I am in alot of pain with Endometriosis and I want the pain to stop but will the histerectomy hurt as well when the surgery is done and what about all the hormones will they change my sex life?
2006-07-24 03:24:42 · 6 answers · asked by SR 76 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Depends on a lot of factors...for instance:
"Why": if Endo is the "only" reason for the hysterectomy, please know that there are alternative treatments and that a hyst is *not* in any way a cure for Endo. At all. If you have disease left behind anywhere in the body after the hyst, whether the ovaries are removed or not, you will have disease recurence without fail. Endo implants produce their own estrogen-synthesizing enzyme called Aromatase; it is because of Aromatase that the majority of women who have undergone hyst without proper removal of disease (excision, see www.centerforendo.com for details) will continue to experience pain. "Hyst as a cure" is an old wives tale, along with "pregnancy is a cure" and "menopause is a cure."
"How:" an LAVH [laparoscopic assisted vaginal hyst] is less invasive and offers quicker recovery. An abdominal hyst is far more invasive and has longer recovery. Vaginal hyst is less invasive and has faster recovery overall than the others above, but can affect sexual function. Vaginal hysterectomy is preferable to abdominal hysterectomy where possible, however. Where vaginal hysterectomy is not possible, laparoscopic hysterectomy is preferable to abdominal hysterectomy, although it brings a higher chance of bladder or ureter injury [Methods of Hysterectomy: Systematic Review & Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials; BMJ. 2005 Jun 25;330(7506):1478].
"What:" as in, what will be done, i.e., removal of uterus only, hysterectomy with oophorectomy [removal of one or both ovaries], hysterectomy with salpingoopherectomy [removal of one or both fallopian tubes], radical hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, cervix, the top portion of the vagina and most of the tissue that surrounds the cervix in the pelvic cavity. Pelvic lymph nodes may also be removed; supracervical hysterectomy, also referred to as a subtotal hysterectomy, which removes the uterus while leaving the cervix intact.
It is a major operation, any way you cut it (no pun intended). It will take at least 2 weeks or longer to be completely healed, again, depending on what was done, how complicated your surgery was, etc. Abdominal surgery recovery is expected to be easily longer than 2 weeks till you feel "normal."
If the surgery is done for a good and valid reason (valid scientific research has offered abundant evidence that Endometriosis does not count as a "good, valid reason" if no other treatment has been conferred previously), and all precautions are being taken to give the patient the most effective, safest and least invasive method of surgery, AND her surgical menopause issues will be addressed (if ovaries are removed) by her concerned, compassionate doctor afterward, AND she feels comfortable with all of the decisions, then the long-term outlook should be perfectly fine. It hurts, just as with any other surgery, but the pain does resolve.
I am concerned for you that you are undergoing a hyst without being fully informed. Please - do talk to others first and do some research on excision of Endometriosis as a worthwhile, advanced treatment option before consenting to the hyst. I would hate for you to suffer needlessly. http://www.endocenter.org, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erc and http://www.centerforendo.com are good places to start.
Good luck no matter what you decide.
2006-07-24 13:05:02 · answer #1 · answered by Endo 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
How about laparoscopic laser surgery to remove the endo metriosis? Hysterectomy should be the last course of action it is major abdominal surgery and is painful with a 6 week recovery time. If you have to do it see if it can be done vaginally instead of abdominally. And as long as you keep your tubes and ovaries you will not have an issue with hormones and need replacement therapy.
2006-07-24 10:43:02 · answer #2 · answered by tbo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mine did, but it's been a while. From what I understand, they are not as brutal these days. So, you should not be in pain for long, and I'm sure you will be given some sort of pain medication too.
It's your option whether to take hormones or not. There are a lot of pros and cons that you need to discuss with your Doctor.
As far as sex life, For myself, nothing changed at all.
Good Luck !!!!!!
2006-07-24 10:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is painful. Also, only a 2 week recovery. I think it's less painful than childbirth over and over and definately a faster recovery than raising kids!
Hormones should improve your sex-life.
2006-07-24 10:32:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i just had a hystrectomy a year ago due severe endometriosis This website help me 100% and i was able to find all my answers. www.hystersisters.com
2006-07-24 10:31:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the best thing i ever did !!!!!! no it doesn't hurt an the pain goes away for good......about the hormones you can take medicine to control that ....i love being pain free!!!!!!!!!!
2006-07-24 10:29:36 · answer #6 · answered by Phyllis W. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋