I am contemplating having a partial hysterectomy in Feb. or Mar. Only thing that will be removed is my uterus. I'm sort of on the fence about the whole thing... sure I have some really bad horrible TOM's, but some months it's not so bad.... so is it worth it? Or should I just deal with it?
Anyway... I wanted to know if any of you have had a hysterectomy? If so... did it make you gain, lose, or did it all stay the same?
I know it's not a reason to have surgery like that, but if I think it will aid me in the weight loss process... it will give me another reason to consider it.
Assuming your ovaries are left, the hormonal impact should be minimal, otherwise I'd expect you to gain as you go through what is essentially a catalyzed menopause.
I'd expect you to stay much the same, maybe gain if you aren't careful with eating through recovery but ultimately be the same after as before. The biggest weight impact a hysterectomy should have would be a full hysterectomy, whereby your entire system can be thrown out of whack as your body adjusts to a huge shift in hormones. Otherwise, it's probably not going to affect you different than any other surgery, physically anyway!
This is all theoretical, our bodies can respond in surprising and unexpected ways to trauma, which surgery is. If you're getting a hysterectomy, get it because the problems involved with keeping your uterus are too much to deal with. Weightloss is a hurdle to manage in the aftermath, but it shouldn't have any bearing on a decision like that (in my inexpert and uninvolved opinion, of course, take it with a grain of salt if you disagree!).
ETA: And no, I haven't had one. But thanks to strong family histories of cancer many women in my family have. They were not better off afterward, in terms of their hormonal balance, but it saved their lives. If they could have avoided the surgery, I am positive each of them would have.
Last edited by Arctic Mama; 11-10-2010 at 11:07 PM.
I had HORRIBLE periods when I was heavier. My husband literally wanted to drive me to the ER a couple times because I was in so much pain. I was anemic all the time and my hematocrit was always low because I lost so much blood.
Once I got below 200 things were immensely improved. At my current weight my cycle is like clockwork and totally manageable. A hysterectomy is major surgery... See how some weight loss helps before you take that huge of a step.
When I was super morbidly obese, I had horrendous periods. Horrendous. I bled SO heavily for the first 2 - 3 days I couldn't even leave the house. The pain was next to unbearable. It was a nightmare. Just thinking about it now is upsetting me, remembering how horribly I suffered.
Upon losing the weight, that completely changed. First of all, I went a loooong time without a period. When it finally resurfaced it was a whole other ball game. It's incredibly light and I have slight discomfort for the first day. It's nothing with nothing.
A hysterectomy is major surgery and IMO should be avoided at all costs.
I agree that getting to a healthy weight might very will be the only *cure* that you need.
Hi, I had a total hysterectomy in 2001 a month before my 40th birthday. I had fibroids all over my uterus that were bursting and causing terrible pain and bleeding. My doctor tried different therapies that they were using those days. But nothing was helping. He told me I probably would have them appear later on the ovaries as well and require more surgery. So I decided to have a total hysterectomy. I had immediate menopause symptoms because my ovaries were gone. I was put on the hormone replacement patch. I didn't notice any new weight gain with the hysterectomy. I was already very heavy at the time, but the weight stayed about the same. My best advice is to talk with your doctor about what is best in your situation. Do lots of research and find out if there are other options that could keep you from having to have this done. This is a serious decision and a life changing decision. In my case I am glad I did it because all the pain is gone. But since the surgery I have very dry skin, if I try to go without my patches I have terrible hot flashes and headaches. Also I feel irritable and I'm really moody. So back on the patches I go.
I just want to mention, that I too was diagnosed with Fibroids and that's what my doctor blamed for my horrendous periods. My doctor told me that a hysterectomy was in order. But I was terrified of the surgery and kept pushing it off and pushing it off, but knowing that it would have to be done at some point.
And then I lost the weight, I still have the fibroids, but no more pain and heavy bleeding. Many women have fibroids, they're quite common (especially in obese women). Thing is, they don't necessarily cause any harm at all. But the extra weight does.
And to think, I was *this close* to having a hysterectomy.
Remember that hysterectomy is one of the most excessively ordered surgeries in the western world, and that a great many should really have been avoided. Are you clear on what the cause of your bad TOM is? Have you been through any other treatments? If they don't know why it's so bad and you've never had a laparoscopy then I'd leave hysterectomy till you've tried all the other options. If you've had laparoscopy for endometriosis for example and they say that removing the uterus is a good option, get them to explain it. Even though endo is caused by deposits of uterine lining outside the uterus it's amazing how many OBGYN will advise you to have the uterus removed. Now let's think that through, the problem is on your tubes, bowel, bladder, etc. so let's take out the uterus - whaaaaat?!
Have you had an ultrasound? An MRI? A laparoscopy? Treatment with hormones? Ablation? A coil? I assume since you mention a hysterectomy you don't have any desire for a family so there are large numbers of contraceptive options which often help with the TOM too. If you haven't had all of those things without success then honestly I'd leave the hyst and start with the smaller things.
I'm due to have a total hyst in January because there's basically not a part of my lady bits that doesn't have something wrong with it, scars, adhesions, widespread endometriosis, cysts, fibroids, you name it. But even by taking everything they aren't sure the problem will be brought under control because you can't cut endometriosis off the bladder without the risk of damaging the bladder. If your problems are caused by endo sitting on other organs then taking out one organ may improve the overall bleeding but may well do not a lot for the pain.
Last edited by fcuser10395743; 11-11-2010 at 02:52 AM.
WOW! I'm really surprised at the fact that you ALL think it's a bad idea LOL....
A lot of what I have read online seems to say it's not that bad of an option and people are generally happy they made the choice to do it.
My doctor plans on doing it laproscopically which should leave me with not too much of a recovery time (2 weeks or so).
Almost every woman in my family on my mothers side (including my mother) had a hysterectomy at about my age.... and they all did it the hard way (cut wide open) but they all seemed happy about it after they healed.
I can say, that if my ONLY choice was being cut to get it out, I would choose not to at this point in my life. I just don't have time for the healing process if it were to be very very long like 6 weeks or more.
I have had mild dysplasia on my cervix about 10 years ago, which they froze off and it is supposedly fine now, but other than that... I have tried no other treatment.
My doctor said that since I am over 35 and I am morbidly obese, and I smoke!!!, taking birth control to keep my periods in check isn't really an option.
Now I'm more confused than ever
But I really do thank all of you for your advise and opinions... I will seriously consider my options and try doing some more research.
My doctor said that since I am over 35 and I am morbidly obese, and I smoke!!!, taking birth control to keep my periods in check isn't really an option.
I think you've just been presented with another option - losing the weight. It's a very good option in fact. Less invasive and has a slew of other wonderful benefits!
My doctor never even told me that there was as much as a chance that losing the weight could help my periods. Doctors want to cut, cut, cut.
And I also tend to believe they underestimate or are totally ignorant on just what being obese can do to a person. I think there are even greater side affects on women, and this is just proof of it.
Really, I urge you to wait it out, don't go for the *quick fix*; get off the weight and THEN decide. I really don't think they'll be much of a decision TO make at that point. But even if there is, you'll be slim, trim and healthy, so either way, it's a win/win situation.
I went from misery with my periods, sheer and total misery to it now being a total non-issue. Give it a go!
I'm a bad one to ask because of my mom. But I am absolutely terrified of hysterectomies. If it isn't 100% necessary, there's no way I'd ever have it done. Too much can go wrong. I won't say what happened to her because I know her's is a really unusual case, but I just have to say, no, don't do it unless you must.
Sorry, I have to agree... I would work my arse off to get the weight down and see what happens!
I went from a 2-3day very light (like I could use a panty liner and not change it all day if I wanted to) TOM when I was way thinner to having a 5 day, can't leave the house, wearing 2 overnight pads at a time and changing them every 2-3 hours most of the time kind of TOM, and just recently I have started spotting in the middle of my cycle. Even before reading this thread I was convinced it was my weight.. now I am more than convinced!
I just got over TOM, and the whole time I had it I kept thinking each month this will get easier as long as I control myself!!
I agree with Robin, doctors just want to cut cut cut because they see $$$.
Really, it's your life and your decision, but I wouldn't do it. TOM is nature, not medical necessity really, at least until you have lost the weight and see how your body behaves then. I would put it on the back burner until next Nov.. work your butt off for a year and see what you think then.
If you are concerned about recovery time, don't do it. Just because recovery time "should" take 2 weeks, doesn't mean it will. My mom had a hysterectomy (and an additional procedure on her bladder at the same time) that took twice as long to recover as they said it would. Also keep in mind that being morbidly obese and smoking will make the recovery period more difficult. I agree with some of the other gals, give weightloss a chance first. If nothing else, it will put you in a healthier place before surgery if you end up going that route.
I started taking BC pills to control my periods when I was 29, best thing I ever did. I was 350 lbs. I credit taking the BC pills with helping me lose weight.
I would highly highly recommend you quit smoking. If you quit smoking, you'd be able to take the BC pills. Controlling your hormones could also assist in your weight loss as well.
I know everyone is different, but I have had easier TOMs since getting my tubes tied.. they are still heavy but I no longer have cramps with it.
I also know someone who had endo that they couldn't get control of so she had to get a hysterectomy, a complete one. Now I'm not sure if it's different with a partial (do they leave the cervix?), but she no longer could ummmm enjoy being intimate with her hubby (lost the sensation of her g spot) and her hubby complained that it wasn't the same and felt like a "bottomless pit".
I have a strong feeling I will need one someday.. my grandmother died of uterine cancer, my mother has been in remission for gosh 25 years? from the same thing (she had a complete at the age of 42), it's a trend in our family and if I NEED it, then I will do it, but if I can avoid it I will at all costs.
Hysterectomy, will I gain or lose?
Too much can go wrong. I won't say what happened to her because I know her's is a really unusual case, but I just have to say, no, don't do it unless you must.
