Health - Garland,TX

I had my partial hysterectomy vaginally in December 03. I was up and around in a couple of days. I was not completely healed for about 4 weeks. It was the best thing I have done. There is a little discomfort but no real pain that I remember. I had a 19 month old at the time and I could not pick him up but I could sit on the couch and have him crawl up in my lap. I was sitting outside watching the kids play and moving around fine. I was 30 years old at the time. I don't know if age makes a difference.

Have you had your thyroid checked - all the symptoms you mention are associated with low thyroid function? Even if you decide to have the hysterectomy, you should consider this. Please make sure that along with TSH, that the doctor tests your FREE T3 and FREE T4 (they MUST measure the Free values as that's what's bioavailable). Also, they should really consider testing all your hormones as you are reaching the age where many are declining and bio-identical hormone replacement can make a world of difference to your overall wellbeing. You can actually get all your hormones tested without a doctor:
Saliva tests: www.canaryclub.org (you do these tests at home)
Blood tests: www. healthcheckusa.com (they send you a lab slip for Labcorp)

You might also consider getting a second opinion. Dr. Margaret Christensen is a top GYN in our area:
www.christensencenter.com
She had one of the top OB/GYN practices in Dallas for quite a few years then had some health issues herself. She went back and trained as a functional medicine doctor and now is a very outspoken proponent of not taking the "cut it out" or "drug it up" approach to treating health problems that is so prevalent in conventional medicine (just as you are experiencing - i.e., if drugs don't work, then you cut out the problem organ), in particular for women's health issues.

I would explore it more. My MIL had a vaginal and died 20 years later of ovarian cancer .... it seems they left one tiny piece of ovary. I know it is supposedly a quicker healing, but they just can't see everything .... I wouldn't do it.

Good luck.

I recommend visiting Dr. Kelly martin of Gunther Chiropractic first. She's a natural hormone balancing expert.

http://www.gunterchiropractic.com/

I just had a vaginal hysterectomy 6 weeks ago for pretty much all the same reasons along with crazy mood swings. I was in the hospital one night. The pain the first night was pretty bad but after that it was pretty tolerable. I came home on Wednesday and by Saturday I was up and out of the house. I am pretty much doing whatever I want now. There's still some pain but not that bad. Right now I am happy I went had it done.

K.,
I used to work for a GYN and saw her doing a handful of these. After many years I read that doctors were doing in this way too often even when unnecessary, and that it is not really good for a woman to get it done unless you have cancer and in the higher levels. So before you do it, please try to find out more about it, the fibroid, cysts and irregular bleeding might be able to be dealt with otherwise. Go for a second and third opinion if you can. Just don't take the doctor's word without checking it out first. Also as far as I can remember it takes longer to get better than just a few days. One of my friends had it done and although she was on her feet a few days later, she was by no means "up and around" or "her normal self" in a few days!
Blessings

My answer would be NO! Has your Gyn talked to you about a myomectomy? It is a procedure that would remove the cyst. I had it done 20 years ago and wondered why I waited so long. The procedure has come a long way since then. What most people do not tell you or do not know is, that you may encounter bladder issues later on. Because there is a space that is left where your uterus occupied it has nothing to hold the bladder up or in place later. It may not happen for a while but your bladder may drop and you would have to have surgery to "pull up" the bladder. Depending on your activity level and other circumstances this may have to be repeated. You should check this out before you go to that extreme. I have a female Gyn and I would not consider removal of my uterus unless there was some sort of cancer or trauma. That's my opinion but it may be worth looking into. By the way I an 54 and have not regretted the decision.

Research "estrogen dominance" on the web, and ask your doctor about it, because a lot of the symptoms you are describing are symptoms of that. I take a supplement from Health Resources called DIM that has helped me IMMENSELY! Good Luck!

I had a hysterectomy two years ago and it was the best thing. I however have a slight case of scoliosis and arthritis in my back and I didn't let the doctor know and never even thought about it. After the surgery my back was in so much pain I was miserable. When I talked to the doctor it was explained to me the actual position you are in for the surgery and I was told had they known I had back problems they would have taken the necessary steps to prevent what happened. The surgery was fine I just would suggest if you have any other issues to disclose them up front because I never thought my back would slow me down.

The recovery is different with each woman, but most I've talked to have had no problems. I couldn't have mine vaginally due to previous surgeries, but I had no recovery problems and it was the greatest thing I've ever had done. It's been ten years since my hysterectomy and I've never looked back. I was 54 at the time. Frankly, I believe when the last child is born, the uterus should be taken out with it!!!!! All that pain and trouble for no reason doesn't make sense to me!

Hi K.,
I also recommend Dr. Christiansen.
I am a wellness educator and can help you with alternatives if you want to contact me. I also belong to a website that has great health audios you can listen to. Some are by Dr. Christiansen. Let me know if you would like that resource.
The only way I would consider surgery for myself would be if I had fibroids that could cause excessive bleeding. Most women in my family have had hysterectomies. I chose to go the nutrition route. My fibroids, PMS, migraines, etc. went away and I sailed through menopause.
Good luck to you.
Victoria

Hello K.,
My name is T. Hunter please give me a call before doing any drastic like a hysterectomy. I too had fibroids and had another procedure that saved me from all the pain and downtime of hysterctomy. My number is ###-###-####.

T. Hunter

Hello,

I have not had a hysterectomy, but I remember when my mother did, of course this was several years ago, but it took her a good week or more to be up and around. Of course, they may have made changes to how they do it to speed up recovery. Wish you luck.
N.

I didn't have the vaginal procedure but a friend mine did and we were in the hospital at the same time. I sailed through mine without any problems but she had many issues with hers and it took her longer to recover and heal (about three months).

This is a decision only you can make and know that it is final. It was the best thing I could have done. My hospital stay was about 4 days. I too had the fibroids, irregular bleeding between periods and heavy periods and mood swings. My doctor said I physically looked better after my surgery than I looked before the surgery and he was pleased with the outcome and he is still pleased with it after 16 years.

Good luck to you. The other S.

A friend of mine in her mid 40s had this done and missed almost 2 weeks of work. It took longer than that to be healed and the pain gone. Good luck.