Gosh. I hate that you had such a rough weekend, and had to have surgery for the infection. I know that was scary and unexpected, especially when you're in pain and you have to listen to people tell you what's going on at the same time.
Did they change or increase your antibiotics? That's the medicine they give you (probably in your IV) that fights infection. Did they say what caused the infection?
I certainly hope that they will be successful fighting the infection so you don't have to have more surgery. You are so young to be having to think about hysterectomy.
IF anything happens that they have to take your other ovary, please ask (or have one of your parents ask) if the eggs can be frozen for you beforehand. If so, it saves the possibility for you of still having your own biological child even if you have a hysterectomy (though you would have to use a surrogate).
I'm glad you have a doctor who works hard to preserve your fertility. That's important to all of us, but especially to someone as young as you are.
I am sure that your doctor, you and your parents all want to prevent the possiblity of hysterectomy. But since you asked, I wanted to give you some information on it.
A hysterectomy is when they remove your uterus. (Not always the ovaries.) Sometimes it is done through the vagina, other times through an abdominal incision. (How was your first surgery done? I imagine your doctor would go in the same way.)
Here's our EmpowHER page about hysterectomy. It talks about causes, the types of hysterectomy and what to expect. It also shows diagrams of both kinds:
The surgery takes from 1-3 hours, and it's general anesthesia, so you'll be asleep. It says that you should expect some pain, bloating, pelvic fullness and possible vaginal bleeding or discharge for the first few days. You'll also be really tired (again. I know you're tired of being tired.) Most people stay 1-2 days longer in the hospital for a vaginal hysterectomy, 3-5 days for abdominal. It takes weeks before you are completely back to normal, because your body has had major surgery and needs time to recover.
If this happens to you and you lose your other ovary, you'll also go into what's called surgical menopause. Menopause itself is when a woman stops having her period, it usually happens sometime in the 40s or 50s. Surgical menopause is when that's caused by surgery instead of naturally.
If you have a hysterectomy but they leave your ovary, you won't have a period (because you won't have a uterus) but you will still ovulate every month. The egg just gets absorbed into your abdomen.
If they take your ovary, you will want to ask the doctor about whether you should take hormones to replace the ones you are losing when you lose your ovary. Our ovaries release hormones every month that tell our bodies what to do in many ways. Those hormones are important even if you don't have a uterus, and you'll want to discuss the best way to deal with this issue.
Here's a page of FAQs (freqently asked questions) about hysterectomies:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/hysterectomy.cfm
And here's a page on things to know before you have a hysterectomy, with some good links to other pages:
I hope this info helps you, Billiegirl. But I really really hope you DON"T end up needing it. Promise me that if the doctor recommends a hysterectomy and/or removal of your ovary that you'll ask (or get your parents to ask) for a second opinion, OK? Don't be shy about this. Doctors are used to it and you can say it in a nice way.
Let us know what happens next, Billiegirl. Hang in there, hon.
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Hi, Billigirl,
Gosh. I hate that you had such a rough weekend, and had to have surgery for the infection. I know that was scary and unexpected, especially when you're in pain and you have to listen to people tell you what's going on at the same time.
Did they change or increase your antibiotics? That's the medicine they give you (probably in your IV) that fights infection. Did they say what caused the infection?
I certainly hope that they will be successful fighting the infection so you don't have to have more surgery. You are so young to be having to think about hysterectomy.
IF anything happens that they have to take your other ovary, please ask (or have one of your parents ask) if the eggs can be frozen for you beforehand. If so, it saves the possibility for you of still having your own biological child even if you have a hysterectomy (though you would have to use a surrogate).
I'm glad you have a doctor who works hard to preserve your fertility. That's important to all of us, but especially to someone as young as you are.
I am sure that your doctor, you and your parents all want to prevent the possiblity of hysterectomy. But since you asked, I wanted to give you some information on it.
A hysterectomy is when they remove your uterus. (Not always the ovaries.) Sometimes it is done through the vagina, other times through an abdominal incision. (How was your first surgery done? I imagine your doctor would go in the same way.)
Here's our EmpowHER page about hysterectomy. It talks about causes, the types of hysterectomy and what to expect. It also shows diagrams of both kinds:
https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/hysterectomy
The surgery takes from 1-3 hours, and it's general anesthesia, so you'll be asleep. It says that you should expect some pain, bloating, pelvic fullness and possible vaginal bleeding or discharge for the first few days. You'll also be really tired (again. I know you're tired of being tired.) Most people stay 1-2 days longer in the hospital for a vaginal hysterectomy, 3-5 days for abdominal. It takes weeks before you are completely back to normal, because your body has had major surgery and needs time to recover.
If this happens to you and you lose your other ovary, you'll also go into what's called surgical menopause. Menopause itself is when a woman stops having her period, it usually happens sometime in the 40s or 50s. Surgical menopause is when that's caused by surgery instead of naturally.
If you have a hysterectomy but they leave your ovary, you won't have a period (because you won't have a uterus) but you will still ovulate every month. The egg just gets absorbed into your abdomen.
If they take your ovary, you will want to ask the doctor about whether you should take hormones to replace the ones you are losing when you lose your ovary. Our ovaries release hormones every month that tell our bodies what to do in many ways. Those hormones are important even if you don't have a uterus, and you'll want to discuss the best way to deal with this issue.
Here's a page of FAQs (freqently asked questions) about hysterectomies:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/hysterectomy.cfm
And here's a page on things to know before you have a hysterectomy, with some good links to other pages:
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/hysterectomy/bb/hysterectomy.htm
I hope this info helps you, Billiegirl. But I really really hope you DON"T end up needing it. Promise me that if the doctor recommends a hysterectomy and/or removal of your ovary that you'll ask (or get your parents to ask) for a second opinion, OK? Don't be shy about this. Doctors are used to it and you can say it in a nice way.
Let us know what happens next, Billiegirl. Hang in there, hon.
January 18, 2010 - 9:31amThis Comment
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