Hysterectomy

[IFjane]

I know this was a measured decision for most of you, but we sound so glib about it. My goal is to get to the grave with all my parts. My mom had one at 45 (my age, now) because of fibroids. I have fibroids, but no problems with them normally. Two of my SILs had hysterectomies with barely a blink of thought beforehand.

Am I the only one who questions how quickly we seem to want to do this in this country? Did any of you consider alternatives before you agreed, or did you just not want to know?

Karen

Karen - I did consider alternatives and tried them. April 7 I had a D&C that helped for exactly one week. Prior to that I had tried any number of remedies to stop the bleeding - everything except hormones because I am at high risk for breast cancer. Nothing stopped it because of one fibroid that was so embedded in the wall of the uterus that it could not be removed by the D&C. My doctor said he could try to cauterize it (I know there is another term for the procedure but I can't think of it right now) but he did not hold out much hope that it would solve the problem. By that time - I had been bleeding uncontrollably since before Christmas 2006 - I was at my wits' end and just wanted it all to stop.

There were times when I would change everything, re-load so to speak, and get 10 feet from the bathroom and have to run back again. I cannot tell you how awful it was. I could not ride my bike; I could not go out; if I was at my office I could not go out into the field like I should because I could not be away from a bathroom. The doctor had no idea how long it would last.

Finally, on a bike ride on March 31, 2007, I realized I was so weak I had to do something. I could not climb hills that are usually easily manageable for me. I had to cut a 54 mile birthday ride with a friend short because I did not have the energy to make it.

The hysterectomy was the best thing I ever did. Glib or not, it solved the problem for me and enabled me to return (slowly) to a normal life. I would not have it any other way. I will not use HRT and because of that I was thrown headlong into menopause two weeks after my surgery. I can stand the hot flashes and everything else that goes with it because at least I am not bleeding to death and embarrassing myself in public....

It may not be the best choice for everyone and I do not recommend having it done on a whim - it IS major surgery, after all - but if it is the most logical and sensible choice, then go for it.

[sarahkonamojo]

Tuckerville,

I don't think most people walk into major surgery glibly. My story was similar to IFJane, but I had fibroids and endometriosis. There gets to be a point where there is no point in dealing with the pain, discomfort, and lack of life. Seriously, your life revolves around access to a toilet at all times.

There have been advances in surgery that lessen the severity of the procedure, but it doesn't make the surgery easy.

Everyone must (and may) make their own choices and the more voices the better.

sarah

[Thorn]

Not glib--well thought and well considered even though I was under forty at the time (the ovaries stayed). For me it was a quality of life issue. I am thankful that I wasn't born 100 years ago because my options would have been limited. I shudder at the thought.

That said, my glib response is...has anyone else read "Even the Queen" by Connie Willis? It is a heavily tongue and cheek short story about removing menstruation and the world that results. I guess I don't feel the need to keep my parts if all they were doing was causing me excrutiating pain.

[Tuckervill]

Tuckerville,

There gets to be a point where there is no point in dealing with the pain, discomfort, and lack of life. Seriously, your life revolves around access to a toilet at all times.

sarah

I understand this completely, having had a similar choice to make with regard to my herniated disks (except I was bedbound, not toilet-bound).

I know it was not an easy decision for most people (except my SIL's, who seem to take every word out of a doctor's mouth as gospel, and some doctors just can't be trusted, in my opinion). I guess the stories that were posted here did not include everything that happened before the hysterectomy that lead to the decision, and that's what gives them an air of nonchalance.

I feel the same way about inducing labor and c-sections--there are really good reasons to do both, but sometimes they're rushed into without a lot of thought.

Karen