Hysterectomy Helped

[Vicki]

It has been a long since I have posted. After living with this disease for about ten years, I decided to have a hysterectomy. Several doctors told me not to. However, my pain seemed to be closely linked to my menstrual cycle. I was only having 3-5 good days a month. I am so thankful I made the choice to have the surgery. My bladder was covered in endometriosis and my ovary was stuck to my bladder. I am about ten days post surgery and have stopped taking my amytriptiline. So far, I am doing quite well. I could not have gone 36 hours without amytriptine before being in horrendous pain. In '98 I had a laparoscopy and the doc. said he saw no endo. This time, I elected to have a bikini cut incision so they could see things better. I was able to retain one ovary. Maybe the endo will come back but for now I am praising God for this surgery. I am sure that a hysterectomy is not right for everyone but I hope someone else will be helped by this post. I was non-responsive to DMSO, Botox, Interstim and all meds other than Amytriptiline. Blessings and Hope, Vicki :angel:

[sleepyangel30]

:angel: I'm glad you are doing better.

[Vicki]

Thank you. I feel truly blessed. -Vicki

[Amyinagony]

I'm glad you are feeling better too. I pray it continues! :)

[charmedx3]

Vicki- Glad to hear you are feeling better! I had a hysterectomy in Nov 04. It was a bikini cut also gyn just took uterus. If you have any questions just email me. I hope you continue to feel so good! :woohoo:

[kelly McC]

That is great Vicki I can say for me hysterectomy was most helpful so far. My GYN did not think it would help me either bladder wise. So far its been good.
Kelly

[cass2376]

Vicki,
Thank You Lord, you feel better!! I'm soooooo happy for you. Any improvement that happens w/ IC is worth getting excited over, right?!!! I will keep you in my prayers that you will continue to get even better. I had a hysto. 1 1/2 years ago too, they removed everthing exept my cervix. My time of the month was so bad that I would be down on the couch for the first two days at least w/ heavy bleeding from endo. and my bladder would flare also. Now, no period :woohoo: , and no bladder flare that was a given every month during my period. So for me it did help some, and ANY improvement is worth a celabration!! Now, if I can only figure out how to stop the pain and random flare ups now. :hmm: Lets see...what can they take out now..... Just kidding :biglaugh: You take care hon and PM me if you need anything or E-mail me at macias2376@charter.net
God Bless, Cassandra :angel:

[kayrol]

Vicki

Hysterectomy helped me! I was explaining on another thread that I had so much leakage I couldn't get through a day without a Poise pad and it was almost always soaked to the max. I had adenomyosis of the uterus, it was very large. In fact, I had a lapro-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and the doctor didn't realize my uterus was as large as it was first thought. She persisted on getting it vaginally and she almost stopped and took it abdominally. As a result, I lost so much blood that I was very close to tranfusion, and I was already anemic. I have not had to wear the large Poise pad since. Of course, my IC is still there, urgency, lots of UTI's with positive cultures, and as many negative cultures, but the pressure and leakage has diminished greatly.

I believe my IC began in childhood, but 30 years ago I had a full term still born birth where I had labored 20 hours and delivered vaginally. I had two children after, but ever since that first delivery, I have had IC problems. I was telling my urologist (female) that I believe that still birth and laboring 20 hours triggered my IC. She said that there are theories and studies being conducted that laboring so many hours just to have a vaginal delivery may be a disservice to women, that the trauma of the lengthy laboring may in fact have an impact on the reproductive and bladder system.

Having a good urologist who listens is more than half the battle in understanding and treating this disease/syndrome, don't you agree? I actually cried when I saw my urologist and told her I was crying because I finally found someone who listened to me and identified my problem!

[tigger_gal]

Vicky glad you are feeling better :grouphug:

I am going in to talk to my gyn on Tuesday about having a hysterectomy. I have gone thru the endometrium biopsies (talk about pain, omg there are no words to express that) the megace to stop my periods, and so far I keep having break thru bleeding and of sourse the period pain the week before, during and after.
I was asked by the nurse practioner about thermal ablasion (spelling ??) that is where they go in and burn the lining of the uteris, and "most" patients have little or no bleeding monthly after that.. I can't do this because of the interstim, and besides that if I didn't I would not want that.. the purpose of getting any surgery for this is to stop it not slow it down or possibly stop it....
I am glad I seen your posts thanks for the info.

[dancemomof2]

Gee you guys have fast GYN's I feel jealous. For 2 1/2 years now I have been going through Colposcopies and Endometrial biopsies every couple months, Monday will be my 10th to be exact. i am going through a cancer center for these as nothing is showing up to the naked eye, and they are not really sure how extreme to go with this yet. I have begged for a hysterectomy and they tell me there is no just cause for this yet to give my insurance company. Gee go figure cervical possible endometrial cancer not being a just cause. I have considered changing Dr but since I am going to the best cancer center in the state where else would I go.

[Dixiefireball]

If i had to do it all over again i would in a heart beat. No i didn't have endro, but it did stop those very painful cramps i had which made my IC flare more then ever. it also got rid of the cancer scare for myself.
I was hoping it would stop a lot of my uti but that didn't happen sadly but i guess two out of three isn't bad huh?

[DeannaM]

Vicki,

I had my hysterectomy 3 years ago and it was the single best thing to help me cope with my IC symptoms. I am going in for Botox injections in two weeks and hope it will help as much!

[tigger_gal]

I had mine done monday.. and I am still in pain.... I'ts gonna take a few days to get well and see if there is a difference.. I got up hurting more today then I did yesterday....

Deanna... hope the botox helps you.....

[DebbieD]

I am so Glad that you are Feeling Better. :)

When I had my hyestectomy It was the Best thing I ever Had Done. But My Bladder Had all ready Been out for a long Time. I really don not think I have Much Left on the Inside of Me. :bonk:

Take Care
Hugs :grouphug:
DebbieD

[DeannaM]

Tigger,

Take this from my own stubbern experience, TAKE it easy for a few weeks. I tried to return to work a week after my hysterectomy and it was a huge mistake. I ended up in bed for another two weeks from pain and fatigue. My doctor was soooooooooo mad at me. Please take care and let us know how your are doing!

[tigger_gal]

Deanna,
I have taken it easy, so easy in fact, my carpet looked like a big fur ball.. lol... so Far I am doing well and still sore. I am going on week 3 tomorrow. I do believe that the hysterectomy has helped me some what, but it is to early to really tell, I have noticed my flow is stronger, but still pee the same amountand if I sit there just a few more mins, I might get lucky and pee the 70 cc's I retain.
I am taking care and thanks bunches :grouphug:

[dminton]

Hi tigger gal,

I'm glad you are past getting the surgery done and are recovering. I was interested in what you said, that your urine flow seems stronger now. Did you have prolapse? The reason I ask is that my prolapse seems to coincide with slower, weaker urine stream. The urodynamics reflected this quite a bit; I hope this is due to prolapse and will clear up when I get surgery, instead of some weird quirk related to an IC bladder, which is scary to think that IC would alter bladder function. Unfortunately, my supposedly expert IC uro who did the testing was totally inept in explaining what was going on with me.

Diana.

[tigger_gal]

hi there dminton.. I did not have a prolapse. just your basic hysterectomy.. I thought it was weird too that my flow was stronger, but it is.. I don't void larger cc's thats for sure, but you can only void out what your bladder holds. I was thinking maybe the weight of my uteris was pushing down on my bladder, perhaps the urethia tube was pinched a bit.

I am feeling much better now, 3 weeks into recovery.. Driving is still not fun with all the bumps in the road. It kinda jars me around and makes me hurt.

[dminton]

Interesting! Well, I'm glad that you are on your way to recovery, even with the bumps in the road! I will be following the same path sometime next year.

Diana.