I, unfortunately, had my uterus taken when I was only 34. I am 53 now. It was thought, at that time, that without a uterus that endometriosis would stop cycling. Since then it has been proven that endometriosis has its own hormonal cycle separate and apart from a woman's reproductive cycle and will continue to behave as endometrial cells do (swelling, sloughing off) even if the organ that is supposed to hold all endometrial cells has been removed.
Removing a woman's uterus to reduce endometriosis or adhesions is, in my opinion, like having your leg amputated to "cure" toenail fungus.
No need to cut your nose off to spite your face. Seriously.
It has taken me years of research and experience to feel like I have an understanding of this disease of adhesions. I know what to ask for and can explain why I am asking.
All I know is this, my surgeon and I both believe that doing as little as possible during a lap will help preserve my over-all health and reduce the adhesion response by reducing the amount of trauma inflicted on the peritoneum. He and I are both very careful in making sure that my symptoms are not being caused by any other health problem and I am vigilant about my health. I get regular physicals, comprehensive blood work 2x a year minimum. I always hurt in one spot. When the adhesions are cut in that spot and my bowel is released, the pain stops. I feel better and am in less pain when I wake up from general anesthetic that I do right before they put me under. The "healing pain" is easier to deal with that the pain leading up to me need for surgery. As the adhesions re-grow I have twinges of pain - 3rd day, 3rd week, 3rd month (my own personal waltz) but they pale in comparison to the debilitating pain that I have been in for months at a time prior to any of the surgeries that I have had.
What is the reason you are being given for a hysterectomy?
Donna
-----Original Message----- From: adhesions@adhesions.org [mailto:adhesions@adhesions.org] On Behalf Of Katie Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 10:56 AM To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS Subject: Re: Surgery--Would you do it again? (POLL)
Donna, so does the surgeon just not mess with anything else? What else has he told you that he has seen while in there?
My colon is attached to my abdominal wall and I have thought several times about telling them to just "fix" that and leave everything else alone but they want to take my uterus, too. I'm fighting it tooth and nail!
Katie
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