Re: Dr. wants me to have a hystorectomy due to adhesions
From: Anne-Marie (anne@cahsupportforum.com)
Mon May 3 08:15:50 2004
Hi Danielle,
I found out that my bladder was adhered to my uterus in a second
caesaran operation performed on the 5th January 2001--delivering my
fifth child. Since then I have had a barrage of UTI's, Cervical and
pelvic inflammation and pain on a monthly basis when I have my period. I
was admitted to hospital 7 months ago in severe pelvic pain but
ultrasound only picked up a small cyst on my left ovary and was thought
not to be the cause of my pain. They booked me for a sx monthly check
up though and ultrasound which I have just has done in recent weeks and
kidneys, uterus and ovaries look "perfect." The same day I went to the
records office in the hospital to order all my gynea notes for the past
5 years. I was particularly interested in the notes made at the last
caesarian as they told me during that op that it was taking so long to
deliver baby due to adhesion of my bladder to the uterus and that they
would have to seperate them before cutting in to the uterus and
delivering baby. I assumed that this was done successfully. My appt
with the gynea folllowing my scan I noted I still was in some pain when
menstruating but that vitex herb helped me some and lessened the
cramping. That and prosta glandins if taken "before" the menstrual
cramping. That I was also using natural progesterone rubbed into my abs
during menses and that it alleviated some symptoms. This week finally I
received a copy of my hospital notes as per request, and when pouring
through them note that during the second c section, they had a difficult
time separating the bladder from the uterus, so they left the adhesion
and cut in above the area to deliver the baby and then proceeded with my
tubal ligation. I assume from this that I now have two scars on the
uterus. In the first caesarean, I had placenta praevia so they had to
cut transverse but in a different place on the uterus. I suspect this
is why it adhered to my bladder but that is pure speculation on my
behalf at this point. I had a spinal block during that operation and
the tubal ligation went well from what I can read though I did not have
the clip method but the cut, tie and cautery method. All this time I
assumed that they had been successful in separating my bladder and
uterus though... and no one told me any different. However, I now
realise that my current Gynea has either not looked that far back in my
notes, or has and is worried possibly that such procedure to seperate
will not be successful? he did mention briefly it could be adhesions and
only laparoscopy would tell him that. I am in a great deal of
discomfort on a monthly basis. cannot lose the extra 10 lbs of fat on
my abdomen but have got down from 185 lbs to 145 lbs. I am depressed as
every time I workout now or do my fitness, I wind up with a hefty time
around menstruation if I work out. Doing abdominal exercises causes a
lot of aches and pains in my pelvis.
I now realise looking at my notes that I will never achieve correct
healing w/o the laparoscopy and attempted seperation of bladder and
uterus and as I am in New Zealand I doubt very much they have the
benefit of new surgical procedures around this type of problem, u.e. the
anti adhesive shields they are using to prevent organs adhering. I was
reluctant to go ahead with surgery and tried to treat myself
holistically but three weeks ago I had gastroenteritis and the vitex I
was taking could not be kept down and consequently I had a bleed at the
21st day of my cycle and the cramping was sever.
Currently my bladder is very tender and inflamed or feels that way. have
a sense of urgency without necessarily peeing when i go to the loo.
Obviously I can't live like like this but have been reading of similar
stories and worried that it may be suggested at my age that they remove
my uterus. I want to keep my uterus as I am aware that it helps to
produce a certain amount of hormones even after menopause? Obviously
though, one cannot live w/o a bladder and I am very worried monthly when
my bladder reacts. I am reluctant to take pain killers incase it masks
a UTI or bladder infection or worse a kidney infection. So I dont take
them and it is rough. Very rough. Obviously this Doctor is not going
to diagnose mme with such adhesion until he has seen such
laparoscopically for himself and indeed I am concerned that he will
simply be able to free up the uterus from the bladder in such an op and
that it will result in an emergency operation that could result in
hysterectomy. Rather like being between a rock and a hard place..but I
know where your at at the moment and just thought to post and say, f you
need to chat to someone, email me. I am all ears. Maybe we can compare
notes and learn a few things. :)
My additional question would be, "How long is it likely to be before new
surgical techniques using the new advances to keep organs from adhering
will be available and useable by surgeons and can one purchase such by
mail and have one surgeon use such in any operation to seperate
adhesions?"
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