Should I have a hysterectomy at 29

Sapphire79 · 06-25-2008, 10:18 AM

I was finally diagnosed with PCOS in 2006 after years of pain and 3 miscarriages - baby oliver rip died 22/08/1999 at 19 weeks. In 2002 I successfully carried my son Joshua full term and he is now a thriving 6 year old, unfortunately I lost his twin at 8 weeks. After seeing the consultant and various scans he concluded that I should seriously consider either an overectomy or a full hysterectomy. I couldn't decide what to do so he put me on a course of Zoladex injections and for 6 months life was brilliant. When the course was due to finish I decided that I wanted that pain free life and concluded that I would have the hysterectomy after my honeymoon, suprisingly I came back from it with more than I went with and found out I was expecting my 2nd child!! I worried continuously and at 29weeks my waters broke but she managed to stay where she was and was born at 36 weeks a healthy 7lb 3oz. I am currently breastfeeding her and my consultant has warned that when I stop the symptoms will start again and maybe far worse than before. I would like advice on whether I should now consider the operation as, and this may sound selfish, but I would really love to try for more children.
Any advice would be gratefully received.

nae · 06-25-2008, 11:18 AM

You know, having two children is a blessing and if you don't see yourself having more....then I would take it only because it will give you relief..pray on it...

RunnerDuck · 06-25-2008, 03:16 PM

have you been dxed with endometiosis as well as pcos? i don't know why any doctor in this day and age would suggest a hysterectomy for pcos - or even why they'd give this shot for PCOS. it seems to be similar to lupron which is often used for endometriosis - it puts you essentially into menopause. i have read in countless places that a hysterectomy will not help with PCOS - and the ovary removal supposeldy doesn't help, either. Not sure why as the ovaries are the root of our hormone problems but I have read this will not help and it seems to be a very outdated treatment. I would run from this doctor and get a second opinion and find out what other conditions you may have and what other treatment options you may have.

if you want more kids obviously a hysterectomy is not a great idea unless you are OK with the expense and mental investment of using a surrogate - and it sounds like you want more kids.

nae · 06-25-2008, 03:28 PM

runnerduck has some great points to consider. do all you can with meds first because there's no going back after the hysterectomy.

Frenetic · 06-25-2008, 03:34 PM

Actually, it's not the ovaries that are our problem, is it? I thought that PCOS is an endocrine disorder having to do with the insulin production/resistance and the body's inability to use it properly. That's what throws the rest of the hormones off.
I've always heard that having ovaries or uterus removed wouldn't help the symptoms at all for PCOS. If it's something else that is causing problems, it might be something to consider though. I think you need more info from your doctor, or maybe a 2nd opinion before doing something that drastic at that young of an age, in my opinion.

AnotherDreamer · 06-25-2008, 03:46 PM

I have always heard that having ovaries/uterus removed will not help with PCOS as well. That it's IR and hormonal, and just removing the goods will not cure it.

Make sure that if you do it are you sure you won't regret it 5-10 years from now... take time and really think about it. Are you positive you never want any more children?

I hope you take some time to figure out what you want to do, take a few months to a year so that you are sure. It's not reversible, and it's a very hard decision to make.

In the end, I hope you do what's best for your health. Best wishes on making such a tough decision.

RunnerDuck · 06-25-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Actually, it's not the ovaries that are our problem, is it? I thought that PCOS is an endocrine disorder having to do with the insulin production/resistance and the body's inability to use it properly. That's what throws the rest of the hormones off.

Yeah... the ovaries are responding to the "real" problem, so to speak, but to me it never made sense why removing the ovaries wouldn't help anyway. True you'd still have the insulin/endocrine issues, but you'd have no ovaries to produce testosterone so surely some of the symptoms would have to go away, right? Still, they say it doesn't help - but I don't understand why.

Still, no ovaries means no hormones at all and if too many hormones is bad, no hormones presents its own problems - I'd just think they'd be different than PCOS you know?

Regardless, it's a drastic option and not really used for PCOS.

Stacie M · 06-25-2008, 11:07 PM

I would not recommend a hysterectomy, especially in a 29 y/o.

First, it is major surgery that can have a lot of complications on its own, as can an oophorectomy (removal of ovaries).

Second, PCOS is not a disease of the ovaries/reproductive system, but rather a disease of our endocrine system. Removing the uterus and ovaries will obviously get rid of periods and cysts, but the underlying cause of PCOS (overall endocrine issues involving insulin resistance, etc) will still be there.

Also, many of the complications that PCOS can cause aren't really fixed by hysterectomy. We will still be at risk for diabetes, etc. That is one reason I hate the term PCOS, and which it was more commonly called by it's other name, Stein-Leventhal Syndrome. Calling it PCOS gives a lot of people the impression that it is "simply" a ovary/reproductive problem.

I would seek another opinion, because I feel like your doctor is really out of date as far as treatment options. Not to mention, in someone with PCOS who already has screwed up hormones, taking out the ovaries is just going to screw up your hormones even more.

norawcoffey · 06-26-2008, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapphire79

I was finally diagnosed with PCOS in 2006 after years of pain and 3 miscarriages - baby oliver rip died 22/08/1999 at 19 weeks. In 2002 I successfully carried my son Joshua full term and he is now a thriving 6 year old, unfortunately I lost his twin at 8 weeks. After seeing the consultant and various scans he concluded that I should seriously consider either an overectomy or a full hysterectomy. I couldn't decide what to do so he put me on a course of Zoladex injections and for 6 months life was brilliant. When the course was due to finish I decided that I wanted that pain free life and concluded that I would have the hysterectomy after my honeymoon, suprisingly I came back from it with more than I went with and found out I was expecting my 2nd child!! I worried continuously and at 29weeks my waters broke but she managed to stay where she was and was born at 36 weeks a healthy 7lb 3oz. I am currently breastfeeding her and my consultant has warned that when I stop the symptoms will start again and maybe far worse than before. I would like advice on whether I should now consider the operation as, and this may sound selfish, but I would really love to try for more children.
Any advice would be gratefully received.

Before making this important decision you should watch the short video: Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs at the HERS Foundation website.

This information is extremely important to any woman consider hysterectomy as a treatment option.

Sapphire79 · 06-26-2008, 07:00 AM

Thank you all for your advice. It did seem a rather drastic option to both me and my husband. The doctor said the he recommended this procedure due to the dameage caused on both ovaries caused by constant cysts and the fact that one of my ovaries was nearly 2 and half times the size that it should be. He also mentioned that I had severe scar tissue problems caused by the cysts too. He did say that the hysterectomy would not cure all the prooblems and that it may even result in osteoporosis so I would need more medication. This disease is so confusing, for years doctors were telling me nothing was wrong I just had heavy periods and should learn to cope better with the pain and then to be told that I had PCOS and I should have a hysterectomy?? Might seek another doctors opinion before I make a decision.

Stacie M · 06-26-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapphire79

Thank you all for your advice. It did seem a rather drastic option to both me and my husband. The doctor said the he recommended this procedure due to the dameage caused on both ovaries caused by constant cysts and the fact that one of my ovaries was nearly 2 and half times the size that it should be. He also mentioned that I had severe scar tissue problems caused by the cysts too. He did say that the hysterectomy would not cure all the prooblems and that it may even result in osteoporosis so I would need more medication. This disease is so confusing, for years doctors were telling me nothing was wrong I just had heavy periods and should learn to cope better with the pain and then to be told that I had PCOS and I should have a hysterectomy?? Might seek another doctors opinion before I make a decision.

There are plenty of other treatments that are way less invasive and damaging than a hysterectomy! For one, medications can help with the ovarian cysts and size... Secondly, if you have scar tissue you can have a laparoscopy to laser that out (very easy procedure).

AnotherDreamer · 06-26-2008, 05:12 PM

I definitely think you should get multiple doctors opinions before doing anything so drastic.

duffeygal · 06-27-2008, 02:04 PM

I was told that after I had children that I should get a hysterectomy. I told the doc she was crazy and I never went back to that nut job.