I had an appt with a new gyno this morning to reassess my heavy bleeding fibroid issues. He did the exam and said my uterus was massively distorted, my ovaries completely hidden, etc and that he can only recommend hysterectomy-most likely complete and abdominal due to their size. He then said the hard knots under my nipples felt suspicious and that I need to see a breast surgeon after the mammogram. I am shaking in my boots and honestly, don't know what to do next. It seems any trip to the doctor lately leaves me feeling dazed and confused.

I can see why you are scared, but keep in mind many docs go directly to worst case scenario and many times are proven wrong.

Time for a second opinion before you get a hyst. And HysterSisters is a great website for those who have had a hyst or are contemplating getting one. Don't let your doc scare you into a possibly unnecessary surgery. Did he mention first doing an endometrial biopsy? Anytime a doc's first response is hysterectomy, it's time to get a second opinion. And depending on what the breast surgeon says, you might also want to get a second opinion on that also.

It's just a good idea to get second opinions with anything that's potentially serious or invasive. Second opinions have saved many a woman from unnecessary fear and unnecessary procedures.

2nd opinion

good luck

Unfortunately, this was a second opinion for my previous doctor's recommendation - d & C and hyteroscopy. She didn't even do a physical but did a quick biopsy and scrip for Prometrium. It would be interesting to do a research project by going to many different gynecologists for a particular issue to see how their recommendations differ. Bottom line- I think all these docs really care about is billable procedures especially when they know you have good insurance. I recently went to a hematologist for anemia, talked to him for no more than five minutes. He billed my insurance $500.00 for the office visit portion.

So you did have an endometrial biopsy and the results were negative for cancer? So why the urgent need for a hyst? I agree, docs are looking to do the procedures that bring in the most money, DH and I were just discussing this. Especially if they have invested large $$ in diagnostic equipment that they must pay off.

Wow, $500 JUST for the office visit? Outrageous.

Yes I had the biopsy - benign results but showed polyp tissue (huh?) so that is why the D & C was recommended.

Why would you be against the d&c if you have bleeding issues? The whole procedure only takes about twenty minutes on the table, and hysteroscopy will give your doctor a much clearer idea of what's going on with your uterus. You don't have to do a prep the day before -- you just have to get there a couple of hours early for them to do the anesthesia. I am the biggest chicken when it comes to any kind of surgery, and I had never had ANY prior to my d&c, but it went very well and actually addressed my bleeding issues. If you have known polyps that are causing bleeding, I would think you would want them out of there. The second doctor's recommendation sounds ridiculous, and why would you have to schedule with a breast surgeon before you've even had a mammogram showing a problem? That just sounds -- bizarre. Your first doctor's recommendation, however, sounds right on target, responsible and sensible. I guess I'm having trouble understanding why you would question it.

I question the D & C because I have a uterus full of fibroids (lumps and bumps) and it seems like a D & C would be a waste of time. I mean what is the objective as scraping the lining would be hit and miss. Could be my faulty logic though since she only had a nurse call to tell me what they recommend.

Ah ok ... well maybe you should call back and see if you can talk to the doctor or nurse practitioner about why they want to do it? It may be that they want to learn more about the fibroids through the hysteroscopy. Also, the d and c should be able to get rid of the polyp, and that would help cut down on your bleeding problem hopefully. It sounds like they are trying to go for the least invasive treatment first, which seems sensible.

I just discovered this forum and am astonished, even shocked, at some of the responses here, which mostly seem to favor scraping your uterus or cutting something out. If you rely on an M.D. to "fix" your symptoms, he/she will do that to the best of his/her ability - i.e., extricate the symptom, not the cause. It sounds barbaric when you think about it - cutting pieces of body away. No one knows your body as well as you - and you have the ability to control causes of disease. As a young woman, I too suffered major menstrual pain and heavy bleeding. So, I took it upon myself to change my diet and use good supplements, the results of which (and it didn't happen overnight) shrunk my uterine fibroids and improved the monthly periods. I also believe that the thyroid gland is something that M.D.'s tend to overlook as being a major component in governing hormones, so perhaps it should be given some focus. It was an issue with me, even though it was not recognized by M.D.'s.

I feel for you, my dear, as I know from personal experience that M.D.'s notoriously look for the worst, and as other posters here have mentioned, their primary goal is to pay off their enormously expensive equipment. The allopathic community has never served me well, and being a woman of my word, I do not subscribe to the mammogram controversy nor any of the other diagnostic tools of the trade. Rather, I strive to keep my body well. It's my own health insurance.

I may say something many will not like, but I would consider the surgery...
my mother did not do it in her menopausal years, she had fibroids and heavy bleeding, and she just waited long time for the mess to be over and the bleeding stoppedin her late 50s.
Unfortunately, her fibroids sloooowly turned cancerous, and she was Dx with uterine cancer when she was old lady and the surgery and chemo was not an option, and she died from the cancer.
She was energetic and active senior in relatively decent health, she took care of herself... you got the idea.
I will do this procedure in a jiff if I get any signs of fibroids, or any issues in this department, better to lose one organ than to lose your life, my motto, safe than sorry.
I appologize if i sound harsh, but I wached what cancer can do, and I now paranoid about any abnormalties in any organ, but it is just me.
I hope you find a good doctor who will find the safest solution, take care of it now, and live worry free later.
best,
I.

I tend to go along with balmybird's beliefs about conventional doctoring. I believe the body is designed to heal itself when we take optimal care of it. It just does not make sense to me to harm it to make it better? Should we remove all our body parts if we think they are going to turn cancerous someday? What I have read over and over says that fibroids rarely if ever become malignant. Having a hysterectomy brings its own set of problems which I have seen first hand with my female relatives. It is a tough decision but for now I am just staying away from all doctors - they scare me. We all do what feels right for us and I am a big believer in following one's gut so to speak.

I tend to go along with balmybird's beliefs about conventional doctoring. I believe the body is designed to heal itself when we take optimal care of it. It just does not make sense to me to harm it to make it better? Should we remove all our body parts if we think they are going to turn cancerous someday? What I have read over and over says that fibroids rarely if ever become malignant. Having a hysterectomy brings its own set of problems which I have seen first hand with my female relatives. It is a tough decision but for now I am just staying away from all doctors - they scare me. We all do what feels right for us and I am a big believer in following one's gut so to speak.

It is your body and your decision, but it seemed that you were asking for advice in your post. As with fibroids, most shrink and die off as your body stops producing enough estrogen to fuel it.
If you think you can resolve your issues by taking better care of your body, then by all means do it.
No one says healthy body parts shuld be removed to prevent cancers, this was not my point.
I think staying away from doctors approach helps if nothing bothering you, perhaps I missunderstood your post, by all means stay away from doctors, and see if you can resolve it by using supplements and vitamins. Most posters are asking for advice, I firmly believe then sometimes procedure is life saver. I had ectopic pregnancy and because my doctor took wait and see approach, I almost died from ruptured tube and itnernal bleeding in my early 30s, I was lucky to be alive.
Since then, I RUN to see a doctor when I have any kinda of issue in this department: bleeding, spotting, aches, pains, as I have learned my lession the hard way, before I was much less concerned about it.
We all have to do what we feel is right.
best regards,
I.

i would question any dr. who would blattenly tell you things like that like- he did and just have no compassion to your feelings like just another day at the office type of thing !!! i would be looking for a more compashionate dr. ( sorry for the mis-spelling- couldnt use spell check )

Iradan-No offense intended. My experience with conventional doctors all along has been poor so I lost trust a long time ago. Every time I go to one, I come away feeling confused which is not a good state of mind to make surgical decisions. I always appreciate all viewpoints though.

None taken, I understand you.Doctors rarely have compassion for patients nowdays, what happened to "Do not harm", they became business people mostly and if they also skilled surgeons, they will try to make money using their skills.
It is not easy decision to make, but if the firbroids don't bother you much, then you can use different route, some progesterone perhaps, it can shrink them to certain degree.
Personally, I am sick and tired of both, conventional and naturopathic doctors too, the late will take all your money, Dx you with different mysterious illnesses, and try to sell you dozens of supplements, vitamins, etc. They may help some, altought I did not have much luck with them either.
I hope you find your resolution, but I think that if our body had a self healing power, majority of problems won't occur to begin with.
There are many forums on the subject, try to find one that is your problem specific, hope it will help you to make informative decision.
I.

go get a digital mamogram and MRI of breast tissue before talking surgery.

Regarding the mammogram, I have had these same two cysts for three years now though I didn't mention that to this doc. They were diagnosed as benign cysts with watch and wait. They grow they shrink according to hormones. This doc made it sound like I would die tomorrow if I didn't have them checked immediately. I am such a cynic now I know the breast surgeon will want to drain them just so she has a billable procedure. They don't bother me at all so if I refuse that procedure...

If it is just a cyst, they should leave it alone. I have 4 cysts on my liver and no recommendation was made on them. My Mom also has a very large cyst on her liver and they say even if it is drained, it will likely fillup again and possibly grow even bigger.

plumeria

since it appears genetic ,, yes have the surgery.