Hysterectomy Forum - to Take Ovaries Or Not? Please Help!

Womens Health > Hysterectomy Forum > to Take Ovaries Or Not? Please Help!

Q: to Take Ovaries Or Not? Please Help!

asked by: mickey523 on August 26th, 2006

New User

I have adenomyosis, fibroids and suspected endometriosis. I am scheduled for a hyst next month. (the ultrasound tech said "some endometriosis" but my doc just told me they can't defineatively dx it until they're in there.) anyway, I also suffer from debilatating menstrual migraines.

My confusion is if she gets in there and confirms the endo should I go ahead and have her take my ovaries to avoid another sy in the future? I know i'll have to go hrt which scares me. I'm 38 and am concerned about the long term effects of starting hrt at my age. My mother and her mother were both post-menopausal by 42-43. So I might naturally be menopausal in a few years anyway.

Another thing to think about is that taking my ovaries might help with the migraines because i'd no longer have the flucuation of hormones.

My quality of life has gotten so bad. I just want to feel like myself again. The pain gets so bad that I lay around all day on a heating pad and have to take pain killers. I can't imagine going thru the hyst and still having pain ~ and then maybe have to have another sy in the future. If its not the pain and exhaustion from the heavy periods, its the debilating pain from the migraines.

I hope this makes sense. I'm just so confused; tired of being in pain and want my life back! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

Replies(7)

jeannine_29

replied on August 26th, 2006

Experienced User

Mickey

Hi :) I had a hysterectomy almost 9 years ago due to severe endometriosis and fibroids..Plus my last several paps had come back abdnormal. I told my ob that if he could say either or both of my ovaries to do so. After my surgery he told me that he had to take my left ovary (but left my right) due to the endometriosis. A week to week and a half after my surgery I had to do hormones because my right ovary had adjusted to my left being gone....Since then I have not had to take hormones. If possible, see if your ob can save one of your ovaries so you dont have to take hormones..That is my suggestion. Just give the ob options since it is your body! Good luck to you with your surgery!

Jeannine

mickey523

replied on August 26th, 2006

New User

Thanks for replying! I'm new to this forum and really nervous about the whole surgery in general.
Have you had any problems with the endo coming back since you kept an ovary? I've heard that it can come back. I'm sure you can understand my fear of that happening since you've been thru it too!
How did you do when you were on the hormones?

Karen

jeannine_29

replied on August 26th, 2006

Experienced User

Karen

Hi karen! To answer your questions, yes, endometriosis can come back. However, since my surgery almost 9 years ago, I have had no problems with mine coming back. As for the hormones...I did ok on them even though it was for only a short period of time. I actually decided to go off of the hormones myself once I realized/found out what was in them! Yuck! (i took premarin) if you have anymore questions, please feel free to shoot me an email or whatever you want :)

jeannine

sandyallen

replied on August 26th, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

My reason for my hysterectomy was different, mine was due to cancer and I told them to take it all because I was not comming back and I did not want the chance of a cell hiding and having to come back later on and getting the rest later. I am sure thay I am older than you so I did not have much of a difficult time chosing what to do. I do wish you the best of luck with your decision. I am here if you need someone to talk to about it.
Did they say that you will be in the hospital 3 days with the surgery, you generally don't rememver much about the 1st day or you end up losing a day, they generally keep you pretty comfortable (out of pain).
All the best to you!

mickey523

replied on August 26th, 2006

New User

You ladies are so nice. Thank you for warm wishes. It is a difficult decision. How did you do afterwards? Did you start hrt?
I was told lavh would be done but they may have to change to an abdominal approach depending on what they find when they get in there. If lavh is done they've said i'd only be in for 24 hours. Seems really fast to me for such a major surgery; but if they open me up i'll be there for 3 days.
I'm not as worried about the pain as I am about losing my ovaries.
It's like a catch 22. If I keep my ovaries, i'll run the risk of endo coming back (if in fact confirmed) and will most likely continue with these migraines. If they take them, then i'll have to go on hrt and all the side effects and increased cancer risk with being menopausal so early.
I'm so thankful to this forum to have a place to vent!

Kia

replied on August 26th, 2006

Supporter

In general if the ovaries are healthy, they should remain.
Ovaries should only be taken in a worst case scenario - ie if they are likely to cause problems.

sandyallen

replied on August 26th, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

Eggsactly .Kia and thet felt that mine would later with the high rate of cancer that I had, I was not taking chances, I was put on hrt accidenatally, generally with cancer they do not.

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