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Re: Incidence of Major Complications Following Hysterectomy
From: Debbie (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 30 May 2000 22:52:05 -0500 (CDT)
There are risks to everything in life. There are innocent children that
eat peanut butter for lunch everyday that die from an allergic
reaction...pulling out of one's driveway can be the last thing one will
ever do...accidents happen everyday...look at the news and the innocent
people that eat out at restaurants and some idiot decides to go in and
shoot people...the beach even...people drown every year from going
swimming and maybe going a little too far out in the deep end not
realizing it will be the last thing he/she will ever do...the point is,
we can debate this topic to death and the bottom line is that of course
there are risks to a hysterectomy, just as there are risks in life in
general...and no maybe this isn't the answer for a lot of woman, but
what about the woman that do not elect to have this operation...what
about the woman with cancer...they need this surgery..what about the
woman that have bleeding problems and it is either this surgery or that
woman will bleed to death in that emergency room..literally..happens all
the time sadly. There comes a time when we have to give up having our
bases covered and take a plunge, if you will, esp if it is a life or
death situation. We can write down all the pros and cons of making this
decision, but at some point we have to let go and just do it. It
doesn't mean ya don't check things out. It means at a certain point we
stop being so picky and worrying about every little thing and just do
it. Yes there may be flaws, it may not go perfectly, but it is folly to
think you can prevent all difficulties for this is life and
unfortunately nothing comes risk free! Just my opinion again.
Deb
At Tue, 30 May 2000, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>
>Well...those low death rates don't mean a thing to the families...husbands,
>mothers, sisters, daughters, sons...or close friends...to them...it wasn't
>worth the risk. Period.
>
>To those who are severely injured...it was not worth the risk.
>
>It helps to find out the whole truth...There is much more to the
>numbers...there are also times (and I have personal knowledge of this) that
>an injury or complication is attributed wrongly to a disease process. This
>can be for one of many reasons...the complication masked itself initially or
>in the case of certain types of surgery that are being promoted...that the
>industry is trying to promote as safe (manufacturers of certain types of
>equipment, HMO's, surgeons, etc), they want to conceal the number of
>complications. I am also aware personally of 11 physicians including two
>pathologists, who have on more than one occasion incorrectly and
>purposefully attributed complications directly related to surgery to a
>disease process. These 11 have a longstanding "history" together. If they
>are doing this then how many others are? There are also other benign
>reasons.
>
>I believe that most surgeons are honest. But, it only takes one death to
>die. I'd hate to see a little child lose mommy during a surgery she thought
>was no big deal. The decision to have surgery or not really needs to happen
>in an educated manner. There are many many things that need to be
>considered.
>
>Sorry for getting so beefed but, I do have difficulty with people playing
>games with the numbers. I have trouble when people try to justify them or
>pass them off as no big deal...I know the numbers are +or-. There are
>certain details about your personal medical history that should be taken
>into consideration. One of these is whether or not you've EVER had an
>abdominal surgery. Some procedures are safer than others but not
>necessarily the ones you think. Ask yourself and your surgeon exactly what
>is it that I"m going to get out of this surgery...what precisely in detail
>is the benefit...what are the chances of reaching that goal...what will life
>be like for me if I don't have surgery...now ask yourself if it is worth the
>risk of losing your family or becoming severely incapacitated. Talk to the
>old timers. The 30+ year gyn's...they'll give you some sound info. If the
>surgery is going to enhance your quality of life and is worth the risk to
>you...go for it. Matter of fact why bother even looking at the numbers or
>at least use them only as one of the tools available to help you...it's like
>gambling or roulette rather, become informed...discuss it with
>everyone...read...research...hire someone to research for you...get a second
>opinion...then, if you decide on surgery, if possible plan it in advance.
>Take good care of yourself. Eat well. exercise. Get plenty of sleep.
>Plan ahead so you can recuperate...freeze meals in advance. Plan to catch
>up on your reading or letter writing. Plan to take walks per your doctors
>instructions...forget superwoman...it's a good excuse to be nice to you.
>Just because the HMO's won't pay for you to stay 24 - 72 hours at hospital
>doesn't mean you don't need the extra time...only that they won't pay for
>it. There has been a lot of research on Vitamin C. There were also studies
>on Vit C drips prior and following surgery and found it to be beneficial.
>I"m not a health freak but do take certain vitamins. Vit C is one of them.
>You may want to check with the doc on this following your surgery.
>
>There is no need to be confused about the numbers. Just research your
>surgery in spite of the numbers and listen to all sides...the "well" women
>who lack experience...the women who've had surgery successfully...and those
>who are screaming in pain...everyone's experience is valid.
>I just didn't want someone reading to take the losses lightly...I don't
>think it's right to play with the numbers when I know they also play in the
>other direction and since this is true-they sway either way-why mess with
>them and taint them so they sway the direction we desire? Let's leave them
>alone as it's less confusing on those seeking info on surgery-allow others
>to take them at face value otherwise the numbers really don't mean anything
>when we begin changing them...they are rendered useless and then we open a
>can of worms as both sides of the numbers attempt to play them to support
>their own opinion...they are important in their proper perspectives...the
>women who died or were injured were important to their families and no
>different than your own daughter or mother...one might wish to review and
>glean information from many sources (pros & cons) then make a decision based
>on your research, your beliefs, your personal health, and any other criteria
>you have. I'd hate to be responsible for leading someone to believe that
>the surgery is no big deal...leaving them feeling "stupid" for even
>questioning their doctors opinion...they stop researching and jump into
>it...I'd feel ever so guilty if something happened to them. I'm speaking
>mainly of elective procedures here and procedures where there may be
>alternatives or, maybe it's a matter of one having to slightly alter their
>lifestyle...for some surgery may not be worth the risk. There are some who
>would rather live with a degree of pain than risk surgery and we shouldn't
>put them down either. We really ought to be supportive of whatever decision
>a woman makes based on her personal criteria...regardless of what you might
>do in the same circumstances...I've seen woman pressured into having
>surgery...some turned out fine and some didn't...
>Just my honest opinion
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