<p>Oh my. Now the second opinion doc is telling me I need one. Yikes. It would be the type with tubes (endoscopy) but still six weeks recovery, three hours under anesthesia, instant menopause. </p>
<p>I really don’t want to do this. I have endometriosis apparently but it has improved considerably since starting low dose birth control six weeks ago. I’m 52.</p>
<p>I had hysterectomy at 40 , but I kept my ovaries . The recovery is comparable to a C - section , at least for me . I have 4 kids , and had 2 C-sections . A year later I had an abscess at the incision , which required another small surgery with sedation . Aren’t there all these new alternatives to hysterectomy ? You should check this out .</p>
<p>Don’t rush into it. Get another opinion and options. If you’ve had improvement with medication and there is no emergency reason to have surgery immediately then hold off and see if your condition improves further.</p>
<p>I had a complete hysterectomy at 36 due to severe problems with endometriosis. It completely changed my life in a positive way. I have been on hormone replacement since then, so I haven’t had to deal with menopause.</p>
<p>check out</p>
<p>[Hysterectomy</a> Support Discussions, Before Hysterectomy, After Hysterectomy, Recovery - HysterSisters](<a href=“http://www.hystersisters.com/]Hysterectomy”>http://www.hystersisters.com/)</p>
<p>Lots of advice an support.</p>
<p>I had a hysterectomy about 6 years ago. Left one ovary. Recovery was ok, just takes time… and you need to give yourself that time. I was the right decision for me to have the procedure and I haven’t looked back.</p>
<p>Sending you cyber hugs.</p>
<p>Sewhappy, I am so sorry to hear that. I had surgery for endometriosis twice in my thirties,but fortunately my problems diminished in my forties. Wishing you the best! Buy another nice shawl for yourself to cuddle up in if you must undergo this procedure!</p>
<p>If you proceed, check out the da vinci robot surgeries, faster recovery, smaller scars</p>
<p>
Surgery is never something to be taken lightly, but since the average age of menopause is 51, I don’t see how this affects your decision one way or the other. Menopause is imminent, surgery or no surgery.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the posts and pm’s. I just feel so much better having been on the low dose birth control for the last two months. No pain whatsoever. The thinking was that the adhesions on the ovaries could be/become cancer altho cat scan, mri and multiple ultrasounds indicate endometriosis. It was a woman gynecologist filling in for her male colleague who prescribed the birth control pills for me. She said let’s try this three months and then do another ultrasound. Then my dr came back and I saw him and he said let’s do the complete hysterectomy.</p>
<p>It’s sensitive but I think I’m going to request a switch to the woman gynecologist and follow her plan – another month on the pill and then another ultrasound. </p>
<p>I don’t want cancer, of course, but no radiologist has read my images and said that it looks like a malignancy. All have said that it looks like endometriosis.</p>
<p>I would switch MDs in a second and wouldn’t worry about being sensitive about it either. She obviously has your health as a priority and not her pocketbook. Her tactic in treating with meds seems to be working and makes much sense so continue.
The fact that MD#1 (if I read you right) pushes surgery even though meds are working for you is a HUGE red flag.</p>
<p>I had one about 8 years ago, when I was in pre-menopause. I went on hormones for a few years then stopped. I have had no ill effects and am glad I finally went through with it.</p>
<p>I had 6 week recovery. It really wasn’t a big deal, although I might investigate non-surgical alternatives, as much as changed in the past years. I don’t think surgery is the only option these days.</p>
<h1>11 might be a little extreme. The first doc might not just have his pocketbook in mind–if he’s been treating the OP for a long time, her condition could have been concerning for a while and he’s just decided to start treating it.</h1>
<p>If you’re more comfortable with the new doc, by all means switch to her–you should certainly be comfortable with your doctor, and if you were uncomfortable before but are happy with this new one, then all the more reason to switch. I think there’s a lot to be said for continuity of care though, and if the only reason you’d want to switch is that your regular doc suggested surgery, you might try discussing new doc’s plan with him next time you’re there. There could be a very legitimate reason he suggested surgery first, and I bet he’d discuss it with you next time!</p>
<p>I had endometriosis as well and begged doc for a hysterectomy at age 51. He asked me to try the low-dose BCPs. After a year, I begged him not to take me off! A year later I stopped, never had a period again and had NO menopausal symptoms.
I would wait but YMMV. Good luck!</p>
<p>Sewhappy - I had a hysterectomy last November (as well as other “repair” work). It was about a 6 week recovery for the hysterectomy part (longer for the other part). I had a different type of removal than your doctor is suggesting for you, and I kept my ovaries.</p>
<p>Hystersisters is an amazing place to get information and talk to other ladies going through the exact same thing as you are.</p>
<p>I’d second the Hystersisters site as a good place for information. I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago (large fibroids, long, nasty periods, and an enlarged uterus). I kept thinking that menopause would cure my problems, but I wasn’t menopausal even though I was 53. I got opinions from three doctors (one local hospital ob/gyn and two ob/gyns at Harvard teaching hospitals) and each one said the same thing–get a hysterectomy. </p>
<p>Ended up having surgery with the doc who headed up a center for research on fibroids. She was great–she helped me make a list of the pros/cons and told me I was the only one who could make the final decision. She also told me that some women really do need hysterectomies and that I shouldn’t feel badly about it. I had very few problems after the surgery. I took three weeks off–started working from home the fourth week. My doctor suggested I wait and see before starting on hormone therapy. As it turned out, I had few menopausal symptoms (a few night sweats that weren’t unbearable) so I never took any hormones. I was reluctant to do so because my mother died of breast cancer. </p>
<p>It sounds like you trust the female doctor–if I were you, I’d stick with her and see what she suggests. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone, for sharing your experiences and advice. This stuff is just not fun!</p>
<p>I called the practice, spoke with the office manager. She is switching me to the female doctor. It was very professional, nothing awkward. I will stay on the low doss BCP another six weeks, then have another ultrasound and meet with her. If my symptoms (pain) comes back I’ll go see her sooner.</p>
<p>I just have too many hesitations to go forward with the surgery right now.</p>
<p>Good luck to all as we navigate this “interesting” time of life.</p>