Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3785 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
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.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment196 Comments
To Anon who posted about experience here - again, WOW! Thank you for sharing. What a story. We do have incredible ones, don't we, with all sorts of outcomes. In reference to Dr. Stanley West: I wish I would have persisted with contacting him further. But, here I was, as I said, having faith in that GYN who insisted on the Hyst., scared me into having it, and angry that Dr. West, who had never seen me, would give advice. Silly me - I took the email to this GYN, and he was so angry, and we know why, don't we? He also was, most likely, upset too, because here was a "Caring Doctor" (Dr. West), and that GYN could not handle that either. Heaven forbid I would go with Dr. West's advice, check out having a Myectomy instead to save my uterus and ovaries, and that GYN may not have been competent enough to perform a Myectomy; therefore, he would have lost out on his greediness and making money. I get back to, again to reitterate: I was still so trusting, having faith in, and stupid/brainwashed by this GYN that he demanding I must have a Hyst.; it must be his most "Caring" way for me to go. (And little did I know, at the time, Dr. West was this person who was...)
Oh, and those females in Africa... How sinful of crimes! This is 2010!!! Why are we females all over the world still subjected to either religious ways, men's beliefs, sacrifices of our female organs and sexual mutilations, and it happening right now, as I write this even...? Why and how can this be going on? Terri - I do not know the latest with you. I hope you are faring well. I hope with all who have written here; it has enlightened you. I hope and pray others who have read these blogs; yet, are still considering a Hyst. will take heed to what all has been written here. We, who are sharing our experiences, are writing this because we are so "passionate", and we are the ones who are "caring".
I wish the very best to all, truly. As far as for me, and the present and the future - I hope I can find some kind of cures to aid my body physically from the devastation from my Hyst., and I wish the best for my dear 'Hubby'. He has stayed by me, supports me, is angry for what this GYN did to me, and also to him. He hates to see me suffer also, and due to believing in a doctor who was just out to make money off of my Hyst. performed.
April 13, 2010 - 4:24pmThis Comment
SeeDandy1 it's not your fault. You like many others probably just typed "hysterectomy" when you did your research.If you just do that you will not find out the truth. This is what I have learnt. You have to type at least two words like"hysterectomy" and "sex" or "orgasm" to get all the information. And really we should not have to be doing this. The doctors should be giving us ALL the facts. What angers me is when I hear doctors making statements that lay people shouldn't be googling medical information because we are not educated enough to understand things or we many be accessing dodgy sites. How DARE they!! What arrogance. SeeDandy1 I swear if a doctor had performed a hysterectomy on me I would kill them I really would.
April 11, 2010 - 8:20pmOh and winking at your husband.. . that makes me want to vomit. What a sleaze !! You should sent your husband back to this butcher to go nuts at him for ruing his sex life!!
This Comment
To Anon who just wrote to me (SeeDandy1). Bless you, and let me share with you some things very interesting which was brought to my mind and my experience also with what you said:
I did find one website before I had my Hyst.. I do not know why I was not 'linked' up with the Hers Foundation site, but I got an email answer at a site I went to. It was from a Dr. Stanley West. I explained my situation; that I had two small fibroids, heavy recent bleeding, and the GYN I was seeing (the evil doctor who was pushing me into having a Hyst.) said I "Must" have a Hyst. to stop this, and since I was not having anymore children; he said, (and I quote) "Why do you need your uterus and ovaries any longer?" Oh, he did other scare tactics; such as my anemic state with my 'bloody periods', and I could not afford to even go one more month of a "bloody" period. (On a side note - little did I know - and sure of - the GYN's staff had checked out my great insurance, but due to end the first of the year, and they certainly could not ask what I was going to do next. See, I was working as an associate at a brokerage firm of Smith Barney, and had great insurance with Aetna. I had to quit work; however, a year or so prior; this due to major problems with my left leg and also damage to my right leg, and RSD, my nerve disease spreading. My orthopedic doctor demanded I quit; this to save my legs. So, I was disabled; but, my Aetna insurance was due to cease in January of 2004. I had to personally make a decision to go with another insurance company; or another choice was to go with 'Cobra'. Again, the GYN's office could not ask me what I would be doing. This would be unethical of them. They knew I would be covered until; as I am saying, through the end of 2003; therefore, sure why the doctor pushed to have me have the Hyst. in December of 2003. He was so adamant, and used the reason that I could not even afford to have "one more bloody period". I would lose too much blood, and "You are so anemic. You cannot afford to lose anymore blood in your body." He made it sound as if it was a matter of me being a 'Time Bomb'. Little did I know at the time; it was all centered around he and the hospital being paid through Aetna. To make it sound as if he was just looking out for my health and welfare is as sick as it gets, right? Well, not quite. He also was uncaring about all the rest with me, and how I would be after the Hyst., and no options to check out, but... this would take time on my part. Heaven forbid I would wait on the surgery and research further to be sure this was the right decision...
Getting back about Dr. Stanley West - He emailed me, and said, "You should not necessarily need a Hysterectomy for fibroids. There are alternatives such as a Myectomy. You could wind up with more complications by having a Hysterectomy, and a Myectomy will save your uterus and ovaries. Be sure to check with doctors on this option. This is a more complex surgery, and some GYNs are not competent enough to perform one." Okay, so I did this next:
I brought this email into the GYN prior to my Hyst., and he said this: "How dare a doctor email you with a recommendation as this! He has never seen you. He does not know anything about you. How dare him just email you!" Oh, he was so angry, and I had never seen him as this before. I said, "Well, what about a Myectomy? What is this? What does the surgery involve?" He (still angry) said, "No, you need a Hysterectomy. A Myectomy will not solve your problems." He used a few other 'scare tactics' during this meeting also; such as: cancer, losing more blood, etc.. Here I was in touch with a doctor who had never seen me before; and via an email, he gave me, at least, an alternative to check into; but, this GYN who castrated me would not even go there with explaining a Myectomy as an alternative. How sick this is, and how stupid, brainwashed, trusting, having faith in, I was! I also wish my husband would have been at this appt.. He was at the one following of my three 'Pre-Op' appts., and I feel he would have questioned the doctor further about the possibility of this alternative procedure/surgery of a Myectomy, and this GYN would have been the opposite of being so sublime with his statements with having him in the room.
A medical doctor emailed me who did not "know me from Adam" - so what? Why was this GYN so intimidated by this? Well; of course, I know this answer now.
Oh, and regarding winking at my husband... yes, what a "sleaze". This GYN will see my husband someday, and I am preparing for this now. I am gathering all my notes, writing a letter, and will request to have an appointment with him after I am finished. My husband will attend with me, and not to be there only for support; but, as a victim, himself...
Oh, and Anon here - you did not have a Hyst.? What saved you? I am so amazed and humbled that you voice so strongly here and be so supportive to this, and you did not have a Hyst.? I am rolling out the 'red carpet' for you!!!
Well, "Red Carpets" to all of you also who have been put through such 'Hell'. I send you many hugs - I mean it. (And Anon - it is good that when I do see this GYN on this important day along with my husband; he does not have any sharp objects in his office. Of course, I am kidding here, but I can dream about slicing off half of his penis and remove his testicles, can't I? And to those of you who read this, and think I am harsh with my dream - you have to 'walk my walk' - even for just one day, and you would then want to come along with me, and help me find this GYN's letter opener...)
April 12, 2010 - 1:26amThis Comment
Wow (again) regarding last two comments, and this one female who, if so, considers 'Kegels' to be orgasms. I have not had an orgasm with my husband since the Hyst., and we have also not 'made love'
for over a year. My Hyst. was in Dec. of 2003. We have made love five times since then. This is less than once a year. Oh, I will get personal here, but might as well share the awful truth of what this doctor did to me, and never told me about with just this one outcome not only I live with, but also my husband. I do try to please him in other ways, at times, but I have lost the desire I had so greatly before. I am not exagerrating either when I say that before my Hyst.; I was a 'sex kitten'. I loved to 'make love'. I even was the one to promote it. We averaged (BH) at least twice a week. That is pretty good for a married couple of 22 years, at the time of my Hyst., I feel. Of course, life gets in the way of 'romance' for all of us; i.e., working, children, tending to the 'day to day', but the feeling and desire was there before at all times, and gone now. I certainly had an orgasm each time we made love. My husband made sure he did please me. He was/is a loving 'lover'. I also would (getting back to being a 'sex kitten') promote making love/having sex because I loved the foreplay and to reach a climatic orgasm. How sad for women who do not know what this is like, and like this woman mentioned; she does not even know what it is like, and thinks the Hyst. did not affect her. Wow! I can imagine how many other women are out there like her, and believe think this way also. See, we who speak up about our bodies ruined by a Hyst., and in just this most important and common consequence resulting - we are the ones who knew what a uterine orgasm was like; we know what it was to desire to 'make love'; we are the ones who know what an orgasm is like to reach, and to have that taken away is 'evil'. This would not happen to men! How dare doctors even state to females when pushing them to have a Hyst. even state this that their sex lives will be as good and even better. The male doctors are; well, so many of them stating this for the factor that our significant others will not have to put up with anymore 'bloody' times of the month. Wow - that makes the difference for a better sex life.
On a side note - I get sick whenever I hear it mentioned that my vagina has been shortened and sutured. I do feel as if it is just a "hole" now...
If there are any females who are reading all these comments, and are still considering a Hyst. as the route to go - I am so worried you have read these comments, and still (how was it put?) - "Brainwashed".
April 11, 2010 - 5:29pmIf I was suggested now by a doctor I needed a Hyst., and just reading this one blog and the comments by all these brave women; I would NEVER have one. I am sick I did not know, read, and researched then what I do now know, read, and have researched. I even could have just read the last few pages on this blog, and that would have 'sealed' it for me not to have a Hyst..
This Comment
OP Let's pretend you're a man. You have a benign growth on your penis. You doctor says "I will remove half your penis and maybe while I'm there I might remove your testicles. Now of course everything will be exactly the same. You won't notice any difference. In fact things will be better. Nudge nudge wink wink." ....
April 11, 2010 - 5:27pmWAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!
This Comment
Ha!!! Funny (Last Anon) you said, "...Wink, Wink." My husband went with me to this GYN's office for a Pre-Op visit. My husband wanted to know about this promoted surgery, and if it would be the route to go. It was convincing time for this doctor to 'sway' my husband to believe this Hyst. was what I "MUST" have (and gave no other information, alternatives, complications which arise, etc.). I know he thought that if he could win over my husband; my husband would push me into having it. So, that day at this appt., this doctor said to us, but looking at my husband, "Just think about it - no more 'Bloody' periods!" He then 'Winked' at my husband. I cringe whenever I relive this. How sick of him, and to sway my husband, he thought, by stating that. I felt like an object. I was so naive still; however, with my faith and trust in this longtime OB/GYN. And - the "Wink Wink" was hideous of him to do, as a professional, and be that way with such a serious decision of such an important operation on my body and organs.
April 11, 2010 - 6:22pmThis Comment
I agree, they would have to be clueless to have their sex organs amputated and then say sex is good or better. Just because there's a shortened sutured vagina that can be used as a hole, that kind of mutilation doesn't equal good sex. Not only is sex a lost cause, but this surgery shortens a woman's life span. How sexy is that?
April 11, 2010 - 8:05amThis Comment
I just read this post from another blog. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny. Here is a copy of it.
April 11, 2010 - 12:02am"As to "the best thing I ever done women,"I have one for a friend. She encouraged me to have the surgery. Later, when I went to talk to her about it, she defended herself saying she still had orgasms 'cause she "could still tighten the muscles in her vagina." The poor thing thought of a Kegel as an orgasm. She didn't know the difference! Because she'd never had an orgasm!!You see, she had her hysterectomy at a young age. She was subsequently plagued by depression but never knew that it could be related to her surgery."
This is the conclusion that I have come to: That women who say sex is better are totally clueless to what good sex is!
This Comment
Wow! Great and insiteful comments by all on Apr. 10th. Love the one about telling the doctor "not afraid of dying". Does it have to come to that to 'scare' a doctor right back? "Brainwashed" is a good alternative word for "Stupid". And I agree - after reading what has happened to brave women who have posted and shared, and those who read such stories, but still not quite convinced? Just the one and very common consequence of losing 'sexual' desire and feeling should be enough, I feel, to not chance the surgery. Unless it is not important, but still - the multitude of other consequences - physically, emotionally, financially, socially, affecting family life and friendships is as common and should be enough also to not to chance. I am also certain that the majority of females who have undergone a Hyst./been castrated suffer one, if not all of these consequences. One would be enough for me, had I been informed and knew/read what I know/have read now. I try so hard not to dwell on the past, but the damage caused by my Hyst. affect me daily; therefore, very hard not to relive the awful experience and mistake I made by trusting a doctor and having faith in. How dare him do what he did to me, and not inform me. I did not sign an 'Informed Consent' form that day. I also get sick to my stomach to read what Nora Coffey wrote about her own experience with adding/changing her consent form; yet, that doctor still performed a Hyst. on her. Also for Nora to advise an attorney (AN ATTORNEY!), and this attorney added 10 pages to her consent form; yet, the GYN of hers still "castrated" her! These stories are insane to hear! (Not Nora and the attorney insane, but that the doctors of theirs still got away with castrating them both. OMG!)
How great of Congresswoman Maloney and Rep. Borders to 'step up to the plate' and 'bat' for this for a female's rights. This is almost a parallel to when women fought to be able to be given the right to vote. We need many more politicians like these two to "step up to the plate", and 'Yesterday'. Think about it. This whole issue - on the whole. What could be wrong with passing a law as this which is what Nora is talking about here? It is not a matter of money; except, for the factor that greedy doctors and hospitals will lose out for not being able to perform unnecessary Hysts.. If over 600,000 Hysts. are done in the U.S. each year; just calculate how many women's lives will be saved with this law in effect - ...98 Percent of the 600,000; i.e., women who don't go through with an unnecessary Hyst. are the 98 percent. To not put this law into effect is as if keeping a female from being able to have the right to vote...
April 10, 2010 - 5:04pmThis Comment
The formatting in my last comment was not maintained, but you can find the full conference agenda at http://www.hersfoundation.org/conference.html.
April 10, 2010 - 5:48amThis Comment