Hysterectomy

[Olive]

I had surgery November 2011 for stress in continence, bladder prolapse and weak pelvic floor muscles, I also had/has an over active bladder.
I had the mesh sling inserted and the anterior wall of the vagina pulled up and stitched.

[Trillian]

Maruschke, I'm really sorry to hear that you've been told you *need* a hysterectomy. Please watch this video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q80tlNKg3p4 it's the one HotI would have been talking about. Everything on that video is true. Doctors will not tell you all of that because if they did, would you still have it done? HELL NO! It makes no sense to remove all your female sex organs to fix a problem that will get worse afterwards. If you have rectocele and cystocele now, they will happen again after the surgery because there is no structural support inside your pelvis anymore and nothing to prevent both the bowel and the bladder falling completely inside the empty pelvic cavity. I was told I needed one for a mild cystocele. Luckily I already knew the risks of the this surgery to my long-term health so I said no then and there. he tried to talk me out of it and get me to think about it for 6mths. I still said no. I went home and did even more reading which only further supported my decision to refuse this unnecessary surgery. Doctors, especially male doctors only see the uterus as being a 'baby bag' and once you are done you don't need it anymore and it's just a nuisance so it's best to get rid of it. the scary thing is that they would ALL have studied anatomy during their studies. they KNOW what functions the uterus has and yet they will happily remove it from you without a second thought to your long term health and wellbeing.

Please check out this website for more info http://www.hersfoundation.com/effects.html

FACT: Women report a loss of physical sexual sensation after hysterectomy.

FACT: A woman's vagina is shortened, scarred and dislocated by hysterectomy.

FACT: Hysterectomy's damage is life-long. Among its most common consequences, in addition to operative injuries are:

• heart disease
• loss of sexual desire, arousal, sensation
• weight gain
• osteoporosis
• bone, joint and muscle pain and immobility
• painful intercourse, vaginal damage
• displacement of bladder, bowel, and other pelvic organs
• urinary tract infections, frequency, incontinence
• chronic constipation and digestive disorders
• debilitating fatigue
• loss of stamina
• altered body odor
• loss of short-term memory
• blunting of emotions, personality changes, despondency, irritability, anger, reclusiveness and suicidal thinking

FACT: No drugs or other treatments can replace ovarian or uterine hormones or functions. The loss is permanent.

FACT: The medical term for the removal of the ovaries is castration. 73% of women are castrated during hysterectomy.

FACT: The uterus and ovaries function throughout life in women who have not been hysterectomized or castrated.
FACT: 98% of women HERS has referred to board-certified gynecologists after being told they needed hysterectomies, discovered that, in fact, they did not need hysterectomies.

FACT: Gynecologists, hospitals and drug companies make more than $17B dollars a year from the business of hysterectomy and castration.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to read, read and read some more about this. Nora (from the HERS Foundation) has written a book that is available as an e-book which is brilliant and informative. there is also a book I brought called the Hysterectomy Hoax, written by a gynaecologist which I found to be extremely honest.

And to put it rather bluntly. If you have your vagina shortened (which is what will happen if they remove your cervix as well), sex will be painful. It is logically impossible to think that if you shorten it, sex cannot hurt especially if your husband is well endowed. there is also a risk that the sutures that keep your vagina 'pocket' closed can come open. There will also be significant scar tissue at the end of your vagina as well which may cause pain and tearing. It's not a pleasant thought, but I cannot in good conscience read this and say nothing

Good luck, it's not an easy decision to make, but I have never felt more confident than when I refused it.

[Maruschke]

I appreciate the honest replies... off to look at the video now!

[Trillian]

I know it seems really, really overwhelming to read that, but I'm coming from a *good* place kwim? I don't mean any harm or disrespect. It's the single biggest choice a woman will ever have to make about her body IMO and it's not one to be taken lightly so this is the one time where you really, really do need all the available information to read over and make a fully informed decision.

what is most interesting is that they try to 'sell' it to you by saying they will leave your ovaries in and make you think that everything will be alright because you will still have some sort of hormone production, but without the uterus, the ovaries will go into premature failure within a few years, leaving you with nothing. Then hormone replacement therapy is not without it's risks either. Seek a second opinion, and even a third if you have to. Maybe in your individual situation this is the only option left for you, but you won't know that. The Dr i saw was one that i trusted. he was my gyno for many years and performed both of my lap surgeries. I feel that he only suggested hysterectomy because he knew that my DH had had a vasectomy - the very first question he asked me was had I finished having children to which I answered yes. In hindsight, that question should have sent huge alarm bells ringing but it didn't. I had absolutely no idea that he would suggest a hysterectomy. he even went so far as to say I had fibroids during a 2 minute scan. Fibroids! I was totally symptom free and had no idea I had them, but it didn't sit right, especially when he was urging me to have such drastic surgery. So I got a referral from my GP for a proper scan 4 weeks later. Guess what? No Fibroids. Not even a tiny one. So not only was my gyno prepared to remove my perfectly normal and fully functional uterus for no other reason than I'd finished having babies, he also lied to me to pressure me to do it. he did not have my best interests at heart. Only his own by way of money to be made from it.


I know it sounds like I'm coming on really strong about this, but I have to. So many women have their female sex organs unnecessarily removed every day and even if after reading all this you still decide that it's the best option for you, then you will be making that decision with a clear conscience and knowing that it is the right thing for you