| paula
|
|
|
:( At my last visit to mr Dr.'s, she talked about my having a hysterectomy done. Are there any benefits to this procedure? Problems with? How long a recovery period? Are there drawbacks?
Paula |
|
Sat Oct 30, 2004 4:12 pm |
|
| MovingForward
|
|
|
Hi
I had a total hysterectomy done 11 years ago at the age of 40. I did not have cancer. I had heavy periods that started to control my life.
Best decision I ever made. It was a long recovery but worth it. I also had my overies removed even though they were healthy. Did not want another surgery later ( most need it ).
I had 10 weeks off work. But I was a flower shop manager and did a lot of lifting. A sit down job you probably would only need 6 weeks. I did take at trip ( airplane) to sacramento to visit a friend at 5 weeks after surgery. So I was moving around pretty good by then.
I went on Hormone replacement estrogen patch. I am now 51 and I am going off of the hormones now that I am at the natural age of menopause.
Feel free to ask me any questions. |
|
Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:15 pm |
|
| paula
|
|
|
| Ten weeks! That is a long time. Were there things you could not do? Like walking, dating? Was it very painfull? Did you have to take pain meds? Oy, this is going to be so not fun. Thank you for answering. |
|
Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:18 pm |
|
| MS
|
|
|
| Hi Paula... Sorry to hear that you may need surg. :? First of all those are questions I hope you have asked your Dr...also is this a family Dr. or your ob/gyn telling you ? Is it a total, meaning are the overies and uterus both to be removed or just the uterus? The overies make a big difference!! As for recovery time depends on why your having this surgery and how it will be done. There is two ways..abdominal which means that you will have a incision and longer recovery...there is the vaginal with laproscopic assist that most go home that day after surg. and as with all other lap surgeries recovery is shorter. Back to the overies...if you keep them and are younger(pre-menapause), you will probly feel much better after you get past the recovery period. But if you are younger and the overies are removed..even if you go on estrogen (HRT) there will be an adjustment period. Then there is the really big adjustment if the overies are removed and for medical reasons you dont go on HRT(hormone replacement therapy)...this one I speak of from first hand account. I had extensive stage 4 endometriosis...and a total hyst. (overies included). I felt great physicaly after the surg. the pain and all the other complications GONE!! But..emotionaly I was on the roller coaster ride of my life!! Took some time and trying different meds and herbals..now I feel great. Everyone reacts to surgery differently...yet there are many expected simularieties(sp?)...bottom line you need to talk with your Dr. and have all your questions answered specific to your situation by and from a professional!! Sorry about the long response but I feel very strong about this subject. Good Luck!! |
|
Sun Oct 31, 2004 3:13 am |
|
| MS
|
|
|
| oops :oops: got ahead of my self in that reply..ment to say "if you are older and post-menapausal you feel better after the recovery phase"....but if you are younger and the overies are removed..... sorry if I confused you..I really must start proof reading be fore I hit that send button.. |
|
Sun Oct 31, 2004 3:22 am |
|
| paula
|
|
|
| The one thing I REALLY want to know is..... how does it affect your sex life? (Yes, I have one) Does it hurt afterwards? Do you dry up?Does it affect the musculature of the vaginal walls? Is your guy going to say: "Holy cow! It's like the Grand canyon in there?" |
|
Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:17 am |
|
| Burdle
|
|
|
Hey, Paula. Your fella shouldn't notice any difference. I had one 5 years ago, best thing I ever did. I had fibroids and ovarian cycsts, so I really needed it. I was 50 at the time. The recovery is no worse than any other abdominal surgery. Some people are up and running in a few weeks, others aren't...it all depends on how quickly your body heals. Being on SBD is probably the best thing you can do for yourself...the less belly fat you have, the easier the surgery will go...wish I weighed when I had surgery what I do now...I would have been so much more comfortable, and I believe I would have healed faster.
Good luck, and don't worry! If it needs to be done, do it! Just look at it as something that needs to be done for you to feel better. I'm lucky, I don't need to take hormones, neither did my mother, who had one 6 months after I was born.
I suggest you talk to the hospital nutritionist before surgery...that was the worst for me with my food allergies...I couldn't eat the hospital food, my husband brought me food every day, which I cooked and froze before going into the hospital.
Hugs,
Burdle The Bean Queen
172/123/120 started 1/5/04 |
|
Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:20 pm |
|
| LyndaB
|
|
|
I had a vag hysterectomy in my early 30's due to medical issues with my cervix. They left the ovaries, which were perfectly healthy. As a result, like Burdle, I've never had any type of hormone replacement therapy drugs. I did not gain weight afterwards (as some women claim they do); I have had a very active & healthy sex life since shortly thereafter (some women claim their libido disappears completely but I've also known some who just didn't like sex anyway and this was the easiest excuse to use).
As a result of my surgery, I entered menopause in my late 30's/early 40's and also have had no problems with that.
I walked a mile 2 days after surgery, but the first 24 hours were like a living hell. I requested a spinal instead of general anesthetic and they had to watch me for spinal headaches and the abdominal pain was unbelievable, but... at exactly 24 hours after surgery... no pain. I only took a few days off from work and then was back with no problems.
As for the Grand Canyon effect, I offer the following. Many women fear the G.C. effect, however, the surgery is not doing anything to the vaginal walls, it's removing internal organs. The Kegel exercises are truly helpful whether you've had a baby or not, or had surgery or not:
In the sexually unstimulated state, the vagina is shaped like a flattened tube, the sides of which are collapsed on each other. It is not a continually open space, or "hole" as often thought by both women and men. It is a potential space. Because of its muscular tissue, the vagina has the ability to expand and contract, like a balloon, allowing a baby to pass through during childbirth, or adjusting to fit snugly around a tampon, a finger or any size penis.
Sometimes after childbirth a woman's vagina may lose some of its muscle tone, loosen a bit, and feel larger. For some women this means that they may not feel the pleasure they once did from their partner's penis making contact with the vaginal walls. The partner may also notice that he is not held as tightly by the vagina. There are specific exercises that women can do after childbirth to strengthen and tighten the muscles around the vagina and improve the tone and feeling. These exercises, called Kegel exercises after the physician who developed them, require the woman to contract the muscles used to stop the flow of urine. The contraction is held for 3-5 seconds, repeated ten times in a series, and the series is usually repeated several times a day. These voluntary contractions can also be done during intercourse, and some women and men find it sexually enhancing.
Good luck!!! |
|
Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:56 pm |
|
| MovingForward
|
|
|
Hi
No sex problems over her. All is fine.
I had no problems with the surgery or recovery. It just took longer to get back to work because of the job I had at the time. As a Flower shop manager I had to lift a lot and move around quite a bit. It was better to just stay away until I was ready to work at 100%. I had a great staff and they did fine. I just kept tabs on them from home and all went well. I did schedule the surgery during a slow time for the flower shop to make it easier for them to "carry on" without me. I did not schedule any weddings during that time. So they just needed to keep up with the everyday deliveries and shop stock. My staff enjoyed the slower pace also during my recovery. It was a nice "rest" for all of us. We were ready to go full speed when I got back and carried thru the holidays.
I loved the break and enjoyed catching up on reading and movies. A good time to focus on yourself.
Hope all goes well. |
|
Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:34 pm |
|
| paula
|
|
|
:D Wow!! Thank you all for the great responses. I didn't expect so many responses. Thank you, Burdle! And you too, Lynda !!! Hahahah. And all the others who had such positive things to say! I'm still scared. I used to do those Kegel exercises after I had my babies. I think my uterus is so tipped that it is pressing on my bladder, causing the bladder to go into spasms and difficuty with urination. I have to take Flomax in order to pee at all. I'm more concerned with sex, though. I'm just going to love having to say to my BF: "Honey!! Guess what? I'm going to have a hysterectomy. Whoopie!" And he'll really go: "Way to go, honey!"
Thank you all again.
Paula |
|
Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:00 pm |
|
| patcat1964
|
|
|
hi Paula
I had one at 31 due to medical issue. They left my ovaries. recovery is the same as any surgery 6 weeks. Any problem with sex and dryness. I would say it depends on the person. I sometimes have dryness which is fix by using some ky jelly and having a caring husband or boyfriend that is willing to take ther time when need.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing |
|
Fri Nov 05, 2004 12:15 am |
|
| DwightsLadyLuck
|
|
|
| I had one at 42 due to undiscovered fibroids, etc. Was in exceptionally good physical condition prior to surgery and believe that affected my speedy recovery. Was up and walking around within a couple days; spent 6 weeks off work but was leading a pretty normal life within a couple weeks, no heavy lifting. Never affected my libido; if anything, my moods and energy level improved so much, I'd say it had a positive effect. Have never regretted the decision. Take care of yourself - do what you need to do. Eating well and being in the best shape you can prior to surgery is your best chance for a speedy, uneventful recovery. |
|
Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:21 pm |
|
| cpblazer
|
|
|
Hi, had a vag. hysterectomy in late July 2004 as my uterus had dropped and pulled my bladder down with it. Surgery went great, kept my ovaries; doctor slightly tied up my bladder. Went back to work in 6 weeks. Only took a darvacet at night for first few days - no pain - stopped taking them (not much of a med. person). I had surgery on a Monday, home on a Wednesday and went out with my parents on Friday - rested on Saturday and pretty much smooth sailing afterwards. I am 44 years old.
Good luck to you! |
|
Thu Nov 11, 2004 2:31 pm |
|
| audreyh1
|
|
|
Here is probably the best resource on the web for learning about hysterectomy:
http://www.hystersisters.com/
I had a visit with an ob/gyn several months ago due to fibroids discovered during a routine pelvic exam. This gyn recommended going ahead and having a hysterectomy even though I have no symptoms or any problems at all. I was pretty shocked at the aggressive recommendation.
Fortunately, I got several other opinions. I saw three more obgyns, and each of them said - you have no symptoms, no need to do anything at all at this time, just monitor the situation. I have a good chance of getting to menopause without needing surgery, at which time the fibroids will reduce.
Moral of the story - whenever major surgery is recommended (and a hysterectomy IS major surgery, even though it is very common) get a second opinion. And seek a second opinion that is independent of your first doctor (you don't want just a rubber stamp).
Also, I did a whole lot of research on my own - books, web sites (like the above). I learned that my first doctor was way off base. 10-20 years ago that might have been an appropriate recommendation, but it is no longer considered so. You have to learn enough so that you know whether your Dr. is up to date!
webmd.com is another excellent resource.
Audrey |
|
Thu Nov 11, 2004 3:22 pm |
|
| paula
|
|
|
:) Thank you all so much for all your advice. I feel better about this now. The only real reson for the hysterectomy is that it is pressing on my bladder. I would just as soon keep my uterus. I will get a second and third opinion, but I really trust my pcp....I'll let you all know the outcome.
Paula |
|
Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:02 am |
|