I am only 39, but have had cramps from HE%# ever since my last two children. Last month I had cramps for 9 days straight. They hurt from my knees to my breasts. They wake me up all night long. In December I had a PE (blood clot in my lung) so now I can't take birth control pills. I am also on coumadin to thin my blood for one more month. (On coumadin you can't take advil or midrin or aleve or any other anti-inflammatory that normally helps with cramping) Tylenol only which doesn't help me a bit. After I stop the coumadin in June, I am contemplating having a hysterectomy. I can not stand the pain any longer. My periods are not bad, the bleeding is not heavy or long, it is the horrible pain that I endure for the 7-9 days every month that is killing me.
My question is this; What happens after the hysterectomy? Hormones? Side effects? What can you tell me? I'd like to get all the information I can before I make any decisions. I'm just tired of having 13 good days a month. All the other days I'm either bleeding or writhing in pain.
Also, what kind of hormones do you take? I'd like to research the costs. My insurance won't cover most prescriptions.
I would also like to find a female GYN in Plano or Allen or Frisco. I see a male now that I like, but would like a second opinion from a female.
Thanks!
C.
I saw my Dr. yesterday and here is what I have found out. 1. I would need a total hysterectomy. Full abdominal surgery, no ovaries, no uterus, no cervix. 2. I can not take hormones because I have had a pulmonary embolus and it is a contraindication for hormones. 3. I can not even have the surgery until a few months after I am off the Coumadin because it is a major surgery and my risk of blood loss is high. 4. Because of the surgery I am at risk for another PE. So for now I am opting to deal with the pain and not have surgery. So any suggestions for dealing with severe menstrual cramping would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
get a partial hysterectomy (only the uterus is taken out)...you will still have your ovaries which will NOT mess up your hormones! you'll be fine!
good luck!
most of the time at your age they don't take the ovaries. they leave them in unless they are having problems like cysts etc. so no need to worry about the hormones. your "cycle" would still happen but there would be no bleeding and no cramping, but you may have other signs of your period, mood swings, grumpy, etc. just like before. since the ovaries would not know that your uterus is not there so they keep doing their job. when you have a hysterectomy they remove your uterus. if you have a "total" hyst. then they remove the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. you get to keep the vagina!!! yeah!!!?!!?
so there you have it.
good luck,
L.
C.,
Has your doctor checked your thyroid? Painful menustration is a red flag for hypothyroidism, which is very commonly triggered by childbirth. I strongly suggest you have that done, including TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and thyroid antibodies before doing something as drastic as a hysterectomy. The blood clotting is another symptom. Also, have you been tested for Von Willebrand's, which is a genetic clotting disorder?
Be well,
M. B.
I had a hysterectomy (complete including ovaries) at age 40 in 2001. IT WAS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE......... I FEEL AND LOOK BETTER THAN EVER...... Dr. Ivan Rovner, saved my life.
Like you, I searched for info pro and con about the surgery. There is a website that proved to be so valuable to me www.hystersisters.com You get a lot of info, pro and con and info on the HRT (hormone replacement). There is a lot of pro and con regarding taking ovaries or not. It is my understanding that the chances of breast cancer are higher IF you remove the ovaries BUT you still have a chance of ovarian cancer if you leave them. I justified taking my chances becauase breast cancer appears to be much easier and quicker to detect and survival rates are better than ovarian cancer.
There are horror stories and there are stories like mine. I did not have the effects of the "swelly belly". I wore a binder around my waist for weeks to prevent it. I did not have the weight gain. I did not lose the sex drive, I actually gained that plus I do not have the side effects regarding sex drive (dryness, etc) I could not drive for 2 weeks.
I started the process right around size 0-2 (115# or so)and I am still that way with the exception of my boobs which went from a perky 34C to a still perky 34DD. I LOVE THAT EFFECT!!!! Everybody thinks I have had a boob job but my Dr. and I believe it is a side effect of the HRT.
I was scared to be knocked completely out and I opted for an epidural. Yes, I did have dome drowsy drugs to keep me from remembering everything. SO I already had the epidural and the tubes ready to go for the pain med pump you get. I had NO pain until the pump was removed the next day. Still, the pain was not unbearable. Right after surgery, they had me get into the bed myself. I had an incision right around where a C Section is done and it was stapled shut. You can hardly see my scar now due to using Vitamin E oil faithfully.
They placed a HRT patch on me at the hospital. I still wear the same dosage Vivelle Dot .075. If you get the patch, get the dot or the smallest version of the patch. My patch is about 1" and I do have to carefully place it in the summer because I do wear skimpier suits.
I have had NO issues with the HRT other than boobs. I feel better after surgery, I have more energy, My sex drive skyrocketed and I am enjoying my 40's much more than any other stage in my life.
I have no idea the costs of the Dot. I do have good insurance. I paid my copays of $20 a Dr. visit and no more than $200 for the entire surgery. That was because I opted for a private room which my insurance did not cover. I get my Dot through mail pharmacy with our insurance program. I get 3 months worth at a time for $30. If I go to the pharmacy each month to pick up a pack of patches, it is $30/month. Much easier and economical for Rx that you use regularly to mail it in or do it online.
I hope this was not TMI and if you have any other questions, please pm me. The hyster sister site has ALL types of questions and answers from people who have been there, about to go there and thinking about it.
There are a LOT of rumors out there about aging and such. I don't look 46 at all, more like early 30's. I am sure that some people do age faster. I feel it depends a lot on your attitude.
Best wishes to you
TF
C.,
I don't have any advice on the hysterectomy side of it. But I can sympathize with the PMS pain. My has become considerably worse after each of my last two pregnancies. I've found taking supplements helps. I've taken some that I sell myself. My friend sells for Shaklee, and people swear by this treatment. Here is my friends link if you're interested:
http://www.shaklee.net/teresa_egge/prodWomensHealth
And the products you are looking for are Menopause Balance (yes, even if you aren't menopausal) and GLA.
I had a hysterectomy when I was 32 and have loved everyday.The surgery and pain after was a breeze.As for as hormones if you still have your ovaries you want need replacement in most cases.Even if you end up with just one the other is suppose to wake up and take care of the missing one.If not you can get hormone replacements from Walmart on their $4 plan which is what I am presently doing.I was on the patch and loved it but even with insurance it was very pricey.So the $4 plan is very nice.Now I take the pill form.Sounds like you might be coming up on the change of life anyway so hormone replacement will be in the near future.
If you have your ovaries out, you'll age 10 years in a short amount of time. Keep them if you can.
You'll still have a phantom period without the shedding of the uterus lining & cramps. Actually, you will have phantom cramps. You will have everything else...moodiness, etc.
Hi C.,
I agree with the other lady that suggested get your blood work done first and try to make sure that there is nothing else that is causiong your symptoms.
A hystercetomy is major surgery with or without keeping the ovaries. Most docs recommend 4 to 6 weekos ff of work after surgery, unless they can do it vaginally and not have to do a surgical incision.
If you hae endometrisosis or fibroids that are causing the cramps they may be able to to a myomectomy which is removing the endometriosis and the fibroids.
If they leave your ovaries you do not have to worry about hormone replacement and you should feel better. If you hae to have your ovaries removed, I would not recommend tsaking hormones due to increas rates of breat cancer, and if you do take them your most docs recommend getting off of them at 5 yrs. So then you have to find supplements, and medications that will make you feel okay. It can be easy or it can be a long journey to find what works best for you.
I am a Dr myself biut an oncologist, I do know most of the women dr at Caring for Women in Denton but none in Plano or Frisco.
Good Luck, do not rush into this, decide this what is best with your DR.
K.
My mother had a hysterectomy and said it was the worst mistake she's ever made. she has to be on hormone replacement therapy (estrogen) and it has changed her face dramatically. She now has a mask of freckle like specs on her nose cheeks and forehead due to the increase in melanin. She said she feels completely unnatural and unbalanced having to take estrogen. They now have a new procedure that you can look into and I hear many women prefer it to a hysterectomy. I think its called essure. Also check out Her Option® Cryoablation Therapy
Hi my name is J. and i had a historectomy because of pain and i had a xray done through my vagina and my ovaries was swollen and it cause me to have pain so since i was 42 and had already had 3 kids i took the doctors advice and had the surgery done and now the pain is gone but the side effects sucks every since then i'm more emotional and have mood swings and the biggest problem is the night sweats and hot flashes are terrible and now i'm 44 and i still have hot flashes and the doctors don't want to give me hormone replacement so i'm suffering through it all so please think twice before getting a historectomy get a second opinion and weigh your options before making a dissicion i regret it so much.thanks!
You have to weigh your options and get the second opinion. You also have to make sure that you are finished having any more children and be happy with what you have. If you can keep an ovary you come out ahead of the game and you do not have to do HRT and worry about the side effects. When I was younger I had an ovary removed so when I when my hysterectomy was done I had the other taken out (I may have kept it had I known what was going to happen to me - breast cancer; HRT may have saved my life as I found it early and have continued my life.) It's great not to have to worry about periods and pregnancy and that was 14 years ago. My doctor said he never had a patient look better after surgery than before. Recoup time was about 4 weeks.
Hello, I had a partial hysterectomy (only removed utuerus) in February. Best thing I've ever done, so glad I had it! I am only 33! The only way you will be on hormone replacement is if they remove your ovaries and usually the only time they will do that is if there is something wrong with them (ie, cancer, or cysts). good luck hope everything works out for you.
Hi C..... I had the NovaSure endometrial ablation done in October of 06 and have hugged my self everyday since then!!!!!!! They basically go in and burn out the lining of your uterus causing scar tissue. My periods are non existant and I have NO PMS symptoms whatsoever!! NO cramps!!!(THANK THE LORD!!!!!!) It saved me girl. Truly! You should look into it. Recovery time is much less and you wont need hormones as your body still has the overies. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
M
If you need a fantastic Dr. go so Dr. Rebecca Robert at Baylor Grapevine! She rocks!
Dr Judith Hsu in Plano is then best!!! I would have never picked her, probably because I assumed she had primarily an Asian clientele, but I had ovarian cysts, met her after being assigned her thru an er admit at MSP, but she is the BEST!!!! Her husband is an ortho at Texas Back Inst. she is extremely warm, cute, conservative with treatment and I recommend her highly. km
