Re: Re: Re: OT--Females Only- Questions

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim, my wife has had a hysterectomy/ovaries removed but has not been

given any hormones. Did they give you any lab tests (if so, which ones) to

determine if you needed any hormones like the estrogen patch? Thanks, Sam.

Re: Re: OT--Females Only

> 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?

>

>