Video Q&A about How to Choose the Right Hysterectomy

I’m 58, and have pelvic organ prolapse of the bladder, bowel, uterus, and urethra, I’m scheduled for a Supracervical hysterectomy (uterus)
Bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (ovaries and Fallopian tubes), Sacrocolpopexy (mesh), anterior and posterior Colporrhaphy
cystocele and rectocele, and Cystoscope. The one thing they aren’t going to do is remove my cervix because my surgeons use that to anchor one end of the mesh with the other end attaching to the sacral area. My question is about leaving the cervix, does it put me at a greater chance for cervical cancer? I’ve always had normal Pap smears, and with the five year in between time my next one won’t be until I’m 62, almost at the 65 year old cut off. I wonder about this because when I asked about them removing my ovaries, even though they probably aren’t giving me any estrogen any more, their reply included a statement you can’t get ovarian cancer if they are gone. Given that should I be worried about cervical cancer, could all the surgical procedures create an environment more apt for cancer growth? Thank you.

I first noticed my cystocele about 10 years ago and once I knew what it was it really did not bother me but it has gotten progressively worse. I am 63 and am having a very similar surgery although I believe my cervix and tubes are being removed. My main problem is a stage 4 cystocele although I think I have rectocele to some degree as well. The mesh will go between my bladder and rectum and bladder and vagina as I understand it and will anchor completely to the sacrum. I was told it was completely up to me as to whether they removed my ovaries but both my regular gynecologist and the urogynecologist who is doing the surgery recommended to remove them. My surgery is on October 18th. I am in Austin Texas. They told me I would be in the hospital one night but I told them I wanted to stay an extra night since I live alone which my doctor said was fine. I went for a urodynamics test and they found that once the cystocele is dealt with I will likely have some incontinence which was not a surprise to me and so they are going to try to correct for that as well. I know the cystocele can disguise your incontinence and when I tried a pessary and when my cystocele is pushed back up I often do have some control issues. Have you had any urodynamics testing? I also was just told I will have a catheter for a week which I am not terribly excited about but I know I have to have this surgery. I have tried a pessary and thought it was a great solution until I started bleeding profusely from it. Just fixing the ligaments is not a good option for me because they don't think they will hold--I don't know if you had that conversation with your doctor or not. My mother is 96 and she still has her uterus so I was shocked when they told me I would have a hysterectomy but I have come to grips with that. Sounds like maybe you and I should compare notes as it sounds like we are in the same circumstances. When is your surgery?

We do sound similar, I too was shocked after my first visit never expecting all this, my surgery is January 25. I am in Wisconsin. I’ve been told my bladder prolapse is a grade 3, my bowel and uterus prolapse is a grade 2, not sure about the urethra. I have not had urodynamic testing. At this time I have very little to no incontinance. I do have the urge issue and have been working with a PT to retrain my bladder with some success. It seems my prolapse has mostly messed up my bowel, lots of troubles there with constipation, and pain, working on that too with not as much success. I was told that the surgery should take care of my issues but I could become incontinent afterwards, although at a second opinion I was told the chances are slim, they just have to tell you that. The Cystoscopy should evaluate that and fixed at the time of surgery or later I think (not sure how) if there is a problem. Not being incontinant now makes me hesitate on getting the surgery. I think it would make it harder for me to deal with afterwards. I too tried a pessary with no success, mostly I had cramping and irritation, and even though she tried several sizes it didn’t want to stay in place. My second opinion said that the pessary that I tried was the most comfortable and affective for my situation. She also said if I tried it again and it relived most of my symptoms without incontinance then the surgery should do the same. I too was told one night hospital stay which sounds like not enough, I may ask for a second night too because I live pretty far away from the hospital. I too was told I would come home with a catheter but I got the impression it would only be for a few days, not sure how I will handle that. My prolapse was first discovered about a year ago and has gotten worse. After learning about all of this I think I’ve had my rectocele for quite some time and my Cystocele for not quite as long. They said I could wait on the surgery if I wanted to, it depended on how well I could deal with the symptoms, which isn’t very good right now so I’m pretty sure I’m doing the surgery.

Your thoughts on using Da Vinci for a hysterectomy and is a one night stay in the hospital really enough?

How did your surgery go?