Will I ever overcome problems from hysterectomy?

Question

I had a hysterectomy in 97. I had my hysterectomy due to being pre-cancerous and also menustrating for 28 days each month for over a years time. Everything was removed except my right ovary. Since my surgery I have had significant weight gain, constant back and abdominal pain, and 9 yrs. later I still have no feeling where the scar is. Now I go back in for surgery once again in a few days to have my right overy removed and to have exploratory surgery due to all the scar tissue and other damage due to my hysterectomy. In the last 4 weeks I have been in so much pain, that at times it is unbearable. It is mainly in my lower abdomen and on the right side, but also continues to my left side and lower back. Sometimes it feels like labor pains. I was told that I had 6 cysts on my right ovary and that I have an 80% chance that this is ovarian cancer. I have had numerous tests done recently and alot of unexpected weight gain? Will my body?stomache ever get back into shape?

Answer 1

I'm really sorry to hear about all the suffering you have had! I'm not sure about the hysterectomy, but the weight gain mabe. I gained weight gain suddenly, could'nt lose it. finally at random my doctor to blood for a thyroid check, I had a under active thyroid, thus my metabolizzzzzzzum is virually non existent. So you have to exercise more, eat less, and blame my menopause for this disease. I'ts all in the name of HORMONES. My sister just had the hyster surgery, she chose to keep her ovaries, whose to say, my only thought is why are so many women having to have this part of their body removed, the very part of a women that gives life to life, so many women are having this operation done, my sister did the same thing as you, except she had lived like this for 39 years. You do not give me hope for my sister. She has had the same job for 27 years and works harder than most men, and is proud of her work and is a perfectionist with her giant printing press. I hope my sister has better luck than you at healing. I just wonder if this condition is genetic. If after this operation, you find yourself still in pain, see a pain specialist. Get your thyroid checked and take care of yourself. PEACE

Answer 2

When you had your 1st surgery, did they do chemo or radiation? I don't know who your Dr is, or GYN? But generally, most Dr's will do a complete hysterectomy, rather than leaving only one ovary intact. Most of the time, a second opinion is warrented & highly recommended. Of course, hindsight is 20/20. Have you had regular paps since your last surgery & was the Dr aware of your on-going pain? If he was, it sounds like you might have a possible negligance suit to think about. But first of all.....

There are no easy answers to your question. I assume you want the truth? It doesn't look good. Worse case scenario. Ordinarily I would say...don't worry until they tell you there is something to worry about. However, it does not EVER hurt to have your affairs in order.

I don't know if you have children or a husband or a significant other. A parent, perhaps? A sister or brother? Call a lawyer, if possible. Ask for a Living Will with Advanced Directives. The AD is the most important thing. It will state your wishes in case of the "worse case scenario". Do you want to be resusitated if your heart fails, do you want extreme measures to keep you alive or do you want a ventilator, a feeding tube, etc. I know you're ill & don't know if you'll have the chance to speak to a lawyer...or not before your surgery. If it isn't feasable to get your affairs in order before the surgery, consider calling the hospital where you will be having the surgery & ask to speak to the hospital social worker, explain your situation to her & ask if you can sign an Advanced Directive @ the hospital when you are admitted. She can give you specifics & options. DO IT! I know you don't feel well now, but after the surgery you might feel a lot worse. Remember that advanced directives in the hospital 'may be' only good for your one stay where a Living Will with Advanced Directives you will keep forever unless you change it, from time to time to fit your needs.

I wish I could give you better advice. I'm not a religious person, but I am a nurse and deal with Living Wills continuously in my field (Nursing Home). I wish you much luck and hope your news will be GOOD NEWS. Take a notebook with you to the hospital & write down what the Dr(s) & staff tell you about your cares or follow-ups & diagnoses. You'll be glad you did. Once again, the best of luck to you.

Answer 3

I totally understnd, I just had a miscarriage in Febuary- on Valentine's Day actually- and it was one of the hardest things i have ever had to go through. We made the mistake of telling everyone when we got prgnant- we were so thrilled- and then had to go through the hardship of telling everyone we lost the baby. And i know what a pain Mother's Day can be too. So im sorry for you. But I can tell you what me and my husband did that really helped us, we knew we couldnt have a funeral, because the baby wasnt born yet, so instead we went into a very quiet and beautiful park near our home and light a candle and said a prayer for our child's safe passage from this life into the next. It was very intimate and beautiful and i felt such relief after that. It felt like I laid that child to rest and could even though it still hurt tremendousily, i knew it was safe to think about having another baby. Not that one child could replace the other, but just that i was ready for it. The key is that you need to feel ready for a new baby. and when you are, then you can heal. You will be amazed how supportive others will be if you can open up to someone.

Answer 4

Progesterone really is the missing *link* in balancing our hormones!

AND ALL I NEEDED WAS A LITTLE PROGESTERONE

Julie Upfold - hysterectomy, Estraderm patches, breast swelling,
tenderness, lumps, night sweats, mood swings, hot flashes, water
retention, headaches, high blood pressure, palpitations, high
cholesterol, and aching joints - victory with progesterone and good
nutrition.

Patricia Knowlton - A nurse, suicidal thoughts.. a new person in one
week of natural progesterone

Amy Houston - irritability, mood swings, cramps, nauseous and dizzy - gone with progesterone

V.S. - 13 years of irregular cycles, hemorrhaging, weekness - normal
with a little progesterone

Janene Dixon-Smith - BCP's then migranes, insomnia, back and neck
tension, hair loss, irregular periods, bad PMS, drepression, no
libido, couldn't conceive - then victory with progesterone.

"New evidence suggests that researchers and doctors may have been
looking at the wrong hormone for 50 years and that natural
progesterone is Nature's answer to hormone replacement therapy. "
From a British Medical Journal - Oct. 1995



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Michelle Jones