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I have generally accepted my doctor's recommendation that I have a hysterectomy due to a very large uterine fibroid (15 cm) that is displacing my bladder. I also have cysts on my one remaining ovary so that's supposed to come out too. But after viewing a video link from your website, I don't know what to do. It was reported that 80% of women experience serious quality of life issues afterwards. I don't like those odds! Are there women out there who don't have serious problems after a hysterectomy? The link I viewed was from a Share story called Female Anatomy: http://hersfoundation.org/anatomy/index.html. I also have a history of breast cancer.
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Well, I said I would not comment to anymore of Terri's posts, but did not say I would not to others, and it is because of your post, Naveah, I reply with this:
I had the exact same happen to me with the OB/GYN who performed the Hysterectomy on me. I cried too when I went to the Hers Foundation site. I realized I was not alone. This doctor said the same to me with, "I have never had a patient who has had a problem. I do not know why you feel the way you do." After eight months of coming back and consulting with him, and he saying, "Well, maybe your body is just taking a longer time to heal."; he finally said, "I don't know what to do. Perhaps you should seek a second opinion." I felt passed off. He made his money. I was still in horrible pain and suffering, but everything was fine and well for him. I could not believe this was happening to me, and he passed me off! Naveah, I was horrified then, and I am horrified now. Isn't this amazing. We have the SAME STORY as so many others do?
I feel sorry for my cat who we neutered. She can't even talk; yet, her voice is about what I feel, at times, as unheard as mine...
You take care, Naveah. If you want to contact me - contact Hers, and they can give you my contact information. Would love to converse with you and hear your story in depth. My heart goes out to you, my dear one.
April 10, 2009 - 7:02amThis Comment
I have to ask this: Are most of you associated with the HERS Foundation? It seems that there are two camps here - those from the foundation and the Empowher writers. Is there anybody who has responded who before this had not heard of the HERS Foundation (like myself)?
Don't think that I'm trying to diminish the work of the foundation or that I don't appreciate your impassioned responses. It has obviously made a profound impact on women with regard to this subject. To those of you who have given your personal testimonies, I believe you and I feel for you. I'm just trying to find some balance. I'm no longer asking to hear from women who haven't suffered from the after effects of a hysterectomy. What I really wish is that I could hear from medical professionals - those who would speak directly to the HERS Foundation video with regard to the symptoms or the procedures it outlines. I don't know, maybe this isn't the venue for that. Maybe I just have to ask my own doctors about it.
Call me exhausted...Terri
April 9, 2009 - 7:58amThis Comment
Hello Terri,
I am sorry you feel "exhausted" from all of these posts you are trying to take in, if I understood your comment correctly. I think you also meant to say, "I'm no longer asking to hear from women who "Have" (not haven't) suffered from the after effects of a Hysterectomy". Your previous response also with reference to women holding inside after a Hyst. and feeling like more of a man, and asking your doctor about this if so. I do not know where you got this from. Also, you have heard, with replies, from women who are aware of the Hers Foundation. We, who have been in touch with the Hers Foundation, are only bound by what we have learned as facts, and do point this organization out; in that, they have provided information, help, and a better understanding to what has happened to our bodies with having a Hysterectomy performed on us.
Women are only trying to help here. This is not the wrong "venue". Your biggest mistake would be not to listen and yes, it may be exhausting to read and hear, but please know the women sharing with you are exhausted too with trying to get the word out to help. Doctors will stick together. Some will scoff at the Hers Foundation. These are the doctors you should be concerned with. If I could not make any more profound statement, it would be this. Yes, listen to all, get as much information as you can, make your choices as wisely as possible. Just remember, doctors should be there to help you make your decisions as wisely as possible. If any doctor puts down the Hers Foundation; however, this is not a doctor you want to be with. Trust me on this one. The women, like myself are giving you personal experiences of what faced in the aftermath with having a Hysterectomy, and we were not informed of the outcome and problems associated with having a surgery as this. Remember this too - there is no going back. There are alternatives, and just do not let any doctor tell you otherwise. And, Terri, my comments with women who have had a Hysterectomy, and say they "feel fine" afterwards... my point was this: there are many who say this (not all), but they are afraid, yes afraid, they will be thought of as differently, and do feel they will be better to keep quiet; when in actuality, they live in a silent and personal 'He--'. Yes, Terri, this is true and factual. You, just take care. You sound to be a very intelligent woman. I feel you will 'soak' this all in, and even though exhausting and you have opened up a 'door' with people responding; take heed that the women posting here are only ultimately trying to help and save you from listening to the wrong doctor(s) with your specific case. I know you are trying to get answers. Please realize many of your answers are right here.
My best regards and wishing you the best outcome to any of your decisions.
April 9, 2009 - 5:42pmThis Comment
Hello, SeeDandy1. I guess a better word than "exhausted" may have been "confused". In the face of such an emotional response, it's difficult to maintain objectivity, which is how I usually approach a problem. Maybe you're right about the answer being right here and that in the end I'll feel as all of you do. I appreciate how you've all poured out your hearts to prevent me from making a wrong decision. I have felt your pain.
I did mean it when I said that I am no longer asking to hear from women who haven't had a bad experience (had an OK one), as I had earlier requested. None of those women have responded - I've only heard about them second hand. That's why to balance out the issue I asked to hear from medical professionals who are willing to address the specific symptoms discussed in the HERS Foundation video. If they don't feel this is the venue for that, then I guess I'll have to ask my own doctor to view it and address my concerns, as well as possible alternative treatments.
Thanks again...Terri
April 9, 2009 - 10:30pmThis Comment
Hello Terri,
I think what you are trying to say here is you want to hear from women who have had a good experience by having a Hysterectomy. This will give you "balance" of the issue. You were hoping to hear from medical professionals willing to "address the specific symptoms discussed in the Hers Foundation video". Good luck with this. If you will ever see reactions as "un-balanced", look no further. This will be my final post to help with trying to give you some very sound help and advice. I do wish you the best of luck in trying to find the answers to help make your decision as wisely as possible. I only pray, I mean pray to the almighty you do not have a Hysterectomy. We may be in tune, aware of, coordinate with, the Hers Foundation, but the Hers Foundation has nothing to do with what happened to the people who have posted here with what happened by the insane act of an unnecessary surgery done to us. Yes, Terri - insane. These posts were never, ever meant to confuse you either. I mean it when I state I wish you the best with your decisions, and hope you fare well. (Just do not do it, for God's sake...) Sorry about this powerful final statement. I just made a pact with myself - I would do everything in my power to help another woman who is ever told she needs a Hysterectomy and is thinking of doing it/told she needs to have one. You would understand if in our shoes who have posted, and I feel you are one who would do the same if done to you.
With the utmost respect,
See Dandy
April 10, 2009 - 4:08amThis Comment
I know a lot of lovely women who have had a hysterectomy who look fine on the outside. Are you saying that the majority of them have untold problems going on on the inside which they've not confessed?
What happens to a woman's femininity if she has her ovaries removed? I asked my gynecologist if she "becomes a man" and he just laughed and said, "No, of course not!"
Terri
April 11, 2009 - 7:16pmThis Comment
No, she doesn't become a man...she becomes an "IT"! :(
November 28, 2009 - 2:09amThis Comment
The removal of ovaries (female castration), also increases your risk for osteoporosis and dementia (by 50% for dementia).
A little known fact that your doctor won't tell you is that even if your ovaries are removed, you can still get ovarian cancer. The reason is that ovarian cells are still in your body even after the ovaries are removed.
Fibroid tumors can be removed, and if a doctor tells you otherwise, he doesn't have the skill to perform myomectomy.
April 9, 2009 - 2:42amThis Comment
Hi Terri,
April 8, 2009 - 9:06pmWhile you are "contemplating the idea of a long-term relationship" think about the medical facts quoted from the Hers Foundation Female Anatomy video. A platonic relationship would be a more realistic idea after a hysterectomy.
"Physical sexual sensation is diminished or lost entirely because of the
severing of nerves and the removal of the uterus. Women who
experienced uterine orgasm before the surgery will not experience it
after the surgery, because the uterine contractions that occur during
uterine orgasm cannot occur without a uterus.
The loss of uterine orgasm will only be missed by women who
experienced it before the surgery. Although a small number of
hysterectomized women experience slight vaginal wall contractions,
most women report a total loss of sexual feeling.
Severing the blood supply to the uterus diminishes the blood flow in
the pelvis and to the external genitalia, including the ovaries, vagina,
labia, and clitoris, as well as the legs and feet.
One of the many functions of the uterus and the ovaries is
cardiovascular protection. When the uterus is removed, women have
a three-times greater incidence of heart disease. When the ovaries
are removed, women have a seven-times greater incidence of heart
disease."
This Comment
Atta Girl, Anonymous posting at 8:06 p.m., April 8th, 2009...
ATTA GIRL!!!
April 9, 2009 - 1:51amThis Comment