Hysterectomy at 31?

Please help me. I thought I had gall stones and after an ultrasound it turned out to be fibroids in my uterus. Several. I have had pain in my side for months. Sometimes so bad I can't even walk. The doctor told me she wants another ultrasound to monitor the growth. At that time I will be talking to a specialist. I have read up about it and a lot of information says that hysterectomies are commonly done for fibroid removal! The other option would be myectomy (not sure of spelling) this option is risky because of the loss of blood and is normally only done if you have a couple of fibroids. I need your help on finding alternatives. My husband and I want children. I have already had a miscarriage because of this and I am devistated! I really hope that there is something that can shrink them or make them go away without having a hysterectomy. I have no children and would be devestated if I couldn't have any. Please help! Please tell me that I am worrying about nothing.

I have thought of having a surrogate. We want children. I didnt think I would be robbed of the joy of carring my own child. Words can't explain the pain. I still have hope that something can be done. I have too.

I was in almost the same boat as you. I started having problems with fibroids when I was 22 years old. I didn't have any pain, but I was bleeding half to death every month. The doctor I was going to at the time did a couple procedures on me. He said I was fine, but everything kept getting worse. When I was 24, he told me I was going to have to have a hysterectomy. That was not an option so I went for a second opinion. Best thing I ever did. I found a doctor that was able to take out my fibroid (the procedure was called a myomectomy and my doctor has a ways of performing the procedure with minimal blood loss) and left everything intact. And because my uterus was so distorted, he had to reconstruct it. Before the surgery, he told me that I might not be able to have children. It wasn't something he would be able to predict or control, but after the surgery, he said everything went really well and didn't see any reason why I couldn't have children (but if I do get pregnant, I have to have a c-section). I still don't know if I can have children since I haven't tried, but I believe I will be blessed with them someday.

Talk to your doctor and see how he/she feels about a myomectomy. It was the best thing I ever did. It's been 4 years now and I haven't had any major problems since. If I'm ever faced with the same problem again, I wouldn't hesitate having the same thing done. And if you don't like what your doctor has to say, just remember you can always get a second opinion.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm always willing to share my experiences.

And you didn't say where you were from, but if you live in the Pittsburgh area, I would be glad to give you a referral.

Good luck.

I am so sorry for your pain and loss. I do not know of any alternative treatments that don't involve sterility. All I can suggest is pray. It sounds very much like you will have to have an hysterectomy, and won't be able to give live birth to your own child. If your ovaries are good, and you and your husband would be willing, there is still the option of a surrogate to carry a child to full term. God bless.

You may find because of the fibroid's that you are going to have a lot of difficulty conceiving a child. You need an appointment with a Gynecologist and sit and have him explain all of your options to you.

I realize this is a difficult subject to talk about and very stressful. But do keep in mind, your own genetics aren't the only way to be parents. So what is more important? Sharing the experience of loving a child together and raising it to be something amazing?.... and doing so ALIVE to be there the whole time? Or pushing your body to have one of your own and possibly lose your life--and leaving a motherless child behind--doing it? Fibroids are nothing to fool with. But there are alternatives to hysterectomy. Don't hit the panic button until you know there is reason! But don't feel like your body is your enemy now either! Just take care of what keeps you with your husband first... and figure out how best to become parents together later. There is a whole world of children out there that need loving parents--and with the world already being overpopulated, possibly saving your own life is nothing to give up simply for the idea of passing along your specific genetics to another generation. Good luck!

Does your state have a medical school, or do you live close to an academic medical center? If so it may help you to go to a place where they see more than one of these cases a year.

Removal of the fibroids may help and I have heard those done with a laser knife have better chance of preserving normal uterine function. I am trying to check on some for you. I found one with a 70% success rate. And I'm still searching. Healthcare is my teaching area.......

Most women who end up with fibroids have had children and getting a hysterectomy is not a life changing event like it would be for you.

i had a Hysterectomy and i feal great no more periods thank god, have you put on weight , dont worry, when the apple falls from the tree you will fall preagnt, and its just before your periods ,thats when you will fall preagnt, from cc

There are drugs out there that can shrink the fibroids. The surgery you might want to look into is a myomectomy. It removes the fibroids without hurting your uterus. When you talk to your doctor, the fact that you still want to have children will be the deciding factor in which path they decide to pursue. But you DO have options that will let you keep your uterus.