I had a total hysterectomy at the age of 36 due to an ovarian cycst the size of a grapefruit. (It had become that large in a matter of 3 weeks). They had prepared us for it being cancerous but luckily it was not. When they opened me up, I also had endometrosis everywhere. They literally had to scrape all my internal organs and even removed my appendix. I had already had uteral surgery to help me get pregnant and a C-section with the smiley shaped incision but they had to do a huge incision that goes from above my belly button all the way down to you know what! It kinda looks like an anchor with both incisions. Let me say this was way back in 1986 so alot has changed since then. I took estrogen and progestone for a few years then dropped it to just estrogen. I stoppped that about 10 years ago now and my biggest complaint is that everything on me is dry. I have tried the creams and stuff but nothing seems to work. Hot flashes come and go but overall that isn't my main issue. I still have paps done every three years - its actually more of the lining of course but you should still be checked for endometrial cancer. The estrogen threat is not just for the ovarian cancer but also breast. It was actually my husband who suggested I talk with my doctor about stopping the estrogen as it was being discussed among the doctors at the cancer center where he works in Radiation Therapy. As I said that was 10 years ago or more. So much depends on your age - I was so young at the time, the hormones were basically a necessity but now I am glad I have stopped them.

What does your Dr. say? Are they checking for cancer? Be aware that just changing the diet may or may not help. You need professional advice.

First and foremost -- hugs to you, Vickey, and lots of good healing thoughts going your way... I had a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy (both of the ovaries and fallopian tubes were removed as well as the uterus) in the second week of December 1992. As the others have said, it's one of the best things I've ever done. :-) My GYN, for whom I worked for several years and I trust him with my life, said that once the uterus is removed, the ovaries have a greater tendency to "go bad," so if there isn't an overwhelming reason to keep them they should be removed at the same time. It's easier than having a second surgery at a later date to remove the ovaries (when they do "go bad"). I had endometriosis and huge fibroids. I was on Lupron injections for four months (once a month for the four months) prior to the surgery, to shrink the fibroids. My last period was after the first Lupron injection... then no more "worries." :-) My doctor had scheduled me for a vaginal hysterectomy. When he started the surgery he found that the fibroids were still too large to easily do the hysterectomy vaginally... By all rights, he could have "switched gears" and done an abdominal surgery, but his position was that he'd told me he'd do it vaginally, so by golly, that's what he was going to do. He "cut up" the uterus (internally) so that he could remove it a section at a time. The surgery took about 5 hours (but, hey, I was under full anesthesia, so I didn't know). Normally, I would have been discharged as early as the next afternoon, but I developed a slight fever, so I ended up staying in for a week. The hospital I was in had really good food (amazing, I know), so I didn't mind. :-) After I was discharged, I would tire easily, but I didn't have any pain that wasn't tolerable. I could have gone back to work after 2 weeks, but it was Christmastime, and I had more than enough sick leave hours to cover the time I was gone, so I didn't go back to work until Monday January 4, 1993. Still, I was out for less than a month. I took Premarin pills for a while after the surgery but I didn't really think that I needed them, so I stopped taking them. I've never had a "traditional" hot flash or night sweats. You really don't have anything to worry about as far as the surgery is concerned. You'll do fine. And, I'm guessing that the doctors will recommend removing your ovaries, since you have the early cancer cells. No sense in taking any unnecessary risks.

I just had the hysteroscopy and D & C, like I posted on your last post about this. Piece of cake. I didn't get put under though, I had a spinal block because my fear of being put under was much worse than my fear of the surgery. My doc also mentioned the Mirena IUD. It delivers the progesterone right into your uterus so it works well for hormonal imbalances. I personally don't want it because alot of people I know who have gotten it have had alot of bleeding with IUDs and my periods are bad enough as is. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do yet, but my appt with her to figure it out is on Christmas Eve. I'm hoping if progesterone is necessary, that I can just take that alone, or get a cream or something for it.