Posted by kerria on February 20, 2007, at 14:18:11
In reply to Hysterectomy - help or hurt?, posted by cindy lou on February 17, 2007, at 18:39:47
> Hi,
> I have posted on and off over the years. Briefly, my condition is depression and anxiety which is always there, and sometimes flares into a severe condition. I have been on several different meds and "cocktails" over the years.
>
> My depression seemed to start the minute I started puberty -- could be coincidental, I'm not sure. But I have had a horrible time wtih hormones -- severe PMS (to the point where I've been suicidal the week before my period, then fine the second day of my period), post-partum depression, etc.
>
> I am 42 now, and scheduled for a hysterectomy due to a prolapsed bladder and uterus which cannot be fixed in other ways. My gyn, pdoc and I are wondering if it should be a "total" hysterectomy, with the ovaries removed. My gynecologist said that I "have been a victim of my hormones for too long" and my pdoc feels that hormones do play a major role in my depression, and the inability for meds to work for me.
>
> In addition, I have had a few breast cancer scares, and removing the ovaries should reduce the risk of breast cancer.
>
> My question is: does anyone know if removing my ovaries may help reduce the depression, fatigue, irritability, mood swings, etc. that I have had for 20+ years? Any experience out there? I know I will be thrown into "instant menopause" and I am not sure what that will involve emotionally. However, my gynecologist said it would be better for me than to go through peri-menopause, the three or so years before menopause when my hormones are roller coastering worse than they already are.
>
> I could really use your opinions out there! Thank you!
>
> cindyHi Cindy,
It seems very very bad medicine to think that taking out body parts will help depression, emotions. i was ssso sorry when i was talked into getting my uterus removed because i had re-occuring ovarian cysts(which are normal each month but mine sometimes were painful - lasting two months). i also had prolapse but the hysterectomy didn't help that at all either.
Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water! i almost died after the surgery from loss of blood and needed three pints. Afterwards i felt no better psychologically or physically at all and it was a very painful difficult recovery that lasted months. i believe that all of our organs are there for a purpose and that drs don't know everything yet. They shouldn't be so quick to put people through major surgery, risking their lives without reasonable reason. Also-who knows all of the benefits of keeping our organs intact if possible? It can help us far more than we know to leave our organs in and have bodies as natural as possible.
If you have a real reason such a cancer that has spread, etc maybe then it's worth the risk but i would find a better dr if i were you before you start taking his/her advice. i was sorry after letting myself be talked into having a hysterectomy - especially when they woke me up to tell me that i would die if i didn't receive the blood transfusions. i was angry later also for the painfully and long recovery and to find that i still had pain and emotional problems. There's a close connection between our bodies and minds, emotions. Putting our bodies through trauma of major surgery had a huge payback for me.
Best wishes on your healing Cindy,
kerria
poster:kerria
thread:733679
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070219/msgs/734474.html