WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for January, 1998: Re: Ladies, considering a hysterectomy?

Re: Ladies, considering a hysterectomy?

From: Angela (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 18 Jan 1998 21:23:19 -0600 (CST)

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At Fri, 24 Oct 1997, D. Ashley Hill, M.D. wrote: >
>At Fri, 24 Oct 1997, Becky wrote:
>
> For those of you who truly *need* a hysterectomy, I
>>urge you to look at the many bright sides it offers and to expect the
>>best ... I'd guess, more often than not, that's what most people find!>
>>To all of you who are considering this or similar surgeries, do your
>>research, ask questions, get answers, ask more questions, get more
>>answers, and then make the decision that's right for you, expecting the
>>best.
>
>Becky-
>
>As a gynecologist who sees many patients with complicated problems who
>sometimes require surgical intervention, I would like to thank you for
>your thoughtful comments and suggestions. Contrary to what many read in
>newspapers and in women's magazines, the overwhelming majority of women
>undergoing an indicated (this is the important part) hysterectomy do
>very well, and do not report any regret over the procedure. This has
>also been shown in many medical journals.
>
>Of course, some women have complications related to surgery. As I tell
>my patients, there are simply no guarantees that a major (or minor)
>complication will not occur, so before considering the "ultimate"
>intervention, surgery, one should be ready to accept these possible
>complications as part of the risk:benefit ratio. We each accept risks
>every day. I accept the risk of HIV exposure from a needle injury from
>a patient during surgery, the risk of a traffic accident driving the 12
>miles to work in rush hour, and the risk of breaking my neck on my water
>skis.
>
>There are many "extremist" groups out there, particularly on the
>Internet, who claim to educate people but who actually spread
>misinformation. One of these frequently reports adverse effects about
>hysterectomy in a very unscientific fashion. I challenge them because I
>*rarely* hear a complaint from a patient after an indicated
>hysterectomy, and in fact almost always hear comments like "I wish I had
>done this sooner" or "my friends can't believe that I had a hysterectomy
>last week." Yes, it's a big surgery, and should never be undertaken
>without serious consideration of alternative and less risky treatments.
>However, for many women the removal of a dysfunctional uterus that
>causes them pain, anemia, bleeding for 15 days a month, or a host of
>other symptoms may be the best choice.
>
>--
>Ashley Hill
>D. Ashley Hill, M.D.
>Associate Director
>Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
>Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency
>Orlando, FL
>I apologize, but I am unable to answer personal e-mail
>due to time constraints.
>

Dr. Hill, >From your statements about not getting negative feedback from your
patients, I feel it may be due in part to a womans reluctance to verbalize the physical and emotional problems she may have from the surgeries. Be it from fear of not being believed or judged by the physician. I have my own experience with this and testimonials from other women who were reluctant to voice any negative problems. We were told the same thing you said about medical journal articles findings, your own experiences but there are always exceptions and we are the ones who are left in the cold, with no real answers or solutions to our problems. Have you or any of the other doctors had a problem with the red blood cell counts (all of them) bounding back after TAH/BSO? Before surgery red count ran around 13-14, six months after surgery only up to 10.9, one year after 11.3. I took iron until everything tasted like it and stopped (8months). My horomones are estrace 2mg., estratest HS and 25 mg. DHEA. All red counts were below normal with platlets way above normal. Could the hormones cause this? >From my own experiences I don't agree with some of the opinions
expressed here, But I do greatly appreciate the exchange of info on this site. Thank you and the other Doctors who participate. Angela

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