• IMG 0010"You are what you eat."
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  • health 2"You are what you eat."
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    I would like to share with you here on these pages women who are making a difference in the area of health. We as women have a lot more going on with our bodies in general and the good nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. 

    Women today are healthier than ever because of their increased knowledge about diet and health. I would like to help more women live longer, healthier lives as a result of women who are sharing their knowledge and secrets. We only have one body and so it's important to take good care of it.

  • health 1 "You are what you eat."
    I'm sure you have heard that phrase a million times before. We have learned more than ever the importance of eating healthy and exercise. 

    I would like to share with you here on these pages women who are making a difference in the area of health. We as women have alot more going on with our bodies in general and the good nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. 

    Women today are healthier than ever because of their increased knowledge about diet and health. I would like to help more women live longer, healthier lives as a result of women who are sharing their knowledge and secrets. We only have one body and so it's important to take good care of it.

  • IMG 0018"You are what you eat."
    I'm sure you have heard that phrase a million times before. We have learned more than ever the importance of eating healthy and exercise. 

    I would like to share with you here on these pages women who are making a difference in the area of health. We as women have alot more going on with our bodies in general and the good nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. 

    Women today are healthier than ever because of their increased knowledge about diet and health. I would like to help more women live longer, healthier lives as a result of women who are sharing their knowledge and secrets. We only have one body and so it's important to take good care of it.

  • IMG 0010"You are what you eat."
    I'm sure you have heard that phrase a million times before. We have learned more than ever the importance of eating healthy and exercise. 

    I would like to share with you here on these pages women who are making a difference in the area of health. We as women have alot more going on with our bodies in general and the good nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. 

    Women today are healthier than ever because of their increased knowledge about diet and health. I would like to help more women live longer, healthier lives as a result of women who are sharing their knowledge and secrets. We only have one body and so it's important to take good care of it.

     

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Is A Hysterectomy Right For You?

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NutriSystem, Inc.

DevinThere are many types of hysterectomies and many women facing the choice to do them or not. I am one of those women, are you?

I've been having my battles lately with heavy period bleeding and since I've been on bio identical hormones the pain and heaviness associated with my periods have lessened or so I thought. I was getting concerned about all the spotting between periods and having multiple periods a month. Seems I was bleeding more than not bleeding and decided to get checked throughly. My OBGYN suggested a uterine biopsy and ultra sounds to see why I was bleeding so much. Fibroids are a cause for heavy bleeding and common with many women. I was no exception since I had a fibroid the size of a small plum in my uterus. Then there was frequent urination, seems I lived in the bathroom. I was determined to find out a solution to this problem I had now been facing for nearly five years.

Another issue I was facing was the fact that cancer ran in my family and since I am now 50 years old, my chances of acquiring either uterine or ovarian cancer would become greater with age. I saw that many of my girlfriends were having similar problems and were electing to have hysterectomies. When my CA-125 ovarian cancer blood tests came back with high levels it was a bit of a wake up call. Although the CA-125 test isn't a reliable test for catching ovarian cancer early, it's a marker. There are no tests that can detect ovarian cancer early and most women who have ovarian cancer don't really have any obvious symptoms until it's too late. My uterine biopsy came back negative, so that was a relief for now. However, the risks are indeed still there and will increase with age.

Hysterectomy Area LargeI decided to see an oncologist for a second opinion when my CA-125 was repeated and came back again positive with high levels. Again it didn't mean I had cancer, but I wanted to somehow know for sure. The oncologist I saw specialized in ovarian and uterine cancer and after looking at my history and test results suggested a hysterectomy taking out the uterus and ovaries and leaving the cervix. This is called a laparoscopic hysterectomy and it's where the surgeon goes through the belly button to take out those organs. The recovery time is less than two weeks and because the cervix is left, regular pap smears can detect any potential cancer there.

I decided to wait until the spring of next year to do the surgery and elected to do another type of blood test to see if ovarian cancer was at all an issue. The oncologist said this test was a bit more accurate than the CA-125 and that he wanted me to repeat all these blood tests in another month to see if the levels would go up. This would give him a better indication if cancer was present, however if I did the hysterectomy he would really get to see what was going on inside of me much better. I must admit the idea of surgery and being in a hospital for two days wasn't appealing to me, but neither was the idea of cancer.

My period was coming on and I made up my mind that I would do the surgery, but didn't think I had to rush to it, given we still didn't quite know what was going on with these tests. I think the universe helped me make up my mind when I had the most awful period I've have ever had during a road trip I recently took to visit our daughter in college. I felt tired so easily from walking and was bleeding so much that I had to wear diapers because super plus tampons just weren't going to cut it. Why wait on the surgery, I told myself? This problem wasn't getting uterus13 finalbetter, it was getting worse. So I scheduled my surgery for Friday, December 13th. Yeah, yeah I know Friday the 13th, but for me I think it's going to be my lucky day, because a day without bleeding is a good day for me. I'm ready to bare through the ordeal of surgery just to have relief from this whole problem now.

So if you are wondering if surgery is right for you take a good look at your situation, age and family history. Consult your OBGYN and an oncologist if necessary and get all the facts. There are many types of hysterectomies, but know you are not alone with your problems. Many women face having a hysterectomy today and it doesn't make them less of a woman. With age, comes knowledge and sometimes this knowledge can save your life.
 

Hysterectomy in the United States: Facts and Figures

The United States has the highest rate of hysterectomy in the industrialized world, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hysterectomy is the second most frequently performed surgical procedure (after cesarean section) for U.S. women. Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States, and approximately 20 million American women have had a hysterectomy. Studies show that anywhere from 10 to 90 percent of hysterectomies performed in the United States are not medically necessary, evidenced by the fact that today, approximately 90 percent of hysterectomies are performed electively. The National Women's Health Network (NWHN) believes that unnecessary hysterectomies have put women at risk needlessly, and that health care providers should recognize the value of a woman's reproductive organs beyond their reproductive capacity and search for hysterectomy alternatives before resorting to life-changing operations.

Quoted in the Los Angeles Times, NWHN Executive Director Cindy Pearson says, "I advise any woman who is not in a life-threatening situation to see someone else besides a surgeon to explore nonsurgical options first."

So, when is a hysterectomy medically necessary? Hysterectomy may be a medically necessary intervention in the case of several life-threatening conditions:

  1. Invasive cancer of the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries
  2. Unmanageable infection
  3. Unmanageable bleeding
  4. Serious complications during childbirth, such as a rupture of the uterus

For other conditions, it is optimal to evaluate all options before resorting to major surgery.

Hysterectomy Alternatives
For each of the conditions listed below, you may want to talk to your physician about an approach called "watchful waiting." If your condition is not causing problematic symptoms, you may want to closely observe your symptoms without initiating active treatment. Many women are treated for conditions that do not necessarily require treatment, and the side effects of these treatments can cause more health problems than the actual condition. For many conditions all that is needed is careful observation to monitor if and how the condition changes, or is, hopefully, naturally eliminated.

Fibroids
There are many treatment options for shrinking or removing uterine fibroids without removing reproductive organs. These include using antiestrogen drugs, uterine artery embolization (UAE) laser ablation of uterine fibroids, cryosurgery, and myomectomy. For more information on fibroids, click here.

Cancer
Hysterectomy is often necessary and life preserving when invasive cancer is diagnosed, however, hysterectomy is frequently recommended when cancer is neither invasive nor life threatening. For pre-cancerous cells, there are a few options that you and your health care provider should discuss. Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure (LEEP) can be used to remove pre-cancerous cells, and cryosurgery can be used to treat non-cancerous growths and abnormal tissue. For early invasive cervical cancer that has not spread to other regions, a radical trachelectomy (the removal of cervix or the neck of the uterus) can be performed in lieu of a total hysterectomy.

Excessive Endometrial Lining
Endometrial ablation can be used to remove excess endometrial lining. Dilation and Curettage (D&C) can also be used to remove the lining or abnormal tissue.

Endometriosis
Operative laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that can generally be done on an outpatient basis to remove endometrial growths and adhesions. Pain medication, hormone therapy and other conservative surgical procedures can also be used to control any discomfort associated with endometriosis.

Uterine Prolapse
According to MedlinePlus, an information service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) a vaginal pessary (an object inserted into the vagina to hold the uterus in place) can be used as a temporary or permanent form of treatment for a prolapsed uterus (MedlinePlus). Vaginal pessaries are available in many shapes and sizes and must be individually fitted. A surgical procedure called a 'suspension operation' can also be performed to lift and reattach a descended uterus, and often a fallen bladder or rectum as well. Health practitioners suggest that Kegel exercises can be a powerful prevention and treatment tool for strengthening uterine muscles and avoiding prolapse.

When a Hysterectomy Seems Necessary
If none of the above options are viable and a hysterectomy seems necessary, it is important to initiate open communication with your health care provider regarding the specifics of your situation. Here are some important questions (adapted fromThe Woman's Guide to Hysterectomy by Adelaide Haas and Susan L. Puretz) that you may want to ask your health care provider before you decide on a hysterectomy:

  • What are the risks involved with this type of hysterectomy, and what is the success rate?
  • How long will I be in the hospital? Can this procedure be performed on an outpatient basis? What type of surgery will be needed? [See below for more information about surgical options]
  • How much will the operation and the follow-up care cost? Will these be covered by my insurance? Will the care of any medical complications resulting from this operation be covered by my insurance?
  • When can I expect to be fully recovered from the surgery?
  • How will this surgery affect my sexual functioning?
  • What might happen if I choose not to have surgery, or wait awhile to decide?
  • How many of these surgeries have you performed? When was the most recent one?
  • What type of anesthesia will be needed?
  • Can someone (my partner/friend) stay with me while the surgery is being performed?

Types of Hysterectomy

  1. Partial Hysterectomy removes the body of the uterus while the cervix is left in place.
  2. Total or Simple Hysterectomy removes the entire uterus and cervix.
  3. Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy removes the uterus, cervix ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
  4. Radical Hysterectomy removes the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and possibly upper portions of the vagina and affected lymph glands.

Hysterectomy Surgical Options

  1. Vaginal Hysterectomy describes a surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed through the vagina. One or both ovaries and fallopian tubes may be removed during the procedure, as well. This surgical approach avoids visible scarring and typically allows for a quicker recovery, as well as less postoperative pain and complications as compared with other types of hysterectomy. Risks associated with the vaginal approach include a slight but serious risk of shortening or damaging the vagina.
  2. Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy employs video technology to provide the surgeon with greater visibility when removing the uterus through the vagina. The laparoscopic-assisted approach entails three small external incisions: one in the navel, through which the laparoscope (small video camera) is inserted, and two others in the lower abdomen for the use of surgical instruments. This procedure may be preferred because of the rapid healing time, a less noticeable scar, and less pain, although actual surgery time is longer than the abdominal approach. Because of the longer time in the operation room and the use of extra electronic equipment, this procedure is also costlier than others. Risks associated with the laparoscopic-assisted vaginal approach include a slight risk of bladder injury and urinary tract infection.
  3. Abdominal Hysterectomy is fairly standard and remains the most common approach for removing the uterus and other reproductive organs. When performing an abdominal hysterectomy, surgeons can either use a vertical incision or a "bikini cut" incision depending on the scope of the surgery. The vertical incision cuts vertically from the navel to the pubic hair line, while the ?bikini cut? is a horizontal incision made directly above the pubic hairline. The abdominal hysterectomy approach results in a longer recovery period and more noticeable external scarring but requires less specialty surgical skill and may be less costly and more widely available than other approaches.
  4. Laparoscopic-Assisted Abdominal Hysterectomy requires only one incision for both the laparoscope and the removal of the uterus. This approach is an alternative to the three-puncture laparoscopic-assisted vaginal approach; however, the laparoscopic-assisted abdominal approach is only appropriate for a supracervical hysterectomy (meaning the cervix is healthy and does not need removal). The laparoscope has the potential to be a useful tool for total and radical hysterectomies as well, however most surgeons prefer the traditional abdominal approach for these procedures.

Surgical and Post-Surgical Risks
Although the death rate from hysterectomy is low (less than 1 percent) surgical complications are very real and can result in any of the following: infection, hemorrhage during or following surgery and/or damage to internal organs such as the urinary tract or bowel. Patients have a 30% chance of complication (typically infection or fever) while in the hospital and a significantly lower risk of more serious complications such as hemorrhage or bladder and bowel damage depending on the individual's condition and the surgical approach taken.

Long-term Risks
Removal of the uterus and ovaries at a young age (early forties and younger) may increase risk of heart attack, and (even when ovaries are not removed) chances of experiencing an earlier menopause. Hysterectomy has also been associated with urinary problems, such as increased frequency of urination, incontinence, fistula, and urinary tract infections; sexual function problems, such as decrease in sexual sensations and lack of lubrication; depression or psychological stress (stemming from feelings associated with losing reproductive organs); hormone deficiencies, which may be caused by removal of the ovaries, or a decrease in blood supply to the ovaries.

For further information on hysterectomy, contact NWHN at (202) 682-2640 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Source: The National Women’s Health Network

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