has anyone here ever had a hysterectomy? - Hysterectomy Message Board

besafe20 · 10-07-2004, 09:23 AM

Hi eveyone my mom has been having some bad female problems for a long time and several doctors have suggested a hysterectomy but she is scared to get it done. I think it would make many of her problems go away and it isn't like she is having any more kids at the age of 52 so I don't know what the big deal is. If you could tell me how it was for you and the pros/cons of having this procedure I would appreciate it so I can tell my mom about it.

sara52 · 10-08-2004, 10:49 PM

There are several type of hysterectomies so we woudl need to know which one her Dr. is suggesting she have done to be able to give any answer with knowledge. I have a good friend that had a complete hyst. a few months ago done laproscopically. SHe missed only one week of work and returned feeling and looking really good. She says it is teh best thing she ever had done. They did not remove her ovaries so she didn't experience surgical menopause.

The flip side of that is a radical hyst that is almost always only used for cancer. It is open and is very invasive. Many times it involves removing all the pelvic nodes and even part of the vagina. Common complications with a radical hyst are atonic bladder (requiring self-catherizations) and bowel.

Those are the two extremes and there are several inbetween them. Please find out exactly what type hyst. he wants to do and rather it can be done lap style or not.

jammer71 · 10-09-2004, 02:09 PM

I am now recovering from a radical hsyt. not too bad, but I find it hard to get out of bed and walk around. I am doing it yet there is a sense of pulling. I had the hyst. due to cancer which they think they got it all. I do not know about the other hyst but there is always in any surgery.
take care,
Jeanette

epeg · 10-09-2004, 08:05 PM

4 Years Ago A Docter Told Me To Get Surgury For The Fibroid I Have Even Though It Wasn;t Bothering Me And He Said Maybe I Would Need A Hysterrectomy, I Never Went Back To Him Again And Never Got Surgery. I Now Found A Docter That I Really Like, So Be Carefull Of Docters Insisting On Surgery Right Away, Im Glad I Never Got It Done!!!! The Other Docter Thought It Was Cancer And It Was Fibroids So It Pays To Get Second Opinons.

besafe20 · 10-09-2004, 10:58 PM

Thanks for the replies. My mom had severe endometriosis in the past and now her uteris is falling down. She can feel it way down low. Her doctor tried to insert a ring to hold it up but she said it was very painful. I think he wants to just pull the whole thing out. She has never had cancer or anything (thank god) but has always had pain and possibly cysts (can't recall at the moment.)