Hysterectomy anyone?? Leave or take ovaries

[bits]

I don't "have" to have a hysterectomy now, but will within 10 years. I have insurance that will cover this now, I'm healthy now, I don't see a reason to not get it done. Too old to have more kids, wouldn't want more anyway... If I don't, I'll be looking at D&C hormone pills or UID biopsors eceey so often and then still end up with a hysterectomy at some point.

My question is regarding the ovaries. I assumed the Dr would leave them in but nope, she had plans to take them out along with everything else. I've had a few hot flashes so they're starting to not work anyway. The ovarian cancer gene is not in our family, my mother was tested.

So all that said, is there any reason to leave the ovaries? What are the pros and cons?

[WheresMyWhite]

Keep 'em if you can... why does your Dr want to remove your ovaries? Eventually they will stop providing the hormones they should but that might not happen for a while (you didn't mention your age as that might affect my input ).

[Tulsa]

I'm probably a bit younger than you, but I also have a hysterectomy looming in my near future. We're planning to leave at least one ovary (out of four!!) to avoid throwing me into early menopause. However, if I was already at an age where menopause was imminent, I don't think I would care if they took them all.

[bits]

I'm almost 47. Apparantly this condition hyperplasia is caused from not ovulating and not producing progesterone causing a estrogen and progesterone imbalance. So I'm at menopauses doorstep.

I'm just thankful it wasn't cancer. The waiting after the biopsy (which I NEVER want to do again, was terrible.

[Kyra's Mom]

I had my hysterectomy post menopause and the doctor took everything.

I had had no kids and had lots of years of unopposed estrogen and am at increased risk for breast cancer (not by genetic basis but other risk factors) so the ovaries went bye-bye. Again, I was post menopause. I didn't notice any difference except for vaginal dryness. Some of that was from the raloxifene I took for 5 years for breast cancer prevention.

Susan

[galopp]

I kept them, never had menopause symptoms (except for the month they gave hormones before the hysterectomy). Which I had had it done far earlier.

[fergusnc]

Do you feel like you should get a second opinion from another comparable specialist just to get more qualified input/reasoning? Just for peace of mind. It sounds like there are several you-specific factors that your doc is considering. And it's not like you can put them back later nor want to go through a second surgery to get them out if the decision didn't work out a sign planned.

I have heard my OB/GYN mention that the longer I go with regular periods (I turned 46 this week), the better for my body, and the longer I get periods at all....signs of hormones still at work...the better for lots of benefits I don't even realize I have going on. But I don't have any issues or family history of related issues.

[kande50]

I have heard my OB/GYN mention that the longer I go with regular periods (I turned 46 this week), the better for my body, and the longer I get periods at all....signs of hormones still at work...the better for lots of benefits I don't even realize I have going on. But I don't have any issues or family history of related issues.

Didn't the hrt studies shed doubt on that theory when they found that those who were using replacement hormones had a greater risk of developing heart disease and blood clots? I know it's possible that natural hormones aren't as risky as supplemental hormones, but I'd want to see some studies that supported that advice before I bought into it.

[WheresMyWhite]

I personally (not a medical professional) would agree that I believe that one's own hormones are best.

However, if your own ovaries aren't doing their hormonal job anyway, I'd say remove them and remove the potential associated ovarian cancer risk.

I wish I could have had my hysterectomy years earlier than I did but couldn't find any Dr who would get rid of a uterus just because I didn't want periods anymore When I ended up with my hysterectomy, wished it might have been under different circumstances but didn't miss the organs or associated functioning of same one bit

[Koolkat]

I had a complete hysterectomy at ~55. I was already close to "complete" menopause so it wasn't going to be "cold turkey" for the body in regards to hormone changes. Mine was driven by a very large ovarian tumor. Luckily it was benign (I think the ones that grow so quickly are discovered before the final series of mutation(s) take place to cause malignancy/metastasis if one is lucky enough to have it occur in that order). Anyway, the surgeon wanted to take everything, I always assumed it was because she didn't want to see me again. . . . And I had a younger sister die of breast cancer.

The change in my skin hasn't been pretty, but I'm also pale and spent a lot of time in mountain sun, climbing. DH is wonderful enough to say I earned the wrinkles. . .

I hear you about the agony of waiting for results, my sister's history really didn't help much either. . . .

[bits]

What happens to your skin when your ovaries are removed?

[Srhorselady]

I had a total hysterectomy in my late 30's. I also had several very large benign tumors which were the reason for the surgery. However, when they got in they discovered very bad endometriosis through out and took everything. I took hormones for almost 8? Years, not Premarin, until the research was published on how risky it was. I went cold turkey and had very few menopause symptoms in my mid 40s. My understanding is that the lack of hormones can change the texture of your skin, thus cause wrinkles. However, I am 66 now and have very few wrinkles even though I spend a lot of time outdoors. So I suspect there is probably more to it.

[bits]

ok so maybe a dumb question. My mother was tested and found to NOT have the BRCA ovarian cancer mutation gene. Due to this, could she or I get ovarian cancer?

[WheresMyWhite]

ok so maybe a dumb question. My mother was tested and found to NOT have the BRCA ovarian cancer mutation gene. Due to this, could she or I get ovarian cancer?

I hope you are also posing this question to your Dr?

[heddylamar]

ok so maybe a dumb question. My mother was tested and found to NOT have the BRCA ovarian cancer mutation gene. Due to this, could she or I get ovarian cancer?

If I'm reading this correctly, your mother doesn't have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. All that means is that she's less likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer *not* that she won't develop either. Her doctor should have clearly explained this both before testing and when providing g results.

Since the mutation can come from either parent, your mother's test results have no bearing on your genetic makeup.

[bits]

Oh yes, I have an appt to see the Dr again to ask questions again and get the low down on the surgery. I don't know what to ask really so this discussion is helping with the upcoming dr discussion. My mother had breast cancer but it was caught very early and was taken care of with radiation pellets. I halfway think it was due to her careying her cell phone in her bra.. but who knows. It wasn't due to the bad mutation as determined by her genetic test.

[bits]

It's over. Kept the ovaries and the pain is minimal. Definitely look into the da Vinci robotic hysterectomy's if you ever need one.

[WheresMyWhite]

How are you feeling post surgery?

Think you made the right call on keeping the ovaries if possible.

Hope you continue to feel better!

[bits]

Every day gets better. I get tired easily and have low energy. The robotic surgery is amazing. One night in the hospital and almost no pain.I'm staying on a schedule of prescription strength Motrin, and only Tylenol towards the end of the day. I took a few Percocet for three days but didnt need it after that. My incisions itch like mad. That's my only real complaint now.

[WheresMyWhite]

Glad the healing is making progress.

Just remember to do only what your Dr tells you despite you feeling you can do more

This is, IMO, one surgery where Dr's orders really need to be followed to let all the internal incisions heal or you can end up needing more "repair" surgery years down the road

Tired and low energy aren't surprising. It was major surgery + anesthesia and those are both hard on the body. Surgical technique can help minimize some of it but still much messing about in there

[bits]

They cauterize everything inside so very few internal stitches. At least from what I understand.

[WheresMyWhite]

Whether cauterize or sutures, it is still an incision (even if internal) that needs to heal before stressing that incision too much