Hop Into My Suitcase And See What I Get Into Next.
Disclaimer: This article ( hysterectomy left me feeling bamboozled) is a personal story. This story is not intended to sway medical decisions. The goal of this post is to share my regret of not being a better advocate for my body, health, and wellbeing.
Ever met an individual who never questions those of perceived authority? Authority meaning highly educated, mainly men, in impressive careers, like doctors. No, you say? Well let me introduce myself, I am Kathy Brown and the person just described is me.
Doctor tells a woman with no history of Cancer, in good medical condition, with heavy periods that a hysterectomy is a great idea. (Patient being me)
Oh and how about those ovaries, you don’t really need them. After all, if we remove your ovaries, you’ll never have to worry about ovarian cancer, even if you don’t have a family history.
I mean, after all, you are going through menopause. You have no use for those bothersome female parts anyway. (my interpretation but you get the drift)
Those hormones a women’s body produces in her late 40’s and into the ’50s are negligible. Hormones can be replaced so easily with HRT nowadays.
Who wants to be worried about birth control at your age. Plus at the time I was a smoker.
Let’s not forget to add that a few years earlier my gyno inserted a new technology birth control method by the name of Essure. This $20 co-pay in-office procedure was a replacement for having my tubes tied. Later it was revealed that many women were having issues. This birth control needed to come out right away.
Now that I have decided to move forward with a full hysterectomy, my Gynecologists has an even better proposal. Even though I have two insurances, I can get extra attention, an extra night hospital stays, no out-of-pocket cost, and earn a small fee.
How do I get all these extra benefits while willingly giving up my body parts you ask? Simple, now I can be part of a research study for experimental pain medication. Wow, I really feel blessed now.
Anyway, you see how this story is shaping up. Let me move to why I ultimately feel bamboozled, hoodwinked, swindled, and ended up letting myself down.
First let me start by saying, I have no way of knowing how things would have turned out, had I decided to forgo this medical procedure.
Second, I know there are tons of women out there that will have this same procedure, and feel like it was the best decision ever made. For those women, suffering or with cancer, a hysterectomy could be life-saving.
Ultimately, my reason for regretting my decision was that I did not ensure I was an informed patient. I took only the word of the person I perceived to be the authority in my health matters. If I had to relive that day, I would have sought out a second opinion.
I never considered the possible financial incentive for my physician in participating in a research study. I will forever wonder if I had only turned down that offer if my outcome would have been different.
Only ever had one abnormal pap smear and proceeded to undergo additional testing through a colposcopy. This additional testing colposcopy ruled out any abnormalities. I question if there were ever any real cancer risks.
Wondered after I was advised that removing my ovaries could prevent ovarian cancer was really necessary. I mean men get prostate cancer, yet I highly doubt any male doctor would suggest we remove a man’s prostate as a preventative measure to avoid the possibility of disease. Seriously, could you imagine that ever happening? Plus the fact that I don’t have a family history.
In my late forties, I expect menopause is happening. That being said, I later discovered that a woman’s ovaries do continue to produce low amounts of estrogen. Maybe that could have been helpful.
Even though women over 40 or 50 are always complaining about sex drive, I certainly had plenty left. Not the same could be said after my procedure was in the books. Sex drive became non-existent.
Hormone replacement woes – there turned out to be so many considerations to my health. Not to mention, that HRT is not covered by my insurance when testosterone is included. Wish I would have known that up front.
Sure I used to be a smoker, but when it comes to birth control couldn’t I have opted for a safe alternative to the pill. Could my doctor have better educated me on smoking cessation methods?
Wished I would have asked the billing department how much out-of-pocket costs would have been my responsibility without entering into a research study. Maybe I should have been bold enough to ask my physician what his financial gain would be for my participation.
It may not be evident from reading my personal story, but the main goal in writing is as a reminder that women need to be advocates for their own bodies and health. I’m madder at myself than the doctor because I made a major life decision without researching.
Question and research without always assuming a doctor in a white coat are more educated than you on your own health. Seek out second opinions when needed. Educate yourself and question authority. Had I done all these things then, I probably wouldn’t be feeling so bamboozled now.
For More Information On What Is a Hysterectomy
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For me, life began at 40 and continues to get better with age. Hop in my suitcase and see what I get into next.
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