hysterectomy....help!!

[thishells73]

after a M.E.A. surgery that went wrong last monday i have now been told i need to have a hysterectomy and it will be done in september, But my gynie Dr says he would prefer me to have it done vaginaly rather than through the abdomen...why???i dont know... i do know whats involved via abdomen but what i have read in leaflets & on internet i am unsure wether i want it done His way as he just performed surgery the NEW inovasive way and it went wrong. i got some questions i need to ask him but want to know if anyone has had it done vaginaly and whats the real difference!! Any help / advice all welcome

[Ethel]

Vaginal hysterectomy isn't particularly new and has a far quicker recovery time than the traditional method - and no scarring.

If you can't find anyone who has had it done, phone your GP and ask to speak to a nurse or your own GP for their advice - write down any questions you have.

See if you can get another appointment with your consultant to discuss it with him.

You know, if you've lost confidence in your consultant, you can asked to be referred to somebody else.

[Ice.Maiden]

That's very good advice. I had a partial hysterectomy a few weeks ago, and was cut vertically, because of the mass that had to be taken away., and other things. If I'd had a choice, I could've had less invasive surgery, but it was out of the question. If you can have a vaginal op, thishells - then go for it. The benefits are as Ethel says - no scarring (although mine's going to be scarcely noticeable when it's healed properly), and recovery's much quicker. Ask to be referred to another consultant if you're not happy, and the best of luck to you.

[thishells73]

thanks Ethel & Ice.
my gynie dr. is the topdog in the gynie dept. but what worries me the most is the fact that he wont be using anything ie. laparoscope. too see what he's doing!
His jnr. did the operation last week( topdog watching) which was surposed to be less invasive by using nothing (laparscope) and it went wrong and now i have to go through this....my family is complete so thats not a problem. as i was sterilized last Dec. which that went wrong too by a jnr dr ( him watching)and ended up having more surgery in March 08. I'm getting the felling that i am the guiniepig for jnr dr's

[Ice.Maiden]

If you've had things go wrong twice, by being over-seen by the same surgeon, I seriously think you have room to make a complaint. It won't be the junior doctor's fault, because he should've been watched throughout the entire procedure, and advised if necessary. No wonder you're apprehensive!
If it was me, I'd definitely make sure that this particular person didn't, or wasn't, in charge of doing your next op. I don't think you have a thing to worry about, but it concerns me that twice things went wrong whilst under the same man. You can request a different surgeon and/or consultant.

[horselady]

Don't worry about the way this is going to be performed, my mother-in-law had a hysterectomy done in that way in the 1960's so it's certainly not new! Recovery was really speedy with no scarring.

[lady-anita]

i had that op, it was fine and i recovered very quickly