Re: OT--Females Only

[Guest guest]

Debbie

I

had a complete hysterectomy (included ovaries) a few weeks before I started

SCD, so can only advise you on dealing with that specific surgery. More

on that in a minute. However I’ve had several surgeries and

procedures involving anesthetics since being on SCD, and found I did well as

long as I prepared a lot of simple, intro. diet foods ahead of time. I

was only in the hospital two days or less those times, so just had my family

bring me broth and gelatin and electrolyte drink – I wasn’t in the

mood to eat much anyway. Once at home, I could hobble around and warm up

leftovers and things in the freezer, and eventually I got through the recovery

period (anesthetics always throw my digestion and nervous system into a tailspin)

and slowly added foods back into my menu.

As

to the hysterectomy, well, be prepared for a long recovery period. I had

several major issues so was in bad shape to begin with, but it took me longer

than I expected to feel better. Of course my digestion was in total

disarray, I’d just been diagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction two

weeks before a vaginal ultrasound identified the large and possibly malignant

ovarian cyst. The surgery was tough, and I had some problems getting

enough pain relief while in the hospital. It took me about 2 weeks before

I could comfortably wear clothes and more reasonably well, but had no energy to

spare. Lots of rest and sleeping. I returned to work at week

4. I slowly improved so that by 6 months following the hysterectomy I

could state that I was completely recovered.

Oh,

I forgot to mention that my bladder was seriously affected by the

surgery. It was open abdominal surgery, and they had to move the bladder

out of the way to get at all the organs. Following the surgery my bladder

wouldn’t work on its own initially, the nerve signals weren’t

reaching it. I was on a medication to promote bladder muscle movement for

about 6 weeks. Fortunately I only needed to use a catheter for a week;

the medication had kicked in enough that I could be released from the

hospital. I couldn’t tell when my bladder was full, so for a month

or so I had to just visit the bathroom every 2 hours just in case. Very

weird experience [grin].

I

ended up needing to be on a low-dose estrogen patch to keep my body

temperatures from fluctuating to extremes, which severely impacted both my

digestion and my nervous system. I talked it over with my gynecologist,

and did my research. The patch works well for me, and I’m still on

it. I periodically stop using it but my body goes into such a serious tailspin without

it that I resume using the patch.

I’m

so glad I went through the hysterectomy. Of course at the time I didn’t

have a choice. But although I wasn’t prepared mentally for all that

the surgery entailed or the long recovery, I’d do it again if I had to since

it took care of so many health problems for me. I felt better after 6 months

following the hysterectomy than I’d felt in many, many years.

Just

plan on getting plenty of rest. Cook foods ahead of time so you can have

plenty of good food available without having to spend energy cooking and

baking.

Kim M.

SCD 6 years

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 6+ years

neurological & spinal deterioration 3+ years

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If*

they say I need a hysterectomy then any advice from you guys? Regarding SCD, I

guess make as much yogurt, food and stock up while I can? If I make several

yogurt batches, just refrigerate and it'll be good for a few weeks, right

because I do not have anyone to make it for me. I don't like frozen chicken

soup but I guess that's doable? I'm sure bending, picking up, etc. won't be fun

for awhile.

Umm, can you just have the uterus removed without the ovaries to avoid wearing

the hormone patch?

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

I mean to ask this rhetorically: have they measured your hormone

levels to see if you might be in menopause ? Given you a trial of

progesterone to see if that will remove the leftover tissue causing the

spotting ?

I've been dealing with this off and on for a couple of years and

have to be watched pretty closely because I had endometrial

hyperplasia. I was told when your hormone levels drop---such as in

perimenopause---you get incomplete shedding of the lining, which builds

up and then causes the intermittent and/or mid cycle bleeding.

You can't let the extra lining stay---pre-cancercous condition---but

usually 10 days or so of progesterone will do the trick--at least for a

time.

Hope the biopsy goes well and you have good docs who will give you options.

Sue

[Guest guest]

Debbie,Several of my internal 'bits' were prolapsed. Are you having other problems? If not, why the hysterectomy and not an ablation? I would seriously consider getting some proper testing for your adrenal glands, thyroid, and sex hormones. I will bet you are estrogen dominant.AmeliaTo: BTVC-SCD Sent: Sun, May 16, 2010 1:25:00 PMSubject: Re: OT--Females Only

What type of reconstruction?

Thanks,

Debbie

On Sun, May 16, 2010 at 6:29 AM, Amelia Bhide <bhide_thehague@ yahoo.com> wrote:

Debbie,You will probably have an antibiotic with the surgery, so be prepared for that. The recovery should be very easy. Mine wasn't b/c I had loads of reconstruction as well, but my sister-n-law had one at the same time and she had stopped bleeding at day one -- versus me who had spotting for 8 weeks. We both had it vaginally, abdominally takes longer and you have a higher risk of wound/incision infection. You shouldn't pick up anything heavy (over 10 pounds I think) for several weeks post surgery. You can have the ovaries left, but if you have a family history of ovarian cancer your doctor will recommend you remove them.

That is about all I remember. Amelia

From: Debbie <texdebl (AT) gmail (DOT) com>To: btvc-scd <BTVC-SCD@yahoogroup s.com>

Sent: Sun, May 16, 2010 11:43:06 AMSubject: OT--Females Only

I just had a few tests, no results yet. Sonograms. I've had abnormal bleeding steadily since March--off and on for a long time. Since I haven't stopped bleeding, the tests were horrible ;-). Will have an inter-uterine biopsy next week (whatever it's called).

*If* they say I need a hysterectomy then any advice from you guys? Regarding SCD, I guess make as much yogurt, food and stock up while I can? If I make several yogurt batches, just refrigerate and it'll be good for a few weeks, right because I do not have anyone to make it for me. I don't like frozen chicken soup but I guess that's doable? I'm sure bending, picking up, etc. won't be fun for awhile.

Umm, can you just have the uterus removed without the ovaries to avoid wearing the hormone patch?

I do not know what the doctor will say yet. I just want to have plenty of go-to foods, yogurt and whatever else ready to go so I don't have to deal with it afterwards. I've had one surgery and it took forever to get over. I was miserable for a long time. I also didn't have to deal with stairs. I do where I live now. It was abdominal surgery and it was hard to work with my hands (dishes, crochet, typing, etc.). I also lived alone ;-). Ugh, I really wish circumstances were *different*. It would make it easier somehow but that's how it goes. Any/all advice welcome.

Thanks,

Debbie 41 cd .

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

I ran across a site by happenstance tonight. I was looking for an article

regarding the dangers of soy, and for some reason thought to look up some info

regarding Northup, who works for the soy council.

Long story short, I discovered a site by a former Northup patient who had a bad

experience. She was told by doctors that she'd need a hysterectomy to stop her

bleeding.

Oddly enough, she says that even though Northup didn't help her, she eventually

ran across a South African study -- which improved her health. The South African

study (which is located toward the bottom of the page) supposedly helped women

with uterine bleeding by increasing the amount of Vitamin A in their diet.

Eating doses of Vitamin A (in the form of Cod Liver Oil/Fat Soluble Vitamins) ..

and not from the Beta Carotene source, either --- supposedly, Vitamin A from

Vegetable sources won't help as much as the Cod Liver oil.

The page is here

http://users.rcn.com/cabbidge/Index.html

I really hope this helps. I've suffered from uterine bleeding (one time, heavy

bleeding for six months straight.)

I hope this helps you out. Bless you.

>

> I just had a few tests, no results yet. Sonograms. I've had abnormal

> bleeding steadily since March--off and on for a long time. Since I haven't

> stopped bleeding, the tests were horrible ;-). Will have an inter-uterine

> biopsy next week (whatever it's called).

>

> *If* they say I need a hysterectomy then any advice from you guys?

> Regarding SCD, I guess make as much yogurt, food and stock up while I can?

> If I make several yogurt batches, just refrigerate and it'll be good for a

> few weeks, right because I do not have anyone to make it for me. I don't

> like frozen chicken soup but I guess that's doable? I'm sure bending,

> picking up, etc. won't be fun for awhile.

>

> Umm, can you just have the uterus removed without the ovaries to avoid

> wearing the hormone patch?

>

> I do not know what the doctor will say yet. I just want to have plenty of

> go-to foods, yogurt and whatever else ready to go so I don't have to deal

> with it afterwards. I've had one surgery and it took forever to get over.

> I was miserable for a long time. I also didn't have to deal with stairs. I

> do where I live now. It was abdominal surgery and it was hard to work with

> my hands (dishes, crochet, typing, etc.). I also lived alone ;-). Ugh, I

> really wish circumstances were *different*. It would make it easier somehow

> but that's how it goes. Any/all advice welcome.

>

> Thanks,

> Debbie 41 cd .

>