Hysterectomy after WLS?

Hi there! It's been a long time since I have posted, mostly due to work and family obligations. I am 1 1/2 years post op from an open gastric bypass. I have had 2 instances of cervical cancer which have been cut out and am now waiting for my results of an edometrial biopsy to confirm or rule out cancer in the uterus. My doc wants to do a hysterectomy but due to scar tissue cannot do it via laproscopy and because of an enlarged uterus can not do it vaginally. Therefore it would be a cut above the pubic area. What worries me about the actual operation is that the cut will be in a crease of skin caused by my excess skin. What also really sucks is that I am so close to having the skin removed and a hernia repaired. UGH! I am so torn as to what to do! I also have to let my doc know soon if I want to have my ovaries removed as well, which I am leaning towards doing. I figure why keep anything that can cause future problems if I don't have to? Anyway, was wondering if any of you have had a hysterectomy after WLS and if so, how did you handle the lack of hormones? Which brings up another concern altogether, as my family practioner does not really want me on pills due to the risks involved. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much! Kathy

Kathy, I had my hysto several years before my RNY but I think I can respond to some of your questions. I have read where some plastic surgeons will work with your ob-gyn and do your ps during the hysto after the gyno has done his part. You just have to get the 2 docs to agree to work together. As for the incision going through the crease... mine did the same kind of thing b/c it went through the crease in between fat rolls. I just had to be extra careful cleaning & drying that area but it healed with no problems. I'd talk to your gyno & your RNY doc about it if you're worried. As for the ovaries.... even though I had no obvious ovarian problems, my gyno recommended removing them when he did my hysto for the same reasons you mentioned - why keep something that is beginning to fail (I was in my early 40's) and could cause more problems in the future. I was surprised but after thinking about it I decided that made sense and also had them out. I was on hormone replacement therapy (HRT pills****il I had my RNY then switched to the hormone patch. I love it! Just change it once a week and I'm good to go. I hope you get good news on your preliminary tests - NO cancer! If you're like most of us, you'll wish you'd had the hysto years ago b/c once you're healed, you'll feel soooo much better! Good luck & keep us posted on your progress. Vickie J.

Kathy, I'm sorryu to hear that you are goin gthrough all of that. You may want to hold off on the plastics until after the other surgery, maybe the plastics will remove the other surgery's scar. Or you may want to see if they can be done at the same time. good luck, Steve

Hi Steve, Saw you and thought I'd holler hello. Long time no hear/see. How are you doing? I'm doing pretty well. Just busy, busy, busy. Take care, and in case you're not counting days, hurricane season is right around the dang corner I'm praying we'll be spared this year. Gisela

Gisela, It's great hearing from you. I checked out your profile, you look great. Congratulation, you have done great job. Yep, three more months until Hurricane season, but i'm not worried, I'll do like I always do, worry about it when it's a problem and not before. Keep in touch. Steve

are the doctors all in the same town? Can or do they all work at the same hospital? Could and would they be willing to do this all on the same day? Best wishes/ Heather

Hi Kathy, I just had an hysterectomy in December. Luckily, it was vaginally with a small cut in the belly button. Doc said if he had to cut me (which he wouldn't know until he was in there) it would be right above the pubic hair line. He also agreed to work with a PS so I could get a tummy tuck at the same time. Unfortunately, I couldn't get them lined up together and I changed my mind on the kind of work I wanted done (decided against TT and am trying to get a lower body lift) Regarding your ovaries....real personal decision. I thought about getting rid of mine, too, but doc advised against it if there was nothing wrong with them. My argument was they might become cancerous later on. His argument was that I might get lung cancer, too. Did I want him to take out a lung while he was at it? So, for overall health/hormone reasons, I decided to keep them. Luckily they were healthy. Oh, and let me suggest liquid Lortab for a pain reliever. It doesn't constipate like lortab pills do. I was on the lortab pills for quite a while after my hysterectomy and ended up having to have another surgery to correct what might have been caused by being constipated due to the Lortab. The liquid lortab works real quick, too. Like within 60 seconds or less. Good luck with your surgery. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop an email. Gisela

Kathy, Sorry I am just responding. I had my hysterectomy in August 2005 after my bypass in March 2005. Mine is in the crese where the extra skin sits but I have no trouble healing at all and the scar is minimal. Like a thin line drawn with a light pink pencil really. My Gastric bypass surgeon said that it would be gone with the TT or lower body lift. My gyn took my ovaries because they were caught up in some adhesions and were cystic. I take one hormone pill and day and feel great!! Best thing that I ever did. I am 38 now but was 37 on surgery date. Terri

You can coordinate both the hysterectomy and the abdominoplasty and hernia repair. You need to have your plastic surgeon and GYN talk. This is done all the time.

Kathy If you have had 2 instances of cancer you really should have a hysterectomy and since can't be done lap..have a full abdominal. I had one 2 yeahs ago and it was really not bad at all. I am waiting to do the RNY which they should be able to do with laparascope. The incision from the hyster is small like a c-section under your stomach. Your Plastic Surgeon might be able to cut on thet line to do his work. As for taking the ovaries I left one- other one was removed years ago for problems with cysts. If you leave a functioning ovary you do not really have as tough a time with menopause issues and don't need to take synthetic hormones- it still produces estrogen etc. If possible let them leave the ovaries or at least ask what the difference will be and get a professional opinion. What you really need out is your cervix and they remove that in a full hysterectomy- even partial if they leave ovaries. Others will tell you what it ws like doing this after RNY but as for the surgery itself it was a piece of cake...whooops...lol Don't be afraid. Good luck Edyth