My doctor is a search engine

[cjsmith]

The web is a wonderful thing. I've learned a few basic things in the last half hour or so:

1) Endometrial ablation, the removal of the uterine lining to reduce or eliminate menstrual bleeding, sounded great at first but is not what I need. It has no effect on menstrual pain. (It also isn't a surefire contraceptive, which is a scary thought. Conception with little or no uterine lining to nourish the embryo? Lovely. But not my problem, so I didn't follow that trail.)

2) Hysterectomy is a Big Fat Hairy Deal. We're talking a hospital stay here, even (if I understand correctly) if the whole thing's pulled out through the vaginal canal. We're talking probable early menopause (hot flashes, insomnia, bone brittleness, sexual unpleasantness, etc etc and hormone replacement therapy), even if the ovaries remain. We're talking increased (some studies say up to 4x) risk of heart attacks for the rest of my life, even if the ovaries remain.

There is no justice. Why couldn't I have been human? Why? Why?

3) There's a thing called a "myomectomy" which was obviously less drastic than hysterectomy. Looked into it. No dice: this is the removal of fibroid tumors. Unless I have a fibroid tumor this procedure will not help much. ;-) Got to see some really impressive pictures though.

4) I think I'd hope to qualify for a type called "subtotal hysterectomy" where the cervix is left behind. Apparently, this "may help with later sexual enjoyment" (NY State Dept of Health). However, I'd still need regular Pap smears and would thus remain a slave to some @#$! doctor. This surgery must be done through an abdominal incision (duh). Most patients are "up and walking" by "the second or third day".

5) Hysterectomy is way popular. According to the CDC, one in four women will have one. Given my experience of having a uterus, I'm only surprised the number isn't higher.

6) I like the name HysterSisters. (Dave Barry Voice: HysterSister and the Fallopian Tubes would be a great name for a rock band.)

Comments

Re: Alternatives

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Your comments about endometriosis and laparoscopy are reassuring. A year or two ago, my doctor and I were ready to go forward with exactly that: exploratory surgery to look for endometriosis. Instead we tried a new type of birth control pill which decreased my cramps to "survivable" again... for a while. Now the exploratory laparoscopy idea is an obvious next step. The fact that you have echoed this very idea makes me more confident that perhaps it wouldn't be rash to try that as an early step.

I do worry about recurrence, as you mentioned. I have a friend who went through an endometriosis "cleanup" (I don't know the right term), but not long afterwards her symptoms were back and she went ahead with a hysterectomy. The acupuncture idea intrigues me. I am stunned at what it has obviously been able to do for you. How often do you have to go for an acupuncture... session? treatment? You really have most periods with no pain? Wow. I can't quite imagine a life like that. I'm trying though :-)

I'm also scared that it's not endometriosis. If it's not that, and if it's not some weird intestinal hernia kind of thing, then maybe no one can ever fix it... (shiver)

Thanks again for talking this through with me!

Re: Alternatives

[vellan.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good idea to give your body a much support as you can right now--that means letting go of worry and speculation about what could be going on. At one point in my life, I would have scoffed at this idea, but having observed my own body and the disease process of patients, I am convinced that your cells hear everything that you tell them and process in your head. Fear and worry just add to what they are already trying to contend with so try to give them something positive to go on. I know that's really tricky when you are not feeling well, but just know that you can figure this thing out and get well and take it from there.

I have Leaky Gut Syndrome and I have experienced multiple "dis-ease"--fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, candida issues, etc. As a result, sometimes I have needed to be micro managed and other times I have gone for months without needing acupuncture. I also practice Tai Chi and follow a special diet (something that John turned me on to) and over the years I have gradually improved.

I have had a laparoscopy and a hysteroscopy and they are both effective tools for diagnosing and treating endometriosis. I think that would be something worth considering, given your history. Don't worry about hernias, etc.--that can be handled by a competent surgeon. Best of luck--just remember that you can manage this thing and that you can get well.

And, yes, it is rare for me to experience more that occasional bloating with my periods now and I don't even get that if I remember to take my herbs for the two week before it.