Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Part I of this series was posted on January 1, 2008. Regarding the information below, HERS acknowledges that on or before February 6, 2008 UPMC deactivated the link to the “Hysterectomy” and “Preparing for a Hysterectomy” sections of their Patient Education Materials, thereby eliminating contradictions with the “Hysterectomy” section of their Procedures materials, which remains active.
This is the second in a series of Posts to highlight omissions of fact and misinformation about hysterectomy currently being provided to women on hospital, doctor, and medical school websites. In Part I of this series we demonstrated that the degree of accuracy of the information that women receive about hysterectomy from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) depends in part on how women search their website. To read Part I (and the 176 comments from women around the country) click here.
Part II of this series highlights the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center’s seriously deficient patient education product known as X-Plain. As you will see, much of the information provided by X-Plain isn’t supported by anatomical fact or what women experience after hysterectomy.
The reason that we’ve selected Gundersen and UPMC as the first hospital websites to be investigated isn’t because they’re the only hospitals providing misinformation. They were chosen because they’re both typical of patient education information published on hospital websites throughout the country.
Point your web browser to http://gundluth.org/. Click on “Health Information,” then “Interactive Patient Education.” Next, scroll down to “Hysterectomy.” Note that the first screen that you come to defines this tutorial as a “lesson.” Click on “Run Module” and follow the instructions.
The next screen that you come to under the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center banner says, “Welcome to X-Plain,” which is defined as, “A series of health education programs published by the Patient Education Institute—the leading provider of interactive computer based health education!” According to the Patient Education Institute’s website, this lesson in health education is becoming the “standard of care” in the medical industry. The Patient Education Institute claims that this information will help hospitals like Gundersen to:
• “manage malpractice risk”
• “document patient education and informed consent,” which can be linked “to the patient ID”
• “saves staff 15 minutes per patient”
• and, “if needed, this completion data can be saved to your EMR” (electronic medical record) and used in “legal proceedings” to “counter any claims”
After the welcome page you’re then told, “For questions or problems with this module, please contact Gundersen Lutheran at 608-775-5441 or 1-800-362-9567, Extension 55441.”
Proceeding through the lesson, in the section titled “Anatomy,” the tutorial tells patients, “Menopause occurs when the ovaries quit producing hormones and releasing eggs.” However, this information incorrect. The ovaries continue to produce hormones after menopause. In fact, they continue to produce hormones all of a woman’s life.
Later we’re told that the cervix “opens in the vagina, which in turn opens to the outside…” This is confusing information to say the least. In fact, the uterus is continuous with the cervix, which is continuous with the vagina, and the cervix is the part of the uterus that is at the top of the vagina. The cervix is the opening to the uterus. The phrase “which in turn opens to the outside” makes no sense.
In the section titled “Treatment Options” patients are told that “fibroid tumors may shrink after menopause without the presence of estrogen.” While it is true that fibroids typically shrink at menopause, the rest of Gundersen’s statement is untrue because the ovaries continue to produce hormones—including estrogens—all of a woman’s life.
As it is with both UPMC and Gundersen, one of the most consistent potentially damaging omissions on the websites of America’s hospitals is the failure to inform the public that the uterus is a sex organ. And one of the most consistent false statements made on hospital websites is that sex will be the same or better after hysterectomy. If hospitals and doctors did inform women that the uterus is a sex organ, then women would immediately know that removing the uterus results in sexual loss. So when Gundersen claims that “your health” is their “passion” but then says in this patient education lesson that “hysterectomy does not affect sexual sensations,” what are we to conclude? This statement is false. It’s untrue.
The removal of sex organs certainly affects uterine orgasm, because uterine orgasm isn’t possible without a uterus. Furthermore, Gundersen claims, “Sexual activity can be resumed within weeks and can be as pleasurable as it was before the operation.” What they don’t mention is that the vagina is shortened during hysterectomy, it is made into a closed pocket, and it is sutured shut at the top when the uterus is removed. Most women don’t consider a shortened vagina, scar tissue at the top of the vagina, a loss of vaginal elasticity, loss of uterine orgasm, and diminished or lost physical sensation in the vagina and external genitalia to result in a sexual experience that is as pleasurable after the surgery as it was before the operation.
The reason that this information must be provided to women is that the functions of the female sex organs aren’t visible the way that the functions of the male sex organs are visible. In other words, the functions of the female organs aren’t self-evident the way that the functions of the male organs are self-evident. In telling women information about the uterus that is unsupported by anatomical fact, not only is Gundersen not informing women of the information that they need in order to make an informed decision, women are potentially misinformed. Gundersen has supplied a patient education lesson that omits the very information that women need to decide what they and will not allow to be done to their bodies.
In the section titled “Procedure” Gundersen goes on to tell patients, “The aim of the surgery is to take the uterus out. Sometimes the surgeon may decide to also take one or both ovaries out along with the fallopian tubes.” The message here is that clearly the doctor’s “aim” may also be to remove the female gonads as well. And if you acknowledge that you have completed the X-Plain tutorial, then in a court of law it can be demonstrated that you were informed that the surgeon may also castrate you without further discussion.
Gundersen fails to use clearly understood and informative language. The medically correct word for removal of the ovaries (the female gonads) is castration. The National Institutes of Health reports that about 75% of hysterectomized women are castrated at the time of the surgery, although the incidence of cancer in the ovaries and the testicles is nearly identical, at only .01% of the population. Gundersen then reinforces the fact that the doctor may decide to remove your ovaries when they say, “After the pelvis is entered, the uterus is taken out. The surgeon may also decide to take out the ovaries and fallopian tubes.” In other words, let the reader beware—you have now been informed. Without any further discussion, the surgeon (not you) “may also decide” to castrate you, and if you acknowledge watching this tutorial then you have consented to castration even if the doctor, nurse, and anesthesiologist verbally tell you that they won’t.
In the section titled “Risks and Complications” patients are told, “This procedure is very safe. There are however, several possible risks and complications. These are very unlikely, but possible. You need to know about them just in case they happen.” Again, these are strange and potentially damaging statements. While we always appreciate simple language that is easily understood, much of X-Plain’s language is vague, imprecise, and not supported by anatomical fact. It either doesn’t mean what it says, or it doesn’t say what it means. According to S. S. Meltomaa et al in their study “Incidence, risk factors and outcome of infection in a 1-year hysterectomy cohort: a prospective follow-up study,” which has been widely published since 2000 in the Journal of Hospital Infection and in the Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists to name a few, “Infection is a common complication of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy and may lead to prolonged hospital stay.” In the study, 19.2% of hysterectomy patients (one out of five) developed hospital-acquired infections.
One of the things that makes this hysterectomy “lesson” so potentially damaging is the fact that women who take part in it are periodically required to answer true/false or yes/no questions. If you don’t answer right away, a voice insists, “Please answer the question.” In order for you to proceed through the tutorial, you must provide the required answer, or the software program won’t advance the screen forward to the next section. If you answer incorrectly, you’ll be asked the question again and again until you get it “right.” This would all be well and good if their answers were correct and supported by anatomical fact…but some are not.
For example, X-Plain asks patients to answer the question, “Are heart attacks and other anesthesia related complications common during and after this operation?” The correct response to this question would be “yes,” because hysterectomized women have a three times greater incidence of myocardial infarction than non-hysterectomized women, and if their ovaries are also removed women have a seven times greater incidence of myocardial infarction. And precise estimates of anesthesia complications are difficult to come by, but about 1/10 women experience minor complications like bruising and headache; about 1/1,000 experience much more severe complications like lung infection or damage to the teeth, lips, or tongue; and about 1/10,000 will experience very severe complications ranging from impaired vision to death. But in order for patients to proceed through the tutorial they must give the “no” answer to this question. After patients answer the question falsely, that false answer is then reinforced by a pop-up dialogue box that repeats the false information. In a court of law, the fact that you have proceeded through the tutorial means that you must’ve answered their question as required, which could be construed as agreement. Documentation of your responses could then become the hospital’s protection to “counter any claims” that you might bring against them.
Next Gundersen asks patients, “Are infections very common after surgery?” As we have demonstrated and medical literature has made quite clear, the correct answer is “yes.” Infections are indeed common after surgery. But again, the patient must answer “no” in order to continue, thereby requiring women to agree with a false statement.
After repeatedly requiring patients to either end the tutorial or answer some of their confusing questions wrongly, Gundersen continues with more information that is unsupported by anatomical fact. They say, “Rarely, structures in the pelvis and abdomen can be injured during the surgery… It is very rare for the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder as well as the bladder itself to be injured.” Again, this is untrue. In a report presented at the American Urogynecologic Society / Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Joint Scientific Meeting, Barak Vakili, MD said, “The overall incidence of intraoperative injury is 5.1%, with the risk increased when patients undergo concomitant surgery for prolapse or incontinence.” With damage to the urinary tract occurring in more than one out of every 20 women undergoing hysterectomy, it’s not a rare occurrence. In fact it’s quite common. It occurs more than 31,000 times each year during hysterectomies performed in this country. In a more recent study published in the October 27, 2007 issue of The Lancet, Dr. Daniel Altman et al said that hysterectomized women “had a more than doubled risk increase for subsequent stress-urinary-incontinence surgery.”
Gundersen then goes on to say, “In extremely rare situations, the intestines and the blood vessels could also be affected, necessitating another operation.” Information that is supposed to inform women about the consequences of a major operation should be very clear, but this statement is too unclear to understand what it is that they’re trying to say. Are they referring to the blood vessels of the intestines? If so, then yes, it would be very damaging to lose blood supply to the intestines, which is rare. But if they’re referring to the rich blood supply attached to the uterus, those blood vessels are always permanently damaged during hysterectomy because the blood supply to the uterus that radiates throughout the pelvis must be severed to remove the uterus. Severing this vascular supply affects the flow of blood to distant organs and limbs, including the intestines. If X-Plain is discussing the vessels of the intestines, then the fact that they neglect to discuss the vessels of the uterus (the organ that is removed during hysterectomy, which is the topic of this lesson) is a blatant omission.
“Similarly,” Gundersen claims, “in extremely rare situations, small nerves in the pelvis may be injured resulting in decreased sensation in the sexual organs. Rarely, this can lead to sexual dysfunction.” What sex organs are they referring to? The ones that were removed? This is potentially a very damaging statement because, in fact, all of the nerves that attach to the uterus must be severed to remove it. Those nerves radiate throughout the pelvis, and supply enervation (feeling) to the nipples, clitoris, vagina, and elsewhere. But they obviously no longer serve that function after they’ve been severed to remove the uterus. What Gundersen refers to as “extremely rare” actually occurs in every hysterectomy. The uterus can’t be removed without severing those nerves, and they can’t be reattached. Furthermore, uterine orgasm can’t occur without a uterus. So, in fact, some or all of a woman’s sexual function is permanently lost, resulting in “sexual dysfunction” in every hysterectomized woman.
And now Gundersen’s patients are apparently ready for another quiz: True or false? “After a hysterectomy sexual pleasure is decreased.” Clearly, the correct answer is “true.” But once again, in order to proceed women must provide the false, incorrect answer that is unsupported by anatomical fact. And when patients provide the false answer, Gundersen reinforces that false statement by telling patients, “Correct. Women whose conditions caused pain during sexual intercourse, report a more enjoyable intercourse.” As we have said, most women don’t consider shortening the vagina, a loss of vaginal elasticity, loss of uterine orgasm, and diminished or lost physical sensation in the vagina and external genitalia to result in a sexual experience that is as pleasurable after the surgery as it was before the operation.
Later, women are asked another true/false question. “One of the side effects of a hysterectomy is weight gain.” True or false? The fact is, women who contact the HERS Foundation report that although their diet and exercise remain the same, on average they experience weight gain of 25 pounds or more in the first year after surgery. But Gundersen patients are required once again to answer this question falsely if they want to continue with the lesson.
In the section “After the Surgery” patients are told, “You can resume your sexual activities within six weeks. This operation will not change your sexual lifestyle or sensations.” Let’s be very clear here: The only way that the removal of sex organs won’t change your sexual lifestyle or sensations is if you never experienced them to begin with. In fact, it will always change your sexual lifestyle and sensations, because it will eliminate the possibility of uterine orgasm and some or all of your sexual feeling forever.
Gundersen’s hysterectomy lesson continues by saying, “Most likely, the operation will free you from the chronic pain caused by the uterine problem.” Once again, Gundersen and the makers of X-Plain appear to be unfamiliar with medical research and anatomical fact. Thomas Stovall, MD et al said in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, “Despite preoperative history and physical findings suggesting and histologic findings confirming uterine disease, nearly a quarter of the patients have persistent pelvic pain after hysterectomy for chronic pelvic pain. These findings should have a significant impact on the therapeutic choices recommended by gynecologists and may alter the informed consent that patients give in such cases.” Based on what women report to HERS, chronic pain is much more common after hysterectomy than even this report suggests.
In conclusion, Gundersen tells patients, “Hysterectomy is a very safe and successful operation. It can be a positive solution for many serious conditions affecting female reproductive organs and causing pain and bleeding.” And with that, Gundersen completes its tutorial on hysterectomy without addressing the well-documented consequences of this life-altering surgery. In fact, Gundersen might have mentioned, hysterectomy is widely considered to be the most over-utilized and medically unwarranted surgery in America. It is rarely used to treat actual medical problems that have no conservative treatment options, and the vast majority of hysterectomies are recommended and performed for benign conditions.
The mortality rate for hysterectomy is approximately nineteen out of every ten thousand women. In the last decade there were an average of 621,000 hysterectomies performed each year in this country, so about 3.25 women continue to die every day of every year in hysterectomy operating rooms or in the immediate post-operative period…almost 1,200 women each year. But the damage caused by removing the uterus and severing the nerves, blood supply, and ligaments that attach to it occurs in all women who undergo hysterectomy.
Hysterectomy represents more than $17B/year in revenue to America’s hospitals. Its aftermath is well-documented and available on the HERS Foundation website. Be your own judge, but what does “relatively safe” mean? It isn’t ever “relatively safe” for the woman whose body is cut into and whose sex organs are removed.
As a patient education tool, it would be far more informative and precise for Gundersen to say that hysterectomy is a dangerous operation that causes serious, permanent anatomical and physiological destruction and life altering changes. The surgery itself causes permanent pain, permanent sexual loss, and a host of medical problems that women who remain intact don’t experience.
Let the reader beware. Before you make any decision about female surgery watch the 12-minute video “Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs” at https://hersfoundation.org/resources/female-anatomy/.
Email HERS at hersfdn@earthlink.net if you know of a doctor, medical school, or hospital website that you think should be highlighted on this blog. If you would like to talk with women about the consequences of hysterectomy, HERS provides a network of women who will talk with you about their experiences.
If you have undergone a hysterectomy at Gundersen or their affiliated hospitals after relying on information from X-Plain, contact HERS at hersfdn@earthlink.net.
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Don’t think of anything else just contact priest eka and purchase some of his herbal medication and your depression will go away. This was my state of mind when my doctor told me that i will not be able to concieve due to the Fibroid that was rolling in my family life and when i decide to reach out to the priest, and the priest told me what to do in other to get the medication. Eventually I receive all the Herbal medications that cure my Fibroid and give me the chance to become a proud mother: Eka is a great spiritualist, He did it for me, you can contact Eka on (dreka14demons@gmail.com). If you are suffering from the following gynecology disease::
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Back in 2010 of January I went in to have a histerectomy soon after I started healing my feet started swelling and bad leg pains finally I had to go see a doctor about it even my feet hurt every day and he put me on meds to control the swelling in my feet and something to ease the pain. Ever since the sergury I lost the Earge for intercourse I didn't want it and nothing I tried helped so needless to say it had gotten so bad because I was no longer interested in romance took it's toll on our marriage we are know getting a divorce over it because he wanted sex and I didn't so I think someone needs to look into this and see if I and anyone else with the same systems would have a case over this and could we win please email me at happysquirrl2@yahoo.com and let me know I also got preg back in 1993 and miscarried they froze my uterus ,and did some clipping down there and because of that I couldn't conceive another child is there a law suit going on for that cause soon after is when I had endometriosis I just need some information on what can be done thank you B RUNION from beckley wv
The most savage practice among some cultures, what a shame!
Have you tried a pessary, a device that you or a doctor inserts into your vagina, much like a diaphragm, that supports the uterus, bladder and bowel. For more information contact HERS at hersfdn@earthlink.net or fill out the contact form on HERS website at http://www.hersfoundation.org.
What does a 71 year old woman do for stage 3 prolapsed uterus? Is partial colpoclesisis the best option. Have done nothing yet.
Is the TVT sling necessary at the same time. I agree with everything you are saying from the research I have done. But, what alternatives are you giving us?
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Well I am not thrilled to consider a partial hysterectomy and bladder sling but I am feeling like there aren’t many moe options. After two large vaginal deliveries I have bladder incontinence (for five years) and Phase II uterine prolapse. It was at a Phase I after the second delivery and now has progressed. I am concerned that it will finally reach Phase III. My uterus is laying on my bladder causing the incontinence along with constipation issues, cramping and nausea. I am aware of a uterine mesh along with a sling but understand that this will only last for 1-5 years and can cause infection or erode. Do I really want to go back into surgery again for a repair? I also am concerned about early menopause..I’m 39years old. I am so confused I can’t see straight. I do feel like now is the time to take care of this before it worsens into rectocele or cystocele issues. Please give guidance.
I went to the dr for a consult about endometrial ablation. Because of a uterine anomoly, she told me that hysterectomy was my only option. Forget that the “c” word was thrown out there a couple of times just for good measure. I am convinced that because I have a rich DR husband with excellent insurance, that I was given a hysterectomy. I wish I was dead. My life is in ruins and all she can say is “hindsight is 20/20”. I don’t understand how a dr can shit all over a patient then go home and sleep like a baby. It has been 8 months since my surgery and I would give anything to change it. I am a recluse now becasue I can’t stand to be around people who know about my surgery. I am not a woman anymore. I am an IT. OB/GYNs should rot in hell.
I want to thank all these women for sharing their experiences w/ me as I am a 43yrs old and was told that I need to remove my utrine because of the pain I am in and that I have adenomyosis. I do not know how to deal with this pain. Reading all of your testomonies has made me think twice about the sugery and I probably will not have it.
PATTY,
I learned that when you begin to speak with women around you they begin to tell you about their doctors. Since I decided to drop my doctor who was going to do a hysterectomy on me for a mere cyst (nothing wrong with my uterus whatsoever) I learned of two other gynocologist that are both women who are very good and do not take out your healthy organs at will. I chose to do nothing about my cyst as of yet because of financial reasons and the mere fact that it doesn’t bother me whatsoever. Good luck in your search, I’ll pray that God sends you to the right people, smart thinking about second guessing your current doc and do not give up! You will find the right doctor to help you. Susan Clement
PATTY,
I learned that when you begin to speak with women around you they begin to tell you about their doctors. Since I decided to drop my doctor who was going to do a hysterectomy on me for a mere cyst (nothing wrong with my uterus whatsoever) I learned of two other gynocologist that are both women who are very good and do not take out your healthy organs at will. I chose to do nothing about my cyst as of yet because of financial reasons and the mere fact that it doesn’t bother me whatsoever. Good luck in your search, I’ll pray that God sends you to the right people, smart thinking about second guessing your current doc and do not give up! You will find the right doctor to help you. Susan Clement
I had a D&C and a tubal in Dec. 1996 after delivering my daughter in October 1996 at the age of 28. At that time the doctor had poked a hole in the still boggy uterus. He said it was fine, he stitched it up, but after that I had experienced sometimes severe pain with menstruation and unexplained weight gain after a steady loss after my daughter (no change in diet or exercise.)
I went to a new doctor when I was 32. He performed a laparascopy and stated that he “believed” that I had adenomyosis (endometriosis in the muscle of the uterus) and recommended a hysterectomy. He said since I wanted no more children, then it wouldn’t make a difference. When I questioned what other treatments would be available, he said none and that there would be no reason to keep it. I asked about the sexual side effects and he said I would be better than before because of no pain. I was still hesitant since I knew that I experienced uterine contractions at orgasm, no uterus, no orgasm was my fear. After more questions, he even said that there is no definitive diagnosis until after a biopsy. So, there is a chance that this isn’t what I have wrong and I couldn’t change my mind after the surgery. After each yearly checkup he would state the same thing, basically saying I was stupid for not taking the surgery.
I stopped going to him, and have been searching for a doctor that has the philosphy that a hysterectomy should be a last resort. Does anyone know of a great doctor like this in the Philadelphia/Trenton area? I thought a woman doctor would be more likely to lean against hysterectomy, but then again, some of the blogs here, don’t support that idea as some women doctors have pushed for hysterectomy also.
I am glad to see that my fears are not as unfounded as the doctor was saying they are. Good Luck to all you that are still in pain due to your unfounded surgeries.
I had fibroid tumors that were bleeding and a cyst on my ovary, I had a hysterectomy in 1998, I finally got to where I could hardly walk due to the severe pain I was doubling over in pain. Yes I’m glad, its much better not to have that severe pain. My mom had one for fibroids and so did her sister, and just about everyone has had one in my family, for the same thing. Most everyone else, has already had kids, I didn’t have any, but that’s ok too. I have 2 puppies and they are my kids.
At the age of 19 I had my uterus removed due to endometrois and am now having alot of medical problems and according to your site they may all be related and I was never told 90% of the side effects that I found on your site and now I’m scared. I’m 22. What can I do to feel like “me” again? Please help me.
Please read the new Post and add your comments at:
http://hysterectomyinformation.blogspot.com/
Please click on “newest” below to view the most recent comments.
It looks like Gundersen Clinic does not want to remove their false and midleading information regarding Hysterectomy and Castration from their web site. Everyday I see their TV commercial ‘your good health is our biggest concern.’ They are making the big $$$ from this surgery, so why would they ever want you to know the truth.
NOW, you know what I was up against when I entered Gundersen Clinic and saw Dr. Jerome Gundersen. I didn’t have a chance of coming out of there with my sexual hormone producing organs. Neither does any other women who enters their doors. They are so powerful that you don’t have a chance to come out with your ovaries, uterus or cervix intact.
I would like some women in the LaCrosse, Wisconsin area to tell me if they still have their organs after entering Gundersen Clinic. There can’t be a lot of women in this town that still have their sex organs. Taking organs out for no reason is a criminal act, but yet they are getting by with it.
Try to sue your doctor and clinic. They have the law on their side. Everyone believes the doctor, the person of authority, the person who is suppose to have your well-being in their best interest, who you trust and who is suppose to watch over you and give you the best possible treatment.
When all said and done, their only concern is the almighty dollar. They leave you with a life time of problems that will never get better. What is even worse, is after the surgery, the doctor pushes you out their door to find your own answers as to why you are feeling so terrible.
I again challenge you to name your doctor and clinic so women don’t go to them. The doctor castrated you for a simple fibroid, cyst or polyp. All of which could have been removed by alternative surgery. Sometimes you really don’t have to do anything if you have no problems. If you go to an OB/GYN for your checkups, you will most likely end up with a hysterectomy and castration. This is what they are trained to do. They will find something wrong with you, but they make you believe you are dying or end up with cancer if not removed.
It makes me wonder what Gundersen’s web site would be like if men were being castrated to the numbers women are being castrated. Would they have false information about male castration? Would they say male castration does not change their sexual life and well-being? Would men have to answer the questions their way or no way? Would they give men information that it will be even better than before.
My life will never be the same as before my surgery and neither will any women that has written on this blog, but we can all help in some way to get a law passed that would require doctors to give every women the DVD ‘female anatomy’ who are prescribed a Hysterectomy and Castration. Let the woman decide, not her doctor. By the way, who gives the doctor the right to just clean house taking from us our ovaries, uterus and cervix. TALK ABOUT BARBARIC!
Keep writing ladies until Gundersen Clinic removes their lies about Hysterectomy and Castration from their web site. I would think they would want to help women, but as you can see, they want to continue telling women lies and mis-leading information about this surgery. That should tell you about their concern for women’s health.
Thank the Hers Foundation by mailing in your donation today! They need our help now more than ever by getting a law passed.
tasigurl, thanks for posting! I’m glad you still have your uterus! For every woman saved, it’s less money in the criminal gynecologist’s pockets, and you can live a healthy life with all your body parts! My life was so much easier when I had my uterus. Since this was done to me a year and a half ago, I’ve had a lot of joint pain and hip pain that I never had before. It scares me with every new pain I get. I am only 45, but I feel like I am 80 years old with my bones creaking and painful. At times every joint in my body hurts. It’s horrible what these so-called doctors are doing to women. I see Gundersen is still promoting their lies for profit. If it was not for the HERS Foundation, no one would be sharing this information or showing the advertising deceit on these hospital websites. So thank you HERS for bringing out the truth and helping women so they do not fall victim to the same fate. FYI to all posters, make sure you fill in the “word verification” or your message will not be posted.
Love your blog it saved my uterus!
Usually the only fibroids that interfere with conception and pregnancy are submucosal, which means it is located in the inside, endometrial layer of the uterus. If it is 4cm or smaller a submucosal fibroid can be shelled out with a hystereoscope. The surgery is performed vaginally, with the scope being inserted into the vagina, into the cervix, then into the uterus. The surgeon chips away at the fibroid until nothing remains but the shell. The uterus is not cut into.
If it is larger than 4cm you would need a horizontal incision above the pubic bone, and the uterus would have to be cut into (myomectomy) to remove the fibroid. If you conisder undergoing a hysteroscopic shelling out of a fibroid or a myomectomy you might want to contact HERS at 610.667.7757 to discuss questions that you should ask the surgeon and, equally important, how to modify the surgical consent form so that the doctor does not have permission to remove your uterus, cervix, or ovaries.
I have two large fibroids (8 and 10 cm), and my doctor thinks they may have contributed to a recent miscarriage.
He has recommended a myomectomy, but I was wondering what other options I may have. I’m concerned that scarring may impact my ability to get pregnant, and I’d like to avoid major surgery if possible.
Thanks for responding to my post. You were a very smart woman yourself. I’m glad you found the hersfoundation in time too! God leads us to what we need when we listen to His call. I’m also glad your myectomy went well and your doctor agreed to perform this operation instead. I can’t even get my General Practitioner to schedule a mamogram for me now, instead she is ignoring my reqeust for help in setting one up. I believe the doctors at this hospital are covering for each other in this matter. It’s really sad to see what our healthcare system has become, all about money! Keep educating yourself and spread this bit of wisdom to anyone you can…we all need each other to help us make the right decisions. God bless all of you who are do so…the singlemom.
To Anonymous who’s planning to have cystectomy….I totally agree with you regarding taking control of your health and body. I just had a myomectomy and would have had a hysterectomy if it weren’t for HERS. I thought I had done all my research and read the pamphlets given to me by my doctor and online websites. But somehow, I stumbled upon HERS just days before my surgery. Needless to say, I canceled the hysterectomy. Lucky for me my doctor did not question why I had changed my mind or said that she wouldn’t do the myomectomy. But it was the best decision I ever made for my body.
It is important that women educate themselves about the female anatomy. We cannot depend on our doctors to sit down with us and educate us on this topic. I mean how much can they actually teach us in a 10-15 minute consult?
We need to really take control and take responsibility and not trust everything that the doctors tell us. It is sad and unfortunate that it has come down to money for a lot of these doctors.
My eyes have been opened and my mind educated. Please, everyone, do extensive research, inform yourself, educate yourself!
Anonymous, I’m so glad you’ve posted your experiences. It gives everyone great insight to all the deception perpetrated by these “doctors” so they can perform hysterectomy for profit. I unfortunately went into the emergency room in severe pain with ovarian torsion and didn’t have time to research my condition. Even though I was totally against hysterectomy, and told the doctor to save all my organs and do only what was absolutely necessary, he took it upon himself to amputate both ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix and he falsified my consent form. There is just nothing these doctors won’t do to get a woman under anesthesia so they can take everything out. Informed consent laws are not enforced so they have free reign to do whatever they want without repercussions. It is very scary to be a woman living in the United States. Be very careful with the consent form. Make sure it states exactly what procedure is to be done and make sure it says “DO NOT PERFORM A HYSTERECTOMY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES”. It might even be a good idea to have an attorney go over the consent form. You cannot be too careful! Good luck and keep us posted. Please keep posting your experiences, because you will help others not fall into the same trap.
Thank you anonymous for sharing your experience and what you have learned BEFORE it is too late! You are a very smart woman to take charge of your health, research all your options, and not be afraid to question these doctors opinions and decisions. You have just saved yourself years of turmoil! All women need to stand up for themselves and fight for their bodies and their rights! If more women like you stood up to doctors and questioned their motives and their tactics, there would be far fewer hysterectomies being pushed on women and more time and effort would be put into more conservative and just as effective treatments.
I wish you the best in finding a doctor to remove just the cyst and preserve your healthy organs. You can always contact the HERS foundation and they may be able to put you in touch with a trustworthy doctor who will not hysterectomize and/or castrate you without your consent. Good luck with everything and keep us updated on your progress! Thanks again for sharing! Your story makes our efforts worthwhile!
Elaine
Hi everyone,
After posting my recent comments on my cyst removal (or should I say delayed cyst removal) I have two appointments with two different practices in NH, both in April. I told both, when making my appointments, what I would like to have done (only a cystectomy) and my wishes to keep my ovaries and my uterus/cervix). Both practices assure me they only do what the patient wants and are open to my concerns. We shall see. No woman wants to be castrated, I for one. The male doctors wrote to me after finally cancelling the surgery in Concord(after I sent them a notice to follow my instructions which I was told was done the previous week but was not by orders of these arrogant male doctors). He stated back to my written request, that he was not ‘trying to force me into a having surgery (I assume the hysterectomy)’ and he did not originally cancel my surgery in hopes of being able to answer any questions. Now that he has my written request he would cancel the surgery immediately. Why didn’t he do this in the first place? I feel he is just trying to covery his butt at this point and no longer want to discuss this matter with him or the other oncologist who felt (even though he did not see alarm for cancer in this cyst) I should have my uterus taken out because I no longer had a need for it because I was 48. I’ve been happier since I have taken matters into my own hands and will give myself ample time to get second, third, fourth opinions, whatever it takes to find a doctor who believes in preserving a womans reproductive organs. ONLY THEN WILL I BE WILLING TO HAVE THIS CYST REMOVED! All women who are reading this please heed my warnings and take responsibility to take care of yourself. Research completely every piece of knowledge about your condition before letting some person (yes, doctors are people too) take what is rightfully yours and believe your organs are alive and a vital part of all of your remaining years of life here. Do this for you and your children. You are worth it!
I’m the above poster. I should probably tell everyone what I am going to do. *laughs* I /do/ need the one ovary removed, there is no doubt as I’ve had three opinions. The other ovary and my uterus are staying and I am getting another opinion on the fibroids. Maybe two or three. Thanks again.
I was told yesterday by my Gyn that she wanted to do a complete hysterectomy. My original problem was an ovarian cyst that became calcified and lost function. So that was the only bit being removed. We knew I had uterine fibroids, they showed up on the same ultrasounds as the ovarian problems (only on the left). Then she calls in the evening to tell me that the laproscopy scheduled would have to be scrapped and that she would have to remove the ovary through an incision on my bikini line. And that she would like to give me a complete hysterectomy in the process in order to relieve the pain of fibroids I deal with every month.
My health, both emotionally and physically, is already bad enough. After praying for an answer I woke up much too early and went in search of answers. Now I’m keeping my uterus. The fibroids were never a serious health concern or I’m sure the Gyn would have brought up a hysterectomy long before this. Being so offhanded about it makes me question her sincerity and ability in her chosen field now that I’ve read and seen information I never got from her office.
Thanks. You answered my prayers in abundance. Now I know what to do.
Add the following considerations to the above marathon-runner description of the female sex-organ-surgery victim:
1)
The very doctors who did the surgery or the other doctors you consult with after having this surgery (for your post-surgery trauma), keep denying the surgery has anything to do with your sudden onset of post-surgery ‘symptoms’
2)
Your family, usually a husband or significant other, believes your doctor and not you, because your doctor has a paper ‘degree’ in medicine and/or surgery and chances are you do not.
3)
You are now handicapped on many levels, but there is no visible handicap. The removal of your vital organs was an internal, hidden event. No one, (family, friends, co-workers, neighbors etc.) can understand why you are not coping NOW with things you used to cope with before your surgery, and you yourself do not understand what is happening to you as you have not yet found this HERS Foundation website and been truthfully informed of the facts concerning the after-effects of this surgery.
ASK YOURSELF
Is there any wonder why there are so many divorces after this surgery has been performed on married women?
Is there any wonder why women commit suicide in these circumstances?
Is there any wonder why so many women wish they were now dead rather than being alive in these circumstances?
You do not get the usual privileges of Handicap parking spaces and other public considerations.
You do not get the government financial and other support that accepted ‘handicap’ victims do.
You are ridiculed and despised by some people, because you have become inadequate, useless on so many levels, and yet, you are struggling to stay alive and to function the best way you know how. You are trying your very best.
What do you think it is that keeps us female-sex-organ-surgery victims going?
For me, it is finding this HERS Foundation organization and this blog.
This blog gives me a voice and the opportunity to reach out to males and females. I want to encourage everyone to beware of this imminent, hidden danger. It is a closely guarded and protected secret in the medical fraternity, carefully protected and nurtured by the gynecologists and doctors in our midst. It is one of their most closely guarded, money-making secrets and you are not likely to find help from any of them, pre or post surgery.
There are alternatives and I have found them. Too late for me and hopefully not too late for some of you contemplating this surgery.
WELL SAID! Wow, your words are gold and all so true. That is exactly what we all want to say, but you said it well. Thank you for describing the life we have after being hysterectomized and or castrated. SO SAD, BUT TRUE! If doctors are reading this and still doing castration, they need to be diciplined and prosecuted to the fullest just like any other criminal.
Dear TQ,
Your story sounds so similar to mine. One difference is that mine was 35 years ago, done to me at age 24 and childless.
The best thing we can do is to help other women avoid this surgery at all costs. Looking for ‘cures’ post surgery, can not possibly give us back the life we had.
It is so difficult to explain to doctors, family members, or to anyone, that the loss of the female sex organs, is not just a sexual issue.
It is waaaaay more than that.
It takes away our lives, except that we still keep waking up each day and do not begin to know how we will ever get through the rest of the day, because our bodies are barely alive in every respect.
One way I can think of describing the constant discomfort I feel every day, is to ask someone to imagine what it feels like to have just finished running a 26 mile marathon in 90 degree Fareinheit weather on a very humid day. Then imagine knowing that your energy level after completing this race will never ever return to its ‘normal’ or anywhere near ‘normal’ level the next day or even the next week or the next year. It will never return for as long as you live.
You live in a constant state of chronic fatigue mentally, physically, emotionally and in every way. You end up bankrupt in every respect and all because you were not told the truth by your doctor. If you had, you would have decided, more likely than not, to seek alternative treatment, and not have the surgery done to you.
It matters not whether you are poor or rich financially when you have this surgery done to you.
We all end up in the same place for the obvious reasons. We were not told the truth and we find our experience post surgery is not what we were told to expect.
Dear TQ, Every women that has written on this blog knows exactly what you are going through which makes us sad that you also have to live the rest of your life with problems caused by your hysterectomy. I hope your family and friends support you because that is so important.
If you want someone to talk to please email Hers and they will give you my email address.
Your life will never be what it was before your surgery, but you can help other women by getting a law passed that would require doctors to give every woman the DVD ‘female anatomy’ who are prescribed a hysterectomy and
castration. Have your family and friend watch the DVD and then sign the petition.
You are a very brave and courageous woman to tell us your story. We thank you for that.
Would you tell us who your doctor and clinic is so we can protect women in your area? As I have said before we need to know who these doctors are that are castrating women who have no problems. Fibroids which can be removed by having a myomectomy amd polyps and cysts are removed by a polypectomy. You never have to have a hysterectomy and castration for fibroids, polyps and cysts. If your doctor recommends surgery, you have the wrong doctor and you need to get ahold of Hers to find a doctor in your area who does alternative surgeries.
While I support HERS in its efforts and will continue for as long as I can – I wonder why this isn’t a more urgent issue with women. Clearly, it is more difficult to fight for one’s rights, protect children and bring greater justice to society as a whole after being damaged by the surgical procedure hysterectomy.
Maybe with all the discussion, we miss the point that doctors cannot use fraudulent practices, misinform, or otherwise lie about medical diagnosis and treatments. Maybe we miss that this is happening to 600,000 women annually – I may not know what fraction of the total female population this is, but I know it’s more than just me. Maybe we actually believe the weak arguments or explanations that doctors inundate women and the media with – “we’ve just since (some year) had alternatives to hysterectomy”, “women just need to know their alternatives”, “if a woman has a problem – she was depressed before the surgery”, and “what does a woman need a uterus, ovaries, or breast for at 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, etc.??”.
Or maybe we need to know the many ways a person can be killed without leaving a mark on the body. If one can do that, then one can also be disabled without outwardly visible signs. Although, as some of us realize, there are signs.
I remember during the first year after surgery, when it dawned on me that I was in serious trouble. And after getting nowhere with the doctor who actually performed the surgery, I thought I would just find a better doctor to help me. I heard an OB/GYN speak who was now no longer delivering babies and offered assistance with hormones and anti-anging. I remember crying in her office after our consult from relief that I had found help. I remember thinking I was on my way after she gave me a Myer’s push (vitamin injection) and I actually had energy and my brain started to work. I remember the frustration at seeing the injections fail to give the same results as the initial shot, as a matter of fact, all her treatments failed to restore me to my former self, and then running out of money set aside for out-of-network medical care, and wondering what to do next.
I remember picking myself up and increasing my out-of-network medical costs funding and continuing to research possible doctors to visit. For these efforts I was rewarded with either immediate dismissal or we can turn this around in 3 months (I started to hate those words).
Each year the anniversary of the hysterectomy came around – I couldn’t believe I’d lost another year of my life and I hadn’t found an answer. I thought, could it be possible that more years would go by 5, 10, 15, 20..
Well I just started my 11th year and I’ve spent the last four years hanging on to the last shreds of my life – a job. I’ve sacrificed everything else that was my life to attempt to remain employed.
I toyed with telling my employer that my mother had cancer – wouldn’t everyone understand that….but I decided against it.
And I guess that is why I support HERS, this surgery has changed so much of me and my life – the love and support of my family (well maybe I never had that), my career, my education, my dreams of the future, it has given me fear, sadness, and a nightmarish life of such proportions that I could have never imagined, and so with that I refuse to also let it make me a coward…..
I appreciate HERS for allowing me to lend my voice and strength to this cause.
Hers need our support now more than ever to get this law passed. Please, everyone who has written on here send whatever you can afford to them NOW. Hers has helped all of us and will continue to do so. But they really need our help.
IT IS TIME WE HELP THEM NOW. SEND YOUR DONATION TODAY.
I know! The cancer doctor is way over 48! I did feel like saying that to him, believe me. You should have seen my face when he said “what do you need your uterus for anyway?”! I keep getting calls from the male obgyn doc who wasn’t willing to just take out the cyst. I don’t answer his calls. On his messages he keeps saying “If you have any questions, please call me”. I think he had his moment to answer my questions already during our consult. This doctor did a rectal on me without even telling me he was going to do it! Do you think I would trust him to cut me open and take out a cyst at this point? Who knows what else he would do in there without telling me. I just may report these guys to the board as you suggest. I wonder how many more women have been subjected to their attitutes. God help us all.
You really need to report the cancer doctor to the medical board. What does your age have to do with anything? Like at 48 you don’t need your sex organs. I wonder what his age is. You should find out and say gosh lets castrate you because you are 48. I hope you do because he needs to hear it from you. Good luck. We know you will find some caring doctor who will just remove the cyst. My niece had to go to different doctors to find one in iowa City, Iowa to just remove the cyst. I thank God everyday her Mom and I were with her to guide her.
Single Mom: It’s great that you canceled your surgery with those “doctors”. You’re right, none of it makes sense and it appears that they are setting you up for a hysterectomy with the “cancer” scare. Please call the HERS Foundation at 610-667-7757 for assistance. You may not need anything done, or at worst, just the cyst removed. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!
I have just cancelled my surgery for the removal of a large ovarian cyst on my right ovary for a few reasons: The two male doctors could not decide who was going to do the surgery. They both told me they saw no cancer present in the Cat scans or ultrasounds or blood tests yet the cancer doctor wanted me to be castrated because of my age, 48, and I am a bit overweight, saying I was at risk. The obgyn male doctor was supposed to do the surgery but was not sure if he wanted to, saying he preferred the cancer doctor to because he was his “go to guy” whatever that meant. The cancer doc had me sign a consent for to remove my ovary (but not sure which one) and my tube. Then he put if there was a risk for cancer he had my permission to take out all the rest (ovaries,uterus etc). I signed it reluctantly because I felt pressured. He then told me he would not be performing the surgery but the other doc would. So why was I signing a consent for with him? Who knows. I then got a call from his secretarty who said I had to sign another consent form saying they could do a tubal ligation. I said “what?, I thought you were only taking out the cyst?” She had no answers. I said no. I would have to speak with my original family practioner (female doc) who referred me to the obgyn (male) doc in the first place because now I am totally confused! I went online and foud this website first. I read everything and cancelled the surger entirely. I have had not symptoms, pain or anything with this cyst so far and feel I have some time to make an informed decision before signing any more consent forms. Does anyone know of a reputable obgyn in NH that can help me just get the darn cyst removed without castrating me!???? Please reply ASAP.
Anonymous who has a hysterectomy scheduled,
You’re right, some (2%) hysterectomies are life saving. The 98% that are not life saving often are done for reasons of minimal pain or discomfort, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, or because a doctor recommended it to prevent the possibility of developing cancer in the female organs.
Your situation is unique to you, and a public forum such as a blog is not the best way to discuss the complexity of the studies and surgeries that have been performed, the results of each of them, and the options in treatment. I would like the opportunity to discuss your situation with you in detail. If you are interested please contact Irene at HERS at 610-667-7757 and she will arrange time for us to talk by phone.
If you have radiology or pathology reports it would be helpful if you would fax them to me at 610-667-8096 prior to our telephone appointment. If you don’t have a copies of your reports you can ask the receptionist in your doctors office to fax or send them to you.
I understand how you feel about women using words like butchering and cut up. They do seem extreme and off-putting, and I encourage people to not to use such descriptions because many people will turn away and not take them seriously. I know that these characterizations come from a place of deep pain and anguish suffered by many women who have had their lives irreparably changed by hysterectomy.
I’m glad that you were alerted by their comments and look further for information. I would be glad to speak with you and provide medical journal articles and referral to a physician if there is a conservative approach to your problems that is reasonable.
Nora
Nora W. Coffey, President
HERS Foundation
Sabina,
Have you had a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound performed? If so, it may provide some insight about the cause of your prolonged bleeding. A submucosal fibroid, one that’s located in the inside, endometrial layer of the uterus, can cause very heavy menstrual bleeding but it won’t cause prolonged bleeding. Has the thickness of the endometrial lining of your uterus been measured in an ultrasound?
These issues are too complex to discuss via a blog. If you would like to discuss this further please contact HERS by email at hersfdn@earthlink.net.
Nora
Nora W. Coffey, President
HERS Foundation
In response to the two above posts, I would like to add that the reason for the outrage expressed by most of the women who have posted to this site, is because THEY WERE NOT TOLD by their physicians BEFORE or AFTER the surgery, the truth about what they should expect, post surgery.
Our post-surgery experiences have outraged us, simply because the experience is so different to what we were told to expect. We are, understandably, outraged by this.
I agree with Gracie, I personally would choose my life before this surgery, with the one ovarian cyst I had at the time of my surgery. I say this because I know a lot more NOW about the cause of my cyst and how best it could have been dealt with. I also trusted my physician then, something I will never again do in my lifetime, due to my personal experience with my physician. I was lied to at the time of my surgery, by my then Gynecologist/Surgeon.
My physician used the ‘possible cancer’ scare tactic and pushed me into believing that ‘time was of the essence’ and that I needed IMMEDIATE surgery, which I was scared and encouraged by my physician to have about 3 days after my first consultation with him.
Having lived the past 35 years, post surgery, and having learnt a lot more about my body and my body’s ability to heal itself, I would encourage anyone considering this surgery, to seek alternatives, and to RUN not WALK away from any physicians rushing you into surgery.
I base my opinions on my own experience and my observations and studies on this subject.
I was only 24 years old when I had this surgery and have had 35 years to carefully consider all the pros and cons.
Only today on one of the TV morning shows, Nicholas Gonzalez appeared with two people who said they are doing well now, and have lived the past 7 years after having used natural healing modalities including Traditional Chinese Medicine etc. The lady and the gentleman guests on the show had sought natural healing treatments, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, under the care of Nicholas Gonzalez. The lady said she had been diagnosed 7 years ago with Pancreatic Cancer and was told by her physician upon diagnosis that she could only expect to live maximum of 3 months should she choose to forego his recommended chemotherapy treatments etc. She says she chose to consult with Nicholas Gonzalez instead. The gentleman on the show told of an almost similar experience, however, he opted to have some of the conventional treatments recommended by his physician as well as have the TCM help from Nicholas Gonzalez.
These outcomes are far from unusual or rare. They are just hidden from view by the media which depend on the drug companies for financial support etc. Logically, the US ‘medical industry’ can not thrive when their patients get well. Also, the huge Drug companies are obligated to their shareholders to make a profit, which they can not do if as many of us as possible do not use their drugs.
These truths are self evident!
This is the original poster to your reply. First, thank you both for taking time out of your day to respond. I am at wits end, my pain is so bad everyday 24 hours a day. I don’t want a hysterectomy, I have been fighting it for 2 years. I’ve ablation, I’ve had lesions removed, and regrettably one cyst due to suspect cancer, it was not. I wish there was another alternative to surgery, I’ve read about diet changes, natural soy for hormones replacement.. I would try it all. The reason why I’m so angry is that I can’t seem to get a good feeling about it, but I’m being told it’s my only option. I just can’t believe that. I still have it scheduled, since I’ve seen this site… I am going back to talk to my GYN next Tuesday for another ultra sound. I would like to try anything to get my life back, what else would stop this pain, shrink my uterus so it’s not laying on my bladder. I’ve prayed and I don’t know what else to do. And no… I didn’t read the website fully… I came across this blog only…and honestly it did scare me. Thanks for your honesty… I’m in NC.
To Anonymous above, March 11th:
I do feel for your pain. In addition, yes it is very scary. You are the only one that can make that decision. Those few women you talked to well, they are the lucky ones who walked away with no side effects. For me in the state of Wisconsin there was no counseling available. I am a victim of an unnecessary hysterectomy and let me tell you something I do call it a SLAUGHTER of my female being for my life has never been the same.
I am sorry to sound rude here but these woman on here saying this site is a cult etc..Well, let me tell you get down on your knees and thank God that you are not suffering from the adverse effects that the rest of us are! This is not a joke. And it is not in any of our heads. I have been to numerous therapists and no one has any idea the hell I have gone through the last three years of my life mentally and physically.
Also, I would like to mention. I have a girlfriend who had the same problems as you. Also lives in the state of Wisconsin. She had the same pain, diagnosis all of it. She had a full hysterectomy her life has never been the same. She dreads waking up every single day of her life. And said she would have rather have went to another state for an opinion and take the pain back then to live the hell she is living in now!
Yes, we are angry. At least I know I am. But that anger is going to make changes for woman out there one day thanks to Norah Coffey and the Hers Foundation. Think what you want….but I thank God I found her for I tried to kill myself for I thought I was going crazy. And I stand behind her and this foundation 110%. I will be damned if I let my daughter or her daughter be a victim!!!
This site is fact based. Did you take the time to read all the information on the web site?
Norah Coffey has devoted her life and many countless hours to bring these facts to woman. Do you think that was done overnight? I have confidence in her and the foundation. The people involved are very caring. I should know as I am sure many others do….I have had to call them and they called me back because I was at my wits end. This site is to help woman not bash doctors. I am sorry but yes, some of us are very unhappy with being misinformed. Some of us do feel we have the right to bash the doctors who mislead us.
So go ahead it is your decision. I do wish you the very best and pray to God you and your family doesn’t suffer like the rest of us have.
Sit back watch changes happen slowly…it will one day!!!
I would like to respond to the woman above who is trying to decide whether to have her sexual hormone producing organs removed.
No matter how many gynecologist you go to, female or male, they will all tell you the same thing because they are trained to do only surgery.
You mentioned a cyst and a large fibroid, all of which can be removed by a myomectomy, but you have to find a skilled doctor to perform this surgery. Most don’t want to take the time to do it or they will tell you the fibroids will grow back.
I gave up running, my career and my life because of the surgery. If you have talked to women who just had the surgery they might have little side effects, but down the road the side effects will start taking place. Don’t always believe what you hear from women. A lot of women lied to me and not admits they don’t feel good.
Maybe some women are angry because their doctors did not inform them of the side effects or even that they were going to castrate them. We were told everything would stay the same including sex. They remove your sex organs so how can sex be the same. If they remove your husband’s testicles, would sex be the same? You need to discuss this with your husband because when they remove your sex organs (uterus, ovaries and cervix) his life will also be affected.
This is a site to inform women, then after reading over the 400 pages you will have to decide which route is best for you.
All I can say is my life was wonderful before I went to see my doctor for hot flashes. He then started to find this and that wrong with me. I put complete trust in him which is wrong and I didn’t know enough about my body to make a wise decision.
Any doctor that only mentions a hysterectomy or castration is the wrong doctor for you. Please call the Hers Foundation and they will help you with your problems and find you a doctor in your area.
We do want the best for you which is why we are telling our stories. There isn’t one of us who wouldn’t trade in this life for our other life that we had before we were hysterectomized and castrated.
I have a hysterectomy scheduled and am very reluctant. I am 43 and have had endometriosis for years, and it has gotten worse. I have only one ovary due to ovarian cancer running in my family, and a cyst that was suspicious. I have been told by 3 Drs. (all in different practices) that it is highly recommended. I have another ovarian cyst, a very large fibroid cyst, and an enlarged uterus. My uterus is so large is indents my bladder causing blood in my urine and pain. The Endometrosis and Adenomyosis has been surgically treated several times and it only comes back worse. If I have this hysterectomy it will be a total one, ovaries anad uterus will be removed. Currently, pain is so bad, I’ve had to give up running, and sex with my husband. I can’t imagine the hysterectomy being worse than this. Not all hysterectomies are unnecessary, although I do worry about the side effects and the hormone therapy. I’ve talked to several women that have had hysterectomies and have had little side effects, all of these women went through extensive counseling before and after the procedure. It is scary, but my life now is painful and horrible without it.
I posted this in another post as well. I came to this site to get answers, real answers. I think some of your information seems to be fact based, others just seems like angry people bitching. Does counseling help? I am about to go through this surgery and I wanted to get facts, not feelings. Is this site truely meant to help women or bash doctors? You seem to bash anyone who has had success with their surgeries, and scare the hell out of people maybe unneccessarily. I’m sorry for your pain, but it is very selfish of you to not be sensitive to others who may have to go through this, cancer or other life threatening illnesses. If you truely want to help, be caring, appear less extremist and stop bashing with words like butchering, cut up… those fear tactics aren’t allowing you to be taken seriously. This site has not helped me at all, and I was hoping you of all who had gone through this, could walk another women through a decision with care, not extremism and bashing.
RUN don’t WALK when your doctor only mentions a hysterectomy and casstration which are removal of your sex organs; the ovaries, uterus and cervix! They are not skilled or trained to perform other alternative surgeries. Call the Hers Foundation to find a doctor in your area who will do alternative surgeries and will not cut out your sex organs.
Sabina, I also had a fibroid and was easily talked into this damaging and life altering surgery because I believed everything Dr. Gundersen told me. I gave up a few symptoms for dozens of other symptoms. We are lied to by the person we trusted.
Believe what these ladies on this blog are saying because we are the experts. Do you really want your life to turn out like ours?
Once you have your surgery, your doctor will not want anything to do with you because you will have so many problems they don’t want to deal with you, so they will send you to other doctors. You will spend years going from one doctor to another to find answers as to why you are feeling so terrible. All the doctors in the clinic make money off you.
Find a doctor who does myomectomies, just removing the fibroids and leaving your sexual organs intact, or just don’t do anything. Your fibroids will most likely shrink after menopause and you will be able to go on with your life, unless the rest of us who will have to suffer everyday for the rest of our lives.
I would definitely find another doctor and fast if your doctor only mentioned a hysterectomy and not a myomectomy because the doctor is not skilled to do one. Call the Hers Foundation to see if they can find you a doctor in your area.
Please do not have a hysterectomy and a castration (removal of your ovaries) just for fibroids. Good Luck Sabina!
SABINA FROM INDIA ASKS,
I am 43 years old. Felt fortunate to have come across your site. I was detected with fibroids at the age of 38 years when the size of the biggest fibroid was 5.5 cm x 6.5 cm and 2 small fibroids. The then doctor advised surgery but I thought I’d wait and watch. Over a period of 5 years , the biggest one has grown to 8.0 cm x 7.5 cms (12 wk pegnency size). During this period have tried all sorts of options — Birth Control Pills, Homeopathy, Allopathy … All these years I have had heavy bleeding for 2 days and my period lasted for 6-7 days. The cycle was regular. Since October’07 the cycle has gone erratic and periods last from anything between 10-15 days. In October ’07 my periods stopped after 16 days after the Doctor gave me ‘Trapic MF’ to stop the bleeding. The only ‘Treatment Option’ I got from her was ‘Hysterectomy'(She knew I had a Medical Insurance). She also asked me to take a course of ‘Clingen Plus’ just in case there was an infection. December, January, Februay — my periods lasted from 7 to 10 days. This month (March), today is the 13th day and it is still on .. accompanied with pelvic pressure thought the bleeding was not heavy for the first time in 6 years. Today I have started with ‘Trapic MF’ again. Lets see how it goes … I’m confused what to do .. should I go ahead with Hysterectomy … are my fibroids too big or is it common to have such symptoms at this age? But after reading comments from my other friends, I am skeptical about surgical procedures.
Please Help !!!
Thanks & best regards
Sabina
I Have been diganosed last year with 6 intramural fibroids, the 2 biggest ones were 4 cm the rest were 2 cm. My doctor told me I needed a Hysterectomy even though I do not have any symptoms except pain during intercourse…..I never went for a checkup again one year now I freaked out from what he told me even though everyone told me that my fibroids weren’t that big for 41 years old. I was diganosed with my first fibroids 11 years ago and did not had much troubles since then except of the pain that started 5 years ago but remained stable did not increase…so what is the next step I should do now?
i’ve had a complete hysterectomy symtoms where pain. turns out i had fiborid tumors. anyway i have no interest in sex anymore. my husband think’s i have some one else ha ha . my spelling is awful but i hope i got the point across. i wish i had never had the surgery. fooled by a money hungry doctor who i had doctor with for yrs. don’t have a hysterectomy you won’t ever be the same again.
Dear Anonymous of March 3, 2008 12:42am
I had the removal of my ovaries and uterus also, many years ago, and in a nutshell you will feel the way you have described in your blog, for the rest of your life. Your doctor(s) just forgot to tell you what to expect after the surgery.
The sudden loss of the hormone producing organs from your body throws your body into instant shock. It affects your cognitive functions and your physical strength, and your body is struggling to stay alive after this amputation of essential body parts. Your personality has changed due to the body functions that have changed. You will develop new habits, something akin to compulsive behavior as you develop ways of coping with your new life on a daily basis.
The doctors then lie to you, your family, and to the world at large and say they don’t know what is wrong with you (post surgery). This will add to your misery.
No one is going to believe you and not believe your doctor. After all, didn’t your doctor spend about 6 or 8 years obtaining their ‘degree’ at a University? Doesn’t this make them more intelligent and knowlegeable about the surgery’s after-effects than you? NO!
It is this cloak of fraternity with their medical colleagues that does not allow them to tell you they know the surgery is the cause, they just don’t know how to fix the after-effects and they really don’t care.
They forget that you have lived with your body for all these years, and you know your body better than they do. It is logical that every woman is different and therefore the exact feelings she experiences after this surgery may differ slightly and to varying degrees.
I am a strong believer in Acupuncture as it is one of the ingredients in the wide area of Traditional Chinese Medicine healing modalities. It is very gentle and helps the body to balance in every way. That is what the body is trying to do after these surgeries, balance itself.
Acupuncture has helped me a lot.
Taking additional supplements which the body can no longer produce or use efficiently because of the loss of the huge number and variety of naturally produced hormones in the body, has also helped me a little. Nothing makes me feel ‘normal’ or anywhere near to how I felt before my surgery. I am a totally different person today than I was before my surgery.
Dear Desideria, Your doctor has heard a lot of complaints so her telling you that you are the first one to complain is a lie. She is hoping you just go away so she doesn’t have to deal with you. She probably cut a nerve or two and now you will have to life like this for the rest of your life. Some women end up in wheel chairs after their surgery because of nerve damage.
They take your hormonal sexual organs, then kick you out their door for you to deal with all the after effects of this surgery on your own.
I believe the sign in the clinic read ‘your health is our top priority’, RIGHT! Their top priority is to make as much money as they can. Not only is your gynecologist making money, but most likely you will end up in every department in the clinic trying to find answers as to why you feel so terrible.
STOP going to an Ob/gyn for your checkups because they are trained to do hysterectomies and castrations.
Please have your family and friend go online and sign the petition to pass a law prohibiting doctors doing this damaging surgery without handing out the DVD ‘Female Anatomy’ to every women who is approached to give up their sexual organs.
Every women who has written on here and even the thousands who haven’t will never again have the life they had before this surgery. AND FOR WHAT, IF NOT FOR THE MONEY. SHAME ON EVERY DOCTOR WHO HAS CUT OUT OUR SEXUAL ORGANS FOR PROFIT! How can anyone be in a career that destroys millions of women’s lives? We have to struggle and try to get through each day the best we can.
I wake up thinking today there will be hundreds of women who will be on the operating table whose CARING doctors will remove their very important organs. Organs that we need for our well-being. Organs that we need to make us feel healthy, sexy, happy and vibrant!
I was trying to find out if there are any drugs FDA approved to help women regain their sex drive. I had a hyst. 2 years ago and was never informed of the possible adverse effects. My sex life is ruined and I can’t live like this anymore. I need serious help. Please help me.
I will I had known about this site before I had mine. So many problems.
Anonymous, I’m glad you canceled the oophorectomy, (the nice name for castration). I hope that your doctor does only what you request. I only needed an ovarian cyst removed, and my doctor took it upon himself to amputate all my healthy organs. He did it without my consent and against my will without any medical justification. Be very careful with these doctors, they are liars and criminals and take advantage of women once they get them under anesthesia. Call the HERS Foundation. They can help you and give you referrals. Let us know how you’re doing!
I am a few hours away from a unilateral oophorectomy (removal of a single ovary)- deemed necessary because they found a cyst on the ovary. The cyst may be caused by my contraceptive-releasing Mirena coil, I have just found out. I have had no information abt possible side effects of oophorectomy.
After reading Hers material and a series of other articles, my decision is that I will not have this procedure. I will go in as planned, but just ask them to remove the Mirena coil. Then I’ll continue to research the issue. If the risk of ovarian cancer is a factor, perhaps they can put me on a screening programme.
When will they curb their propensity to cut bits out of women’s bodies?
This is medioeval stuff, really. I am so angry.
I am 34 years old and I am a mess. I just had a partial hysterectomy. I just had that surgery done this past September.
What a releif to know that what I feel is very real and not all in my head. I am unable to work because I am very limited now, physically and emotionally. Thank God I found you!. I can tell you that I have many problems you talk about here and on the website and am in a lot of pain. It feels as though I am not healing propperly not to mention all the other physical (back pain, joint pain/starting arthritis, headaches, nausia) and emotional. Lately taking care of myself is a full-time job! This morning when I tried desperately to find answers my boyfriend suggested I tell you what I’m experiencing. Smart man. What a hudge releif and comforting to know that I am definately NOT loosing my mind.
I have been feeling so ill, that I finally went to the emergency at the hospital. I was treated like a nutcase. These so called professionals made me feel as tho I was wasting their precious time. I am still petrified because I am falling apart, fear that maybe something might be very wrong with me, I can’t find the help I need so I would very much appreciate any information or advice that you people have to offer.
Dear Ladies,
It is so good, that here in this blog women are so courageous, frank and honest. In other forums, very often women are rporting that they are so well after their hysterectomies – they say: everything is super- and some sentences later, they ask: “Since my surgery I am so depressed – have night sweats and mood swings.. Is there anybody else with these experiences?”
But first of all they say: “I am Well”- I fear taht they are telling this to their doctors too…
Why so many women don’t speak out frankly.
In Germany (I am writing from Austria) are now also chatrooms where hysterectomized women are talking together- but if you are reading the post: the majority encourages women to undergo the surgery- and they hardly say that they have indeed severe health and psychological problems afterwards!
It’s awful! Why don’t they tell the truth – DO they want that other women have to make the same experiences without being informed before? I fear- that a lot of women are reacting like this!
It’s a shame!
rosa
Amy I know exacly how you feel! I had a completer hytorectemy 1 yr. ago and i feel like i am loosing my mind. severe depression, fatigue, coping problems, weight gain, so many problems. unable to cope. i have been on esrtrogen 0.625 only. I am thinking taking natural hormone replacement therapy as prescribed by an internal medicine doctor. I have been told recently that i have borderline osteoporosis in my hip. I have been put on antidepressants for depression two weeks ago. Can i take natural hormone replacement with these other meds without problems. Anything you can tell me that might help? The doctors wanted to put into the hospital because i became suicidal but i am fighting with all that i have to get all of the problems under control. I decided to take the antidepressant which I feel helped some. But I still don’t feel right. Please help me!!!! desperate!!!
I am a 30 y/o mother of 4 who went to a new OBGYN a year ago with PMS complaints and she did an U/S and said I had endometreosis, firbroid tumor and clusters of cysts on both ovaries and said I needed a total hysterectomy and would feel 100% better. My husband went in with me the next day concerned that this removal of my hormones would be a serious mistake since I already suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, anxiety and sever depression.
She just laughed and said I would be so much better if we removed the hormones…2 days later I had a TAH…1 week later I was admitted to pysch ward for threats of suicide and feelings of inaduqucy as a mother and made a comment that my children would be better off in heaven…since then, I suffer from NO sex drive, PAIN after sex, the worse depression ever, irritability, vaginal pain, kidney stones, can not climb up and down stairs(knee and ankle pain), vaginal discharge with odor and itching and have lost my career due to lack of being able to get out of bed….this TAH has RUIEND my life and now am in the process of getting permanent disability.
Is there someone that can help me? I did get hospital records and everything was NORMAL!!!! AND the post op path report was negative for any endometreosis or fibroid or ANYTHING….all tests pre and post say “unremarkable” so now I realize I had this all done for NOTHING and to turn the rest of my life into a living hell. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me…someone….anyone!!!!!!!!!!
I am 31 years old, and as recently had a total hysterectomy. I found so many things on here that I thought I was imagining, but seems others have the same things going on. I am amazed. I wish I had seen this before. Thank you, at least I know I’m not going crazy.
I am at my wits end here. I have no one person in my life that can understand the hell I have been through since my LAVH in April 2005at the age of 45. My uterus was taken from me for Dsmenorrha/Menorrhagia which means from what I understand heavy bleeding/cramps clotting.
NO REASON for a partial hysterectomy.
I was suffering from severe PMS and cramps, clots and abnormally heavy periods. I was given the choice of an LAVH. I put it off twice before I made the decision that I should have never made to begin with. I was told I would be fine and live with the freedom of no more heavy periods. I was offered hormone therapy but smoked. So I couldn’t go on estrogen. It says in my medical records I tried progesterone. I don’t remember taking it at all.
From the time I healed from that surgery my life went into a full tail spin to say the least. I was a tornado. I couldn’t keep my feet planted in one place on the ground. I kept going in circles round and round from Wisconsin back to Chicago. I lost all my true emotion, love for my family, my maternal instinct without any conscious at all. I became very unstable. My personality totally altered. I became a total stranger to myself and others. I can never regain the woman I once was. It is permanently taken away!
I also suffer from other physical ailments but it is my mentality that is at stake here.
My daughter was 8 at the time. Now she is 11 and I cannot get close to her no matter what for I hurt her so badly by coming and going, coming and going. A guilt I will forever suffer with.
My ex husband to be says it’s just going to take time. He doesn’t understand the full hell I have been going through and brings it up from time to time. All I do is live with guilt that I can’t let go of for no one seems to let me forget. It feels as if I am continually slapped in the face. By my own self and others. The little family I have has read the information on the Hers site and still cannot understand.
The only reason I am even here is because he took a 26 ft fall off a job site. Another story. Not his fault that he fell but self employed. Right now my home is in foreclosure. My mother is going to be starting breast cancer treatments soon. I can’t commit to another job for I need to be back in Chicago to care for my mom. It is only me. And no time for me to heal mentally or come to terms with all I have endured since my uterus was pulled from me. NO time for me to finally realize I was a victim and it’s not my fault. I have lost all…….. All…….and feel I am losing more of myself as time goes on.
I almost died twice over this unnecessary hysterectomy. By my own hand. There is no one therapist who understands! I am in a deep depression and feel like I am never going to find happiness in my life again. I either sleep to much or cannot sleep at all.
The saddest part is my daughter… that I will never have back. And we were very, very close. I don’t care about my marriage. It’s my daughter that is slowly killing me inside..the loss of her true love for me.
Is anyone else having or have had similar problems? Sorry this is all over the place but at the moment I am very upset once again…very much so. I hope one day to be able to write my personal story in a much more professional manner if I survive this so called life…. I wish I would have died instead of living in this dark hole.
My gynecologist was Lori Wendricks, Madison, WI….
There it is out there!!!
I am 49 yrs.old and 2 years ago, I had a complete hysterctomy because my gynecologist told me I had “6 fibroids the size of eggs.”
I lost my desire in sex and if I do, my husband cannot penetrate me
because it is so painful. I am so embarrass to ask my family doctor how I can be seen by another gynecologist to be checked. I don’t even know how to begin the questions. All I know is this: After my surgery, my clitoris shrunk, it is so sensitive, and once in a while i have this sensation that feels like electrical surge. It is so painful having intercourse.
Has anyone heard of this? I don’t know what to do. Thank you very much for any information you can give me.
I was given an unwarranted hysterectomy by:
May Grant Associates: Bradford William C DO, Lancaster PA.
To Male in Michigan. We weren’t attacking her for posting but for what she said. She said we are in a cult and all saying the same thing. She found our comments hard to believe and she stated that we make our life what it is. This is what is disgusting.
We welcome all comments, but we don’t need to hear these comments when we are all feeling so ill. We are just trying to make it through each day the best we can.
I am glad she feels great. Sooner or later her ovaries will stop working because of the uterus being cut out. We will then see her comments on her and we can help her come to terms with how she will be feeling.
Tangling with Death
An abyss lurking far from heaven’s gates ready for the arrival of an empty soul. A soul once filled with affection taken away
One April day
A life once full with undying love, gone astray never to be regained. Only a ghost of my true self remains in the shadows.
Deep interior of emotion taken away
One April day
Lines sketched a souvenir of an almost final demise stares back at tear filled eyes questioning why I am still alive. Life no longer makes any sense taken away
One April day
Feeling I should have died in April that day life as I knew it permanently taken away..
Forever, tarnished, scarred I tangle with thoughts of death every day since
One April day
Legally Copyrighted to Jane Marie Overturf 2007
(No part of this poem may used or reproduced without written permission)
I find it very difficult to write my full story of distress due to an un-necessary LAVH. One day I hope to get my full story out. For now I wish to share it through my poetry. Thank you.
Misplaced
One year ago a surgery took place.
A partial hysterectomy required
A tough decision to make.
Little did I know life would drastically change.
Filled with chaos after that day.
Consumed by depression.
Deeper than ever before,
personality altered, a stranger came forth.
My life erased as I knew it before.
On that operating table stolen from me, my sense of logic, love, my well being.
I struggle each day to find my way
Back to the woman
That was misplaced that day.
April 14, 2005
Legally Copyrighted to Jane Marie Overturf 2007
(No part of this poem may used or reproduced without written permission)
i was wandering about my past hysterectomy. why i have loss of sexual pleasure. i don’t worry about pregnancy but don’t have orgasms like i use to. maybe they did something to me like cut nerves or something. i’m not lubricated like i use to be. can you tell me what to do.see a specialist or recommend something. i really need some help. thanks you.
From TQ:
“premeditated, calculated, controlled, legal assault on women”
HERS has provided us with the evidence of the sobering words above. A practice so seductive in its benefits to the medical community that both men and women are incapable of showing restraint.
Women posting have shown, neither age, benign condition, symptoms, lack of children, state of reproductive health, nor out and out refusal – prevents hysterectomy.
HERS has shown us evidence of collusion among several industries and medical specialties resulting in gains while the victims suffer with incomprehensible loss.
There’s no debate when such a practice can flourish unchecked. The only action should be one of courage to end such a practice and one of love to protect women currently harmed.
male in mich.
I just read a recent post from an anonymous poster that says she feels great from her hysterectomy
2 years ago. Ladies do not attack her for posting. It’s possible she is in the lower 25 percentile of those who have a more favorable short term result. Time will take its toll and she will begin to realize what the medical establishment did to her. My wife still denies any bad results from her hysterectomy nearly 6 years ago. But what about me(her husband of 35 years). It destroyed our sex life!! It took a couple of years but sex went bye bye completely. It would kill her if I told her that her vagina has no sensation. She has complete loss of intimate desire, weight gain, no energy, all the classic symtoms. She has been in menopause since her operation..non stop. Mood swings, hot flashes and during these times I just clear the house and let her cool down. Someone better not say to me that it’s all in my head. No intimacy, no sex these are precursers to failed marriages. I have tried to explain to her that the damage they did will continue to affect her more and more. She still denies it. So I cope the best I can and try to support her. I will stand by my support of no hysterectomy unless it is life threatening. A man would feel the same way about his testicles.
There seems to be a myth that just having your uterus removed is no big deal. You might want to google the following medical studies done proving otherwise:
“Hysterectomy Linked to Higher Levels of Inflammatory Markers Than Natural Menopause: Presented at NAMS” (read on about the higher risk of heart disease whether ovaries were preserved or not)
“Risk of Cardiovascular Disease by Hysterectomy Status, With and Without Oophorectomy”
“Hysterectomy May Boost Incontinence Risk
When done to treat benign conditions, procedure more than doubled the odds, study found”
“Hysterectomized Women With Ovarian Conservation Report More Severe Climacteric Complaints Than Do Normal Climacteric Women of Similar Age.”
These are just a few studies regarding damaging effects of hysterectomy without removal of ovaries.
Personally I suffered damage to my vagina during vaginal removal of my uterus 2 1/2 years ago and am now undergoing pelvic floor physical therapy for it. It is certainly not something I asked for and definitely not a mind over matter issue…
To Anonymous who feels great
Your attitude is not that of a person who is feeling so great. Sorry.
It has been 35 years since my ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix were all removed just because of one ovarian cyst. This was done to me at age 24, childless and unmarried. I still remain unmarried at age 60.
It is disgusting to me that anyone would defend this barbaric practice, particularly when it is such a huge money maker for the physicians and their enablers in a civilized country/society.
I am not brainwashed or part of a cult.
I had been brainwashed by all the doctors who tried to convince me that they ‘never heard that complaint after sex organ surgery before’. They kept telling me it is all in my head etc. They kept saying I was fine. I knew I did not feel well and tried to believe them. None of them helped me, or could help me.
Now I know the truth.
Thanks to the HERS Foundation I now understand the physical, psychological and life changing after-effects this surgery has on females, and especially young females.
My heart goes out to all the victims who have posted here and especially to the teenagers who are having this done to them by the medical ‘industry’. I know what lies ahead for them and I weep for them.
Where is your compassion since you are feeling so great?
Mattie said…
To anonymous above….who, only, had her sex organ removed,
So, why? don’t you think a law should be passed to inform women of the female anatomy before sex organ surgery?
Is it because you are embarrassed because your sex organ was amputated?
Is it because your vagina was sewn into a closed pocket at the top of your cervical stump, which no longer functions as a sexual organ?
This is exactly the shame and embarrassment I was talking about in my former post, above.
Sorry your sex organ was amputated!
To anonymous about only having your uterus removed. I did not give the doctor permission to remove any of my organs. On the contrary, I told him to save them all and do only what was absolutely necessary. All I needed was an ovarian cyst removed, but he took it upon himself to amputate my healthy uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries in Oct. 2006. I never had a menstrual problem in my life. I had light uneventful periods that were pretty much painless. I did not consent to have my organs removed, but I woke up that way. It’s very shocking! This has been done to millions of women. Women are being lied to and deceived and wake up castrated and hysterectomized. It’s ruined my ability to have an orgasm. I didn’t ask for this. I sure do not want to be here posting. I want my life back the way it was. I have had all kinds of horrible side effects from a surgery I never wanted or consented to. I am not part of a cult, I am a real person who has been lied to, deceived and butchered by a doctor for profit.
First of all i just got my uteris removed everything else is intact. Maybe thats why my sex life is great.
If you have the right to bash hysterctomies I have the right to say good about it. Maybe I went the wrong route and I appoligize for some comments made to you women but I honestley find it hard to belive.
I started off saying my experience was good and lot of women bashed me for it, which was wrong. Saying I was lying and making me feel stupid about my spelling. Thats were my anger came in there is alot of sucsses stories. Maybe its different when you get everything removed given but I only had my uteris removed thank god.
I also find the ladies words disgusting because I have not had the surgery but went to a Hers Conference with a relative. What I found out was not very pleasant especially when they are castrating very young girls. Girls that wanted families or are unable to care for their young children. I didn’t know alot about my female organs but found out at the conference from a doctor speaking.
You have to ask yourself why are doctors doing this if not for the money because most of these women had only a small fibroid or a small cyst. That can be removed by having a myomectomy or polypectomy thus saving the female sexual organs.
This lady needs to go to a conference and see for herself what this surgery is doing to women, their husband and family. This surgery takes an affect on the whole family because most of the women are unable to go back to work full time and they have lost most of the sexual feelings or are totaly disabled.
This lady needs to go online and watch the DVD ‘Female Anatomy’ and look at the chart of the nerves running through the body and when they cut the ovaries, uterus and cervix out these nerves are tied in bundles going no where. These nerves are needed, not cut.
I am glad I have my sexual hormone producing organs and there isn’t anyway I am going to let doctors cut them out. It is terrible what doctors are getting by with!
This lady doesn’t sound well to me at all by her saying these women are in a cult. I know they are not. Where did she come up with this? It sounds like a doctor talking. How could her sex life be great when they removed her sex organs, HELLO! Most women don’t want to admit they were castrated for fear of losing their husbands. Get educated and informed before you speak untrue words.
To the lady above who wrote; We are in a cult. She don’t believe removing our ovaries is called castration. She has a great sex life. We want to feel bad. We are all brain washed.
I find your comments insulting to all of us who are suffering and will suffer the rest of our lives. I am so happy that you are feeling great and your sex life is great. Why don’t you ask your husband if sex is the same because it isn’t for him if they took your cervix. I am glad you got this off your chest by putting us down calling us cult followers.
Our nerves were severed running to our brain that controls our well being and emotions. Our sexual organs-uterus, ovaries and cervix, were cut out. Alot more takes place when we are castrated but you wouldn’t understand the medical terms if you don’t believe removing the ovaries is called castration. Castration is the medical term and is in medical books as removal of male gonads and female ovaries. There is no way sex is better after being castrated, so these words of yours are false.
The doctors who castrate us made our life what it is. We did not have a choice. We were not told that they were going to remove our sexual organs or what the after effects were. Women from all over the world are posting on here, so how could all of us be brain washed. We are writing to help each other because we are told by our doctors we are the first one who feel the way we do.
Do you really think we want to feel this way? If we could get our life back the way it was before this surgery, we would. My life has not been very pleasant for 20 years. I am sick every day and I was an active and vibrant woman before my castration.
I find your words disgusting because there are a lot of women writing on here that are disabled, unable to work, lost their family life, sick every day and do not have a sex life anywhere. You really need to apologize to these women including myself. Why are you writing on here? Are you a doctor’s wife?
Nora, I think you misunderstood. I’m not advocating for nerve sparing hysterectomy but rather other surgical techniques such as myomectomy and endometrial ablation. Hysterectomy should only be done as a life saving operation, with informed consent.
To the anonymous person. Great. Now go proselytise on the Happy Hysterectomy forums. Why would you be so callous in your approach to women, some very young, who are suffering from the devastating effects of this surgery? I urge you to tread softly over peoples feelings.
Sally.
By the way you can all think anything you want about me. I was actually on here because a freind of mine showed me this site. You are all brain washed.
My spelling has sucked since greade school it actually got better in the last couple of years…my spelling does not mean I am stupid though.
To all you ladies out there. I did spell and posted twice just to prove a point I am doing amazing after two years. I knew that would get all your attention.
You all honestly sound like you are in a cult and are all saying the same things. I find all your comments very hard to believe. I know plenty of women that also say it is the best thing they have ever done.
Castration what the hell or words like butcher please. All this talk about gaining weight I lost 20 pounds and sex is great.
Mind over matter laides you make your life what it is…
Sally,
The breast and nerve sparing lumpectomy as opposed to mastectomy is less damaging to the breast and surrounding nerves and blood supply. There are doctors who say they perform nerve sparing hysterectomy and claim that it is therefore not damaging. I disagree.
In a so-called nerve sparing hyseterectomy surgeons do not sever some of the peripheral nerves, but they do sever every nerve that is attached to the uterus, as well as all of the ligaments and blood supply that are attached to the uterus. The uterus is removed and the vagina is sutured shut at the top, making it shorter and with less elasticity.
Sparing some of the peripheral nerves and severing the hypogastric plexus of nerves that branches out to the uterus and external genitalia, and severing all of the attachments to the uterus, as well as removing a hormone responsive reproductive sex organ from women is damaging. Hysterectomy and castration performed on women who have not been informed of the functions of their female organs and the consequences of having them removed is a barbaric practice that must be stopped.
With regard to analogies, I cannot help but feel I’m like one of those women who have been victims of female genital mutilation. Some of these women were spared the cutting by the perpetrator just sewing up the labia major, but still they bear scars.
As a ‘civilised’ society we abhor these acts. Yet we live in so called democratic systems that actively encourages the mutilation of the female internal sex organs. There is even a big fat profit to be made from it.
Halstead introduced the radical mastectomy. It took 80 years to abandon it, some doctors having to endure the tag of killers because they dared to modify this highly mutilating surgery.
It’s about time gynecologists stopped this free for all butchering and modify surgical techniques to ensure minimal damage. It’s not beyond the wit of humankind.
Sally
It has been almost a year and a half since I was hysterectomized and castrated. Every day my memory seems to get worse. My brain is in such a fog. I can’t concentrate, I can’t remember words. I do something and then forget it a couple minutes later. Every task is now very difficult. Things I used to do without much thought now seem insurmountable. It really scares me when I think of all the things I need to do. I just can’t seem to get up enough brain power to get anything done. I was always very organized, but now I have piles of stuff laying everywhere. I can’t seem to get them straightened out. I always think I’ll do it tomorrow when I feel better, but tomorrow never comes. I don’t know how I am going to function the rest of my life when I can’t accomplish even the most simple tasks. It is horrible what they’ve done to us. I see that Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is still advertising about how great this barbaric surgery is, and forcing women to agree that it doesn’t affect sex. That is such a despicable lie. How can they keep that information up there and sleep at night? My heart goes out to all the women who have posted honestly on this blog. The sad truth is that there is no cure after you have been butchered by these doctors. There is no way to get your health back. I have been going to a naturopath and I take a cocktail of supplements everyday. It has helped with the severe fatigue and cut down on the severe hot flashes, but nothing has changed my memory loss, foggy thinking, inability to concentrate, lack of sexual response, etc. There is nothing on this earth to fix the damage that has been done. It’s even more tragic for teenage women and those in their 20’s and 30’s. We live in an insane society where doctors are allowed to lie and butcher women for profit. These doctors have no interest in a woman’s health. The insurance companies are in it with the doctors. They take money from the people and give it to doctors to butcher women. Doctors would not be able to perform unnecessary surgeries if the insurance companies didn’t pay them and reward them. What a sick system.
I had a full hysterectomy done 2 years ago when I was only 25 years old. The left ovarie was left because the dr. told me I needed hormones. I was never given any alternatives instead of the hysterectomy or side affects I would experience after the surgery. Since having it done, I’ve been going through an emotional rollercoaster. I have alot of mood swings, vaginal dryness, decreased sexual desires, but more than anything are the mood swings that have affected me the most. I need something to control them, I am not taking hormones, because my dr told me I don’t need them. If you could tell me what to do I would appreciate it. Thank You.
Recently I exchanged emails with someone about the issue of making anaologies of other hideous and tragic abuses to hysterectomy and female castration. I rarely use analogies, except when they illustrate that many hideous abuses have been stopped. None of them were given up voluntarily, they were taken away from the prevailing power that benefited from keeping the status quo. One of the reasons I’m not entirely comfortable with analogies is that there is nothing that truly is the same. Many women refer to feeling like they were raped by the doctor that hysterectomized them and the system that allowed it, the enablers. Although, because of my own experience I understand how they feel, the fact of the matter is a victim of rape is still whole and intact, and the physical violation they suffered is something most women and men learn to put into the far back of their psyche so that they can live with what was done to them.
Hysterectomized and castrated women cannot deep six it in the back of their subconscious mind because every cell of their being has been changed, every part of their anatomy affected, and their lives irreparably damaged. The rape victim is no less violated and traumatized, but they are whole and with some help they are usually able to go on with their lives, still the person they were before, though violated, scarred, and wary.
An analogy with the holocaust is often made as well. Although I am not religious my heritage and family is Jewish and I feel an identity with the culture and some of the tradition. I had family who died in concentration camps in Germany and Austria, and some who escaped. My mother-in-law was a survivor. Her spirit was permanently scarred, and like most survivors she preferred not to talk about it because she could live in the present if she didn’t allow herself to think about the horror of the past. My father’s family fled the Czar in Russia. Interested and curious about their lives, from time to time I gingerly asked what their life had been like in Russia, but they refused to talk about it. My aunt said, “Some things are better left in the past, they’re just bad memories that would give me nightmares if I thought about them.” She, too, found it possible to live in the present if she kept the past out of her conscious thoughts.
Hysterectomized and castrated women cannot be whole for even a second. They cannot go back to their past, and they are not “present” in a current life. They cannot feel what they felt when they were whole, their bodies and minds cannot feel what they did when they were intact. The part of them that made it possible is no longer there.
In a way I think that these analogies are a disservice to all. It is not a rape, it is not a holocaust, what’s being done to women every minute of every day in the United States and elsewhere in the world is a premeditated, calculated, controlled, legal assault on women. The assailant is not lurking in the shadows. She is alone and isolated with her victim in an examining and consulting room, then on stage under the spot light of the surgical theatre, with a supporting cast of accomplices who participate in and silently witness the destruction of women’s bodies and lives – the enablers.
The perpetrators are not “them”. They are “us”, our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, and friends.
We’re talking about abuse on a scale unlike the 25,000 lobotomized people, or six million systematically tortured and executed prisoners who had a network of underground support. We’re talking about 621,000 women every year, 22 million living women in the USA, to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands of women this was done to in previous generations who are no longer alive. Every hideous abuse of human beings is tragic, one not more or less than the other, regardless of the numbers involved.
Hysterectomy and female castration will not be given up voluntarily, it will have to be taken away from those who benefit from keeping the status quo. Everyone who cares about this outrageous abuse of women can be part of the solution. Show your support by signing the petition and volunteering to help HERS change the law. Contact HERS by email at hersfdn@earthlink.net or by phone at 610.667.7757 to find out what you can do to help HERS change the law in your state.
As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.”
Mattie said…
OB/GYN doctors and surgeons, bank on and count on women being too embarrassed, too shy, or silent to protect their self-image, after their sex organ is amputated. Let’s face it, who wants to admit their sex organ was cut off?.
This silent shame has worked for the OB/GYN’s. Many women do not want to admit the damage, it is embarrassing. A women no longer has a uterine orgasm after hysterectomy-sex organ removal.
By the looks on the three nurses faces who came into the hopital room to witness me, the day after the butchering, and how I felt afterwards, I was already starting to realize something terrible had happened, but tried to stay possitive and trust what the doctor had said.
Three nurses who were not even assigned to me, came in my room to see me the day after the butchering. They must have heard how my legs were flying all over the place, and what the doctors did to stop the severe shock I was in the day before. The nurses seemed to want to talk to me, they wanted to know why I had the surgery. After I relayed to them what the doctor had said about my condition, one of the nurses said, why did you have this surgery done here?, they were visably upset. Too late for this one, I guess they must have thought.
By four a.m the next morning I was weak and calling into the nurse call box saying “HELP”, “HELP”, and nothing not one person came to help me. I felt like I was outside of myself, shakey, could not sleep, and was in torturous pain. A nurse at seven a.m then came into my room, took one look at me and said “I am giving you a shot”. I had never had trouble sleeping before this, but sleeping pills I was told were not written on my chart. I guess that may explain why no nurses came to my room while I begged into the call box, maybe they took my sleeping pills or did not want to be bothered. Maybe there were no nurses in the middle of the night?
What human being wants to admit that their sex organ was cut off? After they realize, it was? I can say that I don’t want to admit it, I don’t want any of this to be real, but it is.
Mattie said…
I started thinking about what legal crime in American history was worse than removing the sexual organs from women by deceit, resulting in the amputation of the sexual organs of, one-third of the female population by the year 2008.
I researched, Colonial Black Slavery. It was the only thing I could think of that may be close to the numbers we are talking about and the cruelty.
Here are the statistics of the numbers of black slaves freed in America by 1865 according to the 1860 American census. American history: *(approximately 4 Million slaves were freed by July of 1865, by the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment on December
18, 1865.)
Then I thought well what about the Holocaust in Germany. *Every arm of Germany’s bureaucracy was involved in the logistics of the mass murder, turning the country into what one Holocaust scholar has called “a genocidal state”. Taking into account all of the victims of Nazi persecution, the death toll rises considerably:
*(estimates generally place the total number of victims at 9 to 11 million.)
*Information from Wikepedia.
The above statistics in world history conclude irrefutably that the systematic sex organ removal of one-third of the American female population (22 Million women) by the year 2008, by deceit, legally, is among the cruelest historical facts recorded in world history.
The laws must be changed to end this cruel torture of one-third of the female population in America in the year 2008.
Sign the HERS Foundation petition to end un-consented, un-warranted, sex organ removal, by legal deceit for profit by the gynecological society in America.
This has gone far beyond the limits of inhumanity, already.
I find it hard to believe that a person who is feeling amazing after a hysterectomy would take the time to seek out and read a site that details the long term consequences and effects of hysterectomy. And then not even give us any detail as to why she had her hysterectomy and why she feels so much better.
I also find it hard to believe that having an organ removed can make a person feel amazing. People have kidneys, lungs, tonsils, other organs removed for cancerous conditions but you don’t hear them bragging about how wonderful they feel, except that their lives have been prolonged. Why the need to revere a hysterectomy? There are always other more conservative and just as effective options to deal with benign reproductive problems…always…
This is what is so sad for all of us. We are left on our own to figure this out. Once the surgery is done, our doctors kick us out their doors because they know they are going to hear one problem after another and they don’t want to deal with it. This is the only surgery that I know of where we are not taken care of properly after the surgery.
We are all told it is in our heads and I think you now know it isn’t. We are all told there won’t be any changes after the surgery and you now know this isn’t true. Our doctors are well aware what this damaging and life altering surgery does to our bodies and lives.
I searched for two years on my own trying to find answers when I found the Hers Foundation in a McCall’s Magazine and finally I was told the truth. What you are beginning to find out is not very pleasant to hear or read. Non of us wants to hear this is our life now. You must do whatever it takes to get some kind of order in your life. It will never be the same kind of life as before and this is what is so sad.
I know my life will never be what it was before my surgery, but I can help other women by getting a law passed that would require every doctor to give every woman the DVD ‘Female Anatomy’ who are precribed a hysterectomy and castration. We must not let this happen to other women. Wouldn’t you agree that if we were given this DVD to watch and knew the affects this surgery would have on our bodies, we wouldn’t have had the surgery?
The Hers Foundation needs our help and another way you could help is by sending a donation (whatever the amount) to them so they can keep fighting for us. If everyone who has written on here would just send a small donation, it would help out alot. Without the Hers Foundation, we would be on our own again!
AND, keep naming your doctors so other women don’t go to them. AGAIN, mine was Dr. Jerome Gundersen of Gundersen Clinic in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. If you haven’t watch their movie about having a hysterectomy, you should. After watching it, you would easily be talked into this surgery like I was.
There are four (4) misspelled words in the Anonymous post all in one sentence: “beleive”, “thingd”, “HYSTERCTOMY” and “AMAZIND”. I can relate to the same inability to concentrate. I used to have a very sharp mind and great memory, but now it’s hard to form a thought, or think of words and how to spell them.
Anonymous,
I truly hope you are okay. I have some observations about your post that I think are worth considering.
You posted your comment twice. Short term memory problems are a common consequence of hysterectomy.
You misspelled or made a typo in the last word. It’s the word meant to convey how fantastic you feel since you were hysterectomized two years ago.
You ended your comment with all caps. All caps are usually used to convey shouting, anger, or irrititation. They are common feelings and appropriate responses in women whose female organs have been removed.
It’s something to think about, particularly if you have ever told another woman that you have not experienced any adverse effects from your surgery. I’m sure that you would not want to put another woman in harms way.
It is hard to beleive these thingd I HAD A HYSTERCTOMY 2 YEARS AGO AND I FEEL AMAZIND
It is hard to beleive these thingd I HAD A HYSTERCTOMY 2 YEARS AGO AND I FEEL AMAZIND
i had a complete hysterectomy and a bladder tact in 1994 , now i feel use less to my self i;m divorced i do not date , i live alone no energy no sex drive, over weight, on depression pills every day living alone, is this what i should feel like at 51 years old, i’m so gladiI found this web site can you please please help me
To all you very young women who have been put through this my heart goes out to you. Really there is not a lot I can do except emphasise. Get regular exercise, take vitamins especially C & D. Lower the intake of Vit D during the summer months (i.e. for six months) as we can self manufacture this with sunlight.
To the last poster. You are being given the run around. Next time you see a doctor tell them this. Speak calmly and with authority. If you have had kidney problems then it could be that one of the ureters were damaged. Get them to check this. Secondly they need to check the top of the vagina and confirm that the suture closure has not been compromised. This is not your fault. Sometimes a fistula can occur. It is repairable. You may want to ask if they can check for this. These are just suggestions and you may have already ruled them out. I hope you find a doctor with a good heart that can give you some answers and solve your problems. Good luck.
I had a hysterectomy in June.of 2006, I have since then had nothing but problems and alot of pain.I changed doctors within nine weeks of surgery because I felt that she had done something wrong and couldn’t admit it. A new doctor has sent me for several tests trying to find out what is going on with me. Once I stopped bleeding from the surgery I had a discharge with alot of stomach cramps and pain.I have more pain now than I did before.I have multiple cysts on the one overy I have left,they were found three weeks after surgery and my new Dr. says they should have been seen during surgey. I know they are causeing alot of my pain but not all.While I was haveing an ultrasound they found out that my right kidney is inlarged and that there may have been something done during surgery to cause a blockage.I now have to have several more tests to find out what it is.
I am still not back to work because of all the pain and discomfort. I can not have intercourse without alot of pain and bleeding so therefor I don’t and this upsets my husband as well as my self. I waited until the Dr’s said it was ok before doing it so I don’t know what is going on with that either. No one can give me answers for any of these things. Did some one mess up or am I going crazy? Iam 30 years old and had the surgery because I would have two periods a month.The only other choice I had was birth control and I can’t take them. I have since found out that I had other choices that my Dr. didn’t tell me about! What do I do??? Please help me
I’m 32 and had a hysterectomy a year ago. I’m still having hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, anger and irritible. Is this normal and how long will it last? Sometimes I feel like I’m going crazy and dont like even being around myself…you know what I mean?
I would just like to know more information about Hysterectomy’s.
Im 21 now but I was 19 when I had my Hysterectomy and I am still trying to come to terms with everything that is changing in my body. I would jut like some information please, if you can help me understand what is going on in my body. I’m lost.
I’d heard that there were hysterectemys done without necessity. I had a hysterectemy when I was 18, I am 36 now. Thank God I did have one daughter, but I did want more children. I went into the ER at at night because I had pain and had surgery the next morning. I was told that my uterous had grown the size of a football * they had to do emergency surgery. I did have insurance, but it was so long ago I don’t remember the facts. I don’t know the doctors name even. But I do not remember who the surgeon was just how he looks. I would like to know if I was ONE who did NOT have to have the surgery, because I feel that part of me was destroyed because I did want more children. Maybe you can help me?
I had a hysterectomy from ovarian cancer, 55 yrs old and am on natural hormomes taking a chance of more cancer and still don’t have much sex drive and moist but not very lubricated. I don’t feel much of a sex drive anymore. I’ve been on natural hormones through a compounding pharmacy back east. Is there anything that can give me back the sex drive I had. Its very sad. That used to mean so much to me.
There is no more cancer found but they when in twice to test lymph glands and say I am free of cancer but I sure don’t feel myself. I also get tired real easy and I’m used to being very active. I feel like I’m being punished for liking sex too much. Thanks for this web site.
I had a hysterectomy in January, 2002 at the recommendation of my doctor. I was having exploratory surgery for a gastrointestinal problem. The surgeon noticed that my uterus was enlarged and told me that it needs to be removed due to its size. It was the size of a 16 weeks pregnancy. Having never been pregnant, I cannot imagine how large that was. The doctor convinced me that it was very big. However, from the beginning, I had reservations and questions, but still went along with those whom I felt were the authorities. I was told the lie that it was an insurance against ovarian and cervical cancers. I went to three doctors, who all said the same thing, that I would not experience any difference in my body functions. I only see now that I made a very big mistake! I have been thrown into an instant change of life. I have hot flashes, night sweats, cannot sleep, posture is bad, (cannot stand straight) , skin is dried and wrinkle, have no sexual appetite. My bladder is awfully weak, my joints hurt a lot and I feel bloated all the time. Sex used to be an enjoyable experience, now it is a chore that I hate. Granted I am 55 years old, and have a right to enjoy life as much as I can. When I went to those geniuses, they told me to take the hormones (premarin) for a while to see if that would make me feel better. I am mad that I have to take Premarian — yes, the one that may cause breast cancer as well as a stroke and/or heart attack! Before having the surgery, I talked to a lot of women about their hysterectomies, and they (all of them) told me that I would feel no difference. Are women afraid to admit the truth — or I wonder if they know the truth. If there is no difference then why are they taking hormones? I am very alarmed and disgusted. Is there something that I can do to feel like a woman again? Can you please help me. Thanks for listening.
It’s been three years since my total hystorectomy. Now I seem to have no sex drive, could care less if I have any intimacy at all with my husband of 30 years. We were very happy before surgery. I need help in dealing with the side effects of this surgery. Depression big time (on medication), edema, sore joints & mucles, no desire to socialize, no sexual desire, not much joy in life. If there’s any help out there, I’m not opposed to driving. I live in Huntsville Alabama.
Unfortunately none of these side effects were mentioned. I should have done a lot more research. You always think it can’t happen to you. Thanks.
Mattie said…
ENDING THE FALSE INFORMATION USED BY GYNECOLOGISTS TO DECEIVE, ATTACK AND DE-SEX ONE THIRD OF THE FEMALE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FOR PROFIT, LEGALLY, IS:
“A NATIONAL EMERGENCY”
IMAGINE 22 MILLION WOMEN STANDING IN THE DESERT AND SCREAMING ALL AT ONCE, WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY HAD BEEN TRICKED AND LIED TO. THAT THE REALITY OF WHAT HAD BEEN DONE TO THEM WAS SEXUAL ORGAN AMPUTATION, MUTILATION AND ENTIRE BODY HORMONE HAVOC, THAT WAS UNNECESSARY, WITH NO CURE AVAILABLE.
HOPEFULLY THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL SEE THIS AS THE,
“NATIONAL EMERGENCY”
IT IS.
IMAGINE AGAIN IF ONE THIRD OF THE FEMALE POPULATION CAME DOWN WITH AN INCURABLE DISEASE, WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED A,
“NATIONAL EMERGENCY”.
I BELIEVE HYSTERECTOMY BY DECEIT, FOR PROFIT FITS THE BILL, THIS HAS GONE FAR BEYOND THE LIMITS OF INHUMANITY, ALREADY.
A LAW MUST BE PASSED TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY FROM EVEN ONE MORE FEMALE HUMAN SACRIFICE, FOR PROFIT AND POWER BY,
“THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY”
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The reason why every one of us victims who have posted to this blog has the right to be OUTRAGED is because we were NOT TOLD BY OUR DOCTORS of the devastating after-effects we should expect after these sex-organ surgeries! We were not told before the surgery or even after the surgery.
THAT IS THE SOURCE OF OUR OUTRAGE!
These doctors know that the delicate nature of this surgery and what it does to our lives is not something we would normally choose to make public. As long as we continue to buy into THIS LIE, and keep this all hidden, we will remain their victims. We need to expose these unsavory, despicable medical ‘industry’ LIARS!
In my opinion, the best way we can spend the rest of our limping lives is to educate others about this SHAMEFUL PRACTICE IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY.
Distribute the HERS Foundation Petition and copies of the various information sheets and literature from HERS Foundation as widely as possible. Ask HERS to send you copies of their literature via e-mail attachments etc. so you can print this at home and distribute.
We can leave these Petitions etc. in public restrooms, both the men and women areas. Men should be willing to do this because men need to be as informed as women about this OUTRAGEOUS, INHUMANE MUTILATION OF WOMEN.
Men, have Mothers, Wives, Daughters, Sisters, Aunts, Girlfriends etc. who, if not already affected by these surgeries, these women stand a one-in-three chance of being MUTILATED BY THIS SURGERY before they reach the age of 60, according to US statistics. The men themselves will fall victim to this madness as the women in their lives continue to be MUTILATED at a one-in-three rate!!!
The distribution of this HERS Foundation literature will help men to better understand what is happening in the lives of the women they love. Most of all, men will be able to help prevent this MUTILATION from continuing by being informed themselves and educating others.
I think we should hand-to-hand deliver or just leave this written literature in Colleges, Doctors offices, restrooms, or to voters in line at Polling Stations on election days, and anywhere else where we can reach others.
Handing a Petition directly to someone who is already a voter will speed up the signature gathering process.
EDUCATION is our best revenge!
WE HAVE LET MEN RUN OUR LIVES AND THE COUNTRY TOO LONG! THEY HAVE MADE A MESS OF EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW IT IS A MAN’S WORLD AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE AN ANIMAL WHO IS CASTRATED.
Yup Jan, we are always the first person to complain once castrated. You know this isn’t true. We have 200 pages of women complaining. A doctor is suppose to know how to treat you after the surgery. When you have a hip replacement, a back, arm, leg or head surgery, do you go back to the surgeon who did the surgery and have him say you are the first one who has complained after surgery and there isn’t anything I can do for your pain so go somewhere else because I don’t want you for a patient anymore. This is what we hear when we go back to our doctor who just took our sexual organs that we so much need all our life for our well-being.
All they care about is getting your money, then kicking you out their door to go from doctor to doctor trying to find out why you are feeling so terrible, only to find out there isn’t any doctor who can help you. YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
Why do OB/GYN’s hate women so much? They wouldn’t do this to men.
Hysterectomy/castration is the most horrific insane thing one human being could do to another. I used to always be afraid of dying. Now I’m just waiting since I feel like I’m already half dead.
Thank you for this website that you have developed. I have felt so angry and alone. My doctor only gave me two options 1. treatment with hormone (I’m allergic), 2.hysterectomy. I had my surgery January 2007 and now I walk with a limp from severe nerve damage and in constant pain everyday. The surgeon kept telling me that I was the very first person to experience any problems from this procedure and she had no clue on how to help me. So THANK YOU AGAIN.
Gundersen Clinic featured on this blog site does in fact do a record number of hysterectomies and castrations. One out of two women in the LaCrosse, Wisconsin area has been castrated.
Being castrated myself, I can look at a woman and tell if she was castrated by her eyes and her walk. It is terrible how a doctor can take a vibrant woman and turn her into a unhealthy and sick woman. She will most likely be unable to work full time again or even worse, loose her job and become unemployed. She will most likely loose her husband. She will loose her life as it was before her surgery. HOW MUCH WORSE CAN IT GET!
I would challenge any doctor from Gundersen Clinic to write on here and answer these questions that all the women are having. These doctors should be able to because they seem to know so much about being hysterectomized or castrated. They will tell you nothing will change after the surgery, so come on here and tell us why everything changes after this damaging and life altering surgery.
i had a hysterectomy 4 years ago. when the doctor told me about increasing the rate of aging, i did not realize i would lose the life i had before. i cry every day. i want my sex life back. i want my feelings back. i want me back. thank you for being there.
I had a vaginal hysterectomy and bladder repair. I’m 33 years old, and never had kids. Still having problems with my bowels once in a while. Have a spot on my left thigh that is dead, can’t feel anything. Mentally, it is bothering me. I would like to know if anyone else has had this happen with part of their thigh being dead after the surgery.
Thank you for this great web site. The doctor said forget about it, she’s never had these complaints before that I’m the only one! Guess she doesn’t read much, huh!!!
TAKE ACTION NOW! HAVE EVERYONE YOU KNOW SIGN THE PETITION. THIS WILL BE THE ONLY WAY WE WILL STOP THESE GYNECOLOGIST FROM TAKING CONTROL OF OUR BODIES AND DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT TO. THIS IS THE WORSE KIND OF ABUSE TOWARDS WOMEN. IF A MAN HITS A WOMAN HE GOES TO JAIL, BUT A DOCTOR CAN CUT OUT HEALTHY SEX ORGANS, CASTRATE US AND SCREW UP THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND GET BY WITH IT. BUT IF WE CASTRATED OUR DOCTORS WE WOULD GO TO JAIL. WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? GOD THIS IS SO AWFUL. WHEN WILL IT STOP?
Does anyone have information on how to get off HRT replacements? I have had a full hysterectomy and every thing has changed in my life, no energy, memory loss, loss sex drive, can’t focus anymore.
Are the OB/GYN’s reading this blog site? You would think they would finally realize what they are doing to us. Thank you male in Michigan for writing about how it has affected your life as well as all our husband’s lives and our family lives. This isn’t just the woman suffering. This is just so outrageous!
I hate being tired, being unable to work full time, not feeling sexy, bone and joint paint, headaches, feeling sick all the time, not having the life I had before my surgery, unable to go out at night, and worse of all having a memory that is really bad. I can’t remember like I did before my surgery. I can actually do something and turn around and do it again, or forget what I had just told someone. I have spent years looking through garbage because I throw things away not because I want to, but because I forget I throw them away.
I had to re-train my brain, with my thinking, my sexual feelings, my energy and everything else that is connected to feelings and emotions. This will take a few years to do this and it still isn’t easy, but you have to somehow think positive (most of the time).
I would like to know how a OB/GYN can sleep at night after giving someone a hysterectomy along with castration knowing what this does to a woman. This really tells you how doctors think and it is all for the money, otherwise why would you become a gynecologist.
You have to spread the word and get everyone to go online and vote to end this, so a law can be passed that would require doctors to give the DVD ‘female anatomy’ to every woman faced with this damaging surgery.
male in mich.
In answer to the comment from the anonymous lady who said “her husband cannot understand how any woman can go without sex after a hysterectomy”. I agree with her assessment that her husband needs to become educated and join the group of men who are victims of the butchery done to wives and girlfriends. I have researched many topics and found my wife is suffering because of her surgery. We have no sex life because she has no interest. Face it, if a man has his testicles removed he will no longer have a sex drive and his endocrine system will be disrupted greatly. And it leads him to have many other health issues as time progresses. The same thing will happen to a women when she has any type of hysterectomy. The severing of nerves and surgical damage leaves a woman in the same position. Read the many posts here and the similar problems encountered by all the ladies and it is not hard to understand why they feel like they do. I will repeat from all my earlier posts, I know first hand that if a hysterectomy would have been performed on my wife at an earlier age than 49 it would have spelled an end to my marriage. Living without intimacy or sex is extremely stressful for the Husband. I cannot help to feel real sympathy for the younger married couples who will suffer greatly after such a procedure. I also believe that divorce rates for hysterectomized ladies are high. I have a lot of fortitude and am very tolerant which has helped me deal with the personal problems caused by this. My wife does not think she has suffered but in my quest to find answers for her physical and mental feelings I have discovered that she is a victim of mainstream “money stream medical behavior”.
Wow! My Husband said that he can not see how any woman can go with out having sex after having a Hysterectomy. I had one when I was 20yrs.old and I am 34 and I have no desire what so ever to have sex. I am going to show him this blog and hope he can understand how I feel. Thank you for helping.
I did ask a man who had prostate CANCER, actual cancer. His response was,
“I am not the man I used to be”.
End quote
Enough said…
For anyone leaving this blog website thinking that the victims who posted here just need some counseling to help them deal with losing their sex drive and ruined relationships or that they just need to think positively and move on with their lives, I want you to know my own conclusion 35 years after being deceived, scared and rushed by my doctors into agreeing to having my ovaries, uterus and cervix removed at age 24 because of one ovarian cyst:
NO AMOUNT OF COUNSELING, FAMILY SUPPORT, GOV. WELFARE or even FREE MEDICAL ATTENTION WILL EVER …
replace the massive blood (vascular) supply, extensive nerve and muscle support removed and/or damaged during these surgeries.
or
replace the large amount and different types of hormones and other NECESSARY components the removed body parts would normally and naturally produce in harmony with other body parts
or
compensate for the displacement of your remaining pelvic area body parts which have to relocate and readjust themselves into the vacuum left behind after the surgical removal of the several sex organs, nerves, muscles and vascular blood supply amputated during this sex organ surgery
or
ease the daily discomfort for the rest of your life in the pelvic and lower back area as well as losing the normal, daily feelings of wellbeing
or
eliminate the EXTREME mental and physical fatigue and other weird and strange occurrences created by the loss of so many normal body functions which would normally take place as the body produces its own natural hormones and many other substances as part of the whole body functioning in unison, including the endocrine organs and system. There are vast numbers and varieties of hormones naturally produced by many parts of the body which together act in unison. Many of these hormones act as catalysts to trigger other functions within the body. Many of these missing hormones and substances will never be a part of your body again. Hormones do not only affect your sex drive, they affect your brain function and every other function within your body, as they are a necessary component of the whole body acting as a whole. YOU CAN NEVER FEEL NORMAL OR BE NORMAL AFTER SEX ORGAN SURGERY.
Ask any castrated male how he feels after having the most vital part of his body removed! Ask him if he can now devote himself to some worthy cause and continue life as a useful, happy, and ‘normal’ human being within his family and society! Ask him if he thinks some counseling will restore his life to its pre-surgery harmony and function!
Unfortunately, I came across HERS Foundation AFTER my mutilation! I feel soooo stupid. I am a nurse and I believed/trusted a Dr. I did not even know. I was 40 yrs old (3 yrs ago) and I am still feeling the aftershocks of this horrific crime. I have bowel trouble and incontinent problems. Every Dr. I have since blames it all on stress. Maybe we should remove their testicles and penis and see how “bitchy” they get. They would not get to enjoy a sexual relationship anymore. The procedure ruined my marriage. Lucky for me my husband loves me and my personality or he would leave too. I wouldn’t blame him. We need to stop these butchers from promoting these acts for fibroids, cysts and endometriosis. There are other ways to treat these problems now. Too bad my Dr. doesn’t keep up with modern medicine. If I had to do it all over again, I would get a 2nd and 3rd opinion before I would let someone mutilate me because they make more money doing these procedures. I would tell everyone unless you have cancer, even then think hard before you let some butcher mutilate you. I’m sorry to everyone who has suffered like me.
To Evelyn of Feb 17th
I was 24 years old when both my ovaries, uterus and cervix were amputated. It has been 35 years since my surgery.
I was never told any of the after-effects I should expect.
Your description of your own experience as,
” MY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS GONE DOWN SO MUCH THAT IT IS HARD TO GET OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING WITH OUT FEELING LIKE A TRUCK HIT ME.” is the best description I have heard which describes how one can expect to feel after this surgery.
It may take the victims of this surgery, days, weeks, months or years to fully realize that the various trauma they suffer after the surgery, is not ‘in their heads’ only, nor in their bodies only, EVERYTHING changes dramatically.
The after-effects I have experienced have been sufficiently severe and traumatizing that I will go to my grave without ever having spoken or written fully about the wide-ranging details of what I have suffered from this surgery. I do not wish to think about it or to focus on it.
Saying it is inhumane, should be sufficient.
This surgery should only be done to someone who wants to live so badly, that they are willing to give up ALL quality of life, and hang on to a daily existance to still claim to be physically alive.
I am dead in all other respects apart from the fact that I am physically alive. I do not mean that I have chosen to think this way, I mean that is an accurate description of what my life has become because of my surgery. The surgery is responsible for making me the passenger, and no longer the driver, of my life decisions. The surgery has made me a spectator to my own life, and not the driving force I once was,was before my surgery. I did have certain control over many aspects of my life, which I have lost, since the surgery.
No psychiatrist, medical practitioner or anyone in the medical ‘industry’ can help. They caused this condition, through deceit and not informaing me prior to surgery, what to expect after the surgery.
In my opinion, they are all contributors to others continuing to become victims, daily, to this condition.
The medical ‘industry’ should be avoided like the plague, in my opinion, for routine health issues.
They have proven fatal in my case, and it is a slow and painful death, dying inch by inch daily.
Thank you for giving such an apt description of how one feels after having their sex organs removed.
Sorry, I need to correct what I
just sent. I meant to state this
was the first “Female” Gyn. I had
seen and after dismissing the Gyn.
who did the hyst. on me. Sorry for
the left out word of “Female”.
To Elaine:
Thank you for your reply and info.
I went to a third Gyn (after I did
dismiss the Gyn who did the hyst.
on me). She was the first Gyn I
had ever seen. I told her of my
problems post-hyst. and was begging
for help and answers. I said I
wanted a Laparoscopy done to see
what was going on. She refused to
do one because of my previous
disease of RSDS/CRPS, and felt a
Lap. might further damage me. I
could not believe it! Here she
would not do this; knowing I had
this disease/syndrome, but the Gyn.
who did the hyst. knew this also,
but thought nothing of doing the
hyst. on me. RSDS/CRPS is a nerve
disease. He had to have known he
was going to sever nerves of mine
with the hyst.; yet he continued
to push me into it. A Lap. is not
as extensive as a hyst., and this
Gyn. would not perform it on me.
I was so appalled when I found out
in November of 2007, all of the
nerves which are severed with a
hyst. I am crying right now……
I now realize this doctor did not
care about me and what I might be
facing afterwards with damages of
nerves alone. This is “Sicko” for
Michael Moore at its finest…
About 8 months after I was hysterectomized and castrated in 2006, my husband and I had saliva tests done for adrenal exhaustion because we both felt like we were falling apart. The results showed that we both had severe adrenal exhaustion, but what surprised me at the time was that his test was far worse than mine. Since then I have realized that while this tortuous barbaric surgery has ruined my health and happiness, that it has had a profound negative affect on my husband too. He now spends his life trying to take care of me and console me. We have no sex life. What worse thing could anyone take away from a man? Instead of having a healthy sexy wife, now all my husband has is a girl who has been brutalized and mutilated and can hardly survive each day. When the doctor said hysterectomy, I said NO! He then knocked me out, stripped me down, and maliciously cut me open and amputated my sex organs. He mutilated my body after I said “NO”! If the doctor had raped me after I said “NO”, he would be in prison. Why are men in prison for rape, but not for mutilating women?
I AM A 39 YR OLD FEMALE WHO HAD A HYSTERECTOMY WHEN I WAS 23. LIKE MOST OF US I WAS TO TOLD THAT I WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF I HAD A TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY, TOTAL REMOVEAL. I NOW SUFFER DAILY WITH HORRIBLE HOT FLSHES, NIGHT SWEATS, HEART PALPITATIONS, FATIGE, SEVERE PAIN THROUGH OUT MY BODY. MY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS GONE DOWN SO MUCH THAT IT IS HARD TO GET OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING WITH OUT FEELING LIKE A TRUCK HIT ME. THE MOST PAINFUL THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT I NO LONGER HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT I SHOULD HAVE . MY HUSBAND AND MY CHILDREN ALL SUFFER FROM THIS AND IT IS NOT FAIR, ITS LIKE THEY HAD ONE TOO. PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN GIVE ME ANY ADVISE ON THIS I WOULD BE GRATEFULL. PLEASE HELP ME.
I had an ovarian cyst. I saw this doctor one time. The doctor removed both my ovaries and uterus on the next day after I saw him. Now I am having multiple health problems. My whole life has changed since the surgery. I need help. Why don’t doctors have to tell women what will happen to them? It’s not right, it’s not right at all.
Anonymous wrote:
“To Elaine: You had a Laparoscopy
to clean out scar tissue and
adhesions which helped slightly.
How did they see the scar tissue
and adhesions in the first place?”
Unfortunately in most cases (except severe) scar tissue and adhesions can not be seen on noninvasive tests such as the ones I had to rule out other causes (CT, US, pelvic exam, endoscopy, blood tests etc..). Becuase of my symptoms and how they were affecting my ability to work (sharp pains in my lower abdomen, excruciating pain minutes to hours before a bowel movement even though stool was normal, pulling, pinching, throbbing pain in my groin and all around pubic bone, constant nausea resulting from the pain, pain in bladder area after urination, unable to sleep at night due to pain, etc…), becuase of my history of endometriosis on my bladder and the fact that the surgeon who did my hysterectomy left all of my endometriosis behind and simply took my reproductive organs, it was decided by me and the second gynecologist I went to to have another laparoscopy to check for more endometriosis. This second gynecologist acknowledged that a hysterectomy and removal of ovaries is not a cure for endometriosis and that I would not be the first person she found to be full of endometriosis post hysterectomy and ovary removal. I was scared to death to have another surgery and probably wouldn’t have if the idiot that did my hysterectomy would have made an attempt to remove the remaining endometriosis (in fact I would not have had the hyst either knowing what I know now). This final lap did not reveal any active endometriosis lesions, just scar tissue and an adhesion attaching my sigmoid colon to my vaginal cuff. Hence the probable pains before bowel movement. She also checked for IC but nothing there either. However, she did not have any of the scar tissue sent to pathology to confirm that there was no active endometriosis present in the tissue. She didn’t feel the need to since she said it was obvious we were dealing only with scar tissue. I have researched and read otherwise by top endometriosis doctors about endometrisois hiding in scar tissue but whatever. The pubic bone pain has gone down considerably but I continue to have sharp pains in my lower abdomen and painful bowel movements. It seems to come and go unpredictably. One of the pain specialists I went to examined me (I can’t tell you how tired I am of feeling like a lab rat and like I have dollar signs on me saying I am an easy target for profit) and thinks I have some nerve damage. Personally I think a lot of it is related to hormone problems and fibromyalgia. Monday I now have an appointment with a pelvic pain specialist. I have noticed through my physical therapy exercises that I can not feel my abdominal muscles working without a huge conscious effort to isolate them and that my abdomen is very weak. Those abdominal muscles are so very important for core body support and strength. I had three abdominal surgeries in a period of three years and the therapists said it can take a very long time to rebuild those muscles, especially if damage has occured there. Just another example of how you don’t just bounce back and recover in 4 to 6 weeks of having a hysterectomy.
To Vila: It was so great to read
your post that you did not have the
hyst. done thanks to reading on the
information given by the great Hers
Foundation website. Glory be!
To Val: I can relate as so many
others can. “Can’t get anything
done” and such. I read you loud
and clear. I was so vibrant before
this surgery. I had another very
disabling ailment/disease/syndrome
before the hyst., but now I am
solidly unable to do very much at
all. I am so upset I was pushed
into an unnecessary operation. How
can this happen in this day and age
as posted with some recent persons,
speaking of back in 1875 and so on?
This is mind boggling.
To have your situation with your
folks… I certainly understand and
can relate. I did not have both
my parents to take care of, but I
did have my mother. What a good
daughter you are! My mother did
pass away, but I was a good and
diligent daughter to her. My
point is this; however. I do not
know how I could have taken care
of her at all, if it had been at
the time I had my hyst. and after-
wards. There would be no way I
would have had the physical and
mental strength to do it. I know
exactly what you are talking about.
How dare these doctors do this to
us? Greed, out for the money, for
power to chalk one more woman up,
lack of knowledge to do the more
complex surgery, get paid less (the
greed factor), and whatever else
goes on in these doctor’s feeble
minds. Anyway, I give you credit
and respect for what you have gone
through. I give all the women here
who post and who have suffered so
much credit. I give myself credit.
I also gave heart to what you said
about losing friends. One would
think this would be the time when
“friends” are most needed. This
is the time when “family” is most
wanted. This is the time when the
marriage vows should be definitely
most adhered to. “In sickness and
in health…” Any husband who does
not stick by his wife during this
ordeal; he is one who must have
crossed his fingers when reciting
those vows. I have been certainly
blessed with my husband standing by
and supporting me. I do not know
what I would do without him. My
family has been there for me. How
could I survive without them right
now…this is my “hour of need”.
I have the most wonderful parents –
(My mother and father in law). To
be blessed as I have with all of
them is truly my salvation. I
might as well curled up in a little
ball instead and said, “Take me
away. I am in enough physical pain
and cannot handle emotional strains
on top of this.” Friends defined
in the dictionary is stated as in
these forms as such: “One with whom
is allied in a struggle or cause; a
comrade; One who supports, who
sympathizes with, or patronizes a
group, cause, or movement.”
On a side note: I wonder if we
women who have been castrated; do
we consider the doctors who did
this to us as friends?
Enemy – “One who manifests malice
or hostility toward, or opposes
the purposes or interests of; A
hostile power or force; something
destructive or injurious in its
effects”…… ENOUGH SAID?
To Anonymous: (Doctor stating you
may have cancer…) Whatever it takes, do not have a Hyst.! I was
given a scare tactic by the doctor
with he saying that I needed to
have my ovaries also removed while
doing the hyst. (for fibroids) due
to the “extreme likelihood” that
I would develop cancer of the
ovaries. What a horrible plot he
was up to! Cha-Ching, Cha-Ching;
let the money roll in for him…
To Elaine: You had a Laparoscopy
to clean out scar tissue and
adhesions which helped slightly.
How did they see the scar tissue
and adhesions in the first place?
To Anonymous: Regarding the loss
of sexual drive. I hear you, and
I want an answer too. I kiss
and hug my husband, but the animal
‘drive’ in me is lost. I, before,
was more the one who promoted the
love-making and good, sexy sex.
Now, I had been with my husband
for over twenty five years. To
have that raw sex up until my hyst.
was pretty good compared to some
people in a relationship as long
as this. This is what I hate. I
ask…where did it go? I am so
sorry, but I would love to castrate
my doctor to have him feel what I
do now; or rather, what I don’t
feel now…
ONE YEAR AGO I HAD A HYSTERECTOMY WITH COMPLETE REMOVAL OF BOTH OF MY OVARIES. MY HUSBAND CAME WITH ME TO THE VISIT.
WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS IT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE. IN THE VISIT WE WERE TOLD THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY OVARIES REMOVED AT THE SAME TIME TO AVOID ANOTHER SURGERY AT ANOTHER TIME. MY BODY HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME, MY MIND HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME AND MY HOME HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME. I REGRET THAT DECISION SINCE THE DAY I LEFT THE HOSPITAL.IS THERE ANYTHING TO DO TO HELP IN ALL THE SYMPTOMS I AM HAVING. THEY ARE ALL LISTED IN YOUR WEB SITE. I NEED RELIEF AND CAN’T FIND ANY. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE!!!
RE: complex endometrial hyperplasia:
Complex endometrial hyperplasia is not cancer, but if it is not treated appropriately and followed up with monitoring it could develop into endometrial cancer.
Was the diagnosis made with a D&C or an endometrial biopsy?
The treatment depends up several factors, including age, weight, and the microscopic diagnosis from the tissue removed during a D&C. If you would like more information about complex endometrial hyperplasia I suggest that you contact HERS by filling out a contact form (in the comment section you can request medical journal articles about complex endometrial hyperplasia) at http://www.hersfoundation.org or you can contact Irene at HERS at 610.667.7757 to arrange a telephone appointment.
I was just diagnosed with Complex Endometrial Hyperplasia and they’ve recommended a complete hysterectomy (including ovaries). They say its cancer. What are my options besides the hysterectomy?
I am a 31 year old female who had a abdominal hyst,with one remaining ovary, 1 1/2 years ago and have been a lab rat for the doctors in my area ever since. I have NO sex drive, and have tried everything from testostron cream to high doses of male hormones to now a rx for viagra. My estrogen has been from levels of menopause to off the scale with toxic doses in my body. Progesterone in either not there of little to normal. My body feels like a train wreck and no help in sight. Please help me!!!
Mattie said…
25 years old, how very cruel to do this to a girl. You sound like you are trying so very hard to continue on, I hear you loud and clear.
I am proud of you for speaking up.
I can suggest:
Natural Progesterone cream with herbs, applied to the inner thighs, one pump once daily.
Also, Awakening, after you check with your primary care giver for both.
Check with the owner or manager of a long standing natural health store/they will know.
The gyne’s would not be pleased with this information getting to the public, you can not FDA approve a natural substance to make the big bucks through insurance, but they have been used for thousands of years, and work better than their poison.
my heart goes out to you, and my best wishes to you in your studies.
I had a hystrectomy 2 years ago, I was only 25. I am having alot of trouble now, I am in college working to get a nursing degree. I can’t concentrate, focus or remember things like I could before. I am so tired all of the time, I feel like a stranger in my own body!!! I take hormone supplements, but they don’t help a whole lot. Please help if you can. I had a total hystrectomy. Nothing left. I wish I had seen this website before my hysterectomy.
To Anonymous who found this site frightening. It is really frightening what doctors are allowed to do to women. Every woman should be afraid of gynecologists.
To the lady above who her doctor insist that having taken her sexual organs doesn’t have anything to do with her loss of sexual feeling. Of course, he is going to tell you this. Go back to your doctor and say, “If I take your gonads and cut off your penis, will this change your sexual feelings?” OBY/GYN ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS. OB/GYN are the kings who do harm and other doctors know this, but they benefit from this damage. All clinics/hospitals have quotas to make. Yup, just like a factory. The gynecologist create business and make referrals if they want to be promoted and get those nice raises. If you watch the DVD ‘female anatomy’ you can see the damage done by removing the uterus, ovaries and cervix. Look at the photos of the nerves that are cut to remove these organs. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THESE BUTCHERS ARE TO SIGN THE PETITION TO GET A LAW PASSED. Please tell your family and friends to sign the petition.
how do i help my symtems… Hi I read some of the side effects to this surgery here and I can say I have 10 or more of these should I be on hormon replacment? The tierd spells are most bothersome I can’t get anything done. Please help me.
I would like more information about the loss of sexual desire after a hysterectomy and what can be done. My OB-GYN insists that this isn’t caused because of my total hysterectomy, but this is definitely becoming an increasing problem in my marriage and I don’t know what to do. At least I know now that my OB-GYN isn’t right. Thank you.
Vila,
Thanks for posting your story and update! Wow, that is wonderful news that you are doing well! It makes it all worthwhile to speak out and advocate for a woman’s right to know about hysterectomy and what choices she has when we hear success stories like yours. And you are so right. We have to advocate for ourselves and do our research, not rely solely on what our doctors tell us.
That is what this site and this blog is really about, educating women (and men) about the damaging complications and consequences of hysterectomy and castration. Educating them about the functions of the reproductive organs beyond childbearing capacity. And informing women of the many other options they have to choose from in dealing with benign conditions of the pelvic and reproductive organs. It is a place for those who have already been hysterectomized and/or castrated to tell our stories, speak out, and in the process empower others to make informed decisions.
If any of us who have posted here and have already been hysterectomized/castrated had anything to share that could possibly make the aftermath of this surgery more bearable, I am sure we would share it in a heartbeat. And some here have shared what helps them. I have not found much relief yet in the 2 1/2 years since my hysterectomy and castration, but I can share what I have tried in my quest for better health and to regain some control over my life and the damage that was done to me:
Fired my ob/gyn that did my surgery and sought help elsewhere (with a naturopathic doc and now internist) for hormone replacement needs. Have also fought to have my hormone levels checked and to try various methods of replacing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone(pills, patches, creams, troches, sublingual drops, vaginal ring, etc….still fighting to find a way to try pellets or injections since other methods are not working well for me). I am currently on the Vivelle Dot patch.
Went for more rounds of tests to determine the cause of my continuing pelvic pain (I had my hysterectomy for endometriosis) including ultrasounds, CTs, blood tests, pelvic exams, GI workups, and ultimately another laparoscopy to clean out scar tissue and adhesions which did help slightly.
Have changed my diet considerably to eliminate most processed foods and eat far more fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, certain types of fish, etc…no pop or any caffeine including coffee, processed teas, and chocolate.
Quite smoking cold turkey and have stayed quit since Sept 1, 2006 when I found out I had osteoporosis at 34 years of age.
Have tried various supplements, vitamins, and minerals and currently take cod liver oil, a liquid vitamin E, Strontium (for osteoporosis), calcium, vitamin D in addition to hormone replacement, thyroid meds, and Tramadol (to manage the unrelenting pain of fibromyalgia). I have read that Estrogen blocks the absorption of magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6, and folate so these are especially important to replace. Unfortunately I have tried them all and have a difficult time tolerating vitamin pills, in particular multivitamins. When I could afford it I bought them from a compounding pharmacy but still had trouble. I have multiple chemical sensitivities now.
Have tried more antidepressants than I can list here and all have made me much sicker. I have also tried over the counter 5 HTP and also SAM-e which some women have success with but I have not noticed a difference after three months of waiting on each. Some have success with melatonin or valerian root to help with sleep but they did nothing for me, nor did Ambien which I also tried for several months by prescription. I take Ativan now for sleep which initially helped but now does nothing, although trying to get off it has been impossible. Deep breathing from the diaphragm for five to ten minutes just before bedtime helps sometimes with insomnia.
Exercise.. This is of the utmost importance no matter what condition you are in. Exercise, aside from all the usual advertised benefits, helps kick in endorphins that can help with mood and pain. I began exercising regularly on my own…stretching, lifting dumbells, using theraband, hiking, etc. over a year ago but found it challenging with joint pain and fibromyalgia and pelvic pain and was concerned about my osteoporosis. Now I work with a trained physical therapist and go to the gym and do weight bearing, cardiovascular, and pool therapy in a heated pool, all as part of a comprohensive pain management program I started a month ago to deal with my osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, and pelvic pain. The program includes an occupational therapy component, spiritual and psychological counseling, biofeedback, meditation, deep breathing, accupressure, and the Feldenkrais Method of movement to help with pain and body awareness.
There are many more things I have done to find some semblance of relief and normalcy again but obviously there is only so much room to post here. Definitely I do not wallow in self pity or feel that my life is totally useless now, although I have a right to be angry that I was lied to and grieve the losses I have suffered. Grief is a long process and it never goes away entirely. Having a place to express it is important for me. It is also important for women to understand the seriousness of a hysterectomy and to hear the many not so happy endings women endure as a result. Since over 600,000 women a year are being hysterectomized it is important to have a place like this to ask why? And what can we do to change this?
You sound like a gynecologist!
I’ve read you site and its very informative. but at the same time extremely frightening. If I wasn’t a stable person I think I properly would have slit my wrists. The women comments make it sound like life is over after a hysterectomy and you should just lay down in the middle of the road and let a bus run over you – if the heart attack doesn’t get you. Don’t get me wrong now I appreciate what you’re doing making us smart about having other choices, but are you going to tell me that there is nothing for us after a hysterectomy – there is no way to preclude these possible post problems that may come with the surgery – that it’s just a matter of time before we fall apart or drop dead?
I’d wish I’d seen it before I had a complete hysterectomy done. To late can cry now – but what can I do to help with the symptoms I experiencing – weight gain, lower abdominal/waist gain, no sex drive. I tried Vivelle patch hormones but hated the side effects – water weight gain, bloated, tender breasts, just to mention a few. I applied the Vivelle patch for about 3 years (surgery was in 2003), but have been off it for about 2 years now. Oh yes, I’ve noticed the difference to my skin – but am looking for a more natural approach. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Vila, thanks so much for posting your update. That is wonderful! I am so glad you found HERS and were saved before you became another statistic. More and more women will be saved every day because of the HERS Foundation and the Female Anatomy Video. It’s too late for most of us, but we can all do our part to stop it from happening to anyone else. I’m so happy for you. Thanks for posting!
I’ve been reading everyone’s posts and it still makes me very sad and want to cry! I just wanted to update on my condition. First, let me start by saying how grateful I am to HERS. HERS saved my life! I was scheduled to have a hysterectomy Jan. 9 and stumbled upon HERS website. I thought I had done all my research and read up on side affects. Boy, was I wrong!! Nothing out there compares to what HERS provides!!
I told my doctor I didn’t want to have the hysterectomy. So, I had a myomectomy instead (removal of just the fibroids). I had the surgery on Jan. 28 and recovering at home very well.
I’m embarrassed to admit this but before HERS I was clueless about the female anatomy. I knew the parts I had but didn’t really know how they worked. Now I KNOW!
I really want to stress that WE have to be our own advocates.
We can’t rely on our doctors to educate us. The more we know, the more empowered we are to make the best decision for our bodies.
My heart goes out to everyone that’s suffering. I thank God that I found HERS. I was saved from castration.
I’m telling every females (and males) I know about HERS. Even if they aren’t on the brink of having surgery, they should know about what’s going on and educate themselves about the female anatomy.
It makes me so sad that many of you found HERS AFTER the hysterectomy has occurred. I will do whatever it takes to get the word out. I’ve signed the petition. I will donate, though no money can ever make up for what HERS gave me…it was priceless! Thank you!
I am a 33 year old, female. I had a complete hysterectomy (abdominal) about a year ago. After the surgery, my GYN put me on Estrace 2mg. daily. I also have severe Crohn’s Disease, and have had several small bowel resections and my colon, rectum and anus removed. I have an ileostomy. All my life I have been a “petite” person. I am 5’1″ and always weighed around 108-110 lbs. Since my hysterectomy I have gained a HUGE amount of weight, especially for my body type and what I am used to. My eating habits are exactly the same and the condition of my Crohn’s is also the same, which is stable. I have had occasional weight gain while taking Prednisone in the past for my Crohn’s but it always went away after I stopped taking them. But now, no matter what I do, I can’t seem to lose this extra weight. I don’t know what to do. I believe I am falling into a deep depression because of this. Before my hysterectomy, my doctor never told me what to expect after the surgery. Maybe if I had known all this (HERS Female Anatomy video) I wouldn’t have had the surgery at all. Because of my Crohn’s, I tend to have joint pain from time to time and this extra weight (about 20 lbs.) is causing my pain to increase dramatically. If you can give me any advice or suggestions here, I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much.
Dear Ladies,
Thank you for your answers. In my statemanet I made a mistake: Iwanted to write: 19th century instead of 18th century!
Castrating women with total hysterectomy has begun at the end of the 19th century (about 1875)…
All this you are writing here makes the poor situation clear… All this is incredible- it shows perfectly that women are not being considered equal to men at all! They are “toys” for so many interests- most of all for the interest to make money –
in our case with unnencessary removal of the sex organs. And at the same time the strength of a woman is broken with this surgery!And she is dependant from mostly male doctors because of the hudge consequences of the surgery!
God may bless all your efforts to speak out the truth here!
rosa
Rosa, I also found an old gynecologic surgery book searching google from 1899. It shows how to do all the surgeries. Vaginal hysterectomy, myomectomy, how to remove ovarian cysts, etc. Most people think this is something new. The only thing that has changed in the last 100+ years is that they figured out how to do barbaric hysterectomy without killing as many women. Their goal was to lower the mortality rate so they could butcher more and more women. They’ve known how to do alternative surgery to fix problems without removing sex organs forever. This industry has perpetuated the biggest pack of lies to the American public. Are these doctors looking for new more conservative procedures? No, they spend millions of dollars making a robot to do a hysterectomy. How sick is that? It is all very shocking that this is allowed to go on in the United States. You’re right, even a child could see it.
Mattie said…
Yes, Rosa, they have it down to a science. The science of profit by deceit with no remorse.
The perfect legal crime for a sociopath, hysterectomy by deceit for profit, come one come all.
We are considered, disposable to the sociopath gynecologist and the medical community who all profit from the mutilation. As we go from one doctor to another for at least a year after they de-sex and mutilate us.
Now, just as food for thought; Where do the gynecologists think we are going for counciling after they tell us “get some counciling”, “I have never heard of that before” and “It’s all in your head”?
We are going to see doctors of psychology, who profit from the mutilation.
Where are we going when we are physically damaged during a de-sexing and mutilation?
More doctors, with no knowledge of the women who left their office ten minutes ago.
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
This poor excuse for modern main streem medical care is sounding more like:
“The Emperors New Clothes”
than the cruel reality of hysterecomy/castration faced by one third of the female population in the U.S.A and their families. Even a child could see it!
Dear women,
I am so touched and feel so concerned by reading all these comments. Most of the feelings and experiences mentionned here I can share with you.
The cruel system of female castration , covered under the term “oophorectomy” and “menopause” is indeed one of the most barbaric steps to destroy women’s lives in our century! It is so incredible, that no politicians and human rights organizations feel concerend! How is this possible!
If a medical journalist would read with attention all these postings- he or she would not be touched???
I can’t believe it – why nobody of them DOES react? What is going on in our society? What is our role as women in this society? THe role to be abused and betrayed and at leas mutilated without any sense?
I have found an old german medicine book from the year 1910.
The doctor there wrote that at the end of the 18th century too many useless and mutlitating castrations have been performed. He wrote this in 1910! I continued to look in the old books and medical articles!
After the SECOND WORLD WAR – the word castration for oophorectomy disappeared in the most of the german spoken medical litterature!
100 years ago cutting out the ovaries was called CASTRATION -everywhere officially!
Now- 100 years later they call it Oophorectomy and the consequneces they dare to call: MENOPAUSAL consequences!
Isn’t that crazy? I was stupyfied by reading these facts!
What is going on in our medical society? Do they know less than in 1910?
rosa
Very good description Mattie. Their mentality is no different than Ted Bundy, the BTK Killer or any of the rest. They have no more concern for a woman’s health and safety than a serial killer. I even have more respect for serial killers, at least they are not getting paid and they don’t disguise themselves as doctors. This is the nightmare that keeps on giving with health problems and physical and emotional changes. My skin was always oily, and now it’s bone dry. I have noticed changes in body odor. My short term memory is terrible. When I lay on my stomach there’s a weird pressure. I have hip pain a lot. Last summer I was playing volleyball with my husband in the pool which I have done for years. But afterwards, my whole lower abdominal area was really sore for about a week. It felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. Before my parents got sick, I had a life and a job. Now I have all kinds of health problems to deal with for the rest of my life because of what a criminal doctor did to me that is totally legal. Soon after I was butchered, the whole left side of my teeth started hurting. I don’t enjoy things I used to enjoy. I feel like I’ve lost my maternal instinct and intuition. I care about things, but I don’t feel like I care. It’s really hard to put into words what this does to a woman psychologically. It’s not normal to have your sex organs ripped from your body. I have lost friends because of it. I wish I would have known about the HERS Foundation before this happened. It would have made all the difference. I would have fled the hospital and found a doctor who was willing to just remove a cyst. At least I would have known what I was up against.
Mattie said…
Cathy, I can think of some words today to describe the act of violence perpetrated on you, how about:
The ob/gyn surgeon attacked you for financial gain, and some kind of sick pleasure, which is frightning, with a knife, with no regard for your health or wellbeing.
The ob/gyn surgeon knew you would suffer for the rest of your life and that did not stop him.
Several other words to describe the paid attack on you by the ob/gyn surgeon would be:
Arrogant, evil, careless, greedy, cruel, predator and sociopath.
Mattie said…I am not going away until a law is passed to stop this barbarism called hysterectomy/castration by deceit.
IF THIS WAS BEING DONE TO MEN, SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE. YOU KEEP READING IT IS BARBARIC TO CASTRATE A MAN. IT IS BARBARIC TO CASTRATE A WOMAN ALSO. IS ANYBODY READING OUR STORIES? IS ANYBODY LISTENING TO OUR WORDS? HELLO! WE ARE BEING CASTRATED AND MULTILATED TO NO END. OUR LIVES ARE BEING TAKEN FROM US AND THE ONLY ONE WHO ARE HELPING US IS THE HERS FOUNDATION. I THANK GOD FOR THEM!
Before I was hysterectomized and castrated against my will and without my consent in 2006, I was very exhausted and stressed out taking care of my chronically ill parents. My father had broken his hip three times, was on dialysis, diabetic, got an infection in the hospital and they had to remove his colon and give him an ostomy bag, and was having problems urinating and had a catheter. My mother was on 24-hour oxygen with only 19% lung function and could barely do anything. I took care of my parents seven days a week. Every day I got up, gave them both lunch, gave my dad his meds, checked his blood sugar, gave him insulin, emptied his ostomy bag. At dinner it was the same ritual. Two days a week I took my mom to physical therapy. I had to get her in the van with her oxygen tanks and take her in with a wheel chair which I had to lift out of the van. When I got her into therapy, I had to hook up her oxygen, put her on every machine and keep a chart and monitor it. This would all take about three hours. As soon as I got home it was dinner time, and I usually had to empty my dad’s ostomy bag right away before I could get them both dinner. Most of the time I didn’t get a chance to eat until 7-8 p.m. After dinner, I had to put my dad to bed. Besides the bedtime meds and blood sugar and insulin, I had to empty his ostomy bag, irrigate his catheter. It was a whole ordeal. I was also the late shift because his ostomy bag had to be emptied something between 1-3 am. I used to run up and down the stairs 20-25 times a day getting my parents what they needed. My dad was having a lot of cardiovascular problems on top of it. It wasn’t unusual for us to call 911 every couple weeks. I usually had 3 loads of dishes to put in the dishwasher a day, not to mention all the laundry. On occasion, I even hauled my mom to the casino in her wheel chair and oxygen tanks. It was like moving furniture all night but I felt she needed to get out even as sick as she was. Then bam! I was taken into ER and all my female organs were amputated within 8 hours! I was brutalized by this doctor and lied to while I was crying telling him I didn’t want a hysterectomy and that I had to be able to take care of my parents. I walked out of the hospital the day after this was done to me in severe pain with the line still in my arm. I was running for my life. I could barely walk. I got home and could not walk up or down stairs. It would literally take me 5-10 minutes to get out of bed by myself. I was in so much pain I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even load the dishwasher. When my parents called for help, I couldn’t get down the stairs to help them. I couldn’t sit for more than a half hour at a time because the pain in my abdomen and legs were horrendous and no pain killers would help. My husband not only had me to take care of, but he had to do everything he had been doing for my parents, plus everything I had been doing. I can’t even describe it. It was a total nightmare. Then one week after this was done to me, my mom was taken to ER and put on a ventilator. They told me that she wasn’t going to survive it. I couldn’t drive. I could only walk 10-15 feet without getting into paralyzing pain. For the first time in my life, I had to use a wheel chair. My husband had to drive me up to the hospital with a wheel chair, and roll me up to ICU to see my mom. I couldn’t even roll it myself because my abdomen hurt so bad. In one night this doctor made me into an invalid. He took away my ability to do almost everything. I screwed up my parents bills and checking account missing bills and bouncing checks because I couldn’t think straight or function. Four days later, my dad was taken to ER for a bowel obstruction. Within a week and a half of being unnecessary butchered by this doctor, both my parents were in the hospital with life-threatening problems. It took every ounce of strength I had to get up to the hospital to see them and make sure they were not being abused. Yes, hospitals routinely neglect and abuse people. I learned that all too well. My mother did survive against all odds. It was truly a miracle, but they had drugged her so severely they almost killed her. They were giving her 150 mg Ativan drip per day. I threw a fit for them to stop it. Did they ignore me? Yes. I literally tried to chase the doctor down the hall yelling at him, but he was walking too fast and I couldn’t keep up because I was in so much pain. Sickening. By the time she got off the ventilator she was out of her mind. She was hallucinating and didn’t even know me. It was pure hell. They transferred her to a nursing home for rehab and she didn’t know where she was half the time. She was calling me all day and night confused and scared. I had to be taken up there in a wheel chair also. Things only got worse when both my parents returned home. They needed a lot of care, and this criminal doctor made me useless. It took three months after I was butchered before I could bend over and load the dishwasher. My wonderful husband took this all on. It almost killed him. To say I am angry and outraged, is an understatement. After about a month after I was butchered, I was still using a wheel chair. I was always an avid walker, but when I tried to walk, I had horrible pain. This criminal doctor did this to me because of a benign ovarian cyst. He knew my parents were severely ill. He knew that I did not need a hysterectomy because he lied to me before, and after about why he needed to do it. These doctors are beyond cruel and inhumane. Many health problems that I never had appeared after I was hysterectomized and castrated. My urethra became swollen the size of a dime. Another M.D. gave me estrogen cream to insert in my vagina. When I stuck the plastic tube of it in my vagina, I could feel it hit the skin at the top that had been sewn together when I was mutilated. I literally felt as though I was going to vomit and started crying. I just wanted to die. The estrogen cream only made it worse. The swollen urethra was painful and it felt life having a tampon only have way up your vagina 24/7. Then I broke out with severe pustular psoriasis on my feet. It was so severe and painful that I couldn’t even put my shoes on. My breasts shrunk to nothing. My sexual responses were all screwed up. I could barely achieve an orgasm, but my clitoris felt aroused 24/7. There is no way to describe how sickening it is. I tried to have sex with my husband and it was just so traumatic and painful I just can’t do it. I really wonder how I am still alive. I was a healthy strong person before this was done to me. I could lift 100 lbs. Now I am useless. Lifting 10 lbs hurts my abdominal area. I have urine leaking all the time. I have chronic pain all across my lower abdomen. I have pushed myself to exercise. I have pushed myself to survive, but it is hard, and some days I feel like giving up. My dad passed away in July ’06, seven months after I was butchered. We had planned to have his body shipped to another state where he wanted to be buried, but instead had to cremate him because I couldn’t deal with the travel and the funeral. I have never been an emotional person, but this barbaric surgery made me emotionally out of control. I would laugh and cry uncontrollably. I felt like I totally lost control of myself. The fatigue that hit me was horrible. I had to lay down every 3-4 hours. I cried almost every day for 6 months. I cried more in that 6 months than I did my whole life total. There are not words to describe what this doctor and his knife did to me. There are no words.
To the woman above who had her surgery in June of 2005. Can you find a lawyer and file a law suit against your female gynecologist? I believe you have three years to file. This gynecologist needs to be stopped from wrecking other women’s lives. At least report her to the medical board in your state so it is on file and even the Better Business Bureau. She is a poor excuse for a doctor, but then each woman on here has a poor excuse for a doctor. This would stop real fast if each of our doctors were also castrated at the time they castrated us. I want the OB/GYN doctors at Gundersen Clinic to go on here and read what women are saying about this surgery. I can’t even stand to look at my doctor. I often wondered if his wife is castrated and if she is, how their sex life is!! BUT then he wouldn’t do this to his wife because he knows the damage this surgery does to a woman. Your life will go on Dr. Jerome Gundersen, but you took my life from me the day you hysterectomized and castrated me all for the sake of money. Did you ever see a gynecologist drive anything other than a sports car or living in a beautiful large home? Guess where the money is coming from? It comes from destroying lives, not improving lives like most surgeries.
To the women above who had urine leaking out of her vagina.
Was it legal for the female gynecologist who removed your ovaries without your consent to remove them. Was it legal for the female gynecologist to not take responsibily for the life-long damage she caused you?
It is legal for the gynecologist to ruin a women’s body, career, family life, happiness and intamacy in their marriage.
Yes, it is legal. That is why I have been doing everything physically and mentally possible to stop this attack on humanity.
Oh God, this hysterectomy damage is awful.
I wished I was more informed before I made the decision to have a hysterectomy. I had no idea my life would change so dramatically, physically, emotionally, psychologically and permanently. I had a hysterectomy in June 2005 because of fibroids the size of 17 week fetus and I decided I wanted to keep my ovaries because I didn’t want to go through menopause at 41. However physician took my overies out anyway saying they were too badly damaged and adhered to the uterus and bowel. While performing the hysterectomy the physician injured my bladder and after weeks of painful urination urine began to run out of my vagina. Physician took no responsibility for the injury saying she was no where near my bladder. Needless to say I saw a urologist, who after performing several excruiating invasive test determined that I had what was caused a vesicovaginal fistula which was an opening between the vagina and bladder which explained why the urine just ran out of my vagina. My employer fired me two days before I was to go on medical leave for the second surgery to repair the fistula. I had the second surgery to repair my bladder and I had to wear two bags of urine outside my body for several weeks coming from a urether catheter and a subrapubic catheter through my abdomen. Recovery was long and excruciating. The urine leaked into my abdomen and I developed peritonitis. I was hospitalized another time. Vicodin and morphine did not take away the pain. I contemplated suicide if not for the love of my family. I am presently still having painful urination, terrible hot flashes, bone and muscle aches that I can barely move, and on the verge of losing my husband because I have no sexual desire and numbness in the pubic area due to nerve damage. Hormones have not helped.
Anyone who thinks you will be ok after a hysterectomy is wrong, you are not ok. Needless to say I needed someone to talk to so I am very greatful I have you women to talk to. Thank You HERS Foundation for being there. I feel I’m not alone.
the problems you women have i have too,i have no life i am always tired no sex desires gained weight the works. is there help i was not told about the side effects of a hysterectomy. please tell me what i can do.i am 38 years old and fill worthless,none of my doctors seem to care or want to help me.they say i had to have this i had endometerous please help me
Mattie said…
Dear Sally and everyone..
I appreciate your comment it makes sense that you exercise as much as you can and have post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. It makes sense that you will never trust a doctor again.
Many doctors have heard this thousands of times, and have not stopped their collegues from sending the hysterectomized women their way, after she is butchered and damaged.
I hope you are not going for counciling through the mainstream doctors. Doctors of psychology profit from this attack on women and society as much as every other doctor, and have not stopped this heinous attack called hysterectomy by deceit.
I am just starting to understand what was done to my body, hormones, glands and emotions and bodily function, since I was attacked.
Hers, helped me understand what the gynecologists should have told me. Very clearly, Hers, explained what the doctors removed from my body.
Now I am studying the Glands and Hormones of the human anatomy, not painting, my lifes passion.
From what I am reading about all of the glands and hormones produced by the female human being. It is the cause of all of the symptoms we are all having post hysterectomy/castration. A chaos of total body hormone inbalance not just the female hormones the doctors don’t explain.
Mood
Energy
Body circulation and temperature
Morose depression
Confussion
Joint pain
Lack of sexual desire
Headache
Sleeplessness
Anexiety
Flight or Fright Responses
Etc.
I will post more on this as soon as I have written my thesis, on; Human Glands and Hormones/The Complex Study Of Removing The
Sexual Organs And Total Body Chaos.
Or maybe a doctor will step in here and flush out the untruths, folklore being used as an attack on the society of this nation by the gynocologists of this country.
An example of this is what the gynecologists use in the trick literature such as; “Mourning the loss of your uterus”. It is an absurdity beyond laughable that this is accurate, it is not a mourning of the loss of your uterus, it is total body hormone chaos.
HAAAAAAAA, ha ha,,,,ha. I don’t suppose a credible doctor of total body glands and hormones would like to get in here and end this once and for all. Anyone, would any doctor like to step up? I better keep studying.
To all of the women screaming for help on this blog, I am trying to understand why I don’t feel like myself now, too. I am mourning the loss of my sexuality and total body hormone balance.
The gynecologist who has done this to me by deceit, deposited my health in his bank account, and walked away smiling after he insulted me beyond the limits of inhumanity.
The real insult is to the doctors who do not step up and end this attack on society.
Dear Sally, Your comment is wonderful! This is how I finally had to come to terms with what Dr. Jerome Gundersen took from me all for the sake of money. I WANT EVERYONE TO READ SALLY’S COMMENT AND START LIVING YOUR LIFE LIKE THIS. It will be hard and there will be days you want to just curl up and die. Your other life as it was before your surgery will never again be. This is what is so sad and the doctors don’t care. The congress don’t care because they can pass a law for everything else. Why would any person want to be a gynecologist if not for the money and LOTS OF MONEY? PLEASE GET ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SIGN THE PETITION. TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS!
For those of you who are seeking help I would say that there are many complex issues that abound here.
I feel violated physically and emotionally. I have lost all trust in the medical profession. I exercise, which does help. I’m going for counseling and will let you know how it works out.
Ultimately nothing can replace what we have lost. I need to accept that and move on. But I doubt if I will forgive and forget. I’m going to work on positive imaging from now on. I’m going to work on the wonderful, lovely, caring and trusting person that I am. Someone abused and took advantage of that part of me and used it for their own gain. I’m not at fault (though I often blame myself for signing the consent form I know it’s natural for a victim to feel like this).
I refuse to give in to pain. I refuse to let it dominate my life. Sometimes I can be overwhelmed by the abuse that was done to be, but I’m hoping that the counseling sessions will help me overcome this post traumatic stress.
I too won’t be having ‘preventative’ tests such as mammograms. I don’t want to be coerced and frightened ever again.
I’m learning to love myself again. The colour of my hair, my slender wrists, my ability to still laugh at a good joke, the enjoyment of a good old fashioned weepie.
My heart goes out to all you lovely women, especially the younger ones. Big hugs to you all.
Hello, I am 30 years old and i had a complete hysterectomy at age 27 due to severe endometriosous. I have had a roller coaster of physical and mental affects ever since. I am hoping for some sort of input and/or help!
Thank you to all the women who are honest about their hysterectomys. It means a lot. Doctors say it has nothing to do with the hysterectomy and treat me like I’m imagining these problems like they think I want to feel bad or something!
Yes, it would be nice if the gynecologists would stop hidding the truth in their medical records.
I have my medical records, and what the gynecologist doctors wrote and the reality of the situation are very different, this I can prove, and so can millions of other women.
BEWARE CITIZENS OF THE U.S.A. LET ANY GYNECOLOGIST KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE TAPE RECORDING EVERY VISIT TO THEM THAT YOU EVER HAVE WITH THE DATE AND TIME. REQUEST A DETAILED BILL WITH THE DOCTORS RECOMENDATIONS AND ADVICE WRITTEN ON THE BILL AND SIGNED BY THE DOCTOR. IF YOU EVER USE A GYNECOLOGIST AFTER READING THIS BLOG!.
IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT GYNECOLOGISTS HAVE BEEN DOING TO THE 22 MILLION HYSTERECTOMIZED WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY AND THEIR FAMILIES, I WOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN WALKED INTO A GYNECOLOGISTS OFFICE, LET ALONE LET THEM BUTCHER ME WITH LIES FOR PROFIT.
I was just reading this in the newspaper today. Patients who undergo vision-correcting laser eye surgery sign a release form with an extensive list of risks, BUT, does not mention depression that can lead to suicide.
In response to patient complaints, the Food and Drug Administration plans to convene a large, national study to examine the relationship of laser surgery complications and quality of life, including depression.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the FDA would convene a large, national study to examine all the side effects which include depression and suicides hysterectomy has on the quality of our lives which are not on the consent form?
Why aren’t we getting the recognition that every other surgery seems to be getting? You would think all these women’s complaints would be enough for the FDA to do a study.
The AMA must be the most powerful organization in the world. They prevent these studies from being done on hysterectomized and castration women. WONDER WHY? Care to take a guess?
I’m 41 years old. I had a complete hysterectomy in 2000. Since that time, I have gained approximately 60 pounds. My doctor keeps telling me I have to lose weight, but I have noticed I never had such difficulty losing weight until after the surgery. I know there is a direct relationship between weight gain and the surgery. My regular primary care physician seems to think it’s all in my head and that it’s a matter of me cutting back on eating. Any information you could share with me would be greatly appreciated. I eat little, exercise as much as possible (I have a lot of joint pain), and I don’t know what else to do. Thank you for any help or suggestions.
I had my surgery 2 years ago and it ruined my life and my health. My ability to get health insurance has been ruined and I am sick every day of my life. Gynecologists have to be stopped from doing this to women. It’s too late for me they’ve all ready ruined me and my family but I’m going to do everything I can to stop them from ruining more women’s lives. Thank you HERS for all you are doing.
I have seen first hand what this surgery has done to my sister Gracie and other women that I had in my counseling sessions and other women that I went to college with. I watched them go through their hysterectomy recovery which most have not recovered yet. I am applaud to see these women suffer the rest of their lives because of one operation that most now know they didn’t need.
I marched with the Hers Foundation and Gracie in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was met with resistance through the doctors and nursing staff and even class mates.
This is cruelty to women and their families by not having the doctors tell women the side effects and the outcome of having a hysterectomy.
Way to go Hers Foundation, Nora and Rick. I hope to see you on the trails again.
My name is Jan, I have just turned 46 and I had a total histerectomy in 1999. I have lost all the sensual feelings and do not want to do the things that I feel a woman does. I lost all those feeling when I had the surgery. It has change me and I was wondering if there was any over the counter mediciations or any thing like that to help me with some of these sexual drive. Can any one help me, I have taken prescription medication before and am now am taking avlimil, estroven and new phase and even these do not do anything for me.
I am also embarassed to talk to anyone about this and I have a problem even trying to talk to my other half about it. I do not know how to explain to him however he is different that any other man I have been around and he really is trying to help me deal with this but he has his own problems.
I really like to try to talk to some one but I am embaressed about this mutilation that was done to me. Can anyone please help me?
Can anything be done to help decrease the terrible pain associated with sexual intercourse? My sex life has come to an end since my hysterectomy. I can’t bare the thought of going through the pain of having sex. My husband is very upset by all of this. Our sex life was incredible before the hysterectomy. We never ever had this problem before. Please advise! Is there any hope of getting my sex life back?
Would like to know if after a year if my symptoms should still be effecting me. I am 37 and had a complete hysterectomy 1 year ago, I find myself out of control crying, sad, and other things, all I want to do is sleep, I have a doctor and I am on flexeral and atavan, what do I expect, is this normal? Also no interest in sex, or even other activities. Please help me. Thank you.
The name of my insurance company, the one that paid for my hysterectomy no questions asked, is Medica!
To Anonymous who had her hysterectomy in October 2003 and posted Feb 8 at 6:55. I have the EXACT same symptoms you listed. The last few weeks I have been so exhausted I can barely function at all and my skin is extremely dry and red and itchy all over. I have been severely depressed and crying constantly. And although I already have fibromyalgia as a result of my hysterectomy, my body has been hurting unbearably bad and has been so cold and stiff especially in my legs and feet. I had my thyroid levels checked on Monday and finally got the results today. My TSH was at 8.75! (normal range .3-3). So I am way hypothyroid now. I wanted to throw this out there as something for you to have checked. Even though you kept your ovaries, it sounds to me like they have ceased functioning or have been damaged by the removal of your uterus and therefore loss of blood supply to your ovaries. One of the lovely symptoms doctors don’t tell you about in surgical menopause is that your thyroid goes out of whack. This is very common (although not always the case) in both natural and especially surgical menopause. The steroid hormones, thyroid, and adrenal hormones work very closely together in a complex network and any disruption in one or the other will throw everything off kilter. This is what happens anyway when your reproductive organs are removed, whether you had thyroid problems beforehand or not, but with thyroid issues it becomes a nightmare of constantly having to have all your levels checked and adjusted. Every time you adjust the dose of one hormone, everything else is thrown off. I had my estrogen replacement (bioidentical estradiol) lowered a while back due to constant yeast infections and sore breasts but ended up so depressed and in pain with fibro and joint pain that I had to have the dose increased again. But in the two months my estrogen levels dropped, it threw my thyroid way off into hypo. Now I recently increased my levels back up as I couldn’t take the side effects of low estrogen either and am once again dealing with sore breasts and yeast infections and pelvic pain. More than likely I will have to have my thyroid meds adjusted in the next few months as well. Higher levels of estrogen also trigger endometriosis pain from endometriosis cells my former gynecologist who did my hysterectomy left behind all over my bladder. No matter what I do I am screwed. I tried adding compounded natural testosterone and get severe migraines (even though my testosterone levels tested very low), tried adding natural progesterone and get more depressed and acne and extreme irritability and chronic nausea. I was way better off before my hysterectomy and castration when ALL I had to deal with was endometriosis and thyroid problems (that were easily kept in check). Now I have osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, all the lovely side effects of surgical menopause despite the many many hormones I have tried, I have adhesions, and STILL have pelvic pain/endometriosis unless I starve myself of the vital hormones my body needs.
To any woman considering a hysterectomy or ovary removal, do not let your doctor persuade you that hormone replacement therapy will take care of any menopausal symptoms and make you feel like your old self. This is so far from the truth that it is one hideous lie! And don’t believe it when they try to tell you that your ovaries will continue to function normally well into natural menopause after you have your uterus removed. There are waaay too many women reporting otherwise. ALL of our reproductive organs are vital for our health and well being.
thank you Gracie, Cathy, Belle, and all the anonymous people who care. i don’t think i would make it without you. i can’t tell you how much it means to me.
I had surgery almost 2 years ago and had drastic medical problems ever since suicide is an often thought solution and my husband doesn’t care or understand they cannot help me with counseling or drugs. What can I do? I cry myself to sleep wake up sobbing at night and pull myself together in a blur of dripping tears in the morning.
I had a hysterectomy (uterus and cervix removed) November of 2005. It has been nothing but a nightmare for me. 3 days after being out of the hospital I was rushed back in. My urethra, think that’s what it is called…the tube that runs from my kidney to the bladder was nipped during the surgery and ruptured. I have to say it has been 2 ½ years, I am still in a lot of pain, a lot of adhesions all threw me, not to mention the 2 plus additional surgeries. To this day I am experiencing anxiety, sweats, weight gain, back pain, can’t sit for very long, pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements, dryness, panic attacks, retaining fluid, bladder infections, irritability, swelling of whole body, loss of bladder control. It is a nightmare…I am so tired, can’t seem to get moving. I wish I was told that all this would occur. I’m glad I found you but it looks like there is no answer, there is no end. It is truly very scary.
The gynecologist will use scare tactics your entire life, women must start to realize what they are up to.
A pap smear for cancer every year.
are men having a sex organ cancer test every year? No, and the risk of cancer is the same.
They will deliver your child and talk you into a C section for more bucks, it you need it or not, causing scar tissue.
They will give you a D&C causing scar tissue.
They will tie your tubes while delevering your child, telling you it is a method of birth control. I guess so when it sterilizes you. You can then raise your child in surgical menopause, does this sound like medical care.
They will amputate your sex organs with completely ridiculus and physically impossible (false)
infomation, unless of course you are super women.
They will attack you when the opportunity presents itself with a microwaveing of your uterus, causing permanent damage to your organ and a hysterectomy in the making.
How insulting…their medical information is geared for profit using scare tactics and false information….How insulting.
I had a hysterectomy October 2003. It was a vaginal hysterctomy and I kept my ovaries. Since that time, I have had such extreme fatigue that I had to leave my job, and therefore lost my medical benefits. I have had numerous side effects, including severe headaches, extreme stiffness and pain in my ankles and legs, a numbness in my right outer thigh, that never went away, severe depression, lack of sexual arousal, increased facial hair and dry skin. I thought I was just going crazy, having all of these problems this last year. Just wanted to say I really appreciate the information you have here. When I read about other woman who have had the same problems, I felt a little better. Is there anything anyone would recommend regarding the muscle pain and stiffness in my legs? I would go to the doctor, but do not have medical insurance anymore, due to losing my job. Thank you.
Dear Dr. Criminal: I am nothing but a money-making slab of meat to you. You can lie and deceive me. You can railroad me and assault me and the law is on your side. You can falsify my consent form. You can hack me up anyway you want and you know that there is nothing I can do about it. You can take away my sexuality, cause me to have permanent abdominal pain, mutilate my vagina, cause me urinary problems, ruin sex for my husband for the rest of our lives. The law will protect you. Dr. Criminal, you have found the perfect crime. All your cronies will protect you. Your fancy attorneys will protect you. You can brutalize as many women as you want, no one will stop you except for the HERS Foundation.
Dear Liz, So, all 12 women that you talked to said it was the best thing they ever did. It might be if they were bleeding more than normal. BUT, just for a short time. Most women don’t feel good right after their surgery, some after a year and some after two or three years. NONE WILL COME OUT OF THIS FEELING BETTER THAN EVER. Go back after a year or two and ask them if they still feel better than ever. They had their sexual hormone producing organs removed. The hormones are for our health, well-being, vitality, memory, sexual feelings, happy and sad feelings and on and on. You should not feel alone after reading this blog. I am so sorry you found Hers too late, we all did! There isn’t one woman on this blog that would have had this surgery if they had found Hers first. Now, spread the word when you hear a woman is going to have this surgery and have them go to the Hers web site and get the correct information. Have your family and friends watch the DVD ‘female anatomy’, then vote to get a law passed to stop this from happening to other women. If you need someone to talk to Liz, just call Hers and they will give you my email address.
Belle, it is really sickening and unreal. You can tell just by your experience that none of the so-called doctors know anything but how to butcher and mutilate women. Then they all act dumb afterwards like they have no idea what’s wrong. Yeah right.
Great recent posts here. I want
to comment on two:
To “Male in Mich.”: What a great
post you did. You provided some
thoughtful information. I did so
love your comment pertaining to
doctors and how they view female
patients – “…income streams and
not looking back…” I feel this
is just how I feel about the GYN
who did the Hyst. on me.
To Patricia: I wanted to post a
comment about the same as what you
were conveying; in that, I now have
a hesitant attitude to having a
mammogram done. I never have had
one either. I am scared to have
it done because of my Hyst., and
I do not want to be swayed into
something as with what happened
with being talked into having the
Hyst., and have this happen again
with doing a mammogram. This is
so sick; in itself, that I feel
this way now. I have lost my
trust with OB/GYN doctors. Since
I left the GYN who did the Hyst.
on me, I have been to three other
GYNs to try to figure out what is
wrong with me after the Hyst..
The first GYN I saw referred me
to another doctor. He basically,
I felt, passed me off. He also
used to work with the GYN who did
my hyst., so I wonder if this did
not have something to do with it.
The second GYN I saw refused to do
a Laparoscopy on me, (which I had
requested to have done) because she
knew I already had RSD (a nerve
disease/syndrome) and feared it
might hurt me more due to the RSD.
Now, isn’t this amazing? This
doctor would not perform a Lap. on
me, but the doctor who did the
Hyst. on me, with full knowledge
I had this nerve disease, went
ahead and did the Hyst.? This was
a female doctor who would not do
the Lap. on me, and left me with
no answers. I then found a name
of a specialist at Oregon Health
and Science University in Portland,
Oregon. I went to see him. He
was of no help at all. It was a
hard trip for me to travel to see
him. He spent a half hour with me.
$575.00 for this visit, and he
felt I had a case of Fibromyalgia.
I was so upset on my way home from
that appointment. Here I had seen
three different doctors, and not
one could provide me with a solid
answer(s) or help. I have gotten
better advice and information thru
HERS and this Blog than all of the
doctors I saw combined. This is
almost to unreal to fathom; yet, it
is exactly what happened to me. I
would have hoped; at least, one of
these so called specialists could
have given me help. It makes me
wonder also if these doctors are
not in ‘Kahootz'(sp?) with each
other, and will not talk ill of
another. I would have liked to
have heard from one of them that
I did not need the Hyst. for the
two simple fibroids I had – that
there were alternatives that I
could have chosen, that there are
remedies for the physical problems
I now have, and HELP me. What an
insane joke has been played on me.
All these doctors have made money
off of me, and I end up with no
answers, as I said. They have
done just fine and well with the
$575.00 office visits for each one
(excluding the $17,000.00 the GYN
made from doing the Hyst. on me,
and the $8,000.00 the hospital got
for the Hyst.)
Okay, I vent, but thanks to this
Blog, I am able to. Plus, if there
is another person reading this Blog
and I have helped – it is worth it
to vent.
Again, “Male in Mich.” Kudos to
you! I said my husband will be
posting here shortly. Get ready
for his input. I hope it will
help to hear his point of view of
how this has affected him, and
also how sorry he is that he did
push me into having this hyst. done
with just thinking one-sided and
how it would benefit him; i.e.,
no more periods with his wife that
he had to deal with…now he is
dealing with no more sex/love
making…(which was fantastic
before the hyst., and I am not
exagurating).
Happy to read the information of the side effects of hysterectomy. After complaining to doctors of these problems and doctor saying they were in my mind and husband saying the same thing. Now going through menopause. I thought I was really going crazy. Thanks for this for this blog to everyone writing on it.
I am looking for for information regarding post Total-Hysterectomy symptoms regarding lack of sexual desire and feelings of sensitivity. If anyone has anything that would be helpful I would be most grateful.
The fight against hysterectomy must start sooner. A knife-happy OB/gyn coerced me into treatment for a Class III pap smear in the late 1980’s. I got lucky with just cryosurgery and laser surgery.
But he was shocked when I wrote on the consent form “no hysterectomy.”
What appalled me especially was that I had other serious, untreated health
problems at the time and also a harassing neighbor.
I was coerced into paying for a pregnancy test before the surgery, and he did not look into my ears, eyes, and throat before the anesthesia.
But nothing was more important to the medical profession then than destroying a few funny-looking cells on my cervix.
When I called after the surgery to ask why gynecologist only cared about cancer, he terminated me as a patient.
I got lucky when he terminated me.
He also left me with a permananent distate for gynecologists and cancer screening.
The only types of medical treatment readily available to women are related to possible uterus and breast cancer and also pyschiatric drugs.
Think about it, the standard gynecological exam is nothing more than a witch hunt for a cancer. It takes an innocent-until-guilty approach, which violates the spirit of American law.
Years later, I had a D&C with a less knife-happy doctor who did not do an unnecessary pregnancy test before surgery and who also looked into my ears, eyes, nose, and throat.
I’m not saying don’t go for cancer screening. That’s your decision. I have usually gone to family doctors and internists later who will do more complete physical exams.
I have never had a mammogram, which is my right.
I might someday, but I have repeatedly asked where for the original report that claims one-in-nine women will get breast cancer. No one has ever produced it for me.
I live, with about one million other people, in Dallas, Texas. I believe about 50,000 women die of breast cancer in the US every year. I do not understand the one-in-nine statistic. Lung cancer kills more women, and heart disease even more.
Ask hard questions about medical statistics come from.
If anyone ever tries to coerce me into “preventive” cancer treatment again, I have plenty of undertreated other health issues and I will be asking, “Why don’t you care about this or that?”
My name is Patricia Corbett. You can reach me at patriciatex at hotmail.com.
Phyllis, I am very sorry for what you are experiencing. It is all very common after one of these doctors has butchered you. I never had any abdominal pain in my life, now I have chronic pain that starts in my lower abdominal area and radiates to my upper thighs. M.D.s cannot help you, they are the ones that harmed you. Be careful of the poison they hand out. I would suggest going to a chiropractor or getting acupuncture.
Gundersen is still lying on their website trying to recruit more hysterectomy patients for profit. Why don’t they follow University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s lead, or would it cut too much into their profits? This barbaric surgery has ruined my life. How could any human being do this to another human being?
I believe I am experiencing displacement of pelvic organs, etc. Since my partial hysterectomy 3 years ago, I frequently experience sharp shooting pains in the pelvic area and dull throbbing accompanied later by severe gas. Please let me know if anyone here has experienced this debilitating problem. I am planning to visit another doctor about this.
Thank you for your time to listen and respond.
WAY TO GO HERS FOUNDATION, NORA, RICK AND ALL THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO WROTE ON THIS BLOG FOR GETTING THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH MEDICAL CENTER TO REMOVE THEIR PATIENT EDUCATION MATERIAL ABOUT HYSTERECTOMY AND CASTRATION FROM THEIR WEB SITE. THE MATERIAL WAS UNTRUE AND MISLEADING. GUNDERSEN CLINIC IN LACROSSE, WISCONSIN IS NEXT. KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! NAME YOUR DOCTOR AND CLINIC OR HOSPITAL. STOP FEMALE CASTRATION NOW! THIS IS A GOOD DAY FOR EVERY WOMAN AND MAN WHO HAS WRITTEN ON THIS BLOG. TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS DAMAGING AND LIFE ALTERING SURGERY.
i had a hysterectomy in May 2003. it has been a total nightmare for me. i have lost lots of hair, my bones in both my arm ache. i have memory loss.my bladder is weak. i have severe fatigue. and i feel very confused.
everyone that i spoke to that already had a hysterectomy (around 12 women or more) said that it was the best thing that they ever did, and have no regrets. i just sit here and wonder why i can’t feel the happiness that they all feel? i also have severe vaginal itching, and mood swings. after reading all of this i feel better that it’s not just something wrong with me. i thought i must be crazy since i was the only one not happy with my hysterectomy. i am glad i found you.
Please help me. I am 50 yrs. old and had a complete hysterectomy 9 years ago. I have many of the symptoms described here by other women – especially extreme fatigue. I’m a business woman and single parent and need good solid treatment or answers. I’ve been on premarin, cenestin, and natural progesterone. Now I’m on bio-identical hormones. It doesn’t seem to be helping. I need to know what I can do to relieve some of these symptoms. After reading your web site, I just cried. Please, there must be SOMETHING I can do to feel somewhat normal. The primary care doctor put me on
anti-depressants. So far, it’s not working. My problem is the irreversible hysterectomy. Can you please advise me of what I can do? Thank you all so very much.
Removing a women’s Uterus and Ovaries causes severe, adrenal insufficiency, a serious medical conditon. The gynecologists and all doctors should know this if they graduated from a medical college, why are they throwing our health in the garbage for money?
Ladies and Gentlemen, please post the name of your health insurance company that paid for your unnecessary hysterectomy/ castration. You would think with the high cost of health care, that insurance companies would not want to pay for unnecessary damaging surgery, but it seems they do. Are they all in on it together?
Thanks male in mich.
You are helping with the beginning of the end of this surgical, malice & maiming called/hysterectomy by deceit.
The removal of a women’s sex organs will never improve anyones sex life, my husband is crushed.
This surgical abuse for profit will end when the men and women in this country are informed with the “female anatomy” video provided by Hers and it is shown on the nightly news that 1/3 of the female population in the U.S.A, has been attacked and mutilated already.
You would think the doctors in this country would be jumping for joy, saying, “yes, this will save so many women from having a hysterectomy”. But no the butchering for money with lies and deceit continues, even today, with it’s trickle down effect into their pockets too. The doctors in this country male and female in every specialty must step up to end this cruelty. Men and women who have been so damaged need to step up and shout out loud, “You have ruined my body, with your greed and malice”. “You have ruined my lovely wife’s body with your greed and malice”. Every person who reads this needs to stand up and say “For God’s Sake what is going on here in our country, this must be stopped”, and sign the petiton. “This is the biggest atrocity I have ever seen in the U.S.A.”. This is not Africa where the women are mutilated with genital mutilation and it is on the news and considered a cruel atrocity. This is America, this needs to be on the nightly news. I ask every one of you who reads this to write to, Brian Williams-NBC, Nightly News, by e-mail and SHOUT OUT LOUD. Let’s end this mid-evil torture once and for all this is the 21st century after all.
male in mich.
I read the posts here this morning after being absent a few days. I have posted before and finally find that some ladies are getting a benefit from the education. A recent post thanking Hers Foundation for the information here prevented her from making a major mistake in her life. This was a great thing to read. I think it would be helpful for more of the men to post their thoughts and responses. Also, I’m not sure how it could be done but a statistic showing the number of failed marriages or relationships as the result of female castration would be helpful. I can’t believe if nearly 80% of the hysterectomy proceedures lead to sexual dysfunction that young couples or middle age couples for that matter go on to have a healthy and fulfilling relationship. As a man I know if a doctor indicated to me that I would need to be castrated my response would not be kind. As a matter of fact I would indicate to him that if he wanted to castrate me I would want to witness his castration first. Getting back on subject, I believe that more men need to be educated and informed, once you get the information to the husbands or boyfriends that this will impact them as well the tides will turn. I very recently discussed with a close relative male his wifes need to have another surgery. They are close to same age as we are mid 50’s. The procedure is refered to as a bladder sling. I’m not sure of details but this is the second or third time she has had this done since her hysterectomy a few years back. It appears she has had a number of complications in the abdominal area since her hysterectomy. She has also developed the classic pelvic shift of posture which is so prevelant. Her new medication regiment has increased dramatically over the last 2 or 3 years. She is very active and has indicated it has become more of a struggle to do daily chores. He and I had a very close discussion over our personal lives with the wives. I have of course become very enlightened over what happened to my wife and shared with him some of the information. When I told him that when his wife had her hysterectomy she was basically rendered a castrated women. He was nearly offended. He said well they left the ovaries. I told him about the nerves and connection through the endocrine system and all the other side effects. (I believe doctors who perform so called partials are for the most part unskilled and damage a lot of nerves and tissue)I know he doubted me and definitely didn’t understand. He visited this website and after we talked again he said he never realized what they are doing to the ladies. He said that everybody male and female should be informed, the impact on future health and well being is at stake. Well thanks to Hers Foundation another person is enlightened about how they are using our wives and girlfreinds as income streams and not looking back. I don’t want to offend any of the ladies here because I know it is a female subject. Very personal, but as everyone who now visits can see it affects men and their families. I’ll do my part and keep spreading the word.
Could you all please help me with
this:
I am writing a letter to the GYN
who did the Hyst. on me at the
very end of 2003. He said I had
to have it done due to fibroids.
(They were not large, either.) He
said that I was severely anemic,
and had to have a hyst. right away.
Well, I believed in him, and also
pushed by family members to have
this surgery done. I have a long
story, but my question to all of
you is this –
What should I give my doctor; i.e.,
if this were you wanting to convey
information, etc.; what would you
recommend sending to this doctor
to give him insight of what he
did?
I want to send him my lingerie,
which, as I posted on an earlier
blog, has ‘cobwebs’ on them. I
want to send him the facts that
my husband and I have not had real
love-making since my hyst. We
were so intense before my surgery.
I want to give him the average
amount we were having sex before;
as compared to after the surgery,
which is basically – zilch (zero).
I want to share this with the
lingerie I send to him, but I want
to hear from all of you…what else
do you think I should send to him?
I would appreciate any and all of
your helpful advice. Thank you!
By the way…please get a hold of
me, DebK…through Nora, as I
said. Again, I have RSD also,
and really would like to speak with
you – one on one. I wish all of
you out there the best. My heart
and soul is truly with you. I do
mean this.
It is so amazing that all who do
post here have heard the same talk
from their GYNs. The examples are:
“You will feel so much better after
having this done.”
“Your sex life will stay just as
great, if not better.”
“You need to have this done as soon
as possible.”
AND AFTER the surgery…
“I have never heard of anyone to
have any problems.”
“You had to have this hyst. done.
If not, you would face horrible
problems.”
“I do not believe in any other so
called remedies.” I did happen
to check online before my surgery
about myeoectomies (sp?), and did
hear back from a doctor online stating to do this rather than
a hyst. My OB/GYN was so upset
with this – how dare this online
doctor state this alternative to
me with never seeing me. I look back now and how I wish I would
have listened to this online
doctor who cared enough to get
back with me. He (the online
doctor) was providing me with
a possible alternative to save my
uterus. Why did my own doctor, who
I have known and trusted in for
over twenty years, not give me this
advice? It is so insane! He was
out for the money, and he might
not have known how to perform this
procedure/surgery either. Why did
he not just say so, and refer me to
another doctor? I get so upset
when I think back on this. The
meeting I had with him before the
surgery with discussing this, and
he being so adament I needed this
surgery right away. As I said, in
a previous post, I believe he did
check my insurance coverage; which
was changing in February of the
next year, and he, I feel, was so
concerned I might not go with
Cobra to be covered with. Thus;
the reason for he pushing me to
do this right away. What a doctor!
Okay, sorry to get sidetracked…
as all of us here; we need to vent…
Back to presentation of items to
this doctor: I welcome any advice
and help with what I should give
him. I will so appreciate any
words of wisdom.
Bless all of you out there. I hope
we can catch and save one more
female each and every day to not
have this surgery performed on
this person. Even one person is a great achievement. To have one
more go through this; it is one
too many.
We have said how we feel and live
afterwards. We have told of how
family and friends respond with
and to our plights. I have to
say, once again, I am in so much
admiration to every husband and
boyfriend who have posted here.
My husband will be posting also
soon. I know you will love to
hear his side of the story, and
the world he now lives in. He
had no idea by pushing me into
having a hyst. that this would be
his life with me afterwards. Now,
remember, he was told by my OB/GYN
how great it will be for me, and
also him. “No more bloody periods,
and having to deal with waiting
certain times of the month to have
love-making.” What a “sales pitch”
to a husband/lover? It makes me
sick to my stomach right now that
this was my doctor’s avenue, and
basically, getting a patient/client
to “buy” this. Seventeen thousand
dollars later; (and that was just
his bill…I am still paying on
the hospital bill of eight thousand
plus dollars…) he did not tell
me how much it would cost me either
with these bills I would face. A
female needs to know this before
she goes into a surgery as this.
You see, I was not told about all
the extra stuff he ordered for me.
He ordered extra care be given for
my legs; since, I had already the
disease of RSD. One would think
with the extra ‘stuff’ he ordered
to take care of my legs – post
surgery, I would be of some high
status, a queen? As I said, eight
thousand dollars later…from the
hospital alone…
Now, I could get into a whole
different realm with he knowing
I had ‘RSD’ already. I was already
a female so disabled with this
nerve disease/syndrome – why would
he do such an extreme surgery on
me, knowing this? Sorry, here I
go…but golly, can everyone here
reading this understand my complete
and warranted upsetness? I would
love to hear this doctor’s decree
of proof, if any, which ‘proved’ to
him it was okay to do this intense
of surgery on me. (Please do not
get me wrong – he should have never
done it on any female, but with my,
already known to him, disease…
how could he even begin to do
this?)
Thank you all for listening.
I will hope to hear some words
back to help me send my words, your
words, etc. to this doctor of mine.
In the meantime…have faith in
the HERS Foundation, and do not
quit the communication with they
who are fighting to stop this.
I wish I was rich. I would spend
any extra money I could spare for
this cause (outside of any ‘Animal
Rights’ cause I believe in. This
is huge to me also.).
These posts are so important. I
have to thank you again for letting
us voice, HERS Foundation.
I close with this…all of you out
there suffering as I do, each and
every day, when you may get insight
to help – post it.
With so much sincerity, I hope
each day brings any answer to help
us all.
i had a hysterectomy about 7 months ago. i was never told about any side effects of the surgery. in fact i was given a survey of women who had felt much better after their surgery maybe like 89 percent was improved in symptoms. i do not even think that i actually needed one in the first place and the way he did the surgery has caused more problems and just recently found another doctor that had to go back in a laser some alot of adhesions and remove a large hemmorhagic cyst that was so densly packed that it could not even be aspirated. i had a vag hyst but the doctor did not use laprscopic before or during the surgery. when i saw your website i could not believe the adverse effects from the other women, it explains so so much. i would like to know if i really had to have one.i feel he was so negligent with me. i am only 28 and had tried to have another child for seven years and now i will never get that chance again.and my health is gone down hill every since. i thought that i had some disease or something until i saw your website and like i said it explained alot. i wish that i would have known earlier.
Full Hysterectomy with Ovaries removed 1 1/2 year ago, no treatments. Exercise and diet takes care of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings. Problem with no sex drive and weight gain, intolerant to loss even tho walk/run 4-6 miles a day. Whats going on?
December 2004 I had a hysterectomy and my left ovary was left. I have had so many problems, I still hurt so badly and my nerves is bad and I never hardly eat anything and I have gained about 20 pounds, but I am tall, but I am very particular about my weight. The doctor I saw a few weeks ago told me that I wasn’t healed on the inside and I was very thinned out. He gave me premerin cream and climaria patch. I used this, but then stopped my headaches were worse and my emotions are wild. I have started back like he said, but if this doesn’t work should I just use natural products like soy, etc. How to I get my hormones under control so that my emotions and weight and etc. will be back to normal. I feel like I can’t live this way. Please comment.
I was frightened into having my uterus removed in July of 2003,due to fibroids. I insisted he leave my ovaries. But everything has changed, loss of sexual desire, and vaginal dryness, dry eyes, mood swings, loss of sexual sensations, etc..is there anykind of help for women like me to have an even half way back to normal life now?? I guess I have the same question as anonymous. Thanks for listening.
I just want to say THANK YOU…THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH to HERS and to all of the women who have posted their stories to this site. For over 1year, I have suffered severe and constant bleeding due to 4 fibroids, the largest being 3cm. After trying different combinations of birth control pills, depo-shots, etc., my doctor suggested the removal of my uterus and cervix. His comment was that removing the cervix just made sense since we are already in there. I asked lots of questions. His answer to my question (how can sex be the same with a shortened vagina) was nothing changes. He said this type of surgery was extremely common. Many women love the fact not coming on again, and since my overies would still be there that hormonal side effects would be null. After our talk, he called the hospital and made the appointment right there. At first I was at ease, then I thought, that seemed sort of quick for surgery…shouldn’t he have suggested I think about it?.
I started to become more worried…began my research and ran into HERS website.
I am soooo glad I did. When I read about the sexual dysfuntion..that was enough for me. True, the bleeding is sometimes so heavy that I can’t leave the house, but I am not having unbearable pain….talk about using an elephant gun to kill a mouse. I am shocked (after reading everything here) that my doctor and I didn’t discuss alternatives. In fact, we scheduled my surgery (for april08) right after our 10min talk. However, I am cancelling it tomorrow. I am extremely active (biking, running, etc), have the most exhilarating orgasms…with major convulsions, lasting for a while with every subsequent touch. Nothing is worth that!! what’s funny is if you even think about interfering with a man’s sexual organs, you better be ready to run.
All I can say is I hope that I have justified your reasons for telling your stories. I currently have appointments with doctors who specilize in myomectomies and other non-invasive treatments.
THANKS, THANKS, THANKS….MY HUSBAND THANKS YOU!! 🙂
How do I go about getting my sex drive back after having hysterectomy 2 and a half years ago. They left my ovaries and took my uterus.
Blue Cross Blue Shield paid my doctor to perform an unncessary hysterectomy and castration on me. They paid the doctor to do this without my consent and against my will. Blue Cross Blue Shield paid the doctor and hospital, no questions asked. When I filed a complaint and made them aware of it, I was told they don’t pursue that type of fraud.
Most gynecologist discourage having a myomectomy because it is more difficult than a hysterectomy. Would you rather do 3 hysterectomies a day or 1 myomectomy? If a doctor says you absolutely need a hysterectomy, it would be like a waiter saying, you have got to have the steak. A good doctor should give you a menu of choices. If you can manage symptoms of fibroids, these symptoms usually ease naturally after menopause. Every year 2.5 million people go under the knife unnecesarily, often with devastating consequences. JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THEM.
Did you know the menstruction cycle is very important for the health and longevity of a women. This is a natural cleansing and regeneration cycle. It should not be suppressed or discouraged. Many women due to the enviromental toxins are having early change of life symptoms and it is better to work at bringing the body back into balance by detoxification and supplemental therapy so that you have your period for as many years as possible.
The majority of gynecologist will tell you a hysterectomy is the only fix for heavy bleeding caused by uterine fibroids. DON’T BELIEVE IT! If a doctor wants to remove your ovaries, uterus and cervix, just say I would like to keep my sex organs. God gave them to me for a reason.
Gynecologists are nothing more than skilled butchers with an agenda to mutilate women for profit. They lie and badger women to get them to sign a consent form to get them under anesthesia. These criminals are taking advantage of women in the worst kind of way. They are not telling women that this is an elective surgery, they are telling women they need it. They scare women by telling them they have abnormal looking cysts and tumors when they clearly know that they are common benign conditions. Do not go to these doctors, they will harm you. They do not know anything about hormonal imbalance and they do not have the knowledge to help you, they are just trained to butcher women for profit. No human being has spare parts in their body for doctors to just hack out. Each organ has an important function. Please join together with the HERS Foundation to stop this abuse of women. Tell everyone you know to watch the Female Anatomy video and sign the petition. Help educate women so they don’t become victims of this crime. It is hideous that a crime like this is allowed to go on in the United States. We are supposed to be a civilized nation, but there is nothing civilized about amputating the sex organs of 1/3 of the population of American women.
Well, by golly…I have so much to
say after reading these most recent
posts. I will say it is amazing
we women survive with what we have
been put through. It posted a sad
thought in my mind; however. How
many women are out there who have
not even posted, and are not aware
of HERS? Then…really sad to even
think about, but I am sure is true;
how many women are not out there –
the women who called it quits. I
am sorry these women did not know
about HERS either.
To the Singer: (Jan. 26th): You
asked a question to how many of us
were told we needed a hyst. right
away, due to being so anemic. I
was one. Oh, my GYN was so adament
I had to have one “right away” due
to this. I would have rather lived
with dealing with the anemia than
what I am now.
To DebK: (Jan. 27th): You said
you have been “rendered 100%
disabled” from your LAVH. “I have
RSD”. Did you get RSD due to the
Hyst.? Could you please reply to
this? I really want to speak with
you. Could you email Nora at Hers
and she can give you my email
address? I have RSD, and would
really like to hear if this did
stem (again, the RSD) from the
surgery. I will send an email to
Nora to let her know I asked for
the response from you. I hope we
can communicate with each other.
Elaine – Chronic Yeast Infections –
I have had this too since my hyst.
and I never had them before. Why?
Anonymous – 2/4/08, 11:49 p.m.:
“…poor husband beside himself…”
I hope your husband can read some
of these posts. I asked my dear
husband to, and he is so upset; yet
he has been so better with me; just
in the past few days. He always
has, but just reading these posts
did something to him. It was a
good call. He knows he is not
alone either; with he reading some
posts made by men here. I will be
having him post here shortly also.
He wants to.
To all of you who have posted; I
say – again…we need to help
however we can to get the word out
to stop this insanity. I want to
know what I can do to help myself
now; i.e., any remedies, but we
need to help any female who is
about ready to submit to this
horrible invasion to the body.
Bless all of you out there. I
cannot even begin to say in words
huge enough to thank Nora, Rick,
and all the staff at HERS for the
dedication they have.
“You will feel so much better”, my
doctor said. The only thing I
feel better about is this with
HERS, and helping others with what
I can.
I had a hysterectomy in June. Since then my sexual drive has become non-existent. I am still experiencing a lot of pain and sought help from a local OBGYN. I was referred to a pain clinic and after two visits decided they really didn’t believe I was in pain. I am still experiencing pain, horrific PMS and severe depression. My poor husband is beside himself with worry as am I. I can’t seem to locate anyone locally to help with my problems. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for listening to me, it is awesome to find this website to know I’m not alone.
I think the majority of women who does watch the DVD ‘Female Anatomy’ will agree that they would not have had this life altering and damaging surgery if they had watched this before their surgery. I know I wouldn’t have. That is why is is very important that everyone signs the petition. Once you sign, have all your family, friends and co-workers sign the petition. Hers wants every doctor to give this DVD to woman faced with having a hysterectomy and a castration. Doctors do not want you to know this! IT WOULD PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS, WOULDN’T IT? PLEASE GO IN NOW AND SIGN THE PETITION!
Elaine, what a beautiful and tragic poem. Thank you. When I was 45 I had a full hysterectomy, I’m now 47. The reason was for about 1 yr I was not having periods, then I started having 2 periods a month. The 1st was normal the 2nd was with severe bleeding this went on for about 8 months then I sought medical advise. I had an emergency DNC with no improvement and 3 months later a hysterectomy. No other problems were to be found or diagnose with other than severe bleeding. I had a male dr. and he did not tell me what to expect other than having hot flashes after the procedure. I should have sought a 2nd opinion. My mind and body has not been the same. I have been on and off HRT because of the new study results showing not as good as projected. I have tried natural alternative but this is not effected enough, the hot flashes are to severe. Two yrs. ago I was diagnose with Fibromyalga which is so painful. My memory is terrible needless to say everything else that you have said are true side affects. I truly believe my deterioration on my health is from this hysterectomy. I wish my dr. have provided me with an alternative or more info. before having this done. If I had seen your anatomy video I wouldnever have had it. So sorry I ever choose this procedure!!!!
I have posted here before but for now just wanted to share a poem I wrote a few months ago while struggling to come to terms with the permanent damage my hysterectomy and castration has caused me on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. I have shared this poem on other forums but I feel this would be the most appropriate place to share it.
Song to My Wounded Spirit
Follow my breath
Undulating cries of a loon
Lick the teary sky with your tongue
But not my womb
Not my absent womb
Shards of silver glass
Cut like a lie
My little girl lays breathless
Lay down your sword
Swinging blades of prairie grass
Stroke this trembling earth
But not my temple
Not my weary temple
Her withering leaves
Crumble into desert sand
Returning whence she came
Whisper a lullaby
Return to the sky
My beautiful spirit
My beautiful spirit
I challenge any doctor to post here and explain why a doctor would remove the uterus of a women with a less than 1 cm fibroid with no history of menstrual problems? I realize that no doctor will answer this and incriminate the profession.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
As you know from experience, there are tremendous hormonal changes with pregnancy and childbirth. The severity of toxemia you experienced is uncommon, and you may never know why it occurred. It is interesting and most likely more than coincidence that your grandmother experienced the same thing.
Have you had a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound performed? If so, and if you have the Radiology Report, you can fax it to HERS at 610.667.8096, then call HERS at 610.667.7757 to schedule a time for us to review your records with you by phone. If you have any hematology (blood tests) studies it would be most helpful for you to fax those as well. If you have not had an ultrasound performed I strongly urge you to have a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound performed in the Radiology Department of a good teaching hospital, and not in a doctor’s office. You can ask your doctor for a written order for the ultrasound, then call the Radiology Department of the hospital, tell them that you have a written order from your doctor for a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate the pelvis, and they will schedule an appointment for you.
If your radiology and hematology reports do not reveal the cause of your heavy bleeding it may be hormonal. Rather than using hormones or other drugs to artificially, and probably temporarily, stop the bleeding you may want to consider trying acupuncture. Acupuncture treats imbalance, not disease. Your hormones may have gone awry with the significant fluctuations caused by pregnancy and childbirth. It’s understandable that you feel lost with going on for so long and not having your bleeding resolve. I’m confident that your problem can be resolved with conservative management. I’d take this one step at a time until it’s under control.
If at any time you feel that you are in an urgent situation please don’t hesitate to call HERS at 610.667.7757 and mark your call as urgent. Urgent calls are usually returned within the hour.
I had a very traumatic delivery with my son 8 1/2 mo’s ago. I had Toxemia 9 days post partum and almost died. Sept 2007 I started my “period” even though I was nursing exclusivly. I started hemorhaging and was going thru a super size pad in 1 hours time. I went to the Dr in Oct as it was getting worse and they put me on some hormones that stopped the bleading and we discussed the options of a D&C. My gyno wanted to do this as a last resort. Nov 2007 came and again I was hemorhaging and begged for the D&C. Dec 2007 my period lasted for 3 wks and Jan 2008 It started all over again. One of my clients referred me to this website, and I am desperate to figure WHAT is going on. My grandmother experianced the same thing I am experiancing for 3 yrs in the 60’s and she had a hysterectomy at 32. I just turned 34. I am married and have 2 children. I was told by both my PCP & Gyno NOT to have anymore children. My husband had a vasectomy and know we will not have another baby. We are both fine with that. Now the concern is WHAT is going on with me. They have run tests and biopsy’s and as far as I can tell my Gyno who is AWESOME tells me it is a hormonal thing. I have an appt next week and want to be armed with some knowledge before I go in again. I’m wondering if anyone has ever experianced this. Both my OB/GYN & PCP had never seen anyone w/ Toxemia as severe as I had it and I’m wondering if this is somehow connected. I’m lost…..
Mattie said…
Look at the, adverse effects, data on the, HERS Foundation, web site,
it is sad but true.
The moment after this was done to you when you realize your womanhood was disassembled is almost unbearable.
When I realized I was tricked and lied to by many doctors and several nurses and a so called group of friends, I cried for hours. I cried on the phone with, Hers, for hours, literally.
After seventeen months I am still searching for my womanhood and sexuality, it is so devastating.
I am sorry this has happened to every women on this blog.
My question is what are the effects after you have a hysterectomy like moods and sex. I’m 35 and I had mine done 8 weeks ago for fibroids and heavy periods. They gave me a shot in the hosp. for hormones. But I feel like my life is falling down around me my boyfriend and I fight over stupid things and I am afraid that I will eventually push him away even though we both understand it could be a while before the HRT gets regulated. Also how effective are the over the counter HRT products. I’m so upset and confused. The doctor said “You’ll be a new woman and sex will be great.” Well it’s not and I don’t know or like this “new woman.” I want the old me back.
Mattie said…
To Cathy,
What was done to you is so heinous and the doctors should be in prison for the attack on you.
You are a strong voice and a strong women to speak out against this injustice.
The disregard and malice it takes for doctors to do this to any women legally in this country is an outrage, it is so cruel and to women in thier twenties and thirties just shows how much malice it takes.
If you would like, I have given, Hers, my contact information for you to e-mail me, we are close in age.
Mattie
I am 45 years old. I was hystectomized and castrated 3 days after my 44th birthday for no valid medical reason and without my consent. A crime was committed against me. I was deceived and then assaulted. As hideous as that is, I find it even more hideous that this is being done to women in their 20’s and 30’s. The criminals that are doing this to women should be in prison. There is absolutely no justification for 1/3 of the women in the United States to have had their female organs amputated. It is an outrage!! No woman can ever recover from this barbaric surgery. A doctor who cuts a woman open and amputates her sex organs when no cancer is present, is not a doctor, he is just a skilled criminal. No one is policing these doctors. There are no laws to protect women against this crime. Please join the HERS Foundation to stop this abuse. Please donate whatever you can, and tell everyone you know to sign the petition. These criminals have taken the female organs of 1/3 of the women in this country. Let’s join together and help to stop it before it half the women in this country do not have sex organs. Post your story, get involved.
I had a hysterectomy (1 ovary removed also) at the age of 21. I then was told the other ovary had to me removed a year later in 2002. I am 26 now. I had 1 child before this happened to me. I had terrible scar tissue from a C-Section from my 1st baby that caused me terrible pain/bleeding. I feel as though I am so uncomplete. I take hormones & worry about it. There is a lot of cancer in my family. I hate sex! It is a complete chore. Doctors just don’t seem to understand. I don’t know what to do now.
I had a hysterectomy 6/23/05, everything removed. I had severe endometriosis so I was told. I was in the hospital for 2 days then released. Ten days later I was rushed by ambulance to the hospital because I was having pain in my back and trouble breathing. I had a lung scan done and they found that both lungs had blood clots-I was in intensive care for ten days on heparin IV plus oral comadin. Needless to say something that was suppose to make me feel so much better almost killed me. I cannot take any hormones so I deal with constant hot flashes I gained 25 lbs and can not seem to loose any of it. I can not have sex because it is painful-it is not because of dryness-The doctor seems to think I have scar tissue and that is why it is painful-I wish I could go back in time because I would never do it again. I’d like to see how many women writing on here would say the same thing, if they had been told the consequences of the surgery if they would never do it again too.
I am so happy I found this blog and all of the women here. I had a hysterectomy 7 years ago and I am 38 years old. They currently have me on Estertest and esterdial alternating days. But I still haven’t felt like myself I have major mood swings and very irritable to family members. Is there anything that would make me feel somewhat like my old self? I can’t believe what is being done to us women right here in America. I just don’t understand and I don’t accept it. They’ve got to be stopped. It’s just crazy that they can do this and get away with it. I don’t understand. It’s cruelty to woman.
In June 2007, I had a hysterectomy, removal of ovaries and uterus. I have not felt well ever since, depression, fatigue, and more. I am on Premarin, and would like information on hysterectomy, Premarin and what to do to feel better. I just want to feel like my old self. I never felt these things before the hysterectomy but my doctor says I’m just getting older. In 7 months? I don’t think so!
I had a hysterectomy three years ago. I am having various problems due to this. Would like any information an what I can do to feel
normal again. To feel like a woman, again. I am 32 years old and feel like an old lady. I am having lots of bladder problems, have only had
intercourse 6 or7 times in the last 3 years. I am experiencing lots of pain during intercourse. I can’t do it anymore it is too painful. I no longer feel normal and my husband thinks I am crazy. I am scared of losing him . Any thing you can advise would be wonderful. Thank you.
On the first enabler blog I challenged all the women to name their doctors and place of surgery. This would help other women from going to them.
I wish I could tell all these women that their life and health will get better. Your life as you knew it before your surgery will never again be. My life will never be what it was before my surgery not even close.
I am taking all herbal products and eat a lot of organic foods. This seems to help me get through each day. You have to exercise even if you don’t want to.
Stop going to doctors and getting all these tests done. Don’t give the doctors and clnics any more money. I spent two years going to dozens of doctors trying to find answers as to why I was feeling so terrible. The answer is you had your sexual hormone producing organs removed from your body. These organs give you life, love, vitality, positive feelings, happy feelings, sexual feelings and keeps you on track. You are not going to get any answers from these doctors, only bills. This is a very profitable surgery because it doesn’t stop after the surgery. Billions of dollars are made from the business of hysterectomy and castration.
I still would like to see a doctor post here and tell me under what circumstances, other than confirmed cancer would the benefits outweigh the risk?
I had a hysterectomy seven months ago. About two weeks after the surgery my left leg went numb from upper thigh to knee, and I panicked and picked up my leg and that seemed to help a little. I called my doctor and asked her what was going on, I said is this something normal in women who have hysterectomy’s and she said “I didn’t do anything wrong, it wasn’t my fault:” I said well I am not saying that, I am just wondering what is going on. Well she said she had no idea and that I need to see my normal doctor, and when I did go and see him he said that he has never heard of anything like this. Well I went to my normal doctor who gave me viox for about three weeks, it didn’t do anything to help with the numbness that still continues. He then gave me neurontin and on the bottle it said for neuropathy and I took this for 20 days hoping that it would fix my problem. Well it didn’t do anything. So I just saw him last week again and I told him that I have heard that it could be a vein/artery/nerve that was compressed due to my surgery, well of course he would not comment about that at all but said well I am going to order a EMG and I am due to have that next week.
I did do some research on that test and it doesn’t sound like it will do any good, since it was due to my surgery. I also have an appt to see the neurosurgeon in two weeks and I have to schedule an appt with the vascular surgeon. So I guess what I am asking is does this sound like anything anyone has heard of? I know that when I looked up neuropathy it was totally not what I should have been diagnosed with due to the fact that I never had diabetes, and he did test me for that, and also that they symptoms of all the neuropathy that I researched did not fit what happened to me. My regular doc knew I had surgery and everything. But getting a doctor to say another doctor messed up is impossible. Anyway I don’t know where to look, where to go. I am realizing that this was not a good thing. I am at the end of my rope, I do have a cousin who is a doctor and he has somewhat helped, I didn’t call him until just recently, which was dumb but I trusted my doctor, something I will never do again. I have done hours and hours of research on the internet and I cant seem to really find much of anything as far as doctors that mess up. So please if you could I would appreciate the help. She can’t just do this to women and pretend it’s nothing that she did and it’s not her fault!
I had a hysterectomy a yr. ago and have been using a Climara estrogen patch. I have migraines with them. I am 41 yrs. old and wonder if I need estrogen replacement and what an alternative would be. The migraines come when I change the patch weekly. Other symptoms include chest tightening, pain in the right groin area, loss of sexual desire, painful intercourse and low energy. What can you suggest for these problems?
I had a total hysterectomy when I was 45 years old, before that I was sexually active. I can still remember walking into my gyn’s office and saying a month or so later that I lost my sex drive, and yet I remember asking him if I would lost my sex drive due to surgery and his saying No. I believed him. There were no computers or good information out at the time, and I believed whatever my doctor said.
Anyway, I had been given hormones, but it didn’t matter. I was sent to a therapist that said it had to be all in my mind and that I should read erotic literature. I tried, but it meant nothing to me anymore. It was boring. Whenever I looked at a man on the street, I knew from past experience that he would be my type, that he was sexy, but I had no feelings other than intellectual knowledge. I became celibate for 7 years, and then I was given testertone, I took it, got my sex drive back, met a man and married.Then one day I went to my doctor and said, “I lost my sex drive again.” The nurse said, “Well, we took you off testertone. It isn’t good for you to stay on it for every long.” So she put me back on it, and for a while it worked, and then all the sudden it was causing adverse reactions, so I had to go off the drug. For that moment on I had to fake enjoying sex because I didn’t want my husband to realize that I had no joy out of it since it may interfer with his own joy. It had nothing to do with his not understanding, but with my wishing him the best out of life. Now at this time in life I have osteoporosis and frequent bladder infections. I also have thyroid problems, but I am not sure if it is because of the surgery. And at least I am at the age where I am no longer concerned about my sex life, but now it is these other medical conditions.
To Lisa in Wisconsin:
The reason my dr. in IA City usually does polypectomies instead of D&C’s and hysterectomies is because she is part of a fertility clinic. And, like she told me, sometimes having a D&C or something like that done can actually cause more scar tissue and make it even more difficult to get pregnant. She said polyps can be a cause of infertility too, that’s why they only remove the polyps if possible.
Is there a fertility place you could check out closer to where you live, if you didn’t want to travel to IA City? Just a thought….I hope you can find someone to help you out! Keep asking questions and you’ll find someone you like.
You can follow the thread of Gundersen and HERS correspondence by scrolling up to January 24 at 12:10p.m. and January 25 at 8:27p.m.
This morning a letter was faxed to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center’s CEO, Jeffrey E. Thompson, MD and Julio J. Bird, MD, Chief Medical Officer & Executive Vice President:
February 1, 2008
Dear Dr. Thompson:
Certain vital information currently published under the Gundersen Lutheran banner on your website is incomplete and incorrect.
The HERS Foundation has published a review of this information on our blog, which is available at http://hysterectomyinformation.blogspot.com/. Charolotte C. Grant, the Patient Education Content Specialist at Gundersen, contacted HERS regarding our review of this information. This is her 1/24/08 email to the HERS:
Gundersen Lutheran and many other healthcare entities subscribe to this service, including MedLine Plus, one of the most widely used and respected online medical information services available today. X-Plain has met the rigorous standards of the National Library of Medicine. If you have concerns with the wording of the content regarding hysterectomy, you should take this up directly with the company that produces the X-Plain content. We are not able to change or customize it since it is their material, not ours.
I responded to Charlotte Grant, but received no reply. This is HERS’ 1/25/08 response:
TO: Charlotte C. Grant, Patient Education Content Specialist
RE: Gundersen’s “Interactive Patient Education” module “Hysterectomy”
Did you research what X-Plain’s “Hysterectomy” module says and what it means? What kind of empirical research did you do before putting it on Gundersen’s website? What is the basis for promoting this material? What physicians or experts in the field, textbooks, or peer reviewed journals or periodicals did you review and rely on? What is your academic background?
As Chief Executive Officer, we hope that you will address this important matter immediately. Time is of the essence because Gundersen Lutheran’s “Hysterectomy” patient education module is potentially dangerous to women who rely on it to make an informed decision about hysterectomy. Failure to take corrective action may lead some to conclude that Gundersen Lutheran Health System is knowingly misinforming women about hysterectomy.
I look forward to your response.
Nora W. Coffey, President
cc: Julio J. Bird, MD, CMO, EVP
cc: Charlotte C. Grant (via email)
Back in the years of 1963-1965, my last son was born on September 1961. Sometime during that time my wife Bev had alot of monthly problems with bleeding. Our family doctor sent us to OB/GYN at Skemp clinic in LaCrosse WI. After a VERY BRIEF examination, his conclusion was she needed an immediate hysterectomy. He got out his appointment book and said we can do it next week.
My response to him was NO YOUR NOT!! He got very angry at me and said it had to be done. I said NO YOUR NOT!! After going back and forth several times, I said to my wife we are leaving and going to make another apointment with another OB/GYN. A SECOND OPINION was needed. He was very understanding and gave my wife a prescription of somesort. It took care of the problem. It has now been about 40 some years. She has never had a problem since. It makes me sick too think what would of happened if she had this surgery years ago.
I found out one thing you have to stand up to the doctor and not let them bulldoze you around.
As I read all these blogs, it makes me sick to think what all these woman are going through.
This could of been my wife.
Thanks to the HERS Foundation for all their education.
My granddaughter was saved and the women in my own family will benefit from this education.
This is exactly what doctors are doing when they think that little baby boys have to have a circumcision. Thanks to my daughter-in-law Tiger 2 and her sister Gracie.
Thanks for the heads up on that doctor in Iowa City, Iowa who does polypectomies for polyps on the uterus. I will check that doctor out. Every doctor I have gone to wants to do a hysterectomy and also take my ovaries. It just didn’t make sense to me that they would have to take my uterus and ovaries to get rid of two polyps. Lucky you compared to other women on here. I appreciate you sharing the name of the doctor and also where to find them. This is what is so special about this blog. It is too bad we have to go hundreds of miles to find a doctor to do the right thing and not take out healthy organs just to remove a few polyps or a few fibroids. God gave us these organs for a reason and I would like to keep my ovaries and uterus, thank you.
I am curious to know what kind of treatment is available that will make me feel better. I had my total hysterectomy at the age of 32. I haven’t felt the same since. I’ll be 40 years old this year. I’ve been on various hormone replacements, antidepressants and still nothing makes me feel good. If I could go back in time, I would have elected not to have the surgery and put up with the pain caused by endometriosis. This isn’t at all how I want to feel. I want women who read this to know that this is not the answer to your problems, it is the start of them.
It is heinously criminal, but it is legal, I am so sorry, you are not alone, this is horrible isin’t it.
A law must be passed to save the women of this country.
I hope a law doesn’t wait until half the women in this country no longer have their sex organ. One third of the women in this country have had their sex organ amputated by deceit already.
The doctors bank on women who do not tell the truth after the surgery to protect their self-image, what a mockery of the female gender. What do you think the doctors think when a women lies about her sexuality then, they must be laughing out loud.
I feel that I am a victim of an unecessary hysterectomy. I was only 25. My doctor recommended the hysterectomy because he didn’t know why I was having pain. He said it was my last option. I had endometriosis and cysts before. I had a laporoscopy and he said there were two small spots but that they would not be causing me so much pain. He removed my left ovary because the pain was on that side. The pathology reports showed that I had had a perfectly healthy uterus and ovary. My pain was 10 times worse after the surgery and when I went back, after another exam he said “oh…well….that’s your bladder.” When I asked him “so I didn’t need the hysterectomy?!” He said, stumbling over his words “oh…oh yea, oh yea, you did.” He refered me to a urologist. After an unecessary surgery with the urologist, which did not stop my pain, he decided it was my colon. I did not see another doctor for a couple of years. A colonoscopy revealed that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I take medication that controls my pain.
I feel like I was robbed and it has greatly affected my life. I think this doctor should be held responsible. It seems like what he did to me is legal but it should be criminal.
Please answer this if you have any advice that would help me. I have had a hysterectomy and bladder repair and now I can not have intercourse without unbearable pain. My doctors want to start me on the drug Neurontin and give me steroid shots to dull the nerve ending damage that is a result of my surgery. They also tell me that I will have this pain forever. I need advice and help. I don’t know what to do. I hope someone who had this problem found a doctor who can tell me what I should do. Thank you. I don’t know where to turn.
Thanks so much to Nora and my aunt Grace for the help you’ve given me through HERS. I had a polypectomy 2 weeks ago because I had several polyps in my uterus. My surgery was performed at the University of Iowa hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, IA. My doctor was Dr. Ryan, along with Dr. Wisdom. They work through the Reproductive Endocrinology Clinic. The phone #: 319-356-1767. web address: wwww.uihealthcare.com/repromed. There is a team of 4 doctors and 1 PA-C there. They help with reproductive system disorders, fertility issues, and/or surgery. I had a great experience with Dr. Ryan and Dr. Wisdom. They were very receptive to just doing a polypectomy on me instead of a D&C for the polyps. I would definitely go back to the U of IA again if needed. Once again, thanks to Nora for keeping the HERS foundation going! And, to Grace for helping be a voice to women! THANK YOU!
I had a partial hysterectomy in October 2005. A couple of days after the surgery I started having crying jags for no apparent reason. I also suffer from sleeplessness now. On a good night I might sleep 3 hours total but broke up. I consider an hour straight good. I have never suffered from either of these problems before and when I went back in and seen the dr who did the hysterectomy she said they would do some blood work to see if the ovaries were working, and that if the test showed that the ovaries were working then she would know that I was suffering from depression. Test showed that the ovaries are working so she left a months supply of Zoloft for me to start on. I picked it up in her office and read the booklet from the manufacturer and can see no reason for being diagnosed for depression. I will not take this medication. Is there something that the uterus produces that I am not getting? At the time of the hysterectomy, the doctor knew from ultrasound and mri tests that I had a cyst on the right ovary and several fibroids in the uterus. I also was suffering from severe anemia and had been for some time, and iron tablets were not solving the problem. When she opened me up she discovered that I was suffering from endometrosis. It is believed that they got all the endometriosis, but the surgery last longer than had been planned. The doctor that performed the hysterectomy says that the fact that I just went back to work after five months plus the fact that I tend to keep things inside all made me a prime candidate for depression. I do not believe this for a minute. What I do need is some answers. Thank you for this blog it helps a lot to know I’m not the only one.
i am very missrable one year after my hysterectomy. so much pain, numbness, confusion, cant remember what i have done five minutes ago. lower back, hip legs feet , and my hands , i can’t stand the pain. what or how to i tell my doctor? so far they send me out for all sorts of testing, i am beginging to think, they see me as a pyscosamatic. all i ever suffered from allergies asthma, and sinus. but now i am a total wreck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! helpppp
one year after the surgery, I have been suffering in a way I never imagine. I have been in constant pain, numbness, in my hands arms and legs. pain in every part of my body! I have lost all of my sick days and vacation day due to getting sick. I have been going from one extreme to another. what can be done to alleviate all this?. it’s driving me crazy, I am on paxial , so far my body has had a problem with all three HRT therapy. so I am using something over the counter called ESTROVEN. nothing special. I am at a loss. I don’t know what to do or where to get help. my general doctor all he keeps doing is sending me for test after test. I can’t live the rest of my life that way or taking allsorts of medication. what should I be doing to help myself? what am I to do or go about this? one thing is for sure, the doctor never told me of the negative side of this sugary except, “once it’s done you can’t retrieve it or go back; he promised I be brand new!!!!!!!!! I am emotional mess. I am 43 years old married with children. it’s not fair to them either. please help me with proper information or steps I should take. I am so unhappy at this time. I thought I be brand new enjoying life , my husband and my children!!!!!
Luz, I have something strange to. I had an abdominal hysterectomy in September 2004, my doctor has now told me I have a type of pelvic bone disease and it came from the surgery. I have severe pain in my left groin and cannot bend at the waste. Has anyone ever herd of this????
I had a hysterectomy December 2002 and I have had leg weakness every since, now it is so bad that I need a crutch for support to walk. I have trouble extending my left leg fully and I wonder if that is a normal side effect stiffness in the knees and legs. I discontinued my estrogen replacement because of the night leg cramps. Please let me know if you have experienced this, is a common thing or not. Thank you very much.
I was just wondering if anyone has had a tubal ligation? The side effects of this surgery and if it can lead to having a hysterectomy/castration? I would also like to know about fibroid embolization. Is this a safe procedure as doctors are claiming?
They make it sound so simple and I don’t believe it. The doctor said the only side effect is cramping for a few hours to a few days after the procedure. Can this surgery also lead to a hysterectomy/castration?
Re: fibroids and finding a doctor to perfom a myomectomy
Less than 1% of fibroids are cancer, so a woman with fibroids has a better than 99% chance that she has ordinary, garden variety, benign fibroids.
If you have fibroids that cause you symptoms that are more than a nuisance and you feel that you want to undergo a myomectomy and have the fibroids removed, you can call HERS at 610.667.7757 or email hersfdn@earthlink.net for the names of doctors who have consistently good outcomes performing myomectomy.
If you’ve been told of a doctor that you would like to consult about myomectomy there are questions that you can ask that will help you to determine if they have the skill to perform the surgery.
To obtain the questions to ask a doctor about myomectomy contact HERS. We will also provide you with the answers you should expect from a doctor.
We are not posting the questions and answers here because some of the clever doctors who read this blog may give women the answers that we’ve said you should expect from them.
You have to find a competent doctor who has done a lot of myomectomies, otherwise it could turn into a hysterectomy and castration. You might have to find a doctor online or get ahold of Hers Foundation to have them give you a name of a doctor in your area. If the fibroids aren’t bothering you, don’t do anything. They almost always shrink after menopause. They are never cancer. It may help by changing your diet leaving out cheese and milk products or any product injected with hormones and get more exercise. Good Luck
In response to the question: Can you have an intact uterus if you have several large fibroids in the wall of the uterus?
You never need a hysterectomy for fibroids unless you have the wrong doctor. Myomectomy, the surgical removal of fibroids leaving the uterus intact, can be performed regardless of the number, size, or location of fibroids. Of course, it can only be performed by doctors who have the skill and have consistently good outcomes.
Can you have an intact uterus if you have several large fibroids in the wall of the uterus? I was told that there was no way just to take out the fibroids because they were in the wall of the uterus.
Hello Betty, I am so sorry that a doctor would do this to you with four children to take care of. The insensitivity and insanity of the doctors who are doing this to women with small children or any women is inexcusable. It should be illegel but it isin’t. You should be getting help from the government because you are maimed after hysterectomy surgery and need help raising your children now.
Dear Betty, We all know how your life has changed. Please have your family and supervisor watch the DVD ‘female anatomy’, this can also be order through Hers. You could also copy what women are saying on here to hand them to read. Go in and look at the photos of the female anatomy nerves and veins and run this off. THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU AND ALL OF US. NO DOCTOR WILL TELL YOU THIS IS WHAT THEY DO TO US. Our utuerus is attached to four broad bands of ligaments. The uterus is also attached to a MAJOR BLOOD SUPPLY and a LARGE BUNDLE OF NERVES. When these ligaments are severed, they are then hanging at one end. Those are our supporting ligaments for our entire pelvic structure; this permit’s the pelvis to broaden. The hypogastric plexus of nerves are attched to the uterus and branches out to different parts of the body, including parts of the spine. The impulses which travel along these nerve pathways are what gives you sensation and feeling. When those nerves are severed, you are going to lose sensation and feelings (emotions). Everything in the abdomen and pelvis drifts down into the area previously occupied by the uterus, displacing all of the remaining organs. The loss of support to the pelvis eventually causes the bladder to prolapsed down on top of the vagina and the rectum. NOW, you will have a three times greater risk of a heart attack, seven times if ovaries are removed, loss of short short memory, age faster, early osteoporosis, bone, join and muscle pain, personality changes, losing your maternal feelings, suicide thinking, digestive disorder, increased breast cancer, severe headaches, loss of sexual desire and many more consequences. DO YOU REALLY THINK YOUR DOCTOR WANTS YOU TO KNOW THESE CONSEQUENCES? Women will tell you they feel better than ever and nothing has changed. They are lying to you. Sooner or later the consequences will happen to you. It might be two years, ten years or right away. BUT YOU WILL NOT GET OUT OF THIS FEELING BETTER THAN EVER!! Betty, call the Hers Foundation and have them give you my email. You need someone to talk to. I am sorry your family don’t want to support you. SHAME ON THEM. You didn’t choose this to happen to you. The doctor took it upon himself to just go in and clean house and didn’t care what happened to you after. They are so caring before your surgery, then after they just want to get rid of you because they don’t want to deal with the consequences that comes with this surgery.
To Betty,
You are not alone now that you have found all of us who are suffering, depressed and in pain. Hang on we are here to listen and to try to let you know that the consequences of what was done to you are the end result of a total hysterectomy or a hysterectomy.
I am sorry you have to take antidepresant medication now, like so many of us have.
A man would have to take antidepresants too, if someone lied to him and cut off his sex organ.
I had a complete hysterectomy two years ago, and I have just about all of these symptoms. But it is hard trying to explain that to my supervisor and to my family. I have a hard time remembering things or trying to understand what he is saying to me, so he treats me like I’m dumb and I’m not. My family doesn’t understand why I’m so tired all of the time. My job is very strenuous and I can be consistent all day. It has gotten so bad for me that my doctor had to put me on antidepressents. I cry all the time because I don’t know what to do or who to turn to. I am a single parent of four children. There are days when I’m so tired and irritable that I just want to lose control so bad because I want them (kids and everyone else) to understand what I’m going through and they don’t. Please help give me some kind of solace. I’M DESPERATE!!!
I FOUND YOU TOO LATE. At least I now know what is wrong with me. The doctors say it is all in your head. I learned so much from watching your DVD ‘female anatomy’ and reading what women and men have wrote on here. I was shocked to know that he castrated me also by taking my ovaries. Why don’t we know this? Are they teaching this in health class, if not, they should be? I will definitely go in and sign the petition. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
We need to run these off and send them to our doctors. They keep telling us that we are the first one that has problems from their hysterectomy/castration. I am amazed that Charlotte Grant, Gundersen’s Patient Education Specialist gets by with putting out information that is not true. She needs to read what women are writing about this surgery. They should be brought before the Wisconsin Board of Ethics (maybe I will do that). Everything on Ms. Grant’s web sight is misleading and untrue. She claims to be a specialist. A specialist in getting women to submit to this damaging surgery. This is a shame that Gundersen is getting by with deceiving and lying to woman and the effects of this surgery. We all need to call that number and tell her. What is even worse we can’t answer the questions our way. THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF GUNDERSEN’S WEB SIGHT. Does Gundersen have old doctors that don’t want to change and do alternative surgeries or what? You don’t take out the ovaries, uterus and cervix for fibroids, polyps and cysts. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU DOCTORS!
I had my Hysterectomy in ’98. I have had problems ever since with sexual dissfunction plus I have many more of the symtoms you list on your website which I did not associate with the surgery. I had complications with my surgery also I had several pelvic absesses. The differance in my life since the hysterectomy is profound I have not had sex since ’99 in the year before that I had sex 3 times .my husband has stayed with me ( for god sakes I dont know why ) through all this but he is a 42 year old man I cant expect him to be sexless for the rest of his life I
cannot do hormone therapy I tried and developes blood clots in my legs Is there anything else that might helpme They can’t keep doing this and disstroying woman and Marriages. I am trying to save my Marriage
please help.
I would have never known about the other options available to me if a doctor ever told me that I needed a hysterectomy. But, Thanks to the efforts of the Hers Foundation and, first hand from my Aunt Gracie, I now know that I will never have this surgery. I will make sure that my two daughters are well informed about what a hysterectomy is and how it impacts your life. They will also know how doctors are misleading women into consenting to such a life altering procedure when less invasive procedures are available. If not for my Aunt Gracie, I would have known nothing about this subject and if a doctor told me that I needed a hysterectomy, I would have gone blindly through the whole process. NOW, I WILL HAVE MY EYES WIDE OPEN! Thank you and keep up the GOOD FIGHT FOR ALL women and their families. We love you Aunt Gracie! You Go Girl!
I am posting on this blog the name
and location of the GYN who did my
Hyst. Please, anyone who lives
in this area…never let him do
a surgery on you. He ruined my
life. He works with a partner by
the name of Dr. Rote. His name
is DR. ANTHONY RAMSEY. His place
of business is in Medford, Oregon.
I will post more on the personal
aftermath; as I am preparing to
send him some things; thanks to
another one who posted here and
recommended I do so. I think she
may be right. In the meantime, do
not let him touch you or Dr. Rote.
We need to do what we can to help
others. This is one way to get
this done.
I wish all who are posting and
reading the best. I mean it more
than I could truly express with
words. I can relate, I understand,
I want to help, I want back what
these doctors took away from us
all…
Well, I had my husband read tonight
the most recent posts here, as I
said. He got to the fifth one, and
could not read any further; as he
was so upset. He remembers the
statements made by the OB/GYN who
did my hyst., and is now so mad he
listened to this doctor. He went
in after my first visit with the
doctor saying I needed a hyst.
He is now appalled that the women
posting here have heard the same
as what was expressed to him and
me; such as…”She will feel so
much better after the Hyst., and
sex will be the same, if not
better.” The doctor was relaying
to my husband how nice it will be
to not have to deal with the
monthly periods and the bleeding.
Now, what man would not want that
out of the way? I remember back,
with my husband being there at the
appointments, and it was almost as
if it was “Guy talk”. As I said, this doctor was; in a subtle way hitting my husband where it counts to him a part of love making. No
man wants to have sex with a woman while on her period. He was, as I
said, trying a tool of SELLING, and
doing it to my husband with this
operation. The doctor might as
well have been selling cars. No
more periods, no more bloodiness
with a wife each month. Great
solution! He sees me now, and
again…with these posts he read,
fully understands what insanity
these doctors are doing. They are
not only doing it to the female
victims, but the male loving ones
also. My husband was so sick and
upset. He wants to know what can
be done. He is also getting his
feathers ruffled. We should have
said “No” in the first place. He
in a way pushed me into this. He
feels so bad about it now…
I had a hysterectomy without being informed of the devastating consequences of this surgery which is trivialize by the French medicine. After reading your report with the statistics I realize that I’m one of those women. Each time I try to tell the doctors what I felt, they made me believe it was only in my head.
I would like to know some organizations in France so I can help to stop this slaughter. Thank you for your help.
Anonymous who asked if you can get
pregnant with no uterus…No you
cannot. Why did you have it done?
I am not a doctor. I would only
hope someone may be able to get an
egg from you, get your loved one’s
sperm to it, and have someone carry
that embryo within their uterus to
full term and give you that little
life – the extension of you both.
It is worth a try asking this.
Good luck and bless your heart.
I have only started to read these
newer posts. I had to stop after
the first two; in that, I am having
my husband join me in reading the
rest. We just hooked up internet
on our bigger screen T.V. in our
family room. I am going right now
to sit down with him, and have him
read these posts. I read the first
two, and started crying. I feel
just what all of you are stating,
and saying. This is cruelty to
any human! This is truly almost
as inhumane as what young women
are put through in some African
countries; with their clitoris’s
cut out when they are young. The
difference is not much when we
really consider the outcome to
what we experience afterwards with
all the problems. My husband is
dropping whatever he is doing right
now, and reading these posts. I
then want to ask him what he would
feel like with his balls cut out.
He is a considerate and kind man,
but until he reads these other
posts; he will not fully get the
whole picture of what is happening.
I will write again after he reads
these.
To am I being silly…
The answer is NO, you are not being silly.
I loved my sexuality too, and am so angry over this being done to me too.
One day your a sexual woman, and then the obgyn cuts it out of you and knows what he/she is doing, but does not inform you or give you any help but a pill or two that may or may not help…..
We all miss the fullfilling sexual lives we had and our hormones. I do not think the pills can come close to what we were, not without our sex organ.
I had a hysterectomy because of fibroids. Now I have no sexual interest, and sex is painful. I wasn’t given any alternative treatment, I suppose, because I was 50 years old. I used to love sex. I am very angry. These doctors must be stopped from ruining women’s lives. I can’t believe a female gynecologist did this to me and said sex would be the same!
I had a hysterectomy after suffering with extensive endometriosis, going through a year of Lupron treatment, abnormal bleeding/hemmorhaging, severe pain & weakness and was severely anemic. Nothing worked and I couldn’t live on pain killers for the rest of my life! I didn’t know until recently that women who have had a hysterectomy have problems being orgasmic and lack sexual arousal. I’m pretty disappointed and really don’t know what to do. My husband understands, in fact he is the one who explained it to me. Although he is very understanding and tries to do what he can, I had hoped he would be a bit UNinformed, if you know what I mean. Is there something wrong with me? Is there anything I, or “we” can do? Am I being silly?
I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. Had I known about the HERS Foundation and been able to watch the Female Anatomy video, this would not have been my fate. Please join and support the HERS Foundation. Watch the DVD: Female Anatomy: Functions of the Female Organs. Sign the Petition so that we can have a law that forces doctors to show the video to every woman before she signs a consent form. Tell everyone you know to sign the petition. The HERS Foundation, Nora, Rick and all the people who support it deeply care about women and the abuse that is being perpetrated on them. If we all join together we can stop this from happening to another generation of women.
had a full hysterectomy when I was only 19 yrs. old; I lost my uterus, ovaries, my womanhood. At the time I was uneducated and still naive to the fact that dr’s knew best. I was on state assistance because I was a full-time college student and mother of a3 mos old baby. It started out as post-partum pain, but no dr saw anything wrong. The pain was so intense that many times it interfered w/ my ability to pick up my crying baby. After 3 mos and a trip to the ER I was told to see a new OBGYN. According to the dr, I had PID, which I still don’t understand how one gets and also, why didn’t anyone find it sooner? First I had my ovary removed and woke up to hear that in a few mos I would have no choice but to do a complete hysterectomy. I cried and tried desperately to have another baby even though emotionaly and financially I was not ready for a second baby. But on the day of my surgery and under heavy sedation, I was asked if I wanted my uterus, I responded asking why I would need it and was told that my uterus would be of no use. Six yrs later, with a college degree, no state assistance and a grown daughter, I question my dr’s judgement. Did he feel that 3 weeks of treatment was sufficient to come to the conclusion of hysterectomy? Granted, I was in much pain and the aspirin wasn’t helping. I cry when I see a baby. I long for the sensation of being pregnant again. I would love to feel the anticipation of having a late period just one more time. My husband at the time of the hysterectomy is still my husband today. Why wasn’t he notified or talked to re my ordeal? He never saw the dr, never gave consent. I have been praying that medical advances would open up the doors for uterine transplants where I might not be able to carry my own fertilized egg but at least give birth to the baby. The dr’s must go around crossing their fingers that women don’t find out what they did before the time runs out to file a lawsuit. I am overwhelmed by the info on the internet. What if one day my husband decides to leave, what kind of man would want a woman who can’t have children, already coming with one of her own by a different father. Call it silly thoughts for a bright person to be thinking, but these are just some of the hurdles I must overcome each time I pass a baby or a pregnant woman.
I’m glad I found other women who understand. Thank you for listening.
Hi, I would feel stupid asking the doctor this but I would like to know if there is any possible way you can get pregnant after hysterectomy. I have my ovaries and tubes I only had the uterus removed. Thanks.
Dear Vila, Please write on the consent form. YOU ARE NOT TO PERFORM A HYSTERECTOMY AND CASTRATION ON ME, ONLY A MYOMECTOMY. Have the doctor and a nurse sign it, then you sign it. Have them make 2 copies, one for your husband to take home. You must do this and it is your right. If your doctor isn’t competent in performing myomectomies it could turn into a hysterectomy. Good luck and I am overwhelmed with joy that you are having a myomectomy and not a damaging life altering hysterectomy/castration. Let us know how everything turns out. God be with you.
Vila, I’m glad you found the HERS Foundation and canceled the hysterectomy. Whew! That would be funny to write on your belly! Do it! Maybe you could also add that there’s a bomb connected to your uterus and if it’s removed, it will explode! 😀 Let us know how you are doing!
I’m going in for my myomectomy on Jan. 29th. I know this is a very serious matter and thanks to HERS I decided against the hysterectomy (which I was scheduled for before HERS). I’m nervous and seriously considering writing “Just the fibroids, please!” on my belly with a permanent marker on the day of the surgery.
What do you all think? Ok, Ok, I know it’s a serious matter but I hope I got a few laughs….
I’ll update to let you all know how I’m doing.
Gracie, I hear myself saying the same thing every day. Every morning I wake up hoping that it is just a nightmare that I am going to wake up from. Instead, I find out it’s my reality again and again. I have a hard time dealing with the damage this has done to me physically, emotionally and mentally. I wonder how this could have been done to me and millions of other women and no one in power steps in to do anything about it? I wonder this every day. The doctor talked to me like my female organs were of no use, and he was angered because I wanted to keep them. He was very agitated because I said I wanted everything saved. At the time, I did not know much about female anatomy, but I clearly knew that I did not want my organs removed. I was always against surgery unless it was life saving, but found myself in a predicament where I needed help because of ovarian torsion. I had no idea that gynecologists were predators, and that I was nothing more than a sitting duck and viewed as a slab of meat. It hurts me so deeply that the doctor looked at me like nothing more than an object for his gain. I sat in front of the doctor and cried telling him I did not want a hysterectomy. How could he be so cruel? How could he just knock me out, cut me open and amputate all my organs against my will, without my consent after he stood there while I begged and cried for him to save them? How could he do this when there was absolutely no medical justification? What kind of person does this to another human being? He performed a totally unnecessary surgery on me, and my insurance paid for it no questions asked. My whole life changed as I knew it within 8 hours of entering the hospital. That night I was just sitting at my computer and got hit with extreme stomach pain, and was taken to the hospital for help. All I needed was a minor surgery to fix the problem, but woke up with a total abdominal hysterectomy and I was in severe pain and could hardly move. I remember the nurse asking me if I could get myself onto the bed from the gurney, and I remember that I could not answer her, nor could I get enough strength to move myself. When I tried to move, it was so painful that the pain and weakness stopped me in my tracks. The doctor had told me he was suggesting a total hysterectomy to relieve me of the pain from the ovarian torsion, yet the hysterectomy and castration caused me considerably more pain. Before the surgery, I was mobile. After the surgery I could barely move and was in so much pain that I couldn’t move or sleep even though I pressed the pump constantly and was drugged into oblivion. He knew he was going to hurt me. It didn’t matter to him what I said, or what I wanted, or what I consented to. His total disregard for my wishes and my health and well being perplex me. I am deeply hurt by the doctor and staff’s apathy towards me. It’s so easy to spiral down into the depths of depression because no one cares and no one does anything about it. Every day when I read more and more women are being deceived into hysterectomy, I just feel like crying. Not only did this doctor take away my sex organs and cause me all kinds of health problems, he took away my trust in the human race, my feelings of being safe, and it has permanently negatively changed my relationships with all those who loved me.
I keep hearing and saying it myself a lot, why are they doing this to us? Gynecologist, hospitals and drug companies make billions of dollars yearly from the business of hysterectomy. Why have women been singled out for this special, profitable treatment? Why does any doctor become a gynecologist? There is no counterpart to gynecology for men. Where is the department of anthology for men? About a thousand men have their testicles removed for confirmed cancer each year, but over a million women world wide who did not have ovarian cancer have been castrated each year.
If you visit your OB/GYN enough, on one of those visits you will be told that your uterus is enlarged or you have fibroids (a benign growth that can be removed by a competent surgeon called a myomectomy) have cysts or polyps (removed by a polypectomy) your ovaries are enlarged, too small, or your uterus too small or you have an ovarian mass. We are all made to feel these are deadly and must be treated IMMEDIATELY! When ordered to get rid of our ovaries, uterus and cervix, we comply without question.
Fibroids are never a reason for a hysterectomy unless you have the wrong doctor. A doctor who tells a woman that hysterectomy is the only choice because her fibroids are too numerous or too large may not have the skill to perform a myomectomy. They may not know who among their colleagues has the skill to perform a myomectomy with consistantly good outcomes or they may not want to send the business elsewhere.
Many women are told they need a hysterectomy because of their age and that the uterus isn’t needed if it is not being used to bear children. But the uterus has life-long important functions. it is not just a baby bag. There is no age or time in a woman’s life when the uterus is not needed.
Unless you have CONFIRMED cancer, please pursue and exhaust all other treatment options before you allow your vital sexual hormone producing organs to be removed. Men don’t have their non cancerous penis and testicles removed as elective surgery because doctors know these are vital organs. Women are being conned to believe that their organs are not just as vital as a man’s are to a healthy sexual and ful-filling life.
Synthetic hormones cannot replace what the surgeon takes away. We don’t even know the biological make up of all the hormones produced by a woman’s uterus yet.
Is it profit motive which drives the hysterectomy industry? Why else would a million women yearly need to have their non cancerous sexual hormone producing organs amputated?
Give the free gift of eduction to every woman you know by telling them to view the video at http://www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy. No information? No consent.
I have been rendered 100% disabled from my LAVH 10 yrs ago. I have RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), a very painful nerve disorder in my sympathetic nerves which travel throughout my body. I have very limited mobility and chronic pain. I lost my business and ability to work at just 39 yrs of age. I can’t think of any “elective” surgery that has such lifelong consequences to our health, including not just pain but also morbidity — thru advanced heart disease, alzheimer’s and parkinsons. My disease is also neurological. I have nothing to gain by posting in this blog. I do so because so very many women are facing this surgery with no true information provided to them from their physicians as to the adverse affects of hysterectomy. I remember after the surgery my dr said “I’ll put this patch on you and you will not feel any differently.” My God. That’s not even possible much less plausible. He stole my life that day. And I didn’t even know it until it was too late. It’s a crime without penalty to do this to human beings. These doctors are literally getting away with murder. They just haven’t buried us….yet.
August 15, 2005 was the day my life was forever pulled out from under me, the day I was hysterectomized and castrated. I signed away my own life when I signed the consent form and “gave permission” for the doctor to remove both ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix due to endometriosis. I did this reluctantly as I was led to believe this was my last option (which I know now it was not). I was promised that I would be given hrt due to my young age of 33 and that it would keep surgical menopause at bay without stirring up the endometriosis (that my gyn left behind on my bladder and other areas when he took my reproductive organs). It would be nothing like birth control pills which had made me sick.
All those promises were empty lies. Before my hysterectomy my doctor was charming and oh so caring, but he completely changed afterwards. All of the problems I began to experience after my hysterectomy he dismissed as not related to my surgery. I felt as if I werent important anymore. I learned fairly quickly that I was going to have to figure everything out on my own because either doctors didn’t care or didnt have a clue how to help me. It is amazing how little doctors (not just gynecologists but doctors and nurses in all fields) understand about what a hysterectomized and castrated woman faces.
A few of the problems I face now that I did not have before (or that I had but were far more manageable and mild):
*severe osteoporosis in my spine and osteopenia in my hips (my thoracic spine has already begun to curve out and I have to force a straight posture)(I have had 2 DEXA scans (first in late 2006) and there was a slight improvement on the 2nd one this year with increased estradiol levels due to an hrt I switched to that I can absorb…although it gives me terribly painful breasts). I still refuse to take any of the bisphosphonates (although I tried Calcitonin for nine months but had to stop due to sinus problems) and am working with a physical therapist doing weight bearing and cardio exercise at a gym to improve strength and bone density. Not easy when my body hurts so bad all the time. More on that in a bit. Along with hrt and improved diet and exercise, I am taking cod liver oil, vitamin D, vitamin K, and calcium. I can not tolerate any form of magnesium as of yet.
*severe migraines that have required visits to the ER when I have tried any hrt in cream or troche form (whether natural compounded testosterone or any of the 3 human estrogens and giving them a good three months at a time to work too), or if my hormones fluctuate too wildly. I have had trouble getting hrt prescriptions refilled due to insurance problems and miscommunication between doctors and pharmicists and have had to go without hrt a few days before and it is murder on my body. I will have to deal with this for the next 35 years. With my bones and the insane depression I have without hormones I have no choice but to be on hrt.
*Diagnosed with fibromyalgia (after tons of tests and xrays over a perior of a year) that includes constant aching, throbbing, and burning pain in my upper arm muscles, shoulders, upper back, neck, as well as pain in my wrists, knees, lower back and buttocks, feet, shins, calves (I once had an ultrasound to rule out blood clots due to the pain in my right calf)
*Chronic yeast infections and yeast overgrowth that keeps coming back (I never had a yeast infection in my life before my hysterectomy)! I have done repeated rounds of diflucan, monastat, tree tea oil, acidolphulis, a strict yeast and sugar free diet for over six months that caused me to lose so much weight I was down to 102 lbs at 5’6″. You name it I have tried it and spent $$$ thousands out of pocket going to naturopathic doctors. I have also used vaginal estiol to help. Once you lose your cervix and cycling ovaries, you lose the protective secretions and hormones that help balance your vaginal ph. Yeast infections are very common in castrated women and also in women who are given birth control pills that also mess up the natural rhythm of the menstrual cycle and ovaries.
*A relapse of major depression that had been under control for over seven years before my hysterectomy(for those seven years I was able to work full time and live a productive life until my hysterectomy). Unfortunately, since my hysterectomy I have not been able to tolerate any of the antidepressants that worked so well before (although from 2004 to my hysterectomy I had not even needed to be on any). Which brings me to my next one…
*Since my hysterectomy I have developed many strange chemical and food sensitivities I did not have before (although before I was lactose intolerant and unable to consume caffeine). I can’t be around any kind of perfumes or colognes or cigarette smoke as it makes me severely nauseated and dizzy, I cant handle most vitamins and supplements in pill form and many of the antidepressants and pain meds I have tried for my supposed fibromyalgia (which I know is from being castrated). Even tiny doses have given me strange rashes, severe nausea, headaches, extreme nerve pain, etc…Even withdrawal symptoms are more severe. I also suffer with chronic nausea on a regular basis that I manage to keep under control if I avoid all these chemicals. I have spent a lot of time and money going to gastroenterologists and other doctors and having xrays and endoscopies (ruled out Celiac) and blood tests and stool tests trying to figure this out. All tests except the yeast ones have been normal.
*Continuing pelvic pain since my hysterectomy. This includes a pulling, pinching, aching all around my pubic bone area, stabbing and sharp pains in my lower abdomen where my bladder is, and extreme pain about a half hour before a bowel movement (but not every time). Once again I went through a ton of tests and finally had another laparoscopy with a different ob/gyn who found scar tissue and an adhesion attaching my colon to my vaginal cuff. The relief from that surgery in 2006 was short lived and the pain has returned albeit not as severe. My original gyn neglected to mention that adhesions dont go away just because you have your reproductive organs removed (nor is that a cure for endometriosis) and in fact this can make adhesions and scarring much worse. So much for relief of pelvic pain with a hysterectomy. Oops! I have now been referred to a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Then there are the usual symptoms of hot flashes, insomnia (I haven’t had a decent night of sleep since my hysterectomy and dont even ask what all I have tried to relieve that), extreme fatigue and loss of energy and vitality, memory loss and cognitive dysfunction (otherwise known as brain fog), loss of libido and much less intense orgasms…oh did I mention my doctor performed an episiotomy on my vagina during my hysterectomy to be able to get my uterus out? I had never had children and was very narrow. I was in so much pain down there after my surgery that I cried for three days in the hospital and could not get comfortable. I had had an LAVH and couldn’t figure out why I was in so much pain. This was supposed to be the “easier” hysterectomy. The whole shape of my vagina is much different now and I have lost a lot of feeling in it. It feels like dead meat in some places.
I could go on more about the effects this surgery has had on me but I think you get the point by now. It wasn’t worth it!!!!!
)
I am a professional singer.
In 2002, while a grad music student at Ohio State, I had an ultrasound performed at the Ohio State ob-gyn clinic. I had several fibroids and my uterus size was about a 16 week gestation, I was told. I was 40 at the time. The head of the department, Michael Blumenfeld, was supposed to have been at the exam, but had “important” meetings he “couldn’t get out of.” So he called me later at home, and began by making a comment about how I couldn’t wear bikinis any more, and immediately mentioned hysterectomy as a “solution.”
I was furious at this comment. It came across as very sexist, as if I should want to go through major surgery that at the very least would rob me of at least six months of normal life just so I could “wear a bikini.” I asked him how he though I would look after a hysterectomy, when my uterus was gone and my internal organs were just sort of floating about. He shot back that the uterus shrinks to such a minimal size after menopause that it doesn’t provide any kind of support to the abdominal organs anyway, so it wouldn’t make any difference. If I didn’t want more children, I didn’t need it, he said.
The larynx is extremely sensitive to hormonal changes. Most MD’s don’t even know this. Since I am a professional singer, any kind of surgery not only put me at a high risk for laryngeal injuries because of the intubation, but losing my uterus would cause hormonal disruption that could easily end my career, as well as a very important aspect of my personality and means of expression. I didn’t even know all of the other horrible effects of hysterectomy then; I just knew that losing my voice would be devastating. I still had a year to go on my masters, and was planning on pursuing a doctorate in music. I knew that a hysterectomy would force me to lose at least 6 months of study, completely disrupting my studies. In my particular program, this would result in my graduating 18 months later than I should have. But Blumenfeld really put the pressure on to do something immediately. He seemed to suggest that the fibroids would cause some horrible life-threatening complications, but did not give specifics.
Then he said if I really didn’t want a hysterectomy, I could have a UAE. I knew that this required taking strong drugs that put one into instant menopause, so that the fibroids shrank somewhat before the surgery. This would also ruin my singing voice. So I told him that was not an option. “Well, you need to do something,” he warned. “You do not want to wait on this.” I did not believe him, and the conversation did not end with pleasantries.
Later, I went to see Dr. Teresa Quinlan in Lancaster, Ohio, an MD who practices naturopathic medicine. Dr. Quinlan informed me how destructive and painful the UAE procedure was, affirming my suspicions.
It was around this time that I came across HERS, and realized that I had avoided destroying my life with a hysterectomy or UAE. All my suspicions about these operations were true, and even worse than I had imagined. I was horrified to read what women really suffer, and even more horrified that a medical doctor considered such a surgery to be a solution for not being “able” to wear a bikini.
Five years later, my fibroids have grown. But I am fine. Yes, my abdomen is larger than it used to be and my periods are heavy. I thought I might be anemic, because I am a vegetarian in addition, but just by eating a huge amount of dark leafy greens, as recommended by Dr. Joseph Fuhrman,my hemoglobin levels are above the minimum, even though I earlier had a history of iron-deficiency anemia. How many other women are told they have to have a hysterectomy because they are anemic? Does the doctor ever suggest nutrition to alleviate the anemia? And even if I feel quite tired for a few days a month, and have to be careful about being near a restroom, even if I miss work once in a while, I feel fine the rest of the time. And when I exercise regularly and eat a very nutrient dense vegetarian diet, my periods are not as heavy. What doctor every mentions these things as possibilities to try before resorting to hysterectomy?
I am not thrilled about having the fibroids, but I now have quit living in constant fear. I have nearly finished my doctorate and have interviews at several universities for teaching jobs. I have travelled to Europe on academic fellowships twice since 2002. My relationship with my husband is very happy and fulfilling. I have energy to hike in the mountains with my two grown sons.
As a musician, my personality and “affect” is key to my creativity and career. This field requires a lot of energy and motivation in addition. To think that this barbaric surgery could have robbed me not only of my voice, but my whole self, my career, my creativity, and my marriage, outrages me. I am very, very sorry for those women who had less information than I did and were deceived into thinking their lives would be better after a hysterectomy.
I now work with a naturopathic physician and with Dr.Fuhrman, using nutrition to strengthen my body and keep my body weight as low as possible to reduce estrogen levels. In a few years I will reach menopause and the fibroids will start to shrink. I am extremely grateful to HERS for shedding the light on what hysterectomy does, preventing me from being frightened into this horrendous abuse of women.
I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago and have many health problems because of it. The surgery has all but destroyed my quality of life as I remember it. I suffer pain in my bones and muscles- urinary incontinence and the problems go on and on. I stopped seeing a doctor shortly after the surgery because, they said the pain and disconforts that I had were not related to the surgery. I need help with some of the problems that I have tried to deal with. I hope to be able to get some help to improve my quality of life. I was shocked to find the list of problems on your web site and that everyone is talking about here that I have experienced and was told it was not related. I have had so much to deal with since my hysterectomy and had no one I could talk to. I have felt like a 90 year old at the age of 39. I was fit and active. It is an ordeal to do anything these days. I’m a very different person in a lot of ways. I’m so glad I finally have someone to talk to!
I had a Hysterectomy 2 yrs. ago due to a fibriod tumor. I was barely 30 with 3 young children. Thier was complecations. I have lost the use of my bladder & have to use self catheterization. I have nerve damage in my bladder and bowel witch is leaving me in horribl pain in my bowel, bladder & back. I have been in such sevier pain I have no life. My every function is so painful & sence I have to eat & use the bathroom every day the pain never ends. I feel like that doctor just cut me up inside and didnt care how he put me back together. I have grown a hate for all doctors, because no one will help me because it stems from that surgery. I would love to be apart of HERS Foundation but I still am so sick I can’t do much. The doctor that did my hysterectomy is doing hysterectomy on girls in ther mid twentys I feel like this man needs to be stopped!!!!!!!! They all need to be stopped!!!!!!!
I read Gracie’s blog about Gundersen Lutheran. I had a surgery I didn’t need at Gundersen Lutheran. It wasn’t a hysterectomy, but a surgery that severly damaged my ovaries. I too was lied to. I believed in the integrity of the medical profession and did what they told me to do. I found out later that unnecessary surgeries, treatments and procedures are common practice throughout this county.
My menopausal symptoms were diagnosed as fibromyalgia. This is a waste basket diagnosis to distance people from their true conditions. It is a diagnosis of exploitation. After seven years of suffering and eventually going broke, I started to educate myself. I learned I had a hormonal problem caused by this surgery. I created my own HRT plan that helped me.
I am simply following the normal hormonal flow of women who haven’t been damaged. Why couldn’t they do this for me? Well, it is much more profitable feigning ignorance and making up mystery diseases and treating the symptoms. I am simply passing some information along that I have learned. Knowledge is power. I had to find out why doctors can misrepresent and legally mug women for money. After my research I realized I was lucky. They didn’t kill me!
This is how the system works. First, there isn’t any independent oversight of the medical profession. When you walk in the clinic, you are sold on the ‘Science of Medicine.’ But, walk into a courtroom it quickly becomes the ‘Art of Medicine.’ And, you will hear all about the ‘standard of care.’
The various Colleges of Medicines determine the standards of care. These colleges are not universities or educational colleges. But, basically professional organizations that are made up of practicing physicians, academics, etc. They establish the standards of care. The science of economics plays a big role in determining these standards of care.
In essence, they do not abandon any treatment or procedure until they find another more profitable treatment of procedure to replace it. And, if they can sell the old treatment plan they will and later sell you the current. Whole bodies of knowledge are ignored because the research will dramatically cut into the bottom line of the clinic or physicians. Physicians simply state they don’t believe the research. Thereby, they make up their own self serving standards of care.
The deadliest after effects are the silent killers; increased risk of heart disease, strokes, osteoporosis and etc. We are walking gold mines for the medical profession. Most women who have hormonal problems don’t have a clue. And, most women don’t believe you when you tell them. The doctor knows best. We are distanced from our true conditions by wastebasket diagnosis; fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety disorders, depression and etc. And, then later, we feed the medical community with our chronic ailments that kill us. Worst of all, because we are kept ignorant we CAN’T HELP OURSELVES.
And, now in the USA the medical community is developing more weird syndromes, disorders and etc. to treat the general public. The drug companies are advertising continuously. And, the doctor is there to ‘treat’ us with these new drug therapies.
No one addresses the true cause of these strange ailments. Because, if you know the cause, you probably can cure the problem. If you don’t know, you receive treatments and become a cash cow for the medical community. So, we are distanced from our true conditions, and fed hogwash by the medical community or by anyone who can make a buck off of our misery.
As long as our system is profit driven, science will be ignored and the sick and naive will be exploited. As an interesting note, I found the old economic theory of supply and demand does not work in medicine. The medicine has inverse economics. The more doctors in a community the higher the cost of medicine. They simply increase their costs and perform more unnecessary surgeries, treatments and tests, but they won’t ‘cure’ or appropriately treat the patients. Appropriate treatment is not as profitable. It’s all about the bottom line. It is unfettered capitalism at its worse. It is exploitation of the most vulnerable; the sick and frightened. I am a capitalist, however, there has to be oversight over those who are in the position to exploit the vulnerable and thus place horrendous costs on society. A cripple only benefits the doctor treating him or her. And, the AMA does not police themselves.
The AMA is always present in Washington spending huge sums on lobbyists. They spend as much on lobbists as the tobacco industry had in its glory. Their major concern is to prevent regulatory oversight.
Ever notice that the politicians always talk about the drug and insurance companies and never mention the other third leg of the stool; the health care profession? Who prescribes the drugs? Who generates the billing? Who controls the costs of health care? Start informing your representatives that you want the health industry policed. They need independent oversight and teeth added to state statutes for failure to inform and offer viable alternative treatments. That is what the medical profession fears most, teeth in the statutes for failure to inform and independent oversight over standards of care. That is why they spend the big bucks on lobbyists.
Informed women have the power to make changes. These practices do not just affect us, but our husbands, children and all those we love. They too are being victimized by the ‘art of medicine.’
Keep up the good work Hers for informing women what really happens when they have a hysterectomy and castration.
I am happy to see that Gracie is still working at informing women about the adverse effects of the medical community’s idea of ‘tender loving care.’
But the problem is much deeper than just hysterectomies. It was this surgery that opened my eyes to the fact that the medical community is not regulated. Without oversight they have open rein to do whatever they want. There are many medical treatments, surgeris etc. that aren’t based on medical literature, but simply for finanancial benefit of the physician. It’s an unregulated industry that needs oversight.
Plain and simple they are crippling women, men and children with their ‘traditions.’ I have been watching the political arena. Rest assured, their time is coming. And, the neat thing, too, is that many people particularly in the LaCrosse area, no longer trust the ‘good doctor.’ A major step in the right direction. Good solid distruct.
Keep chipping away Gracie. I have been all these years too. But, I have expanded my challenge to all their little game plays. Fibromyalgia-a diagnosis of exploitation. Attention deficient disorder-a diagnosis that causes more problems than anything else and puts our children at risk. Over medicating our children with pschotherapauetic drugs. The quakery of cancer treatments and heart care. It goes on and on. Traditional medicine is practically all quakery at a high price. In my opinion, they don’t cure a darn thing, they just exploit.
Keep up the good work Gracie. I will do my part. God Bless You and the Hers Foundation for naming the doctors and clinics and holding them responsible for their abusive act on women and their families.
I already had a hysterectomy back in 2003. I had severe endometriosis. It was a total hysterectomy. I have had pain in my abdomen area every since then. Every doctor tells me it is scarring. Sometime the pain is very bad other times not so bad. Some time I can’t even lean against a counter it is so tender. There has been an ongoing problem every since then. Every so often out of the blue I become nauseated, dizzy and I just feel terrible. I go to bed and the next day I am fine. I have always had some abdominal pain. Well in the last year I have been getting a pain in my right waist abdomen area. It feels as though someone has put a very tight pair of pants with elastic around my waist and leaves it there for a while. When it is taken of it is tender and raw feeling. I can’t stand to have anything hit that spot. At first it was every so often but in the last several months it is about once a month and last up to 3 weeks. Including this pain I always have a pain in my right lower back. This pain feels like it is were the back sinks in but down deep. The doctors tell me it is muscles. You see the pain is severe but it usually is the worst after I have gone to bed and sleep about 5-6 hrs. It is so bad it wakes me sometimes. After I get up and move around it gets better. During the day there are still shooting pain on both sides but I can deal most of the time.
I have gained 30 lbs since the surgery. Tried many diets and eaten less and still no change. I am a very active person and stay busy most of the time. Is there anything I can do to stop the weight gain? I have no sex drive and was very sexually active before the surgery. I know I really needed it because I had a laparoscopy first and my doctor said the endometriosis was terrible, but I wish he had told me about the consequences.
I am 36 years old and had my hysterectomy about a year ago. Everything has changed, it seems, in my life. I am more fatigued than I was before (I have fibromyalgia), it seems like I can’t do ANYTHING like I used to. Thank you for this blog, I greatly appreciate information all the women and men give!
HERS Petition handouts at Polling Stations during State, Local, or National elections:
Let us all get our friends, family and neighbors to assist us in handing out the HERS Foundation Petition and any other HERS literature, such as a HERS Flyer or Brochure to all the people standing in the long lines at the polling stations during any Local, State or National Elections.
We may need to stand some distance away from the polling station entrance to do this, I am not sure, however, we will be able to reach so many concerned VOTING citizens in one spot by doing this.
The ‘early voting’ lines will work just as well, as we reach these voters over several days preceding the election dates.
If necessary, we can collect the HERS Petition signatures (one signature per page?) and send the voter completed/signed Forms back to HERS Foundation for their final approval and submission.
We may need to contact HERS to see how we can obtain a paper copy and/or computer print-out copy of these documents for circulation from the HERS website or sent to our computers.
HERS, how can this be arranged?
To the woman above who has a distended stomach now.
Yes, it is what happens when they remove our uterus our sex organ.
They take a lifetime of strength, vitality and our stomach muscles and uterine muscle along with it. They don’t tell you or acknowledge it has been done to you. It is part of their routine along with acting like you are crazy, this is common after you are tricked. I bet your doctor was all compassionate before the surgery? and not after.
I hurt myself trying to exercise too much, out of frustration.
Very slowly you learn what your limitations are, along with trying to care for the damage a hysterectomy causes for the rest of your life.
I had a hysterectomy in October, 2006 for fibroids. In addition to the many symptoms that follow the surgery, my stomach went from relatively flat to distended. I have no stomach muscle strength nor support. When I have mentioned this to my doctor as well as to other doctors, they just look at me like I am insane. I have met with several plastic surgeons and they say the only way to correct my stomach is to have a full tummy tuck. However, they are also very quick to say that there is no relationship with the hysterectomy. But before the surgery I wore clothes to emphasize my nice waistline and now I hide it with overshirts. Anyone else have this problem?
To the woman who was asking, “Will I always feel this way and will I get better?” Probably not, but you will learn to live with it. Another woman asked how she could help. By informing other women to go to Hersfoundation, watch the DVD ‘female anatomy’ and sign the petition, writing editorials in the paper, putting Hers Brochures everyplace you can think of and just be a friend to someone else who is going through this. I am on herbal products, any and all, especially Omega 3. Do whatever it takes to deal with the effects of this surgery. I have a supporting family and I thank God for them believing me because I know a lot of family members that don’t support the hysterectomized and castrated woman and that must be hard. SHAME ON YOU. There is no looking back on what could have taken place in your life or what kind of person you could have become because the loss is permanent. This surgery might only be the beginning of all your medical problems. Once we have this surgery, we are different and we feel different. Most things we once enjoyed will be too exhausting and emotionally draining to do. This surgery has an impact on a woman’s life, her husband, children and other family members and friends. If you are even thinking about having this surgery, listen and read what women who have had this surgery are saying. They are the experts, not the gynecologists. It is very hard to put your life back together after this surgery. One of the things that keeps me motivated is passing a law so no more women have to go through with what we are going through. Take what you are learning and spread the word! I would like to applaud the men for writing on here whether you are husbands or boyfriends. I know your life is also affected and I am so sorry for that.
Quote taken from
One-Kilo club
about a woman’s uterus.
“It might be a kilo, as good as gold and diamonds”
that says it all!
OB/GYN doctors are thieves who perpetuate lies and deceit for profit, legally by de-sexing women.
Stop them now, sign the petition at, herfoundation.
I had a hystorectomy uterus, 1 ovary, both tubes, cervic removed, I have had severe symptons. Can you tell if they are common? I have very severe pain in my side, groin area. Wakes me up at night, affects my excercise, physical therapy did not help and my obgyn does not acknowledge the problem. It started about 2 weeks post op. Anyone else have this problem? What kind of doctor do I need? Thank you, I hope someone can help me.
Hi, i had a hysterectomy in July 2001. i was 21 years old and i was looking over your adverse effects on HERS and i am able to relate to 99% of the symptoms that you have listed there i have an abnormal heart beat short term memory loss and alot others listed there.the reason i am here i was wanting to know how i can help other women not make the same BAD choice that i had no choice to make i will do anything i can to help other women because i dont feel like a whole woman anymore and i dont want to see other woman have to go through this if they dont have to thank you so much for what your doing
YOU GOTTA LOVE THE MALE ENHANCEMENT COMMERCIALS, DON’T YOU? WHERE ARE THE FEMALE ENHANCEMENT COMMERCIALS? Gotta keep the men happy. They aren’t the ones who are castrated. God forbid, this would be barbaric!! Doctors do whatever they can to save their gonads, but lets ripe out the female gonads. Where is the justice here? Can someone tell me? What would a home be without a woman? Doctors are not giving us a chance to be a vibrant and vivacious wife, mother or a sister when they strip us of our hormone producing sex organs. Please watch the female anatomy DVD and also there are drawings of the female anatomy. Take a look at them. Guess what happens when they take the organs? OOPS, no more nerves running anywhere just tied in bundles. no more hormones for our health and well-being and also a big space where all your other organs can OOPS fall down. I was amazed to see this. Why don’t they hand this out to women instead of watching their movie or looking at their brochures that have untrue statements. BUT, the less we know the better they like it. Once we become FULLY informed, there wouldn’t be as many surgeries, only about 1%, NOT 99%.
Have you heard about the One-Kilo Club organized in 1996. NO DUES are required ONLY a uterus that weighs one Kilo? Go to http://www.onekiloclub.org/. “Oh, Lion, clamp gently. Pull the womb respectfully out. IT HAD glorious days. Remember, You floated in its warm water, in its heavenly calm chamber and grew on its soft bed of blood and silences and on and on.” Find out if your doctor is a member of this elite club. If this doesn’t make you sick, nothing will!!!
I had hysterectomy with one ovary removed 4 years ago. I’ve noticed most a personality change, extreme fatigue, weight gain, body aches, change in skin tone, lack of initiative. Are there any supplements available or hormones to take that can bring any relief of these symptoms? I want the old me back. Thanks for listening.
Unfortunately I didn’t find you soon enough and have had an hysterectomy and oophectomy in 2000. Am finding it extremely difficult to find someone to understand and acknowledge that the after effects are REAL. My primary care doctor doesn’t deal with these issues, my gynocologist obviously thinks it’s all in my head and is only willing to dispense HRT (not interested) I have found an alternative dr. who is willing to learn about these issues but not “in the know” to be able to definativly offer solutions….I found out about compounding pharmacies online and am taking NHRT transdermally but no relief of symptoms yet. Drs. who perform hysterectomys are supposed to know about the effects and how to treat those of us they castrate. My doctor emphatically said I would not have any of the “possible side effects” because I was young and otherwise healthy and they were completely overblown. I find that I am experiencing most of the side effects women talk about on here. I begged for years for her to stop telling me I needed a hysterectomy, that I would always seek an alternative, and in the end she finally got me! Woe is me!
Just the fact that you care gives me hope. To go from a healthy, hard working woman who built a career and I had my own business to being sick, disabled and now I can’t work and it has been devastating to say the least.
I am 43 years old and live in GA. I underwent a total hysterectomy in December of 2005 for fibroids and heavy bleeding. During a vaginal hysterectomy my gynecologist stitched the top of my vagina to my bowel which created an opening in my bowel, a fistula, causing stool to be passed through my vagina.
I told the gynecologist I did not feel well and that I had a black discharge and bad odor coming from my vagina. My doctor said this was normal, I shouldn’t worry about it. Finally I insisted he examine me because I believed, and I told the doctor, I thought the discharge was stool. Finally the problem was found and another abdominal surgery was performed. It has been more than two years and I am still not functioning very well. Two months after the second surgery I had to stop working because I was too sick to walk or sit. I feel like I might always be this way now.
I want to know how any doctor can do this and sleep at night? I wonder if he has nightmares like I do? I wonder if he has a daughter and how he would feel if someone did this to her? I’m someone’s daughter. I’m somone’s wife. I’m someone’s mother. But he took all of our lives away because now I’m not me.
Thank you for caring.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AFTER HAVING A HISTERECTOMY. HOW LONG DO YOU WAIT TO EXERCISE ? BECAUSE I STARTED 2 MONTHS AFTER HAVING IT DONE , IT MAKES ME HURT AND MAKES MY BELLY LOOK LIKE I’M 7MONTHS PREGNANT.AND IS IT NORMAL TO FILL LIKE SOMETHING CRAWLING UNDER YOUR SKIN? AND FOR MY FEET HURTING WHAT CAN I DO FOR THEM? HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD MY PROBLEMS? WILL I ALWAYS FEEL THIS WAY? WILL IT GET BETTER?
The readers of this blog might be interested in HERS response to a Gundersen Lutheran representative who has emailed HERS. To read Gundersen’s representative’s email scroll up to HERS Comment on January 24 at 12:10p.m.
HERS response:
TO: Charlotte C. Grant, Patient Education Content Specialist
RE: Gundersen’s “Interactive Patient Education” module “Hysterectomy”
Did you research what X-Plain’s “Hysterectomy” module says and what it means? What kind of empirical research did you do before putting it on Gundersen’s website? What is the basis for promoting this material? What physicians or experts in the field, textbooks, or peer reviewed journals or periodicals did you review and rely on? What is your academic background?
Nora W. Coffey, President
HERS Foundation
422 Bryn Mawr Avenue
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
USA
610.667.7757
888.750.HERS
http://www.hersfoundation.org
http://www.uterinearteryembolization.org
http://www.unbecomingplay.com
male in michigan
I can understand the frustration of any man who is trying to understand what has happened to his wife or girlfriend. As I’ve posted before my wife and I no longer have a sex life together, the eventual end result of hysterectomy. Research has shown that no matter how careful the surgeon is in leaving the ovaries possible nerve damage can result in partial or complete lack of ovarian function.(female castration) This becomes EXTREMELY stressful in any marriage. It was asked recently in a post about divorce after hysterectomy. If these stats were known and I would bet they are high this would also send a signal. No woman or man with healthy sex drives and good intimate relationships would want that destroyed because someone did not caution them of this high risk. The stats indicate that a less than 30 percent chance of normal sexual function will return after hysterectomy. While there are some needed surgeries MOST are unnecessary. I read recently in a book about christian’s marital behavior and was shocked to learn that some church counselers try to teach celebacy to married couples because of lopsided sexual needs. Maybe this is someones sick answer to concerns from the husband/ victim of his wifes castration for no reason. Now that I am an informed husband(to late for me)I will speak out to save others from profiteering hospitals and doctors. To stay healthy one must be vigilant and wary of mainstream healthcare providers.
Charlotte, do you still have your sex organs? I’d like to X-Plain something to you. I can tell you for a fact that hysterectomy and castration affect your sexual response. I’ve never been one to talk about my sex-life publicly but what has been done to me is so devastating and barbaric that I feel other women need to know the truth. All of my life I was able to have intense multiple orgasms from clitoral stimulation. I could easily have 3-4, and often 6-7 orgasms in a row. It was a source of intense pleasure and enjoyment, closeness with my husband, and even meditation. My clitoris and the area around it was very sensitive and I could achieve an orgasm from many different areas around it. The sensation would radiate from my clitoris, through my vagina, up through my abdomen to my breasts very intensely and consume my whole body. It was an incredible source of pleasure! After being hysterectomized and castrated, I can only achieve one orgasm at most. I only have a small sensation on one side of my clitoris. If I reach an orgasm, the intensity has decreased 70%, and the length of the orgasm is about 1/10 of what it used to be. It’s also very unpleasant to have sharp pains in my vagina when I try to achieve an orgasm. The only sensation I can get is in the area of my clitoris, because it no longer radiates through my body. The sensation stops at the point where the doctor cut me. A doctor amputated my ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix because I had a benign ovarian cyst. He took it upon himself to amputate all my sex organs, against my wishes, against my will and without my consent. When I read websites like yours that say “The aim of the surgery is to take the uterus out. Sometimes the surgeon may decide to also take one or both ovaries out along with the fallopian tubes”, I am horrified. The aim of my doctor was to amputate all my sex organs and shorten my vagina for absolutely no medical benefit to me. It was not up to him, but since he had me under anesthesia, I could not protect myself. My uterus was normal and healthy, and I just needed an ovarian cyst removed, but websites like yours promote and enable doctors to completely amputate all of a woman’s healthy organs. It is hideous, criminal and barbaric. I would be willing to bet that if you had this done to you, that you would not be so quick to pass the buck.
Mattie said…
Please explain why explain is spelled x-plain?
Even the title of this lesson is (false).
It sounds more like x-plan to me.
The covert actions of a medical society gone mad with greed in the 20th century.
Explain away….Doctors, Lawyers, Medical Society, Insurance Industry.
Out Loud, we can’t hear you!
I agree that they should remove that movie from Gundersen Blog sight. I watched it and it makes having a hysterectomy in one day and out the next and life goes on la la la! I read the 160 some women who wrote on the University of Pittsburg Medical Center blog sight and they can’t be all lying and now reading what these women and men are saying I know they aren’t all lying. Why would you show a movie that actually encouraging you to have this surgery and then say they can’t remove it, just doesn’t make sense to me. You can remove anything, but I don’t think they want to because it brings in the big bucks! According to these ladies there are no benefits, only a lifetime of hell. I will go on now and sign the petition to pass a law to get these doctors to shape up. Why are they afraid to give your DVD to women? Why are they afraid to remove the movie? Why are they doing this? I have so many questions but I know I won’t get the correct answers from any OBGYN doctors because I am beginning to think they all know what is going on or they don’t know anything that is going on and that is scary, very scary.
Ms. Grant, I agree with Cathy. REMOVE IT! Is that so hard to do. We aren’t even allowed to answer the questions ourself. If we don’t answer the questions the way your medical center wants us to, we can’t go to the next question. The statements are not true and very misleading. It is on your web site so I know you can remove it, BUT WHY WOULD YOU. It glorifies hysterectomies and that brings in the money. I had one after watching that, WOW, I was told everything would be the same and even better!! AND, by the way Ms. Grant the correct term for removing ovaries is castration. What does Gundersen call removing testicles?
In response to Charlotte C. Grant, Gundersen “Patient Education Content Specialist” Health Science Library:
Ms. Grant: There is no doubt that it meets the rigorous standards that mislead and deceive women which allow doctors to perform unnecessary surgeries for profit. While you may not be able to edit the content, I’m sure that you are intelligent enough to understand that X-Plain can be removed from your advertising website. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you are using a product that is inaccurate, misleading and deceitful, that it should be removed from your website and replaced with accurate information which the HERS Foundation has provided. Would it cut too deeply in the hosptial’s profits to tell the truth?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The readers of this blog might be interested to know that a Gundersen Lutheran representative has emailed HERS a reply to this Post:
Subject: X-Plain
Gundersen Lutheran and many other healthcare entities subscribe to this service, including MedLine Plus, one of the most widely used and respected online medical information services available today. X-Plain has met the rigorous standards of the National Library of Medicine. If you have concerns with the wording of the content regarding hysterectomy, you should
take this up directly with the company that produces the X-Plain content. We are not able to change or customize it since it is their material, not ours.
Charlotte C. Grant, Patient Education Content Specialist
Health Science Library
Gundersen Lutheran Health System
thank you rica…why???? why are they doing
this???? how can they get away with this???? I’m so afraid for my daughter…I had a full hyster. with ovaries removed when I was 30 two years ago and I stopped my hrt months after surgery because of weight gain and depression—now I am fighting hot flashes and mood swings terribily!!!!!! depression is still here—-will anything help me with these things???? I have other things going on to—loss of sexual desire and always tired very tired…help!!!!
To the young woman who posted that she is 27 and had the surgery a year ago. Wow I swear this is almost exactly what my e-mail to her was when i found them 9 months ago. My name is Rica and I had my surgery right before my 27 th bday. Please contact hers (nora) she will give you my contact information, maybe I can listen…. And maybe you can to… thank you.
Rica
Dear Cathy, I would suggest every woman who was given an unnecessary hysterectomy/castration (that would be about 99% of us) sue the clinic and hospital for butchering us. This is a criminal act! They must be held responsible for their actions! You have every right to sue your doctor, but make sure most of the jurors don’t work for the clinic and make sure the judge doesn’t play golf with the doctor you are suing. My lawyer asked the doctor did you know removing the ovaries was castration. His reply was they only castrate animals. To Dr. Jerome Gundersen I was just another animal along with all the thousands of women he castrated over the years. How can he live with himself taking healthy hormone producing sexual organs out of a healthy woman? Would he castrate thousands of men? Would he like to be castrated? Did he remove testicles from men having a polyp on their penis? If he would had given me the information available on the Hers blog, I never would have let him do this to me. I feel betrayed by Dr. Jerome Gundersen, Gundersen Clinic, Judge Montabon and the Court System, The Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries, The Insurance Companies for paying for these unnecessary surgeries and our Senators for not taking action and passing a law to outlaw this barbaric and abusive act on women. They are all well aware of what is taking place. They are letting doctors get by with butchering and mutilating women! They may have won the battle, but they didn’t take away my spirit to help our next generation of girls. Why are women going to OBGYN for check-ups? They are surgeons who make most of their money by performing hysterectomies/castrations.
These hospitals should be sued for false advertising at the very least. Criminal prosecution would be more appropriate.
I was told I needed a hysterectomy at age 31, then the following year found out it was not needed. I was in my first trimester of pegnancy and my doc never even told me that.
Anyway, about 3 years later I feel I went through menopause. MOODY emotional, vaginal dryness, many things. I never took any hormone replacement therapy, because I still had an ovary.
Here is my question, I gained almost 50 lbs within about the next 2 years. When I went to another doctor he told me the surgery had nothing to do with the weight gain, so I have thought it was just me. Now 11 years since the surgery my moods swings and several other side affects have mellowed out. But what should I ask a doctor to check as far as the fact that my weight is such a huge struggle and it wasn’t prior to the surgery.
Recently I read that they removed the uterus and ovaries of monkeys and they showed increase weight gain, therefore I feel that the hysterectomy did start this. Any insight would be very helpful. Has anyone else had this problem of weight gain? And not being able to lose it?
Please help me. I am 27 and almost a year ago I had a full hysterectomy. I have a lot of problems now that I never had before. I find that I am completely lost concerning everything that has gone on and as to what to do now. Before I found this I felt I had no one to talk to that understands or has the knowledge to help me make informed decisions. All the way around I am terrified and extremely depressed. Please help.
i was 22 when i had my histerectomy,i was never informed of the consequences of post surgery.of all the symptom’s i read above,i have been in shock to find out that all of the symptom’s i read about in your blog.please help make me informed.i am now almost 35 and thought i was going insane.i am really relieved to find out that most of my symptoms are related to the total hysterectomy that i had over 10 years ago.once again let me thank you for what you are doing.
WAY TO GO HERS! My wife had her hysterectomy/castration done at Gundersen Clinic in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She was very energetic before her surgery. She was always on the go and could outwork any man. She always wanted to do everything perfect. If you even mentioned getting something done, it was done. After her surgery, she would become extremely fatigue and get stressed out very easily. She wasn’t able to do what she had done before. It was just so hard for her to make it through the day without being sick. You would never see her lay down before her surgery. I actually believe she could have worked the clock around. I always told her I sure wouldn’t want you for a boss. You would work the pants off of someone. She was a very determined person who wanted to open a business up but just was never able to. I felt so sorry for her seeing her this way. I just would like to say not only do the doctors take the woman’s life away, they also take the man’s life around because he no longer has the wife he married. I also say shame on you for doing this to women. We were married for 30 years, but are now divorced. This makes me sad to see so many women going through this. I sure wouldn’t want a doctor castrating me but they seem to get by with castrating women.
Mattie said…
These doctors who do this to women are taking far too much pleasure in watching them suffer after they damage them.
I would like to see a doctor of psychology write on this blog. Write about what makes doctors in force, be able to harm millions of women, so heinously, and walk away smiling.
My heart is heavy as I write on this blog today, Wednesday January 23, 2008. I have attended 2 HERS conferences with my sister Gracie. I have been through it with her, she is an amazing women to me, to help educate my body which I should know because I am a women. I did not know my own anatomy and that saddens me. I am a women, why didn’t I know my own body. I was never educated in the right way.
Thanks to Gracie and the HERS Foundation for educating me in the right way so that I never have this horrifying surgery. Every women that I know will get this information so they can be saved from these doctors who think they know so much about our female bodies. GET EDUCATED DOCTORS!!
SHAME on you Gundersen Lutheran for doing this awful life altering surgery on so many women.
I have two daughters and a granddaughter, who also will be saved because of all the knowledge that I now have. I now have the power that I need to save women when they call me and ask where should I go so I can be saved and not just be another number to a doctor.
My heart goes out to all women but especially the young women who are only 21 and 27 and can’t have children, because they were not informed!! You all need to attend the next HERS Conference, it will amazing what you will learn about your body. Go to a clinic/hospital where doctors don’t do this surgery. They do exist. PLEASE GET INFORMED! Go online this minute.
DOCTORS BEWARE!!!!
Losing Myself
I have lost myself… But who am I?
I have lost myself… Where am I?
I have lost myself… Can’t find my way home –
It started before I started you and you and you.
So the blame can only be put held on me… Is that true?
Now what do I do? Who will help?
-I need a fix…-
The disks of destiny are gone,
The snow has melted,
So I look to the crystals for more self destruction…
A hazy daze is all I can remember,
No feeling of “BEING” to remember, of
A time that was peaceful, a time of Complete Surrender…
How will I find myself, in a blur of Truth and Lies?
Some I have told, just to complete my Demise…
I have a feeling with confidence that at one time I knew who she was.
Now I feel as if I should change my name just because…
I don’t want to drag her though my pain, the resentment is very real,
What a shame…
I have lost myself…
In that room, where for a fee, he Cut her out of me.
She was whole still able to give life to another soul.
To feel the warmth the love the total piece of knowing She
would love me. Because I was ME!
He would have given her unconditional love, and show her she could rise above…
But she will never know, get to try, as two years ago she died….
I woke up one day everything was distant
I knew where I was, but it was different…
Nothing smelt the same, not even food
I felt no pain only empty and insane….
My eyes looked in the mirror, my body was Her……..
I was absolutely sure!
But look into my eyes
And u can see that it is NOT Me….
sTiLL lOSt iN Az,
RiCa
I would like to start by saying it isn’t easy talking about your personal life to everyone around the world, but if I don’t speak up and inform other women then I am no better than these doctors who are not informing us about the after-effects of a hysterectomy/castration(removal of ovaries). I was a very energetic person and always did things at full speed, never complained and worked very hard. I had dreams and I was fulfilling them one at a time. One of my dreams since I was a little girl was opening up my own salon. I went to cosmetology school and had two small boys and maintained a 4.0. Then I became a victim of Gundersen Clinic in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in June of 1988.
To back up just a little, in August of 1987, I was given a DNC (this can also be another unnecessary surgery). I ONLY went in for hot flashes (which by the way continued after my surgery). In September of 1987, Dr. Jerome Gundersen told me I had tumors (in my report it said fibroids) and it could turn into cancer. In October of 1987, I was to take 4 pills .635of Premarin (horse urine I found out) daily. 10 mg. of DepoProvera was also added. I was beginning to bleed heavier. I was told by Dr. Gundersen each time I visited him wouldn’t it be good to get rid of the bleeding. I was also given a shot of DepoProvera. It is now May of 1988. Dr. Gundersen said my uterus was enlarged and an abdominal hysterectomy should be done. (in the rport he wrote the uterus wasn’t enlarged). I did question him about taking my ovaries and he recommended taking them. He said I didn’t need the ovaries or uterus because I wasn’t going to have anymore children. I believed him. He lied. I asked him if he could just take the tumor and he said we don’t do that. (at my trial he said OH,YES, we can just take the tumor). He lied again. I even went to a doctor who I had known in high school and he didn’t warn me about this surgery. I told Dr. Gundersen that I wanted a bikini cut and he said he didn’t want to do this and I then told him I didn’t want the surgery. If that is what you want I will do it he said. (God, how I wished I would have walked out of his office that day). In my reports he said patient is VERY HEALTHY. (not for long)
It was June 17, 1988, my life as I knew it would never be again because he took that from me that day! The hormonal damage to my body was extreme and was not discussed beforehand with honesty. I was told I would feel better than ever. The brochure and movie he gave me to watched stated that everything would remain the same including sex. I was in the hospital 6 days because of nausea, fainting, shaking, no energy and terrible numbness in my hands. In fact, I wasn’t able to move my hands and fingers. I was not feeling good and my family knew it. They even stated that they must have done something wrong with the surgery. (YUP, they just castrated me and stripped me of all my hormones and I didn’t even know it yet). My family watched me suffer as I went from a healthy, energetic, loving person to a disabled human being.
One month later I went to emergency because I couldn’t catch my breath. They sent me home saying it was all in my head. I again went to emergency later that day and they wanted to send me home again. I insisted I wasn’t going home. I told them I wanted a specialist so Dr. Lindesmith came and looked at me and immediately rushed me to x-ray. Massive blood clots on my lungs. Yes, I would have died if I had gone home. I was in the hospital 10 days. Dr. Lindesmith saved my life. For the next two years, I went from department to department and doctor to doctor trying to find out what was going on. You know you are sick, but you keep hearing it is all in your head when you know it isn’t. Everything took place with me immediately following my surgery. (I now know it all comes from taking the ovaries and uterus-all produces hormones that are needed the rest of a woman’s life). BEFORE my surgery, most of my reports stated a healthy woman, AFTER my surgery and over just two years I had been in these departments on Gundersen Clinic; Pulmonary, Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, Hormonal, Endocinology, Neurology, General, Rheumatology and Emergency Medicine. So the money doesn’t stop after the hysterectomy/castration. Money is being made from a hysterectomized and castrated woman. When I returned to see Dr. Gundersen and complained to him that I wasn’t feeling good he said do what I tell you or go somewhere else. I left and never returned. His suggestion was to see a psychiatric doctor. I felt so alone that day. I remember crying all the way to the car. He did this to me and all he could say was it is all in your head and you are the first one to complain. Well, lets see what his life would be like if we castrated him!
My reports read maybe I am suffering from depression and lets get her on Prozac. Right away they want to send you to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. We must be crazy and it just doesn’t have anything to do with the surgery. In August of 1988, records indicates that patient is sorry she had the surgery. In October of 1988, patient is very frustrated and angry as a result of her surgery and has been calling doctors around the country to get some answers. She is very distraught and at her wit’s end. One doctor wrote I think a lot of this patient’s symptoms are related to estrogen deprivation from her oophorectomy (YOU THINK) and menopausal syndrome occured after abdominal surgery.
During this time I was cutting back on my hours as a hair stylist from 6 days to 4 days to 2 days then quitting, then returning to 2 days, 1 day and then quitting again. I just wasn’t able to keep up with the work I loved so much. I didn’t want to give up hair styling, but i had to at least for awhile. Remember, this was my dream to open my own salon up. After 5 years in the business I was ready to do this when Dr. Jerome Gundersen took that dream from me! My records indicated after my surgery; extreme fatigue, decreased libido, nauseous, bone and joint pain, headaches and hot flashes and now because of the surgery severe osteoporosis. Dr. Jerome Gundersen took out my sexual hormone producing organs; the uterus and ovaries and while he was in there decided to take my cervix. LETS JUST CLEAN HOUSE! Every doctor that I had seen wrote in their report that since her surgery she has numerous complaints. HAS THIS SURGERY CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
Mattie said…
I was given an unnecessary hysterectomy-sex organ removal, almost seventeen months ago, removing my, Uterus, Cervix and one Ovary, with the incorrect information I was given.
I am in shambles now and trying to find answers the OB/GYN doctors are not giving me about why I do not feel like myself now.
I read yesterday on this blog a comment made about, Oxytocin.
Another hormone the doctors withheld from me to trick me into this life altering surgery. Along with, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone and their effect on the human brain and bodily function. Apparently there are even more hormones your body needs to function properly, that are not mentioned before they gut you. They do not tell you your ovaries function your entire lifetime, why?
Why does age matter when a women’s ovaries function her entire lifetime.
Why aren’t the doctors telling the truth, it is embarrassing for them at this point, all of them.
I can no longer have a uterine orgasm which these doctors also withheld from me saying, “sex will be as good or better after hysterectomy.” If sex is better after your sex organ is amputated notify, Rome, it is a miricle.
Look up the definition of, Oxytocin, it is released when a human being has an orgasm. Please look up the definition of, Oxytocin, on your computer now, wheather you are a physician or not.
The hormone, Oxytocin, is the hormone of love and bonding and I think we need this hormone to be happy. Oh, that doesn’t matter to you, doctor death of my sexuality, health, wellbeing and happiness, does it.
I have now learned that removing the ovaries in rats, shortens their brain stem. I have learned that a rat will ignore it’s pups after their ovaries are removed.
What are you doctors doing?, you are idiots to think you will get away with this much longer, this is a disgrace to the entire medical industry and makes a mockery of you.
I am not a doctor of medicine, a healer?.
I am a woman who is so physically damaged by my entire body and mind being altered that I am at times suicidal I am in so much pain and distress.
Let me be the first to post on this sight. I am one of Gundersen Clinic and Dr. Jerome Gundersen’s victim. After watching their hysterectomy video, no wonder I was easily talked into this very damaging and profitable surgery. Removing your ovaries is castration as is removing a man’s testicles. Lets get that straight! You will be hearing from women all over the world about the false information Gundersen Clinic is giving women. AND, who gives the doctor the right to just take whatever he wants to like while he is in there lets take a ovary or two and then why not the fallopian tubes and maybe add a cervic. LETS JUST CLEAN HOUSE! It always lead to sexual dysfunction. They just took out your sexual organs. HELLO! Lets hear it from the women who now enjoys intercourse. Lets castrate the doctors to see if it leads to sexual dysfunction! Life will never be the same after the operation. Most women will gain weight after their hysterectomy/castration. Most of us never go back to work full time and a lot of women are diabled from their surgery and can never return to their jobs. It is a successful operation in whose eyes, the doctors who are making billions of dollars a year. WOW, we gave up our periods for dozens of other symptoms. I would like to thank the Hers Foundation for all their help through the years when it was so difficult to go on, when all you heard from the doctors in LaCrosse, Wisconsin; it is all in your head and you are the first one that I have heard complain. WELL, let me tell you, this site will be full of these women that you have told it is all in your head. After years of seaching and searching I came across the Hers Foundation in a magazine and called them and started getting answers as to why I was feeling so poorly. My life will never be what it was before my surgery, but I can help other women and help get a law passed that would require doctors to give every women the DVD ‘female anatomy’, who are precribed a hysterectomy/castration. Let the woman make the decision, not her doctor. OH, I love it when you have to answer the questions their way or no way. Believe me I will be writing more and it will be how my life as I knew and wanted it ended on June of 1988 at the hands of Dr. Jerome Gundersen because I wasn’t informed or given the necessary information for me to make the right decision. I would like to see a OBGYN from Gundersen Clinic post here and tell me under what circumstances, other than cancer would the benefits outweigh the risk?