My Momma

My Mom is the STRONGEST woman I know.
She has beat cancer twice and is now recovering from a Hysterectomy

with a smile on her face.

 

When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, we weren't sure what to expect.

Watching my Mom go through 33 radiation treatments and a handful of chemo treatments it broke my heart to see how daily she become weaker and weaker, but somehow she always managed to get up and out of bed and kept moving.

 

I really don't know where she gets her strength from, she says my nieces are the ones that give her the strength to get up every morning. 

 

Love You Mom!

 

I google anything and everything especially things to do with health.

 I swear the internet will one day either save me or kill me. .

So while preparing myself mentally and emotionally for my Mom's surgery 

I came across Women's Health site and Did you know? ...

 

A physician may recommend a hysterectomy for a variety of reasons, however, in most cases it's optional and you'll need to make an informed decision based on your medical history. Cases of uterine or cervical cancer will probably leave you with no option, as will cases where a uterine growth has caused a blockage of your bladder or intestines.

 

Fibroid tumors sometimes necessitate a hysterectomy, although often they're treatable with drugs or they may never cause you any problem. Pelvic adhesions, often caused by pelvic inflammatory disease sometimes are painful enough to require surgery. Severe uterine bleeding brought on by childbirth or severe infection may also leave you with no choice. Treatment of endometriosis can involve removal of your uterus, but each case must be weighed individually. You and your gynecologist should work together to determine the best treatment option for you.Other reasons for your doctor recommending hysterectomy may include; chronic pelvic pain, uterine prolapse, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy and pre cancerous cells. Alternative treatments are available for these conditions and your physician should try them first, if your health allows. Types of hysterectomyA total hysterectomy is one which involves removal of the cervix, uterus, and the fallopian tubes; the ovaries remain intact in this type of hysterectomy, although many women show signs of menopause soon after a total hysterectomy. You should discuss this possibility with your doctor prior to having your hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy involves the removal of both ovaries; surgical menopause begins immediately after this surgery and you'll need to begin hormone replacement therapy while still hospitalized, to lessen some of the menopausal symptoms which are sure to follow this procedure. A hysterectomy, of this type, may be required because of ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, tumors or cysts on the ovaries, or PID. A radical hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, the top part of the vagina, and most of the tissue surrounding the cervix in the pelvic cavity; pelvic lymph nodes are also removed in cases of cervical or endometrial cancer and is rarely necessary.Women at low risk for developing cervical cancer may have their cervix left intact and opt for supracervical hysterectomy, with just the body of the uterus removed. Methods of hysterectomyAbdominal hysterectomy was once the only type of hysterectomy available. Today several options for hysterectomy are available for your consideration. Your gynecologist is the one best able to determine the procedure necessary for you. In an abdominal hysterectomy, a six to eight inch incision is made in the lower abdomen. The incision is much like one you might receive during a Cesarean birth, being either horizontal, as in the 'bikini' cut, first popularized by Jacqueline Kennedy, or vertical, running from your navel to just above the pubic bone. Hospitalization will last for at least three to five days following such surgery and recovery takes at least four to six weeks. Your physician will advise you when it is safe for you to resume sexual relations, most likely at least four weeks post- surgery.

 

Other methods of hysterectomy include vaginal, with the uterus removed through the vagina, vaginal hysterectomy can sometimes led to discomfort during sexual intercourse due to shortening or tightening of the vagina;laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy uses a laparoscope to remove pelvic adhesions which previously made vaginal hysterectomy impossible. In cases of severe pelvic adhesions the probability of abdominal hysterectomy remains. The recovery time for vaginal or laparscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy is considerably shorter than for abdominal hysterectomy.
Certain risks after any surgery are unavoidable; your risk of infection decreases with your physician's routine ordering of a round of antibiotics immediately following any type of surgery. Many women will experience urinary tract infections and the cutting of sensory nerves which can cause urinary incontinence. About 10% of women will require a blood transfusion due to pre- existing anemia. Many women fear depression or other ]emotional changes following hysterectomy, but research shows no increase in depression occurs after hysterectomy. Some women are afraid they will lose their desire for sex, this too is untrue and your sex life should remain as pleasurable, if not more pleasurable once you are free of the cause of your hysterectomy. Removal of your ovaries may cause a decrease in sexual desire which can improve with the use of estrogen. If your ovaries remain intact you won't experience surgical menopause, although your doctor may prescribe hormonal treatment.If vaginal dryness is a problem, your gynecologist may prescribe an estrogen cream or you should purchase one of the OTC products available such as K- Y jelly. The use of petroleum jelly is not recommended, as it can increase your risk of vaginal infection and may cause damage to condoms and diaphragms. Pap smears after hysterectomyIt's still necessary to have regular pelvic examinations after hysterectomy; if you still have your cervix, you'll still need to have a pap smear. Your risk of vaginal cancer increases following hysterectomy and your gynecologist will need to look for any changes in your pelvic region. Regular yearly check ups should be sufficient to catch any cancer before it develops to a life- threatening stage.

Alternatives to hysterectomyYou and your health care provider should discuss possible alternative therapies which you might wish to try before choosing hysterectomy. Depending on your medical condition, drug treatments, D & C, or pelvic exercises are sometimes helpful. In the case of pre cancerous cells, Cone biopsy, cryosurgery, or laser therapy are some of the options available.
For many women, hysterectomy provides an enhanced sense of well- being and a chance to start a new life, free of the pain and symptoms which caused them to choose hysterectomy. Whatever method or option you choose, it's in your best interest to explore all the treatment options available for your particular condition before choosing hysterectomy.

 

 

 

So my Lady Friends...Please Please make sure you get checked anually!