So, I saw my GYN and explained about the heavy, painful periods and the crazy that seems to come before. He agrees that since I've had a tubal ligation, it is fairly ridiculous for me to go through this every month. He offered two options: 1. "Her Option" Endometrial Ablation that uses freezing instead of heat. 2. Partial Hysterectomy to remove the uterus.
I am also getting a referral to a plastic surgeon to remove some of the redundant skin. Having twins in your thirties = an unhealthy "marsupial pouch." My GYN said that the benefit to having the hysterectomy and the "scar revision" at the same time means I only have to be subjected to anesthesia once. I get that, but I am having a hard time wrapping my head around having my uterus removed. I will admit I have an irrational, emotional response. That is the place that my babies were protected and nourished ... it almost seems disrespectful to discard it. :-(
I would love to hear from women who have experienced with either (or both.) Trying to wrap my head around the options.
@Dawn: I have a consult with the plastic surgeon. My GYN is awesome and would no way attempt something like that.
quite frankly, i would tell my doctor, "you can take that puppy OUT ( my uterus, that is), i am done with it. the scars and stretch marks are MINE..dont TOUCH THEM !!
K. h.
I'm having an ablation -much less severe than a partial or complete hysterectomy. If you do only have your uterus removed, you'll still have your ovaries, so you shouldn't have to take any hormones. Personally I would love to have all of it yanked out, the tummy tucked and be done with it!
Just make sure that you have BOTH a gyn AND a board certified plastic surgeon in the operating room with you. You do NOT want the gyn to do your tummy tuck. I cannot stress that enough.
Dawn
Get the tummy tuck and be happy with a tighter tummy, but forget the hysterectomy as there are risks for early menopause and other emotional and physical side effects. Many say they don't have them. There's no way to know if you're going to be one of them. You say the tubal is the problem, but after some research you may just want the tubal reversed as this may solve everything, and you may want to find a different Gyno who has a more modern and wholistic approach to women's health than these methods after you read the following:
http://www.amazon.com/Hysterectomy-Best-Worst-Thing-Happe...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Hysterectomy-Hoax-Hysterectomie...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1430302763/ref=s9_bbs_se...
http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Crazy?-Tubal-Ligation-S...
http://www.tubal-reversal.net/blog/2011/tubal-ligation-re...
I had an ablation a few years ago, not with freezing but with heat (boiling water or something like that). My only problem now is the hormonal imbalance and blood sugar imbalances I have been experiencing (I don’t think the blood sugar has anything to do with it). I have been working with my GYN and Endocrinologist to help resolve my issues. I am 41 and it is like I am going through menopause.
Wow, a hysterectomy seems pretty extreme. Both my sister's had tubal's after having their last babies and they too have some pretty nasty symptoms after that. They have heavy periods which are painful, my one sister has pain and numbness in her legs, and sharp pains right before getting their periods. I know there are more symptoms, but I can't remember all of them (needless to say I won't be getting a tubal). My sister did some research and found this disorder caused from tubal's called Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome. Check it out and see if your symptoms fit to this. I'm not so sure that I would rush to a hysterectomy, I feel like that is a only replacing issues with other issues, but that's just me.
I know I'm late to this but I urge you to only listen to women who have actually had either procedure. I had what doctors thought was advanced ovarian cancer and was pushed by several reputable doctors into a complete hysterectomy. Thankfully there was no cancer, but after a second emergency surgery to fix what they did wrong at Johns Hopkins Hospital my life and quality of life is still vastly inferior to life before the surgery.
I've had lots of experience in patient advocacy and thought something like this couldn't/wouldn't happen to me, but it did. No matter what - hang on to your ovaries! In my experience, hormone replacement therapy - and I'm taking the highest levels available - has been inadequate. Good Luck
Do get a second opinion. Also remember if you have the ablation and you still have issues, you can go ahead and have the hysterectomy later.
As far as the plastic surgeon referral. Why not go and check out that option also. No need to do now, just gather information.
If you remove your uterus don't you have to take hormones the rest of your life? What about the pills that stop you from having a period all together? they exist. In fact my close friend who is an OBGYN said the only reason all woman don't take the pills that keep you from having a period is that woman have a psychological need to bleed monthly. I don't personally know if thats the reason that pill isn't more popular, I'm just conveying this information.
http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/features/no-more-p...
I had Novasure in Feb. 2010. Saved my life. My cycles were so heavy that I was having bathroom visits every 20 mins to change an overnight tampon AND pad before I bled through. This was for the first 3 - 4 days, every month, for 8 years. My cycles would last 7 - 10 days. Each month getting a little worse. I used to go through 2 boxes of Tampons & pads each month!
They also did an U/S and discovered that I had extreme Endometriosis. They did a D&C to help clear that up at the same time as the Novasure. I had an outpatient procedure on a Friday of a 3 day weekend, and was back to work on Tues.
I still have bleeding, but the difference is night and day. My cycles now last 4 - 5 days. I no longer use tampons. I can go over an hour, most of the time longer between bathroom visits. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I haven't been lately. Before, it was ALL I would think and worry about for 4 days.
For the first few months after I did have STRONG, take you to your knees cramping, but that went away by the 6m mark. There was also a strong 'burned' smell that lasted a few weeks, and was bad the first few cycles after, but that went away also.
You can only do the Novasure proceedure once, so if the Endometriosis flares up again, my only option at that time will be a hysterectomy.
