Re: Hysterectomy
From: Lea (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri May 27 17:35:18 2005
Dear Laurann and others,
OBGYN.net and EndometriosisZone.org are all for the sharing of
information even if it comes from sources not our own but please, we ask
that you respect us and the other websites by not copying and pasting
any information directly from any other website to this forum as it
violates copyright laws and puts us in a position of being sued for
infringement by the other sites and the copyright holders.
A paraphrase or a very brief excerpt with a link to the entire page or
website if perfectly acceptable but huge blocks of text and/or images
from other sites cannot be allowed.
Sadly, I will have to ask our technical department to remove Laurann's
post but due to the holiday weekend in the US, this cannot be completed
for several days. If Laurann wishes to repost her message using the
proper format we will be happy to leave it in place.
Thank you for understanding our position.
At Fri, 27 May 2005, Laurann wrote:
>
>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
>
--
Lea Harth, Managing Editor/Project Manager
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