Welcome to EmpowHer, and thanks so much for your question.
I too had endometriosis and I know exactly what you're going through. I had two surgeries two years apart, and I believe yours is worse than mine was.
So when you had your hysterectomy, they left your ovaries and the endometrial tissue that was around the ovaries, is that correct? I am assuming that you wanted your ovaries left for the hormonal properties, right?
When they said that your ovaries were "in a bad way," I am assuming that you mean there was a lot of endometrial tissue around them?
Because you are still ovulating, your ovaries are still signaling your body (with hormones) that it is releasing an egg. The endometrial tissue that was left around your ovaries is still getting these hormonal signals and that it continues to grow and give you problems since it was not all removed. Hysterectomy doesn't necessarily "cure" endometriosis; in fact, a Johns Hopkins study showed that 62% of women who kept their ovaries had endometriosis pain later, and 31% needed a second surgery.
In women who also had their ovaries removed, only 10 percent experienced pain from endometriosis after surgery and less than 4% needed a second surgery.
Here's one page that talks about endometriosis after hysterectomy:
"Although uncommon, endometriosis can recur after removal of the uterus and both ovaries (hysterectomy with oophorectomy), if you're taking estrogen therapy. Endometriosis is a painful condition in which a type of tissue that normally lines your uterus becomes implanted outside your uterus, most often on your fallopian tubes, ovaries or the tissue lining your pelvis. Endometriosis needs estrogen — which is produced primarily by the ovaries — to persist. If you have your uterus and both ovaries removed, endometriosis pain usually goes away. However, if you're taking estrogen for menopause symptoms, endometriosis may persist or return even after such a procedure. In such cases, endometriosis usually has spread beyond the lining of the pelvis. Talk to your doctor about treatment options for endometriosis after hysterectomy and oophorectomy."
Anon, have you seen the doctor for an opinion about this?
And very importantly, do you like your doctor? Does he or she give you enough information to help you make a good decision?
At the time of your surgery, did your doctor think the ovaries should come out also? What did she or he say about the endometrial tissue that was left in there? Was she or he worried about it for the future?
Does the pain and discomfort always stay the same? Or is it worse sometimes than others?
Is the pain the same on both sides (both ovaries)? Or just one or the other?
It's also possibly that you're dealing with ovarian cysts. Has this ever been a problem for you in the past?
Comment Reply
Anon,
Welcome to EmpowHer, and thanks so much for your question.
I too had endometriosis and I know exactly what you're going through. I had two surgeries two years apart, and I believe yours is worse than mine was.
So when you had your hysterectomy, they left your ovaries and the endometrial tissue that was around the ovaries, is that correct? I am assuming that you wanted your ovaries left for the hormonal properties, right?
When they said that your ovaries were "in a bad way," I am assuming that you mean there was a lot of endometrial tissue around them?
Because you are still ovulating, your ovaries are still signaling your body (with hormones) that it is releasing an egg. The endometrial tissue that was left around your ovaries is still getting these hormonal signals and that it continues to grow and give you problems since it was not all removed. Hysterectomy doesn't necessarily "cure" endometriosis; in fact, a Johns Hopkins study showed that 62% of women who kept their ovaries had endometriosis pain later, and 31% needed a second surgery.
In women who also had their ovaries removed, only 10 percent experienced pain from endometriosis after surgery and less than 4% needed a second surgery.
Here's one page that talks about endometriosis after hysterectomy:
http://surgery.about.com/od/aftersurgery/qt/EndometriosisHy.htm
And here's what the Mayo Clinic says about it:
"Although uncommon, endometriosis can recur after removal of the uterus and both ovaries (hysterectomy with oophorectomy), if you're taking estrogen therapy. Endometriosis is a painful condition in which a type of tissue that normally lines your uterus becomes implanted outside your uterus, most often on your fallopian tubes, ovaries or the tissue lining your pelvis. Endometriosis needs estrogen — which is produced primarily by the ovaries — to persist. If you have your uterus and both ovaries removed, endometriosis pain usually goes away. However, if you're taking estrogen for menopause symptoms, endometriosis may persist or return even after such a procedure. In such cases, endometriosis usually has spread beyond the lining of the pelvis. Talk to your doctor about treatment options for endometriosis after hysterectomy and oophorectomy."
Anon, have you seen the doctor for an opinion about this?
And very importantly, do you like your doctor? Does he or she give you enough information to help you make a good decision?
At the time of your surgery, did your doctor think the ovaries should come out also? What did she or he say about the endometrial tissue that was left in there? Was she or he worried about it for the future?
Does the pain and discomfort always stay the same? Or is it worse sometimes than others?
Is the pain the same on both sides (both ovaries)? Or just one or the other?
It's also possibly that you're dealing with ovarian cysts. Has this ever been a problem for you in the past?
March 9, 2010 - 8:26amThis Comment
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