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HysterectomyFrom: Laurann (anonymous@obgyn.net)Fri May 27 15:13:12 2005
Hi all, This is my first time posting. But feel it's important to let you all know about what I've researched involving hysterectomy. I've been told by my doctors and several organizations that there are very few reason to get a total hysterectomy, in fact my doctor has said only if you have a cancer that can't be treated otherwise.Contact the HERS foundation ( Hysterectomy Education Resources and Services) http://www.hersfoundation.com/. It provides full, accurate information about hysterectomy, its adverse effects and alternative treatments. I am really surprised doctors are still suggesting it. You really have to do the work, but there are other options. According to HERS, "There are more gynecological procedures being done now than ever. Hysterectomies are the doctors' gold mines and surgeries like myomectomy and neurectomy are their silver mines. Many insurance companies pay TWO TIMES as much for hysterectomy as for myomectomy. Besides that, most general OB/GYN's are trained to perform hysterectomies not myomectomies and other uterus sparing surgeries." Even though your doctor may not be telling you...ask. In fact, here is a list of problems that often occur, I copied from the HERS website. "Problems after hysterectomy that the doctor probably won't tell you about... 1.. Back problems are common causing discomfort and pain walking, sitting and lying. The reason for this is that during hysterectomy our uteral sacral ligaments are severed. These ligaments anchor our uterus to our skeleton so severed our bones move, hips spread up to one pant size, our sway is effected and as a result we have pain that can be from our head to our toes. 2.. Diminished blood flow and loss of feeling to lower parts of our bodies since the nerves and ligaments are severed. 3.. Loss of sensation not only to our genitals but also to our breasts and nipples since there are nerves that run from our reproductive organs to our breasts. 4.. Chronic inflammation of nerves that are cut and other nerves that are in the pathway of those severed. 5.. Shortened vaginas that make sex difficult to impossible. The length of our vaginas is left up to the doctor's discretion during surgery depending on their idea of a "functional" vagina. They can create a vagina with a length of 9cm down to 2cm. In order to keep vaginas from prolapsing they are often sutured at the top to loose ligaments in our pelvises. 6.. Chronic irritation at the scar at the top of our vaginas. 7.. All the organs move to fill in the space once taken up by our reproductive organs. Bladders are sutured up to hold them off the top of our vaginas causing urinary urgency. Bowels sit on top of or against the vaginal vault, genitals tend to sink into the body and some women because of all this movement of their organs have to place a finger into their vaginas to create a BM. 8.. Diminished or non-existent libido that no pill can fix. 9.. Loss of vitality, exhaustion, chronic fatigue that creates the need for daily naps and extra sleep at night which never leaves us feeling rested. 10.. Loss of all body hair. 11.. Fibromyalgia, connective tissue disease, joint aches. 12.. Panic and fear, cloudy and disjointed thinking. In addition, many women report feelings of disconnectedness from life, a flatness for all things: good, bad, children, lovers, death of important people in our lives...everything. Also a constant need for privacy and quiet plus a general withdrawal from life has been reported. These many problems have placed terrible strains on marriages. The ones that survive tend to be lived more like brother and sister than husband and wife. Women have found they avoid new situations because they feel they lack the coping skills needed to face unknown situations. We find ourselves very concerned about our ability to keep up at home and at work. " I am one of the facilitators for the Endometriosis support group at Northwestern University hospital in Chicago and know of many individuals who, even after hysterectomy still have severe Endometriosis! I'm not saying it doesn't work for some people, but even though it was suggested several times to me I didn't feel comfortable with the odds. I am not a doctor, but I feel it's important to let others know the facts I've found out. I know it's hard, and we all really want to feel better, but please talk to people who really know about it, and get complete information, before you get it done. Good Luck.
-- Laurann
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