Waiting for operation date, they asked if I would take a cancelation

I'm sorry to hear that. Are you keeping your ovaries? I hope your surgery and recovery go well! Keep us posted.

Hello, I was wondering if you could go into more of the problems you say just got worse.  The reason I ask is that I may have gotten and unnecesary hysteroctomy.  I was given a complete one and I had a non cancerous tumor on one ovary.  I was told that they take it all when things look suspecious.  Looking back don't know why I didn't say to do biopsy.  I was told it all had to come out. So sad, I feel like i didn't do my homework before surgery but they had me so scared. 

I'm sorry they also removed your healthy organs for a benign cyst. Unfortunately, it's all too common. They used scare tactics on me too and I used to beat myself up over not listening to my inner voice that told me something didn't seem right. But the blame lies with the medical professionals involved.

I believe it's standard to do a frozen section biopsy while the patient is in the operating room. In my case, they removed the cyst and one ovary (which probably didn't need to be removed either) and sent them for frozen section biopsy and waited for the results. When it came back benign, they should have sewn me up and sent me to recovery. But instead they proceeded to remove the rest of my female organs, all of which were perfectly healthy. This was all discovered through my medical records. My doctor / surgeon had said I had "another one" (implying same type of cyst) on my other ovary but the operative / surgical report showed my other ovary had no cysts or issues whatsoever. I also discovered that my insurance company authorized "hysterectomy" when I had never had any problems with my uterus. When I asked what was submitted to get authorization they told me it was confidential and I did not have the right to that information even though it's my insurance policy and I'm the one who pays the premiums.

One of the reasons this happened is that, unbeknownst to me, I was in a teaching hospital (one that is not affiliated with a university) and gynecology residents have to do a certain number of hysterectomies to graduate. There were two gyn residents assisting with my surgery as well as anesthesiology residents. I didn't know until I was in pre-op and being sedated.

The fall-out has negatively affected every aspect of my life. I aged horrifically fast. Within 4 months, I lost over half my hair and it became very fine and prone to breakage. It turned gray in the front. I lost skin collagen and subcutaneous fat as well as muscle mass causing saggy and wrinkly skin. This loss was obvious when all my shoes became loose. My vision deteriorated. I couldn't think straight or remember anything. I fell into a severe depression and was very anxious. Couldn't sleep more than 2 or 3 hours at a time. I lost that sense of connection with my husband and children. I lost all desire for sex and response is disappointing. Hot flashes were only mild. Finding the "right" HRT has helped quite a bit.

When was your surgery and are you on HRT?

I forgot some info. My last response was just the hormone deficiency symptoms. I have also suffered with the anatomical and skeletal effects of having my uterus removed - figure changes, bladder and bowel issues, a collapsing vagina, and no more uterine orgasms. It is a travesty that doctors get by without telling women about these after effects!