Hysterectomy Causes Heart Disease
The American Heart Disassociation
Heart disease was once thought to be less of a problem for women than for men. Research now indicates that heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among women in the US (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart Disease Facts and Statistics, 2008), while confirming that women with an intact uterus have a lower incidence of heart disease because they benefit from the uterine advantage.
In his article, "Prostacyclin From The Uterus And Woman's Cardiovascular Advantage," James D. Shelton writes, "Prostacyclin emanating from the uterus is proposed as a major contributor to the reduced risk of coronary disease among women." He refers to the uterus as a "systemically active organ whose removal significantly increases subsequent risk of myocardial infarction" (Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and medicine, 1982).
The American Heart Association reports that in 2006 there were 16.8 million cases of coronary heart disease in the US. About one in 18 Americans suffers from heart disease. This number would be much lower, if not for hysterectomy.
Studies reveal that premenopausal removal of the uterus is associated with a three-times-greater incidence and prevalence of heart disease (Brandon S. Centerwall, "Premenopausal Hysterectomy and Cardiovascular Disease," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1981) and that women who undergo a bilateral oophorectomy (surgical removal of the ovaries, castration) have a 5.5 times greater cardiovascular risk (Jacqueline C.M. Witteman et al, "Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis in Women After The Menopause," British Medical Journal, 1989). Other studies demonstrate that women who are castrated before age 35 are hospitalized for myocardial infarction 7.2 times more often than women with intact uterus and ovaries (Lynn Rosenberg et al, "Early Menopause and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1981).
Hysterectomy is the most commonly performed non-obstetric surgery in the US, and there is general consensus even among the medical community that a majority of hysterectomies are unnecessary. Hysterectomy rates are subject to variations that do not necessarily correlate with health factors. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for example, tell us that women in the South are 50 percent more likely to be hysterectomized than in the Northeast. And the hysterectomy rate among black women is 20 percent higher than among white women.
Some researchers and medical writers attempt to explain the higher incidence of hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries in black women by demonstrating that they have a higher incidence of fibroids. As the Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services (HERS) Foundation makes clear in the online educational video, "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs," fibroids are benign growths that rarely cause symptoms or problems, until a doctor spots them incidentally during a routine exam.
Although less than 1 percent of fibroids are cancer (William Parker et al, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1994), fibroids are the leading reason doctors perform hysterectomy. But women who are told they need a hysterectomy for fibroids may merely have the wrong doctor. Not surprisingly, not only are black women more likely to be hysterectomized, heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among black women.
The CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention reports that 870,000 people died in 2008 - 2,400 each day - from heart disease. "The cost of heart disease and stroke in the United States," the CDC concluded, "is projected to be more than $448 billion in 2008, including health care expenditures and lost productivity from death and disability." The financial burden and tragedy of heart disease as a result of hysterectomy is largely avoidable.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, one of every three women is hysterectomized before the age of 60, while the American Heart Association reports that nearly one out of every three women dies of heart disease.
Visitors to the "Go Red For Women" web site are encouraged to tell the American Heart Association "about the choices you've made to improve your well being." Women can avoid much of the risk of heart disease by retaining their uterine advantage - cardiovascular well-being that depends in large part on the lifelong functions of the uterus.''
Drastically reducing cardiovascular risk, circumventing much of the staggering cost of heart disease charged to medicaid and Medicare, and avoiding the tragic toll of thousands of strokes and deaths may be achieved by helping women avoid hysterectomy.
Published February 16, 2009 in Truthout.
Labels: cardiovascular, cysts, fibroid, heart, hysterectomy, laparoscopic supracervical LSH survey OBGYN.net endometriosis sex orgasm uterus cervix, ovary
posted by HERS Foundation @ 10:24 AM
95 Comments
95 Comments:
AND, doctors say the only purpose for the uterus is a baby carriage! Doctors are removing an organ that is very important to prevent heart disease.
I know this to be true because my cholesterol reading before my hysterectomy/castration was way below 200 and just after the surgery it was over 300 and still is. I even commented to the doctor that I never had high cholesterol so the surgery had something to do with it. His response was the surgery had nothing to do with it. LIER LIER PANTS ON FIRE!!!!
Another important reason not to have this surgery.
I also had a jump in my cholesterol reading. All my life it was around 150, but within six months after I was hysterectomized and castrated, it read up in the 170's. I have been afraid to get it tested again.
We know that doctors are keeping these facts hidden from women. I would like to hear from one woman out of the 22 million alive today who have been hysterectomized, that their doctor told them that by removing their uterus that they would be at increased risk for heart attacks? Just one.
Of course no doctor would tell a woman the complications of hysterectomy because we would be struggling with our 'tiny little minds' to understand them.
There are many aspects to the industry that is gynaecology and obstetrics. Most insidious is the preying upon vulnerable members of society for financial gain and practise. There is a racial and social aspect to this that ranges from institutionalised racism to the 'we know better' attitude that is endemic in the medical profession.
Keep up the good work HERS.
Thank you Ms. Coffey for your work in Women's Sexual Health. Keep the voice. A personal experience is that my mother suffered a heart attack after her hysterectomy within three years. Also, she was given the medication Amitriptyline (Elavil) that is given for surgical pain to help with the pain from the hysterectomy that ruined her life and left her in horrific pain. This drug also causes tachycardia. Her heart attack damaged 70 percent of her heart and she later died of congestive heart failure. After her hysterectomy, she could no longer enjoy sex as she and my father had a very healthy physical relationship. I also suffered higher blood pressure and blood sugar problems after a deep LEEP conization. It isn’t any wonder that women have heart attacks, diabetes and gall bladder problems from hysterectomies and deep LEEP conizations. Hysterectomies and deep LEEP conizations inhibit women from having cervical/uterine orgasms. When the cervix is bumped the uterus contacts from the nerve stimulation in the cervix and the pleasurable sensation is sent all the way to the brain stem for women who have innervated cervixes. When these nerves are cut, women cannot have this orgasm nor have the relaxation or stress release or the ahhhh feeling after an orgasm that both men and women feel. Also, women's ahhhh feeling of coming down from an orgasm is longer for a woman than a man. Masters and Johnson discovered this years ago. From the work of Dr. J.J. Collins, neurobiologist, Dr. Karen Berkley, neuroscientist; Dr. Mary Erskine and Dr. Beverly Whipple, women sexuality expert, one can see how the nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system is all interconnected. The nerves to the cervix exist in some women more than others. However, these nerves are connected to the heart as well; as well as, the colon, etc. Why do you think when we have a heart attack or die that we defecate. In general the nerve is referred to the vagus nerve, but it is much more detailed. Nerve enrichment is the cervix in some women is as much as in the penis of some men and is connected to the thalamus as the nerve endings in a man’s penis. These nerve endings send signals to the brain of when to dilate when to soften the cervix for delivery. These nerve fibers cannot be picked up on an MRI or sonogram. Some women experience mind blowing orgasms at the bumping of the cervix. However, European studies have revealed that women can never have an internal orgasm which was once thought to be by stimulated the G-Spot. The cervix can just as innervated or more than the clitoris. The hypogastric nerve is connected to the uterus as well. Among others, the nerves in the cervix and uterine horn are directly connected to the brain stem and controlled by the hypothalamus and thalamus as a man's penis. It is amazing that seizure medications, which suppress the hypothalamus, control pain in this area. What many women experience when they have a hysterectomy and LEEP procedure is nerve pain. One type of nerve pain is vulvodynia. Another symptom of a LEEP procedure is pelvic congestion, which most gynecologists do not know the cause. Pelvic congestion is similar to the vessels in the testicles becoming engorged or the penis becoming engorged with the inability to become relaxed and forcing the blood out of the vessels. Since women who have deep LEEP conizations that excise the cervix and the uterus engorges with blood during sexual excitement, there is nothing to bump to cause the uterus to contract and expel the engorged blood, creating a feeling of a basket ball shoved into a woman’s lower abdomen. Also, with regard to LEEPs and hysterectomies, when nerves are first cut, they are traumatized and they go numb; later they become inflamed and start hurting. What can happen to women with LEEP procedures and hysterectomies is that the nerves can try to grow back and there is no tissue for the nerves to grow in, thus creating neuromas, one of the most painful maladies known to any mammal. In addition, adhesions can form, this is also painful, so painful when any humane veterinarians see them in the abdominal area after performing an operation, euthanize the animal because of the life long suffering that the animal will have to face. Nerve mapping has been done for men for nerve sparing prostatectomy procedures. However, most gynecologists are not aware and most do not acknowledge in the United States that women have nerve endings in the cervix and uterus. This is what they are taught in medical school. In medical school when one earns an MD, this is like earning a technical degree; unlike a PhD where one had to come up with new knowledge in the field, conduct research and publish before a PhD is earned. MDs do not have to come up with new knowledge to earn their degree and most after med school are too busy practicing with their patients to keep up with current knowledge. Most gynecologists after ten years is a very much obsolete gynecologist. Yes, they have to take continuing education credits and most physicians do not choose on advancing knowledge. The choice of continuing education is usually based on a vacation spot like Hawaii where the course is being offered rather than the topic. Also, most MDs and gynecologists do not usually take a course in neurobiology, so gynecologist do not have an inkling about the nerve endings of women, where they are and what function they perform. They do not take classes in female sexuality and there is so little information out there. The information they do receive is that the clitoris is the only sex organ a woman has in achieving orgasm--which is totally untrue. Or that orgasm is only in a woman's mind. I don't know about you, but I can think of having an orgasm all day long without stimulation to those nerve endings and it won't happen. They are talking about desire which is totally different and is controlled by androgens and testosterone. Gynecologists threw Masters and Johnson out the window. Many women and sex therapist do not consider the nerves endings in the pelvic region--they are still holding to the same old myths. In 1800s, a gynecologist wrote that he was sorry that he had amputated women's cervixes because he saw the harm and pain it put women in. One would think that gynecologist would have picked up on this by now. No, because they do not have to take an evolution of gynecological thought which has not evolved, and they are really learning on what their professor learned and were taught since they are not required to research and contribute new knowledge to their field, thus damning women by repeating the same old mistakes for decades. Gynecology has really become obsolete; any internal medicine doctor can do what a gynecologist does. It has had over 100 years to get started and the discipline has made fewer advances than any other field of medicine in doing good. In fact, if their oath reflected their practice it would read, "do as much harm to women as we can." Also, many gynecologists do not listen to women and dismiss them by telling them their pain and lack of sexuality is all in their head after a surgerical procedure. Hundreds of women cannot all be wrong. Because MDs without PhDs are not scientist, nor are they required to think analytically, they cannot deduce the problem statement of why are some women orgasmically damaged, have an increase in heart attacks, and suffer pain by this procedures of hysterectomy and by LEEP procedures or by cutting out of their reproductive organs. My car mechanic is more analytical than most gynecologists that I have encountered. Any caring physician would look into the cries of these women and find out what is going on so his or her patients would not suffer the same. That is the responsibility of a physician. I was disappointed in Mr. Marcus Standley's comments attacking the reference citation dates; well the discovery of penicillin would also have an old date in a citation as well. I' m not citing, so if he chooses, he can go to www.scholar.google.com and look of the above mentioned names. However, my disappointment lies in the fact that he is not assessing or thinking critically that these women have been harmed and let’s uses our brain to see what the root cause of this suffering and alleviate this suffering or future suffering of women. It is not in their heads. After all lobotomies were always said to be a good thing by the physicians that did them. Also, most gynecologists when conducted usually consider research new techniques to better develop a surgical tool to cut out women's uteruses. Not, true research of why Gardisil causes genital warts, or why a woman's immune system can take care of the HPV virus, or why nerve damages from LEEPs causes premature menopause, or why hysterectomies cause nerve pain, or why anti-seizure medications that work on the hypothalamus work on pain from LEEPs and hysterectomies such as Neurotin, Lyrica and Topomax. A medical degree is really a technical degree and it is up to any physician to make it more. They do not have to write a dissertation to contribute new knowledge from research, and they can just regurgitate what their old out dated professor taught and pass out the medications that the pharmaceutical representative convinced them as being great, or cut out women’s reproductive sexual organs, never learning from one another because they are not required to read and research from the physicians who made these mistakes perhaps one hundred years before and chose to publish their mistakes. There is no accountability or governing board for physicians in the United States. Yes, the AMA is like the fox guarding the hen house, it is made up of physicians. And if you have a medical malpractice case, another physician only looks at reading the doctors medical notes; you will not be seen by a doctor; and doctors have been known to withhold the truth and have the notes reflect what they want leaving out that they slipped during the surgery and cut through your vaginal wall. I am not saying that this is all physicians, I have met a few who are not money motivated, but want to be healers. I have met some a gynecologists act out of ignorance, some who would not be disputed, one who thought it was God’s will for him to judge women, and a couple who really listened to their patients. But, keep in mind they do not have the tools to assess women or their sexuality; and a gynecologist is an orgasmic woman's adversarial health care provider. Gynecologist affects on women’s sexuality has been around at least since the 1970s with the books produced by the Boston Women's Group that talk about women's sexuality and how it is taken away by ignorant gynecologist because all are trained to be surgeons. Gynecological healthcare for women is sexist. Men are not given the HPV vaccination and that is where women contract the virus. Women are sexually profiled and asked how many sex partners they by physicians, men are not. Also this is dangerous; if a woman had sex with three virgins in her life then it will be assumed that she had sex with nine people. Orgasmic women are ridiculed by nurses and physicians when they discuss how it feels and what they have lost by their operations; men are not. If men experienced these same mutilations congress would convene and air raid sirens would sound. I have seen gynecologist s, who prided them as moral men of the community, judge women and cause them to suffer because they thought they were immoral women. I knew a gynecologist not giving a woman anything for the pain of childbirth while she suffered for 36 hours because she was having a child out of wedlock, and he told her well it is not as much fun as making it. Another one performed a LEEP without conclusive testing or suggesting a lesser invasive procedure because of his religious dogma of teaching this woman a lesson. I know of two male gynecologist that touched a woman’s clitoris with his finger and said it is was a neurological exam. There is no such thing as an established neurological exam and a gynecologist should only use a q-tip, never his finger. This is sexual assault. I have seen a gynecologist treat African American Women as if they are more promiscuous and perform surgeries on them. With the pain and not being able to have sex, they do not seem to care about the woman’s enjoyment but only if they can get you to where a man can insert his penis. This is quite telling about their sex lives or their wife. Gynecologists idea of a woman is one that does not want to have sex (low testosterone, low androgen) only has orgasmic capacity by clitoris stimulation and only nerve endings in the clitoris, the uterus is a baby bag, the cervix that has no nerve endings is the bottom of the plug that hold the baby in the uterus, and the vagina is where the penis shaft goes for his enjoyment and the baby passes using it as the birth canal. It is basically that simply of how they seem to think. Why do gynecologists get by with this type of behavior toward women? Because they know they can and there is no one that can stop them. The law and other physicians are behind them and on their side. They have no accountability. No woman should ever see her gynecologist alone so you can have a witness. The nurse on the side is not for you, it is a witness for the gynecologist, the one who pays her salary. I am about to say a sexist statement, but as things are going, I believe it is going to be up to the men to stop this. Until men are made to realize that gynecologists are ruining their sex lives as well, then there will be no stopping. Why do you think the nerve endings of men are mapped out. I find it curious that the only organ that a man thinks looks like a mini-penis, the clitoris, is not cut out in America. However, American gynecology is no different in destroying women’s sexuality than Muslum’s who circumcise a woman clitoris. By the way, it is usually a woman who does this. And I am ashamed to say, that it is by women that I have suffered the most ridicule and made fun of for my loss of sexuality and pain from this surgery. A man should go to the gynecologist with his lady, a woman with her partner if she is gay, and ask questions of sexuality, about other tests, draw up pre-surgery contracts for yourself, the doctors isn’t the only one who can do this. Don’t you think a gynecologist is more careful operating on an attorney? If a physician doesn’t understand you and your concerns about a surgery, then s/he will if you draw up your own contract and list of specific detailed questions that you make s/he sign with a witness.
And, as my attorney says, it all boils down to money, it is much more lucrative to perform a surgery than do routine pap smears and prescribe pills. Finally, when a woman is put in pain by her gynecologist, most will not have a clue of what medications to give the patient to relieve the pain. And if a physician or psychologist says, "it is all in your head," then that physician can no longer help you, find another one. A good gynecologist will ask you about your sexuality first before s/he performs any surgical procedure because each woman is different and s/he will only use surgery as a last resort to save your life. Not surgery as a preventative with Mild Dysplasia and no HPV or low risk HPV. Also, all dysplasia is not caused by the HPV virus. If that is the case, people have the HPV virus causing hip dysplasia. Dysplasia means abnormal cells which can mean an infection or just changes in the body from folic acid deficiency, etc. I have found those trained outside of the United States as schools such as McGill in Canada which is reflective of the European school of thought seem to know about women's sexuality. Remember, most gynecologist only think that women have orgasms by stimulation of the clitoris and the nerve endings in the cervix and vagina have nothing to do with the clitoris, yes this is stupid and out moded. To each woman, on this blog, I encourage you to never give up hope, our bodies are amazing things, consider holistic medicine, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, the pain will lessen. I am considering stem cells for the pain. I was used as a teaching example at my local medical school and told that I would never be out of pain by a gynecologist that recognized that women have innervated cervixes and not to do this to a woman. I refuse to believe that and no woman or anyone should ever believe that, remember the ones who put you in pain are telling you that, and what did they know then? By the way, gynecologists are clueless about stem cells in America. I found that 9000 mg of MSM and 3000 help with those inflamed nerves endings, does not totally take pain away. Dr. Tori Hudson in Oregon is a good Holistic person. Keep searching, keep hope and never never give up because someone needs you. The difference between a fighter and a survivor is: a survivor says I survived and may or may not tell the story, and a fighter says I survived and now it is time to protect others from suffering the same fate and show you cannot do this to me without repercussions. If you can find a lawyer to bring suit, go for it because medical cost is expensive and you didn't ask for this. But do it quickly because of the statue of limitations running out. Also, no attorney should charge for a medical malpractice case. I have found this to be the hardest part to be compensated at least for my medical expenses. Also, remember that when rocks create a ship wreck in the ocean, a buoy is usually placed over them to warn other ships. We need web page to put these ignorant, uncaring physician names, nurses and health care practitioners along with other suits to warn others.
I can't recall my user ID, but it's just as well because I work in a hospital. I'm a nurse and at 43 I was told I had to have a hysterectomy because of my uterus prolapsing from having 5 children. I regret it everyday. If you look at the most common side effects for women who have had their uterus removed but not their ovaries I have many of those symptoms, the most distressing being the lack of interest in sex, decreased sensuality & response. It certainly has put a damper on things. And of course the worst part about it is that I was uniformed of all of the possible side effects.
I had a nursing instructor tell me she has a friend who says, regarding sex, "You might as well be tapping my forehead"
I miss the feelings of comfort, resolution, after sex as well.
We were discussing it when a female doctor walked into the charting room & she said she had a hysterectomy & and she thinks it's wonderful. I would venture to guess it probably wasn't great before. She says she never hears of any bad side effects from her patients.
To tell you the truth, I haven't told the dr. who did mine either. I was so mad for a year & hurt I couldn't bring myself to tell HER what she has done to me. I can hardly look her in the eye. Thankfully I have only seen her at another hospital I infrequently work at only on occasion. I guess I don't have the nerve to confront her. I think I should print a copy of the questionnaire & request it to be put in my chart.
The nursing instructor also told me maybe hormones might help, but I have my ovaries.
Has anyone else had success with a little bit of hormones even with ovaries intact. Does it help? I would think not much since you don't have the uterus for the hormones & nerves to work from/on.
This nursing instructor also mentioned why do you think pregnant women have fantastic sex? From all of the increased blood flow to the area. What happens with a hysterectomy? Decreased blood flow to the perineal area, thus decreased feeling, sensation. It makes sense to me.
Frustrated & still angry after 4 years.
male in mich. I have been away and was just reading a post from an anon. poster who was observing and conversing at the 27th conference. I have in the past asked about stats on divorces after hysterectomy. I don't think that anyone has singled this out for concrete facts. What I found about this particular post was an observation about 2 women who were pleased with the surgery. But then the question, they were divorced, before or after, of course the answer was after. Another lady indicated her sister in law was divorced from her brother after the surgery. I now don't need stats to answer my original question. If it weren't for my fortitude my wife and I would have divorced shortly after her surgery over 6 years ago. The mood swings and disagreeable nature is the result of the butcherous medical profession treatment. I also have read a little of men being castrated and the health effects for them. Since it completely shunts the circle of hormonal balance regardless of male or female undergoing a castration will have devastating health effects for the rest of your life. Example: my wife has had menopausal type symtoms since about 6 months after her mutilation. Try living with that for over 5 years. Oh, and yes, sex ain't the same either. Not the same feeling at all, loose and many times painful. Not exactly a turn on for the man. I feel sorry for my wife who didn't realize what she was in for the rest of her life.
My ob/gyn I trusted for many years, Dr. Richard C. Muckerman, II, castrated me for a benign mucinous cystadenoma on one ovary. The surgery took place at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis.
Not only did Dr. Muckerman lie about my condition and rush to get me into surgery (with the help of his nurse) before I could learn the horror and devastation of castration, he also failed to tell me the following facts, all of which I‘ve since learned from HERS (this is probably not a comprehensive list).
1) The ovaries are endocrine glands. They produce hormones throughout a woman’s life; their functions end only upon death or removal. These hormones affect every cell in the body and are critical to overall health - physical, emotional, mental and sexual.
2) Removal of the uterus increases risk for heart disease 2.7 times that of an intact woman.
3) Removal of the ovaries increases risk of heart disease 7 times that of an intact woman.
4) Removal of the ovaries or premature ovarian failure after hysterectomy dramatically increases risk of osteoporosis.
5) The uterus AND ovaries are key to sexual health, both libido and response.
6) The uterus is key to feelings of love and bonding.
7) The nerves at the bottom of the uterus that are cut or damaged during hysterectomy are critical to overall body sensation. They do not only affect the pelvic area.
8) The uterus is key to the pelvic structure. It’s removal causes the spine to compress resulting in a distended abdomen and back, hip and leg problems.
9) The uterus holds the bladder and bowel in place. It’s removal predisposes women to incontinence.
10) No drug, treatment or procedure can compensate for the loss of the uterus or ovaries.
[edited first two lines] I read the history of castration and the heinousness of it's uses as torture concerning males in history. I find that sometimes after castration torture the males were put to death after the torture treatment was finished or the males committed suicide to spare themselves from the lifetime of torture ahead of them. In history the perpetrators in war who castrated males where gaining the castrated man's power, sociopath behavior or worse.? But for the tens of millions of women now who are castrated and de-sexed by OB/Gyn doctors, [edited] it appears the medical industry prefers the lengthy torture treatment as it is very profitable with the physical and psychological medical maladies it causes in women (and men).
I found this interesting current news in history several days ago.
"STRASBOURG, France (AFP) – The Council of Europe's anti-torture committee on Thursday demanded an immediate end to surgical castration for sex offenders in the Czech Republic.
In a report published following March visits to two Czech psychiatric hospitals and two Czech prisons, the committee said the practice "amounts to degrading treatment.
"Surgical castration is a mutilating, irreversible intervention and cannot be considered as a medical necessity in the context of the treatment of sex offenders," it said.
"The intervention removes a person's ability to procreate and has serious physical and mental consequences.
"Moreover, given the context in which the intervention is offered, it is questionable whether consent to the option of surgical castration will always be truly free and informed," it added, contesting the Czech authorities' position.
"As was found during the visit, a situation can easily arise whereby patients or prisoners acquiesce rather than consent, believing that it is the only available option to them to avoid indefinite confinement."
The Council of Europe had already expressed concerns over Prague's programme in 2007.
The use of surgical castration for such offenders has stirred ethical debate around the world.
Within Europe, Britain, France and Poland have moved to test chemical methods for convicted paedophiles.
Since 2000, around 300 Czech patients have undergone chemical castration, with around 50 undergoing the surgical removal of genitalia, according to Czech government statistics.
But the committee said Prague -- which has since taken the rotating presidency of the European Union -- had provided "inexact information" on the numbers.
The Council of Europe brings together 47 nations with a parliamentary assembly -- made up of legislators from the member states -- that meets four times a year to discuss topical issues and set out recommendations."
On ABC World News Sunday, they had a segment about "internet ratings" for doctors and what angry doctors are doing about it. Get this, they are making their patients sign a contract stating that they won't rate them on the internet. Can you imagine? If they don't sign the contract, the doctor will not see them, lol! This is the first time in history that there is a place where people can really get information about doctors, and of course they don't want the public to see the truth.
There is a story in the news today reporting that Iran has planned to execute 8 women by stoning them to death because they committed adultery. As heinous as that is, the United States is not any better. This year gynecologists will perform over a half a million unnecessary surgeries to amputate the sex organs of women for profit.
Similar to the phrase "Friends don't let friends drink and drive," we need to coin the phrase "Friends don't let friends have hysterectomies".
I'm sure just about every hyst victim had a friend (or relative) who could have stopped them from being victimized. In most cases, we don't consider them friends any more!
I have certainly made it my mission (as everyone on this blog probably has) to stop other women from going through this hell on earth. If every other hyst victim did the same, we could greatly reduce the number of these surgeries. But knowing how cruel people can be, a law would be even more effective.
Mad as Hell, I totally agree. That's a great quote: "Friends don't let friends have hysterectomies". I have also been deceived and lied to by other women so they can protect their illusions. I guess it makes them feel better to watch other women being harmed. They don't want to admit they were duped into it just like millions of other women, so they promote it, how sick.
Regarding the attempts by doctors to stop patients from rating them on websites - I'm not at all surprised! The doctors are also making every attempt to stop lawsuits as if tort reform hasn't done enough! It sure affected my chance for justice since every lawyer I saw told me I had a case but tort reform slashed non-economic damages by more than half thus making it difficult to offset the costs.
I saw a new gyn after my hyst and was asked to sign a form to go through arbitration versus suing for any issues that arose. I didn't sign it but it wasn't an issue anyway as this gyn was "mainstream" actually going so far as to justify my surgeon's unethical (lying) tactics so no desire to go back to that practice!
I saw this and thought it was bad advice. Scroll down the page to hysterectomy and then scroll on the links. I know that this advice would not be given to men - i.e. 'if you have had all the children you need' line. I expect that in the UK at least, hysterectomies will rise because of cervical abnormalities. ONLY referring to the pre cancerous cells.
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2764
Comments regarding ovarian cancer have been moved to the ovary option post.
I am castrated(at age 39),and have unexplained severe chest pain. I am seeing a Cardiologist in a few weeks. Any advice?
Also, I am new to this blog and HERS....I would like to read Nora's entire story.....can a link please be provided?
Soon, I will tell my own horror story....need courage right now.
Thank you,
A
To A,
It's very sad that you are now having to cope with the myriad of problems caused by hysterectomy. There are many women who post on HERS blog who understand what you're experiencing. You've got a built-in support system here.
You can read the whole story about Nora Coffey in the new book The H Word, co-authored by Nora and Rick Schweikert. You can read about the book at http://www.hersfoundation.com/hword/
Hi My name is Shelley and I am 43 years old this year. For years I seeked help from my family doctors and OB's asking and looking for something to help me. I even sought counseling cause I thought something was wrong with me, in why I didn't want to have sex with my 2nd husband. I didn't understand....I was 28 or 29 when I got that procedure done. except they took everything out. uterus and falopian tubes. I got married again to my 2nd husband at 30. within 1year we started having marital problems, sex was the big one. I thought maybe he didn't turn me on...cause by then I was having sex cause he needed it. I got nothing from it. after 9years we divorced. Nobody could help me. My doctors would recommend estrogen/progesterone and then black cohosh. Now I have been taking effexor since a year after my hystorectomy cause i was emotionally unstable. i thought my marriage was the problem. I can't explain how long I have been searching for answers....and now I am with a wonderful man, who loves me....and I don't get sexual or get feel the need for sex. when we have it, it is nice cause I love him...i want to please him, but to be completely honest I don't feel the need for sex and that distroughts me. cause now that I am reading this...I don't know what to say. I have been castrated at 28/29 and now I am 43, and NOW i know why i feel the way i do...and all these years of no dam doctor knowing why i am feeling the way I am is downright malicious and I am completely heart torn. I have been raped of my woman hood. cause some doctor said I had endometrius or what ever that is, and me so out of it in pain, my dad gave the dr permission to do that surgery on me. I can't remember the doctors name but i think i can find out the hospital...corpus christi tx is not that big.
What can I do? is there any kind of surgery to change this? any kind of implant? or is there meds that can help my sexual desire at all??
Shelley
After seeing a few gynecologists for heavy bleeding, I sought a endocrinologist/fertility specialist. They specialist in hormones and this doctor is more compassionate about keeping a woman's organs.
After blood tests and an ultra sound, he said my fibroids were not causing me any problems and I just had a hormone imbalance and we are working with that issue now to clear up my heavy bleeding. He put me on prometrium which is a natural progesterone. I learned the first hormone to go progesterone. Without it in the uterus, the lining builds up from the estrogen and then you have heavy bleeding.
WARNING about so-called natural hormones:
The promotional product information in the previous post was edited.
First, it's important to note that exogenous (taken in any form, pill, patch, cream or injection) progesterone makes fibroids grow rapidly. Second, the drug she was promoting has many known adverse effects. This is from the drug manufacturer, Solvay's website:
What are the risks associated with PROMETRIUM Capsules?
• Risk to the Fetus: Rare cases of cleft palate, cleft lip, and congenital heart
defects have been reported in the infants of women using PROMETRIUM
Capsules during early pregnancy. Although it is not clear that these events
were drug related, you should check with your healthcare provider about the
risks to your unborn child of any medication taken during pregnancy.
• Abnormal Blood Clotting: Use of progestational drugs has been associated
with changes in the blood-clotting system. These changes allow the blood to
clot more easily, possibly allowing clots to form in the bloodstream. If blood
clots do form in your bloodstream, they can cut off the blood supply to vital
organs, causing serious problems. These problems may include a stroke (by
cutting off blood to part of the brain), a heart attack (by cutting off blood to
part of the heart), a pulmonary embolus (by cutting off blood to part of the
lungs), visual loss or blindness (by cutting off blood vessels in the eye), or other problems. Any of these conditions may cause death or serious long-term
disability. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect you have
any of these conditions. He or she may advise you to stop using this drug.
• Eye Abnormalities: Discontinue medication and call your healthcare provider
immediately if you experience sudden partial or complete loss of vision,
blurred vision, or sudden onset of bulging eyes, double vision, or migraine.
What are the possible side effects of PROMETRIUM Capsules?
Consult your healthcare provider if you experience any of the side effects
mentioned below or other side effects.
SIDE EFFECTS REPORTED IN STUDIES OF PATIENTS AT DOSES OF
100 MG/DAY to 400 MG/DAY:
Blood and Lymphatic System: swelling of the lymph nodes
Cardiovascular System: high blood pressure, hot flashes, pounding or racing
of the heart
Digestive System: bloating, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, heartburn,
indigestion, nausea/vomiting
General Disorders: abdominal pain (cramping), back pain, chest pain, fatigue,
fever, fluid retention, headache, intestinal pain, stomach pain, swelling,
swelling of the legs and arms
Infections: bronchitis, fungal vaginal infection, infections, inflammation of the
vagina, upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, viral infection
Musculoskeletal System: arthritis, joint pain, muscle or bone pain, leg
cramps, muscle cramps
Nervous/Psychiatric System: anxiety, confusion, decreased concentration,
depression, dizziness*, drowsiness*, irritability, mood swings, personality
disorder, sleep disorder, worry
Respiratory System: coughing, fluid in sinus cavities, nasal congestion, sore
throat, fluid in the lungs
Reproductive System: breast pain, breast tenderness, vaginal discharge,
vaginal dryness, uterine fibroid
Skin: acne, night sweats
Eyes: blurred vision
Kidney and Urinary System: urinary problems
*Use caution when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery as dizziness
or drowsiness may occur.
During the marketing of PROMETRIUM Capsules, other adverse events have
been reported, including reversible cases of liver problems, particularly in
patients taking high doses. Additionally, rare occurrences of fainting and/or
low blood pressure have also been reported.
These are some of the warning signs of serious side effects:
Be alert for unusual signs and symptoms. If any of these warning signals
(or any other unusual symptoms) happen while you are using PROMETRIUM
Capsules, call your healthcare provider immediately:
– Breast lumps (Ask your healthcare provider to show you how to examine
your breasts monthly.)
– Pain, swelling, or tenderness in the abdomen
– Tremors or seizures, migraine headaches, shortness of breath or asthma,
heart problems, or kidney problems
– Abnormal bleeding from the vagina
– Feelings of depression
– Pains in the calves or chest; a sudden shortness of breath; or coughing
blood, indicating possible clots in the legs, heart or lungs
– Severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, faintness, or changes in vision or
speech; weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, indicating possible clots in the brain or eye.
Let the buyer beware!
I agree with the woman's comment on March 23. I also use prometrium and have never had any negative side effects. I have never known anyone to experience the side effects posted below her note either. Women need to explore it further. It's natural and has the same molecular structure as what a woman's body makes. It is plant based. It's too bad when women have an opinion that is different from the author's of this website that is is modified and contradicted.
Anonymous,
HERS has a responsibility to readers to not allow erroneous, and possibly dangerous, information to be posted.
This blog is for the exchange of information, not promotion.
I am fortunately an intact 52 year old woman. I have health problems: low thyroid(can cause cholesterol to skyrocket or test positive for glaucoma if not kept in check) a few ovarian cysts, a cervical polyp that was removed but came back, and I still have regular but sometimes heavy periods.
The doctors have been recomending a hysterectomy for years, but for some reason I have said no. I have only one friend that has not had a hysterectemy. I see red flags everytime I talk to a doctor or nurse when I try to get answers on my issues. I don't want to get ovarian, cervical, or uterine cancer. Those can be avoided by removal, but I already have screwed up hormones and don't want premature heart problems and all the other maladies associated with hysterectomies.
But who can I trust to help me in Oregon?
Ok I had a Hysterectomy my doctor spent many hours going over all the things It could cause and yes heart disease was one very first things he went over and every time I saw him he went over it. As for my cholesterol it went down by 50 points ..needless to say I am a very small person to begin with. Its sad anyone could of said "NO" to having a hystercetomy and yet they blame there doctor for not informing them .It was up to me to do my homework befor I have anything done to my body it's one of the best things I have ever done ..I am now pain free after 8 years and let me add this my doctor was reculant to do a hysterectomy I pushed for it knowing ALL the risks.
A short blurb on the patient education material I was given by the OB/GYN practice, before surgery, mentioned the association between hysterectomy and heart disease. But "the blurb" certainly did not explain why hysterectomy causes heart disease. That would have ruined the OB/GYN Gynecologist's sex organ amputation scam, now wouldn't it.
The gynecologist surgeon had this one "down". He said, "does heart disease run in your family?". I said "no". The gynecologist then said, "well, then this doesn't concern you, this concerns a women if heart disease runs in her family".
In my opinion a woman being led to believe she needs a sex organ amputation surgery by an OB/GYN is at the wrong doctors office period and is in grave danger of becoming another "OB/GYN Scam Statistic". I would suggest going to an "oncologist" and having the oncologist prove you have female sex/reproductive organ cancer before making any decision.
As far as women researching their own medical questions concerning sex organ amputation or female sex organ health goes. Hers Foundation will help you to remain intact and protect your future health and sexuality by telling you the truth about the female sex organs and their physiological and sexual functions.
To the anonymous poster above who said, "Its sad anyone could of said "NO" to having a hysterectomy and yet they blame there doctor for not informing them."
I say, any women could "say no" to a sex organ amputation unless the women is drugged and attacked in the emergency room by a gynecologist surgeon or the anesthesiologist starts the anesthesia behind a woman's back when the women is trying to stop the hysterectomy surgery because she becomes suspicious in the pre-op room.
I agree with the women who said that (in my own words here) it is impossible to say no to surgery when hospital personnel put you to sleep without informing you and then amputate your organs (even when you refuse to sign a consent as I did). I'm happy for the woman who thinks she made a good informed decision regarding hysterectomy and I'm also happy to hear that her doctor told her the truth about the consequences and was even reluctant to do the surgery. This woman, as most of us know, is an extremely rare example though.
To Anonymous who said "Its sad anyone could of said "NO" to having a hystercetomy and yet they blame there doctor for not informing them." FYI, I said NO multiple times when hysterectomy was being pushed on me. I only agreed to have one ovary removed if it could not be saved. Based on that, I was given no information about risks and side effects of hysterectomy because that was not the surgery I agreed to. I was put under anesthesia without my knowledge. I woke up with my uterus, both ovaries and cervix amputated without any medical basis. What would you suggest I do when saying NO didn't work?
In regard to the "Anonymous" post that having her sex organ removed was the best thing she ever did. I always find it interesting how someone who is so happy about having their sex organs removed, and even feels that out of their whole life, it was the best thing they ever did, would have the time to search the internet for hysterectomy blogs describing the side effects and consequences. Maybe you're not as happy as you are saying about your sex organ amputation surgery. Seems that if you were, you'd be busy doing other things.
To anonymous, "one of the best things I have ever done".
Canoeing in Canada was "one of the best things I have ever done". Sex organ amputation and "best things I have ever done" would never be in the same sentence if the woman was honest. A very common women will say "it was the best thing I ever did". Gynecologists, laughing all the way to the bank, are laughing at you behind your back. Women should not be legally subjected to sex organ amputation/hysterectomy and oophorectomy/castration by ob/gyn medical deceit, period. Women are so embarrassed by learning the medical truth after the sex organ amputation/mutilation that they are minimizing the devastating consequences of hysterectomy to save their self image.
The gynecologist with malice medically lied to perform a major sex organ amputation and placed you in grave physical danger because you didn't "do my homework"?. How insulting, degrading and beyond the boundaries of inhumanity your comment is, anonymous. ACOG doesn't provide "all the risks" or all the facts concerning female sex organ amputation and castration, I doubt your gynecologist did!. Sex organ amputation/castration by medical deceit for profit is nothing short of premeditated torture.
I agree with CT – If anonymous is “so happy” with her hyst, she wouldn’t be on websites posting about her experience. She’d be living life. I know if my life was unchanged or better after my sex organ amputation, I wouldn’t be on any of the sites I’ve been frequenting for the last several years! I’d much rather be living my former life of normalcy than the hellish existence that’s the new “normal” for hysterectomized / castrated victims of these greedy, con artist ob/gyns.
My long-time ob/gyn did not only fail to tell me ANY of the adverse effects of having the uterus and ovaries removed, he out and out lied about the condition of my ovaries to get my consent. My uterus and one ovary were perfectly healthy. He also lied about the alternative treatment about which I asked and he failed to inform me of any other treatments. He also failed to follow the recommendation of the oncologist to whom he referred me but instead did a “pelvic clean-out.”
The oncologist’s behavior was also suspect as he was not upfront with me about my condition and his recommendation for treatment. And his records were rife with significant errors (including stating that my sister had ovarian cancer which is untrue). Not being upfront or merely agreeing with the referring physician’s recommendation appears to be a very common tactic by specialists to protect their referral base as almost all of their business comes from referrals. And medical records rife with incorrect information is also common and done to protect their liability. Shame on all doctors using these tactics; they are just as guilty in this con game!
To Anonymous who said her hyst was "one of the best things I have ever done" and that her doctor informed her of all the risks of sex organ amputation. Did he also inform you that you would age rapidly – inside and out (with or without hormone “replacement”)? Did he inform you of the changes that would occur to your physique? Your spine will compress causing your rib cage to fall toward your hip bones eventually coming to rest on your hip bones. This will cause your abdomen to get larger and larger and the curve in your back to disappear. These changes will affect your mobility. Since it’s been 8 years since your hyst, I suspect a lot of this spine compression has already occurred.
Anonymous also said:
“Its sad anyone could of said "NO" to having a hystercetomy and yet they blame there doctor for not informing them .”
It’s every doctor’s duty to fully inform their patients of both the risks and benefits of any treatment they “prescribe.” And the adverse effects of hysterectomy and ovary removal have been documented in medical literature for over a century so ignorance is NO EXCUSE! No patient should be expected to have to peruse medical journals to determine if their doctor is scamming them! And the fact that 1 in 3 women has a hysterectomy by the age of 60 gives a false sense that the surgery is “safe.” It’s incomprehensible that a surgery that’s so devastating could be so common.
Every doctor takes the Hippocratic Oath to “first, do no harm.” Since hysterectomies and oophorectomies are inherently permanently damaging, these doctors are violating their oath. This should be criminal!
I love how this person makes it sound like it's a woman's fault that a gynecologists lies and deceives her into a surgery room. That would be like saying that it was Ted Bundy's victim's fault that he killed them because they didn't get to know him well enough before he killed them, or they would have known he was a murderer. As if they should have known what was coming, but since they didn't, it's their fault. In this person's view, doctors are only there to perform surgery, not dispense any accurate information. Why is there a standard of care, licenses and regulations? Where does it say anywhere that it is the patient's responsibility to figure everything out and to research everything, and not listen to the doctor? In this person's view, we shouldn't bother even having police, we should just blame the victim. The only thing I can say is that if the "best thing you ever did" was have your sex organs removed, then you must have had a pretty sad life prior to that. Most people say their marriage or their kids are the best thing, so it seems like there's a serious psychological problem when someone really thinks that's the "best thing they ever did" was have their sex organs amputated. I think that would make any reasonable thinking person wonder about a woman's psychological state when she enjoys having her sex organs amputated, and disparages other women who didn't enjoy it.
1. Wikepedia: "The Hippocratic Oath is an oath traditionally taken by physicians pertaining to the ethical practice of medicine. The phrase "Above all, do no harm" is usually attributed to the oath."
2. Wikepedia: "Although mostly of historical and traditional value, the oath is considered a rite of passage for practitioners of medicine, although it is not obligatory and no longer taken up by all physicians."
The Hippocratic Oath is archaic and outdated. The Hippocratic "oath" carries no legal weight. The Hippocratic Oath is a "promise" and is a "tradition".
The "Hippocratic Oath" is a Joke!. I believe this is proven to the extreme by the numbers of women without sex organs, amputated for benign conditions, in the U.S. and abroad.
What do you think the predator gynecologists are thinking while they are laughing their way through the "Hippocratic Oath"? Something like: O.K...I promise not to harm my gynecological patients unless I take pleasure in harming women and their families. I promise not to harm my gynecological patients unless there is money in it for me and my family to vacation and live "high on the hog".
The OB/GYN's know they are not bound by "law" or the "Hippocratic Oath" to not "harm women". The "Hippocratic Oath" is more of a "right of passage" for a sociopath or psychopath gynecologist given "free reign" to "harm women".
Sophomore Medical Student, Philip Markoff, suspected "Craigslist Killer" will be arraigned on murder charges. Police are begging other victims to come forward.
Daily.News: "At a Halloween party their sophomore year, Markoff showed up dressed as a "mammogram," in a box with a sign that said, "Free mammograms here."
I was 15 and my mother 48 when she was castrated. She was an OR nurse and to this day does not believe that hysterectomy causes issues. She is 83. When she went through nurse's training and as an OR nurse, the RN's were made to stand when a surgeon entered the room and you did not talk friendly to them. What power for a surgeon to feel. God like! She is brain washed and I believe that most doctors still have this ingrained in them.
Having lived through the ordeal with her and still being with her to this day I can look back and understand. She had a heart attack 5 years post hyster. She has high blood pressure and actually died one night when her pressure went haywire. Our relationship changed dramatically and after she retired she became a hermit. The only people she feels comfortable with are her children.
Unfortunately, July, 27,2006 I was told I was going in to surgery for the removal of a " Most likely cancerous. " cystic ovary and was given the consent form for a TAH " Just in case " when I was in pre op with an IV in my arm. I was, as I am learning is the norm, gutted, castrated, hysterectomised, patted on the head and sent home. " Better than ever "
I was a VERY healthy, sexual, energetic 47 year old married for the first time in my life just before my " gift ". I was looking forward to a LOT of sex and fun and retirement with my once in a lifetime guy. We have attempted sex, maybe 5 times in the last 2 years. It is to painful to endure. I can not stand being naked in front of him my body so became not mine. I no longer want to cuddle. When once my heart nearly jumped from my chest when he walked in the room, I now feel nothing. I do not know how long our marriage will last. I feel guilty keeping him from being happy and sexual. I have spent thousands on doctors trying to find help.
My father died from a heart attack at 55. His father at 47. My OB GYN knew this. I am now at a much greater risk for heart disease.
I had back surgery due to a herniated disk in 1989. I had no problems with it. Was told to stay thin and keep my stomach muscles strong. I had informed my OB GYN Dr. Brian Reutherford of Grass Valley, Ca. of this. He preformed a TAH anyway. Cutting all the supportive muscles. I now have back pain, hip pain, right leg pain. It is hard to walk up stairs. I have gained 45 lbs. I was once ' the life of the party '. Always joining in. Once a mountaineer and backpacker. I now plan my shopping when I feel no one I know will be out or I shop out of town.
I loved gardening and when I try ANY of the things I once enjoyed I now feel like I just do not understand the point. I feel confused. It seems hardly worth the effort. My brain is muttled. My thoughts scrambled.
My mother, bless her pointed little head, gets angry at me. Tells me to, " Just GET OVER IT and quit reading all the negativity on that damn internet. THAT'S your whole problem!! "
I do not believe I would still be here if I had not found HERS on the internet. I now know it is not ' in my head '. I am not alone. I have been on other site's, one in particular banned me 4 times. I try to tell the truth to women but as that one is a MEDICAL site they do not want prospective dollars to change their minds. It is insane the amount of false information they give to women who just are looking for the truth.
I loved the post stating castration is the procedure given to women going through a sex change. I feel as if I have been turned into a big zero. Even the woman/man who gave birth chose to kept her uterus and ovaries. Ironic! Even he/she was treated with more respect than we were.
To Mad as Hell
I DO send the butcher who did this to me updates. He did actually respond to one of them. If it is OK I could post it here. I also sent him the books The H Word and Misinformed Consent. Not that he has the ' balls ' to read them but I feel better knowing he just might.
I also want to say that I believe one of the reasons he took my sex organs against my wishes, even though I had but a benign cyst, is because I had excellent medical insurance. I was talking with a woman who is on state aide and she could not get a doctor to LOOK at her even though she had massive bleeding and pain for over 6 months. And she WANTED a hysterectomy!
They are all working together to ruin lives for profit.
Regarding Anonymous' doctor's response to her updates - Hopefully, HERS will say it's okay to post his response. If not, it seems like you could at least paraphrase what he said.
I also mailed a copy of "Misinformed Consent" to my long-time liar ob/gyn who castrated me for $1000 for a 1 hour surgery.
I will be mailing him a copy of "The H Word."
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Foggy,
The book you referred to, and it's author, center around the wonders of bio-identical hormones, and she individualizes them to a woman's needs.
The home page of her website is filled with promotions to take hormones. Nowhere on her website does it mention the risks: breast cancer, blood clot that can cause a stroke, liver cancer, etc.
Her website says that an in-depth consultation with her is the phenomenal cost of $1,800. New patient lab work is $1,900 to $2,700. A one hour second opinion consultation, a whopping $795. A 90 minute second opinion consultation, $995.
Like the rest of medicine, bio-identical hormones are big business, and women are the target market.
So what do you do?? ANY hormones?? I am so exhausted and uncaring about everything. WHAT DO WE DO TO FEEL BETTER??
Nothing
And in tact women and men don't want to know about our petty little issue.
And our husbands and friends think we need an anti-depressant. And our employer has had it. And we have had it because life as we knew and loved it is forever gone.
Just what are we supposed to do to feel OK.
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To Mad as Hell May 14 7:12 pm
Wow!! You got off cheap! My doctor decided he was worth, and received, $2,500 for the hour and a half it took him to take MY sex organs.
Don't tell me, you got on line and shopped around didn't you!
The creep that took my sex organs got a whopping $1,500 for ruining my health, but it's really the hospital that makes out because they billed over $20k and get to write off what the insurance company doesn't pay. Welcome to healthcare in the United States.
I had cancer and I am glad to be rid of my uterus and ovaries... I would rather be alive than dead.
Cancer is the ONLY reason a uterus should be removed. Thank goodness the ability to cure this type of cancer is available. No one would disagree with this. You are lucky they caught it early. Best wishes for continued health.
We should not miss the most important issue, and that is not whether the surgery would be life saving, it is whether a woman has been fully, accurately informed of the adverse effects of hysterectomy. It is only then that she is able to make an informed decision about what she will, and will not, allow to be done to her body.
"glad to be rid of my uterus and ovaries",
This statement sounds more like a person who is minimizing hysterectomy, like a gynecologist. Imagine a man saying "I'm glad to be rid of my prostate gland and balls, being alive is better than being dead". This statement would be absurd considering a male saying the statement, cancer or not. Most men would say they would rather be dead than castrated, for good reason.
Natural alternative treatments are available in women's health today. The natural treatments do not include female sex organ amputation and female castration. In my opinion hysterectomy and oophorectomy should have been medically discarded as treatment long ago, like the archaic medical treatment of "bloodletting".
Wikipedia-"Bleeding" a patient to health was modeled on the process of menstruation. Hippocrates believed that menstruation functioned to "purge women of bad humors". Galen of Rome, a student of Hippocrates, began physician-initiated bloodletting."
I agree with "HERS". Sign the HERS Petition.
I take a bio-identical progesterone called prometrium. I am so grateful to have it. It helps me sleep. I do not view bio-identical hormones as robbing women. I am grateful because it gives me a quality of life - it is plant based and not made from chemicals or horse urine like the synthetic ones are from - those are the ones that can increase the risks of heart disease, etc. Not the natural plant based ones. I avoided a hysterectomy and the hormones keeps my uterine lining clean. When progesterone stops, the estrogen keeps going and often builds up the lining in the uterus lining which often leads to cancer. I intend to keep taking it for life. It helps me in so many other ways as well.
Exerpt from the "Prometrium" web site:
"Transient dizziness may occur in some patients; they should use caution when driving or operating machinery; for these women, bedtime dosing may be advised.[2]
The most common adverse events reported in postmenopausal women receiving PROMETRIUM® 200 mg were: breast tenderness, dizziness, abdominal bloating, vaginal discharge, chest pain, and diarrhea.[2]
The most common adverse events reported in postmenopausal women receiving PROMETRIUM® 400 mg were: headache, dizziness, breast pain, musculoskeletal pain, and viral infection.[2]
Progesterone with or without estrogens should not be used to prevent heart attacks or heart disease. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia. You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with PROMETRIUM® Capsules."
Hormones. Nightmare. I cannot find a hormone replacement to 'fix' me. I was not broken before my castration. We tried sex last night for the first time in over a year. It was too painful to continue. I am a non sexual thing. Anyone have a 'fix' for my shriveled, dis-functioning vagina??
In response to anonymous of Aug 11:
You stated "progestins" and you are correct - the womens study concluded it contributes to heart attacks, breast disease, etc. Prometrim is not from "Porogestins". It is natural "progesterone" from plants. There is a huge difference. The synthetic kind with "progestins" is definitely dangerous. I had horrible side effects from provera that has "progestins" but not from prometrium which has natural "progesterone". You might read "What your doctor may not tell you about Pre-menopause" no matter where you are in menopause.
The last comment is clearly an advertisement by someone who profits from the sale of the product they refer to as "Natural Progesterone".
The only natural progesterone is endogenous, progesterone produced by the ovaries.
There is nothing safe about progesterone or other hormones that are exogenous(manufactured, not produced by the ovaries). The ovaries produce all of the many different hormones women need, at the time that they need them, in the quantity needed, in response to the endocrine's systems recognition they're needed. They are then released directly into the blood stream.
The hormones not produced by the ovaries, whether they are produced by a large pharmaceutical company or a smaller so-called "natural" hormone manufacturer, are either taken orally and go through the digestive tract, or as an implant beneath the skin where they are released constantly. If they are applied as a patch or cream to the skin, they must contain a chemical to allow them to penetrate the skin barrier, and they too are released continuously. The largest amount is released initially, and as the amount on the skin diminishes, less is released. Products applied topically to the skin, or taken orally, are not able to provide the quantity of hormones that the body requires at a given time, and then stop producing them until you need more. this means that you're receiving much more, or much less, of what your body actually needs.
If it has a hormonal effect, whether it grows in your back yard, is produced by a compounding pharmacy, or a large pharmaceutical, you are exposed to all the risks of any exogenous (not produced inside the body) hormones, such as breast cancer, liver cancer, embolisms that can cause a stroke, and endometrial cancer.
BUYER BEWARE!
Thanks to someone who sent a link to the website, you can read more about the information posted by anonymous regarding St. John's Mercy Medical Center's OB/GYN residency program at
http://www.stjohnsmercy.org/sjmmc/gme/obgyn/
rotations/gynecology.asp.
IN response to HERS: No, I am not anyone who benefits from talking about natural progesterone and it is unfortunate that you do not understand bio-identical hormones and discourage women from benefiting from it.
HERS would welcome any factual information about bio-identical hormones that proves that they are safe and efficacious.
You would add to the credibility of your comments by using your name when you post.
Nora W. Coffey
http://www.obgyn.net/hysteroscopy/hysteroscopy.asp?page=/women/articles/indman/indman_hyst
Women please ignore the comments of Dr. Paul Indman, he obviously never studied the neurobiology of women or Masters and Johnson. He says that there is no change in women and it improves their sex life after a hysterectomy. He obviously never heard of a woman that had an orgasm when her cervix was bumped. These MDs needs to be more than technicians and go on for a PhD to learn and contribute new knowledge. In 1827 it was discovered that removing the cervix, now a LEEP conization, was harmful to women. They keep doing the same old thing. Einstein said, "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results." Gynecology has become obsolete before it got started with viewing women as sexual beings. They don't know where the nerve configuration is in a woman's body and how they relate to other organs or orgasm.
To answer who can help in Oregon, Dr. Tori Hudson, N.D. She has been working with women for natural medicine for years and researching.
Jennifer,
Posting a comment that gives the name of someone who has been practicing "natural" medicine for years evidence that what they are doing is either safe or effective.
We would welcome factual information about the safety and efficacy of any drugs, whether they are so-called "natural" or manufactured by a pharmaceutical company.
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My story began 1 yr ago when I found out I had HPV, my doctor wanted to wait & see if it cleared up. I returned to him in May of this yr, it was time for another pap & see if I still had HPV, I was told it was High Risk, HPV 16 known to cause cancer. My doctor had me lay back so he could examine me & explained to me that I needed a complete hysterectomy with everything out due to the risk.
They began my paper work so that I could have the surgery quickly, I was still recovering from 2 prior surgeries & had only been out of the hospital for a few weeks from thyroid surgery. I was already emotionally drained from my recent surgery. My husband came to all my appointments with me & even came back during the exam.
The following week was filled with exams and tests, checking exactly what needed to be removed. I had expressed to him many times as well as to his staff, that "he will see when he gets in there what really needs to come out". Each appointment I was assured that he would be able to tell exactly what needed to be removed and would not remove anything additional. My husband & I still newlyweds drove to the hospital. I was terrified, first of the 'precancer' they found on my cervix and how I would feel afterwards.
Once the surgery was over, my doctor went to see my husband and told him "well everything looks great & we removed both ovaries, as per patient request.". He had also accidentally cut my bladder while removing my uterus. That’s what’s bugging me now, I keep wondering what patient requested this. * I was his 3rd surgery of the day, normally he only does 2 *
When I returned to him at my 8 week check-up, I had Streptococcus inside my wound, inside me!! I was placed on antibiotics, & even that was incorrect & had I not discovered he ordered Pcn, I more than likely would of died from anaphylactic shock. He put me on ERT saying that I was not healing properly. He explained that my ovaries were good & had worked at 100% but now my body was in shock from such a drastic change. I left there now more upset than ever, confused, tearful & mad. They have changed my HRT 3 times so far.
It took nearly 3 months before I could have sex because of the pain. When I work or do too much I have pains in my left lower pelvic area. Before he began the ERT I had trouble walking, my bones & muscles were hurting & I was told it was because I lacked Estrogen.
I have found out that when your ovaries are removed that you are now 40% more likely to suffer from a stroke or a MI, & if you do have a MI, that you are 50 times more likely to die. I have hot flashes, dry skin, among other things. I take calcium due to the increased risk of osteoporosis.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/apr/21/ovary-removal-hysterectomy-death
In the above article it discusses when healthy ovaries are removed you are at a higher risk of death due to CAD or lung cancer.
I am so mad that I cannot think of anything else, I cannot eat or sleep. I have headaches daily & my emotions are out of control. Tell me did I do something wrong?? Was he wrong?? Can he get away with castrating me??? I cry so much over this & realize that as one man told my husband .. Your wife has aged 10 years from that one surgery....
CAD,
I'm SO sorry that you too were a victim of a greedy, sociopathic ob/gyn. YOU DID NOTHING WRONG! Your surgeon did EVERYTHING wrong starting with the lies, fear tactics, and malicious intent.
I'm no lawyer but between the cut bladder and the infection as well as the permanently damaging effects of having your organs removed, it sounds like you have a good malpractice case. Find yourself a good lawyer and go after this sociopath! We'll be here to cheer you on.
CAD
Please, Please, Please obtain ALL your records. From all you doctor visits and all your surgeries. All imaging, ultra sounds, x-rays. Gather it all together. I waited to long as my doctor and others made me feel as if it my problems were my imagination. I had a nicked uretur that my OB/GYN did not feel was important enough to inform me about.I now pee myself. I had but a benign cyst. My doctor took everything. I now have MANY problems including hip pain, high blood pressure, incontinence, fatigue, weight gain, inability to have sex due to pain and no interest in sex or the many activities I once enjoyed. I was an extremely health 47 year old. I now feel as if I am 80. Everyone has noticed major changes in me. I am not nor will I ever be me gain.
PLEASE, go after this 'doctor'. Stop him from ruining the lives of others.
I cry for us all.
I wonder what kind of Lawyer I see for this? How do I go about all this? Crying daily doesn't solve a thing and they just again changed my ERT due to it not being sufficient. You know they treat us as we're here to just have babies and otherwise we should just shut up and calm down. They place us on meds to do just that too.
My husband says to me are you really upset with me or is it the estrogen, bless his heart at least he's trying. He said he will support any decision I have and my Endo has already referred me to another Gyno, something about me threatening to cut off my previous docs testies might of been the reason. He also is looking at all my records from that doctor just to see, I do trust my endo he's very upfront and direct.
Thank you for your comments, and thanks for this great site, I've come to realize that no one understands like other women who also have gone through this. Even my mother doesnt understand, having her surgery forever ago, and she kept her ovaries. She said to me and why do you need those things?
CAD,
As Bobbi said, please get a copy of ALL your medical records from the doctor and hospital (and any other doctors you saw related to your gyn health).
Also, contact HERS before you contact any lawyers. They will give you tips on what to do and what not to do when trying to find a lawyer. Also, it may be easier to find a lawyer in another city or town as doctors and lawyers oftentimes "run" in the same social circles. I've read this from several sources.
You also need to contact lawyers anonymously to find out if there's a conflict of interest with the doctor so as not to tip them off.
A big firm would probably be more likely to take your case as these cases are very costly. All the better if they do class action lawsuits.
These doctors have got to be stopped! We're here to support you in bringing this sociopath to justice.
I have an appointment with a new gyno, she was referred to me by another doctor, and plans on giving me a second opinion, not sure how this works since everything is gone but she will have my paperwork and records.
I have requested a copy of all my records and will contact the hospital tomorrow morning to retrieve those as well.
I have contacted HERS and now will wait for them to contact me back.
I have to say thank you for all the advise and comfort you all have shown me here it lifts me up. I know that time is important here, very important here and it seems that my memory is short or shot most of the time. Thats pretty sad since I was planning on going back to school and earning another degree, as well as when I'm working it's important that I have all my i's dotted and my t's crossed.
I have not signed the petition as of yet, was unsure if I should since I am starting legal action.
I also have to go see my cardiologist, I already had some issues with my heart after a bacteria infection years ago. Now since this has occured I feel it to be very important that I visit him to make sure everything is ticking correctly.
Again.... Thank you all so much, I continue to read the comments and the blogs here, this is a fantastic site!
Nora,
Do you think it is a little easier on women that only have a supra-cervical hysterectomy vs. the full hysterectomy?
Louise
I completely agree, even though I am 5mo post hysterectomy, I have noticed a lot of changes. I keep wondering are they all because of the surgery?? Skin, nail changes, sore like pimples, never had those before, on my back, bottom, thighs & face; lack of sleep for days then sleep for 12-16hrs; aches, pains in muscles, bones; bowel & bladder changes; panic attacks; memory loss; wgt gain; depression, feel lost, emotionally, feel loss; backache starting in hips moving up spine and down thighs; extreme dry skin; loss of multiple orgasms, painful sex; itching all over; headaches; dizziness; tinnitus; tingling in hands; constipation/diarrhea; nausea; brittle hair; not to mention the 'normal' hotflashes etc.
I'm feeling more and more things different daily, I no longer feel like i'm young, or a woman, I feel such a loss of sexuality never have I felt this before! Mood changes are minute by minute, even sometimes laughing while crying due to sadness, my new husband cannot keep up with my moods.
I am currently interviewing attorneys, I'm in texas, does the group offer any suggestions for attorneys here?
I read these stories and watch the video and feel so sad for all the women out there that had hysterectomies needlessly. The video seems so invasive ... like it's ripping out parts of the anatomy... and it seems like the ligaments are trying to hang on... and then it appears they are being burned off one by one.
I came so close to a hysterectomy but luckly I found a endriconologist/ob/gyn that ran blood tests and said I only have a hormone imbalance. I take a natural medicine for just 10 days a month and it stopped the irregular and heavy bleeding. The fibroids are on the outside wall of the uterus and therefore are not causing any problems. But the previous doctors did not tell me that. Do doctors receive such different training in medical school? One doctor diagnosed me as needing a hysterectomy without even examining me. God was looking out for me and I hope the next generation of women are educated and do not fall victim to this procedure except in the case of cancer.
CAD,
Everything you described in your comment that you've experienced since undergoing hysterectomy is typical.
You can find out what problems women experience, and the percentage of women who experience them, by going to http://www.hersfoundation.org, click on "Adverse Effects Data". It's helpful to know whether what's happening to you is experienced by other women.
Mary Ellen,
I'm glad you found a doctor who wanted to help you instead of mutilate you. How fortunate that you were spared the horror of hysterectomy.
Please speak out against this barbaric surgery so other women can be spared. Refer them to the HERS website to discover the facts which most doctors don't tell women.
male in michigan,
My wife will have her 3rd surgery soon for digestive health problems. In checkout prior to this surgery the cardiologist is now involved. Seems she now has a heart problem she never had before. She is about 7 years post and the health issues mount each year. She is overweight, fatigue, constant menopausal type symtoms, mood swings, it ruined our intimate life. I married for better or worse, this is definitely the worst.
Ms. Coffey,
Are doctors trained to do hystrectomies in medical school or is a motivation of money? I would like to know.
Lisa
someone on here said that "cancer is the only reason that hysterectomy should be performed", or something to that effect. while i am dealing with side effects, mostly because i think my vagus nerve was effected, i *had* to have a hysterectomy, and did not have cancer. i had severe uterine bleeding, had to get 3 blood transfusions it was so bad. my doctor was wonderful and tried *everything* (hormones, D&C, ablation, and everything else he could think of), before finaly resorting to a sub total hysterectomy (was able to keep my cervix and one overy. one of them was mangled and causeing me much pain from PCOS). i would have bled to death with out it. so, i would say that cancer is *not* the only reason to have a hysterectomy.
and as a side note, my sexual responce has not been effected, and may have actualy improved since the surgery. i suppose i am lucky in that reguard.
kitten, what was the reason for the surgery? What was the cause of your bleeding?
It's common for women to think that "everything has been tried" to resolve their symptoms, but often the appropriate evaluation is not done that would have provided them with the information needed to treat it properly.
I'm glad that you feel sex is better for you. It's important for women reading this to understand that sex can only be better if you never experienced uterine contractions with orgasm, and if removing your uterus resolved pain or discomfort with intercourse. You can only lose what you had.
Of course, whenever possible, it's preferable to solve the problem without removing the female organs.
"kitten, what was the reason for the surgery? What was the cause of your bleeding?"
severe hormone imbalance that could not be controled with hormones. the only time the bleeding was even slightly controled is when i was on progesterone at levels WAY above healthy. other hormones, even in large doses didn't do much, if anything, for me.
"It's common for women to think that "everything has been tried" to resolve their symptoms, but often the appropriate evaluation is not done that would have provided them with the information needed to treat it properly."
in all my research online i cannot find anything the doctor didn't try.
"I'm glad that you feel sex is better for you. It's important for women reading this to understand that sex can only be better if you never experienced uterine contractions with orgasm, and if removing your uterus resolved pain or discomfort with intercourse. You can only lose what you had."
i had no pain before, and i did have uterine contractions. they are absent, but i have actualy *gained* sensitivity of the cervix, which more than makes up for it. perhaps my uterine contratcions were not that strong in the first place, but for me this is a non-issue, though i can surely see how for some women it could be a tragic loss of sensation.
"Of course, whenever possible, it's preferable to solve the problem without removing the female organs."
amen. while i don't doubt that MANY hysterectomies are unneeded and can lead to tragic loss and additional health problems, i beleive people should also recognize that there ARE other issues besides cancer where it can be compleately needed, and that not all result in loss of sexual function.
I have had absolutely everything removed, including my cervix. I have no "female" parts left and I can tell you that all of these things are true. I had no choice, as I had a mass on my ovary the size of a melon. I was not aware of all of the changes that were to come afterwards. My sex drive is gone and when we do have sex, it's extremely painful. I gained weight, which was never an issue in my life!! Always very thin and now I have this horrible middle. Also, my cholesterol was 120 and now, 2 years after the surgery, it's 225. Someone explain that to me. My GP did tell me that hysterectomy is notorious in causing cholesterol to rise dramatically. I don't take hormones because of breast cancer in the family, so is there any other help for me???? No one seems to be able to tell me what will make me feel better. I eat a pretty healthy diet and exercise (need to do a little more), but I'm not a couch potato eating junk. It's so frustrating and so emotional. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by what's happened to my body and sometimes I'm reduced to tears! I know I had no choice, but that doesn't make it any easier. I wish there was something to balance it all out, without running the risk of cancer. Can anyone help?
There is really nothing you can do but ride it out. I spent thousands of dollars believing I would find a 'hormone supplement' or a (and I LOVE this one) 'Bio Identical' supplement that would make me whole again.
I am sorry for all of us. For the lies from THE people we are made to believe are trained to do what is best for us. I believe doctors even take an oath stating such. I no longer see a doctor, ANY doctor. I trust NONE of them.
I was married for the first time in my life at 47. Four months later I was mutilated for a benign ovarian cyst as you were. I am sorry to say but we did NOT have to loose 'everything'. I have not been able to have sex since. It is too painful. I have lost all feelings of affection. I just do not care. I plug away at life. I have lost the passion I had for all the things I once loved.
What I would really like to know is, WHY? Why do doctors STILL insist this is a wonderful surgery? Is it truly money motivated? Are doctors really THAT uninformed? Or uncaring? Or just plain dumb? Why don't other women believe those of us who have been there and are now suffering. This REALLY haunts me.
After 3 years, I still wake up every morning with 'WHY?' in my head. Every night as I lay by my, amazingly still here, husband, I ask 'WHY?'
My hospital admittance form states 'No hysterectomy unless cancer is present'. I did not have cancer. My 'doctor' told me that things 'Just looked bad'.
WHY??
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I am 51 years of age. Four years ago I was conned into believing that a hysterectomy was the only treatment available for fibroids. I was led to believe that if I didn't have the surgery the fibroids would multiply and grow and cause life threatening hemorrhaging. The doctor who performed the hysterectomy on me also removed my healthy, normal right ovary supposedly as a preventative against cancer. Before the surgery, I had noted to the doctor both verbally and in writing that there was no history of of cancer in my family but that there was a long history of heart disease on both my mother's and father's sides of my family. Both of my parents have had heart surgery. Both of my brothers have been hospitalised for heart problems. At no time was I advised that there were increased risks of heart disease for hysterectomised women. The hysterectomy devastated me physically, mentally and emotionally. When I sought help, I was prescribed all manner of synthetic hormones, herbal tonics, anti-depressants, sleeping pills and pain killers. It was all very expensive but absolutely useless. There was a time when I even considered suicide. The whole hysterectomy experience was so harrowing and debasing that I have not been near a doctor since except on rare occasions to seek treatment for minor mishaps such as a burned hand or a sore throat. I do get chest pains which probably indicate that I should lose some weight and exercise more but I remain convinced that the best way to live a long and happy life is to stay away from doctors. As far as I am concerned now, doctors actually cause illness. I view causes like breast cancer pink ribbon etc with the same disdain. All they do is serve to frighten healthy women into going to doctors and be subjected to unnecessary and harmful tests and treatments. There is no way that I will subject myself to regular mammograms. I would rather take my chances with the very unlikely prospect that I will suffer breast cancer. Similarly, I dismiss those alarmist statistics about deaths rates from breast and gynecological cancers. Sure, lots of women eventually die from cancers (as will men) but what is not made clear in the scare-mongering warnings is that the vast majority of these deaths occur in women who are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. One tyhing we can certain about is that death will come to us all eventually regardless of how much we spent on medical treatments. In the meantime, I try to stay happy and useful. Cheers, Charmaine
I am so troubled to read all of these negative statements about Hysterectomy.... And hering it referred to as "castration". I had an abdominal Hysterectomy with the removal of my tubes and ovaries. I opted to leave my cervix. I was diagnosed with PCOS, Endometreosis, scar tissue from previous C-sections, and adhesions. I was a mess and having constant pelvic pain. I can honestly say sex is soooo much better and my orgasms are stronger. As far as hormone therapy I am on vivelle dot 0.1 patches and they work fantastic.
I am currently taking 1200 of calcium to prevent osteoperosis. AS long as you are taking estrogen, then your risk is mush lower for having risk of osteoperosis, as estrogen is a main receptor for calcium absorbtion. I did gain alot of weight before my surgery due to hormonal imbalance so I am starting to exercise and am on a 1400 calorie diet. I feel for those women who are having a bad experience with their Hysterectomies, however maybe a change of lifestyle such as diet, exercise etc may help as well. My Doctor is and was great, Hysterctomy may not be for everyone but it has helped my life in many positive ways.
*Please note* To make it possible to respond to a specific person's comment, we ask that you use an alias if you prefer not to use your name. Comments posted as anonymous will be given a name and resposted.
I also forgot to add that I did a lot of research before actually having my proceedure, I asked a lot of questions. I do agree that just because a Dr says so, doesnt mean it is so. But we ultimately have control weather something is to be done to our bodies or not, a concent had to be signed, and I know that I would never have a major organ removed from my body without doing extensive research before hand... Not after the fact, and then placing the blame on others for my own decision. I understand that there are those certain circumstances where things happen but it seems like all of these women have put a lot of effort into researching hysterectomies and the negative about them after the fact, what happened to the research before you agreed to the surgery? But in all respects werent there problems before your hysterectomies as well??? And in response to the "WikiPedia" definitions... Wiki Pedia is not an actual dictionary, only a search engine where individuals can post information about certain subjects. Try looking up the Drs Oath in an accredited Medical Journal instead. :)
Beth
No one faults you for refusing to believe the facts. Please do not accuse those of us who are suffering due to the uncaring, greedy doctors in this world who have taken advantage of us and raped or bodies of healthy organs for profit.
It is OK to hide and say 'I am GREAT'. You are a strong person if you can convince yourself all is well. I do not know how long it has been since your surgery. Women who had major issues; pain, excessive bleeding, etc. seem to feel so much better at first but I know, that in a year or two or three, if they can be honest, these women's stories would be very different.
I think you need to go back and read more of the posts on this site. To insinuate that all we need is to diet and exercise is insane!
You sound like Dr. Brian Retherford, the greedy pig who castrated, YES CASTRATED and hysterectomised me for no reason. Who took it upon himself, against my written wishes and removed my healthy organs.
How dare you belittle those of us who are suffering so very much. READ
(Posted as anon, given an alias) Please use your name or an alias so that others can follow your comments. Thank you.
My cholesterol pre H was 197. It shot up to 256 post H which, by the way, was recommended for a one inch fibroid and I was told that surgery was "the only option." I consulted a different gynecologist post surgery and she said that my cholesterol increase was a side effect of Ambien and NOT due to the H. She said H does NOT increase a woman's chance for heart disease. She also said that in her expert, professional opinion she is 100% certain that a H does NOT affect a woman's response to sex. By the way, according to her, removing the cervix does not shorten the vaginal canal either.
(Posted anonymously, given an alias) Please use your name or an alias when commenting so that others can follow the thread of your comments. Thank you.
Ana,
You could give the gynecologist the link to HERS video, "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs" at www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy, or you can purchase a DVD of the anatomy video and send it to her. She certainly needs a female anatomy lesson!
Also, if you send her the book "The H Word" and let HERS know by email that you sent it, we will add her name to the list of gynecologists who can never again say "I didn't know". You can also call HERS and give us the doctors name and address and we will send it for you. It will be sent anonymously, unless you prefer that we include a card saying it is from you.
Let's put The H Word in the hands of every single gynecologist so that NO GYNECOLOGIST can ever again say "I didn't know"!!!
I am only 46.. this month is the anniversary of my first heart attack. I had a double bypass on december 1st.. I had a COMPLETE hysterectomy when I was only 36 years old.. NO ONE ever warned me about heart disease...
Every doctor acts like they have no idea why I am in the condition I am now in. I do not smoke, do not drink, and used to be considered healthy. I now have congestive heart failure too!
Reading this site has made me so depressed. I was looking for information regarding how to treat the symptoms of surgical menopause and I happened upon this site. I had to have a hysterectomy due to cancer and am unable to use hormone replacement therapy. Before reading this site I was afraid that cancer would kill me now I am afraid of dieing of heart disease, lung cancer, dementia....... What do I do now?
Terri,
Yes, it is depressing to find out after the surgery what every single doctor should tell women before she is told to sign a hysterectomy consent form.
What can you do? Spread the word, educate all of the women and girls in your life.
There are some things that may help to mediate some of your risk. Keep your weight down by eating small meals that include vegetables, especially yellow, orange and green. Do not eat carbohydrates, except in very small portions.
Exercise every day, it is good for your circulation, heart, muscles and bones. Jumping rope (with both feet together so that you don't stress your knees) is a quick, excellent workout, and it can be done at home in any weather. Do stretching daily, it will help you to remain more flexible.
Read, write and play word games like crossword puzzles and scrabble, it will help your memory.
Talk. Talk to other women. Tell them the truth about the consequences of hysterectomy. I am deeply sorry that you had cancer, and perhaps the surgery saved your life. But whether the surgery was life saving or completely unnecessary, the consequences are the same. Tell women to watch the video Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs at www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy, and to read the book "The H Word" and to give it to a gynecologist so that we can their name to the list of doctors who can never again say "I didn't know".
This is a wonderful post, amazing and relevant information. I googled "hysterectomy high blood pressure" on a hunch that this might explain my mom's HBP. She goes to the gym, eats conscientiously from her organic garden and takes all the right supplements but a couple of times a month her reading is in the stroke zone. I will pass on this information to her and do more research on supporting supplements for women who have already been under the knife.
Thanks again!!
Well I finally found a site that had n answer to my question. Why did I get high bp days after my hysterectomy? My pcp said it's hereditary, but my sister doesn't have it. I had the hysterectomy after years of horrible endometriosis. Had numerous scope surgeries, tried hormone therapy. Also, had migraines. Fortunately, all that is much, much better. Gues I traded no pain or migraines for a heart attack risk.. I am a very healthy 57 yr. old and have always been that way. Excercise, take tons of vitamins and search out other herbs or supplements that can keep my bp low. So far so good, but the docs sure are dumb about this.
I am overwhelmed with compassion for each of you, and I am feeling totally validated in what I have been suffering through over the past two years since my castration. I now know I am not alone.
Even though I feel a hysterectomy may have saved my life due to the fact that during one month of heavy bleeding (blamed on a fibroid) I had to be hospitalized to receive several pints of blood, I am still faced with the consequences of daily hot flashes and an absent sex drive. My doctor, while showing compassion, does not have a clue as to how to "fix" me.
I will be contacting HERS for some genuine advice on where to go from here. I refuse to give up and live my life as a hot-flashing nonsexual being!
If this were happening to men, it would be a global health crisis with calls for immediate answers! Instead, a castration for women is considered an incontestable “fix” and they are lucky to have it. We owe it to the future generations to stop this madness!
I'm 58. I had a complete hysterectomy Oct. 12, 2012 due to edometrial cancer. On Dec 14, 2012 I experenced what felt like a squeezing sensation in my chest which lasted a few seconds but I haven't felt right since. I'm having a stress test done on my heart the 29th of Dec.I have heart issues anyway but I was never told the risk of heart attack and didn't know to ask. The Dr. that did the surgery knew my heart issues I had a pacemaker put in,in June of 2012. I told my cardiologist about the hysterectomy and he never mentioned anything about heart disease. I am so upset that's putting it mildly. Everyday my arms feel funny and I feel horrible to the point of not being able to function. What can be done or am I doomed. I do not want to go through the rest of my life feeling like this. I am glad I found this website. I just wish I would have researched this sooner and had the knowledge to ask the questions.
Suzanne,
The risk of heart disease after hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy should be disclosed to women prior to their being asked to sign a hysterectomy consent form. It appears that the only way to be sure that women receive full disclosure of information about the consequences of hysterectomy is to pass legislation requiring doctors to provide women with HERS Female Anatomy Video, or a similar video with the same information.
There are some things you can do to reduce the risk of heart disease, such as diet and exercise. For more specific information contact HERS at 610.667.7757.
I had a hysterical n 2009 for endrom cancer, a year later I found out they have left perhaps titanium clips on venous arteries near iliac crest, since then I have tiolet problems, liver problems put n 5 stone, pituarity has stopped making yacht and cannot move as swell up to much and get muscle seizure as well as breathlessness, abdomen pain, sickness, and pick up every illness, it seems my venous circulation has been compromised, clips shouldn't be there and my auttoammune system is in overdrive due to friegn body clips? Is this common or sgphould I get the clips removed?
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