Hi, Mom2. Thanks for your post. Just like waiting for the EA to be done, I just really want to get the hysterectomy over with. Once I'm on the other side of surgery, then it's just recovering and doing what I need to do to get back on my feet. I remember being so nervous before the EA...my nerves are even worse now. I will go over the same pre-op list on this website to help me be prepared ahead of time and get everything in order. I found that list very helpful before the EA and believe I will find it helpful again. I also have a pre-op checklist from HysterSisters (website).

I met with my doctor at the end of last week. The plan is a LAVH - laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy. That consists of remove of the uterus and cervix. My right ovary will be removed laparoscopically, a section of it will be sent to pathology; they will wait the 20 minutes for the results of the pathology and then proceed - if no cancer is found, he will proceed with the LAVH and if the left ovary looks good, he will leave it in. If cancer IS found, then I will have the abdominal cut, both ovaries removed, lymph nodes removed, fat around the colon removed, and my appendix removed (he said these are all places that ovarian cancer likes to spread to). Depending on the surgery, I will be in the hospital one or two nights. Then I will be off of work for four to six weeks, depending on the surgery.

As for me, I fluctuate between "I can do this and do well" and "can I just run away??" I'm okay with losing my girl parts - that really has never been an issue for me. Never used them anyway and never really wanted to. I didn't want children; I just never felt that maternal call. I am concerned about going into menopause. That does scare me. I can't go on any hormone replacement therapy because of my tendency to have blood clots. Maybe menopause wouldn't be bad, but I've just heard too many stories, I guess.

The advantage I see is that just a little under eight months ago, I had the EA. I know that the anesthesia didn't make me sick. I know that they kept on top of my pain after surgery. I have an idea of what to expect with the pre-op testing; I have an idea of what it will be like when at the hospital before surgery. I remember the day after the EA feeling out of sorts and learning that was probably an after-effect from the anesthesia. So while there are a lot of unknowns here, there are some things that I can be reasonably assured of.

My thought is that two weeks today - at this very time - I will hopefully be out of surgery and in recovery. Then I can just get about the business of getting well!

Thanks for listening to my story, Mom2. I'm grateful for your asking how I am. Coming back to the EA website and finding support from those who supported me through the EA is such a blessing. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

D&C, hysteroscopy, and NovaSure (HTA was attempted, but ended being a "no go") on July 16, 2012
47 years old; no children
On Coumadin for lifetime because of repeated blood clots
Menstrual cycle was completely normal until I started Coumadin in February, 2012.  Then all heck broke loose...blood, blood, blood...to the point of nearly passing out.  Hence the reason for the above procedures! Pathology from EA indicated issues, so I had a hysterectomy on March 18, 2013