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Due to have a hysterectomy but am scared to death after viewing a video about side effects!

By April 5, 2009 - 4:04pm
 
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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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(reply to Terri)

Terri,

Thank you for sharing all this with you. I am forwarding this to my sister; as she, herself, had breast cancer. I have heard her speak also of taking Tomoxifen.

You created a 'spark' with me, personally with what you
said about your staff infection and the bacteria adhering to metal. You see, I deal with ongoing open wound infections in my left ankle area. I had an ankle fracture there at the very end of 1999. I did have a metal plate and screws put in there to heal the fracture, but developed an infection and the orthopedic doctor went in to take care of the infection, but took a huge 'chunk' out of my ankle. I have, since then, dealt with continuous and ongoing open wound infections in that same area of my left outside area of my ankle (five, to be exact), and even dealing with one right now. I am in so much pain most of the time there. I am so sick of it! But my point is this with bringing this up: I did have a MRI done in 2007
on this area. The radiologist report stated that there was
"Metal artifacts and of screw" shown. I have questioned doctors since I read this; in that, am I having these ongoing infections and open wounds happening due to the metal still left in there?

Terri, if you can expand on this one comment of yours, it would really help. Thank you.

Take care,

Bibi

July 14, 2010 - 1:05am
(reply to SeeDandy1)

I just looked at the link that Pat provided. Hopefully, it was helpful to you. I didn't see anything in particular about the presence of metal fragments. Coincidentally, I have a screw in my left ankle from orthopedic surgery over 20 years ago, but, thank God, it has never been a problem.

Regarding the removal of the tissue expander, it was just a hunch on the part of my plastic surgeon that it would be difficult to treat the infection given the metal in the device. He said that bacteria can stick to the metal and be resistent to antibiotics. As soon as it was removed, there was no further fluid accumulation. I don't know which contributed the most to my rapid recovery - having the tissue expander removed or being on the right antibiotics. Probably both.

I wonder, too, if the metal fragments are a contributing factor in your case. Good luck with your treatment!

July 17, 2010 - 9:37am
Expert HERWriter Guide Blogger

Hi Terri - Thanks for coming back and sharing your decision. You did indeed spark a lot of discussion, and helped a lot of people in the process. Thank you!

I'm sorry to hear that you have complications from your breast cancer, and invite you to start a new thread on that topic if you'd like information to help or just to have a conversation with others about what you're going through. As a fellow breast cancer survivor I know it can help to learn from the experiences of others.

We wish you all the best. Thank you again for starting this discussion.
Pat

July 1, 2010 - 5:53pm

Terri, great, it is unlikely that you will ever be bothered by your fibroids agai
You can read HERS brief fibroid "lecture" at www.hersfoundation.org.

July 1, 2010 - 1:27pm

Well, since it was my question about my super-size fibroid and hysterectomies that started this blog, I thought I should give you an update on my condition. I've AGONIZED about what to do since posting my question over a year ago. The answers I got have been thought provoking to say the least!

Given my recent history of breast cancer and complications from it, the question of what to do about the fibroid took a back seat. Since I recently completed my treatment, I returned to my primary care physician to see about the fibroid. She ordered a pelvic ultrasound and I'm happy to say that it hasn't grown in the last year-and-a-half and there doesn't appear to be any calcification (apparently a concern as a precursor to cancer?). It's likely because I'm fully into menopause that it has stopped growing due to a lack of blood supply. My doctor was fully supportive of the fact that I didn't want a hysterectomy. She said she wouldn't want one either! I'll go back again in a year to see if there have been any changes. For now, though, I'll just live with the pooch in my belly. A small price to pay for not electing surgery!

July 1, 2010 - 7:33am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Terri)

Hello Terri,

Yes, thank you for the update. I am so happy to hear you have made the decision you have with this. I was also glad to hear what your doctor said with "she would not want one either!" This says to me that she will do her part to advise and direct you to avoid, at any length, to not have a Hyst.. Yeah!!! Now, that is my kind of GYN.

You made my day by reading this, Terri. I mean it. Hey, if it takes one woman at a time, well, it is better than none.

I am so sorry with all (I am sure of - my sister dealt with breast cancer also) you have endured with breast cancer. You are a 'survivor', and thank goodness you will not be a 'victim' of yet another unnecessary Hyst..

Best regards and take care,

Bibi

July 4, 2010 - 4:31pm
(reply to Terri)

Terri,
This is great!! Thanks so much for updating us.

How are you doing after your treatments for breast cancer?

July 1, 2010 - 1:39pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

It's all just trying to normalize mutilating women. Anon. It is sickening beyond belief.

April 13, 2010 - 2:22pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Anon, thanks for speaking out, I'm glad you were able to save yourself and at least scare your doctor enough to not do it. This is a crime against women and now they are targeting teenagers looking for a new crop of victims:
http://hysterectomyinformation.blogspot.com/2010/03/gynecologists-target-teenagers-with.html#links

April 13, 2010 - 5:17am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

seedandy In answer to your question above, I was the poster who had placenta percreta.I had about a 50% chance of having a hysterectomy as I could have easily started having a huge heamorrhage during the caesarian and they would have had to do it to save my life. However, my Dr didn't want to take that risk and just wanted to do the hysterectomy to be safe. You see the problem is if they don't do a hysterectomy they have to leave the placenta in as they cannot separate it from the uterus as it is too deeply embedded. There have been cases of women having huge haemorrhages up to 6 weeks after birth and then needing a hysterectomy after leaving the placenta in. Also if you leave the placenta in you have a great risk of infection. Anyway the way I saw it was that I could only be at peace with a hysterectomy if I really was moments from dying. So when my doctor recommended a hysterectomy I told him that I don't mind the odd bet and he's welcome to take a gamble with my life. Of course he said that I couldn't choose death.lol. Anyway I made it clear that I did not want one. In fact I told him I wasn't turning up for the caesarian when he suggested the hyst. So anyway he agreed not to do it and he asked me if I wanted to be under a general for the caesarian in case it got serious to save me from the trauma. I replied no I wanted to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't do anything extra!

Wow isn't Stanley West a nice man. You should have realized that if he took the time to answer you that he is a caring doctor. But we're talking in hindsight obviously.

To answer your question as to why I am so passionate? I just hate the injustice of it all.I do not think is any better than the female genital mutilation that occurs in Africa. I am a feminist and I see this as crimes against women.

April 12, 2010 - 11:12pm
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