every woman would need some type of help with hormones...

 

[RedWagon]

I had a hysterectomy at age 25 due to cervical cancer. I also had a grapefruit size cyst on my right ovary. The doctor removed my cyst, but left both ovaries. I would say definitely get a second opinion. Also, do your own research on hormone replacement therapy in case your ovaries do need to be removed. There is so much controversy about a link between HRT and breast cancer, it's best to form your own opinion and don't let your doctor sway you one way or another.

 

[carlenehorse]

Thanks everyone for your responses I am getting a second opinion. My doctor's nurse just called me at home and she suggested I get a second opinion from a female physician and she will see about setting it up.

The reason I have to have the ovaries taken out is that the ultrasound showed them as not being very healthy looking. He said he would know more when he did the surgery but just looking at them in the ultrasound they looked bad.

Sfmini I would appreciate that web site more than you know. It is funny that I have never owned a jacket. I live in Southeast Texas and the coldest it has been this winter is 32 degrees. Today it was in the high 60's with the sun shining. Well this winter all the girls at work are just dumbfounded because I now wear long sleeve shirts and my long sleeve lab jacket. They have never seen me in a jacket (because I didn't own one LOL)

I can tell you that it is a advantage to being hot. LOL

The nurse also told me the same thing tonight about the cancer scare but she also said that the risk for the osteoporosis (spell?) is more of a risk. Have to keep those bones healthy for our golden years.

I really appreciate everyone's opinions it is making me feel better. This has really freaked me out as I have never have anything done except a D & C. No surgeries, no broken bones, no childhood diseases and no major illness. One 13 year old son and that is it. I have been in the hospital 3 times in my life. Scary stuff.

Carlene

 

[Warpony]

Funny you should mention being cold, there is a gal at work who was just talking about that. She is freezing all of the time, wears a winter coat while I walk around in a tshirt. Guess my experience of 'the change' is to be a hot number, she is cold.

My mother in law is like that, just cold all the time... when i lived at her house for a while i was miserable because I was sweating like crazy and she kept cranking up the heat and tossing logs on the fire.

I did want to add, I have not regretted having my hysterectomy for a single moment. It was the third best thing I ever did in my entire life.

:

I know it is scary, but compared to the problems I was having on a monthly and daily basis the surgery and recovery was a piece of cake.

 

[RnRs Lilnickers]

I had mine done around 43 and it was also one of the best things I did, I have not regretted it al all, I tred hormorne stuff for alittle while and then went off them, have not had to take anything since. I am having some hot flashes but it was still the best thing to do.

 

[carlenehorse]

OH don't get me wrong I want it out of there due to the chronic pelvic pain I have on a daily basis. I am just very nervous as I have never been cut on. I know it will be ok and it does help hearing from everyone who has had it done. I am more than ready to get rid of this constant pain.

Carlene

 

[MiniforFaith]

OH don't get me wrong I want it out of there due to the chronic pelvic pain I have on a daily basis. I am just very nervous as I have never been cut on. I know it will be ok and it does help hearing from everyone who has had it done. I am more than ready to get rid of this constant pain.

Carlene

Hopefully they can do it without the big incision(sp)... They did mine without having to be cut open again(emergency c-section).. If so, I think the healing time is better.. But either way, you will feel better in the long run.. I know I do!!!!

:

 

[Kynedi's Mom]

I am only 29 but I did want to share that a patient in our clinic had a hysterectomy several years ago & did not have her ovaries removed, I'm sure that it wasn't necessary at the time & her MD surely gave her the option. However, now in the last 10 months she has been diagnosed with a stage 3 ovarian cancer & undergoing lots of treatments, lab tests & possibly many more agonizing treatments & test to come. I guess after being a nurse & seeing this happen if it were me I would want all parts gone & take the hormone replacement rather than find out months or years later that I could have saved my own life by having it all out at once.

This is clearly only my opinion & this is one incidence that I witnessed, I do not know what the chances of this happening to anyone else are, just wanted to share a little information.

I pray that your surgeon hands are held by God, that your body excepts all procedures well & that you will come through your surgery pain & consequence free. God Bless !

 

[carlenehorse]

Kynedi's Mom I am in total agreement with you. If my don't doesn't need it and it could possibly get cancer TAKE IT OUT. I wouldn't want to have to go through another surgery and possibly getting cancer. I am thankful that everything is coming out.

Thanks for the prayers I appreciate it.

Carlene

 

[AppyLover2]

It's interesting that so many of you have mentioned being cold since your surgery. I've never heard of that before. Now I'm wondering if that's why I seem to be cold all the time (except during those wonderful periods of hot flashes and night sweats). I probably had my partial hysterectomy around 30 years ago and have only taken harmone replacement at short/infrequent intervals since then. I agree with those of you who said it's one of the best things that ever happened to me. Didn't, for a minute, miss those things I lost after it was done.

Whether they make an incision or not.....this is major surgery and will take your body time to heal. I went back to work too soon, and regretted it later. Listen to your Doctor, and follow his advice about caring for yourself during your recuperation.

 

[jdomep]

I had one at 35 - ovaries stayed and they were able to do it ******lly - so no more scars (had 1 c-sect with #1) and 1 scar from my tubes being tied after baby boy #4) and now at 41 I do think I must be pre-menopausal now because oh my do I get hot flashes and I too get cold...

Good luck with your secon opinion.

 

[HaazeMinis]

HI

I can only share my experience with you, however the decision is up to you and your doctor. That said I would get a second opinion regarding the HRT.

: Hopefully you can see a female Dr.

:

I also had a complete Hysterectomy in 1999 (my very early 30's). In my case I had HUGE Fibroids and Endometriosis with one of my Ovaries they thought they could salvage. I was having chronic pelvic pain that had been going on for years, but after talking with my female Dr and Family members with Ovarian Cancer being recently diagnosed in my family(Aunt) on my mothers side I opted to have them both removed to be "safe". I had already been going through Hot flashes and Night Sweats already so I knew what would happen by taking HRT.

Now with my surgery it was supposed to be done WITHOUT incisions, however when I was on the table they discovered after trying to get it out that way that I had Endometrosis so bad that it had to be cut out in two sections :new_shocked: thorough an incision and my Ovaries could not have been saved anyway as it had spread through my Pelvic area. They had no way of knowing this until they actually got in there. So, Ultrasound does not show everything that was wrong in there.

: I have never regretted having everything removed and like someone stated earlier in this thread I cant believe I WAITED THAT LONG! :lol:

As a matter of fact I have tried both types of Oral HRT "Natural and Synthetic" and I had unwanted side effects from the daily Oral Doses of both. Not serious ones, but I did not like it at all, so after 3 years of taking them daily I stopped taking the Oral HRT all together and that was in 2002 after speaking with my Female doctor just to see what the side effects would be without it and you know what I did NOT have any major side effects like I thought I would, except for V. Dryness which happens as we age anyway, so I consulted with my Dr. again after a few months when I could not stand it anymore and she suggested HRT V. CREAM!!! :bgrin That is THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD! :lol: I only use it as needed which is usally maybe once every other week! :bgrin

Oh and someone commented on Breast Cancer connected with HRT Therapy...

: ..Well, in my Breast Cancer Diagnosis WAS NOT RELATED TO HORMONE THERAPY AT ALL. They found no Proven cause for mine other than the "supected" link genetically between Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer that they are finding in studies being done at this time. So please dont rule out HRT,

: My Breast Cancer was stage 3 as well when they found it through a Routine Mammogram (in 2005) which I had every 6 months per my Doctors orders since my Hysterectomy in 1999. I AM SO GLAD my doctor was on top of things or I know I would not be here today!

:

: .

Hope this information helps you make your decision.

Jeri