Sleeve after hysterectomy for cancer

[DaisyAmy 561]

Hi, all,

I'm new here. I've been in the process to prepare for my sleeve since Jan '15. Opted to do it to hopefully rid myself of diabetes and fatty liver. I've lost 40+ pounds and successfully jumped through all the pre surgery hoops. My 6 months of weight loss program for insurance purposes was done this summer and I should have had the surgery late July or so...

But instead, I found myself on the operating table having a total hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Thank the good Lord, they were able to get it all and I have no further treatment other than frequent follow ups. At my pre op appt, the surgeon said I could have the WLS as soon as 6 weeks after (!) if I was up to it, as long as I didn't need chemo or radiation.

I'm looking at doing it around Christmas. I'm a speech therapist for the schools and could get 3 weeks off then fairly easily. I don't want to screw up another summer, and I just want this done already. I've worked so hard and feel really ripped off!!

I need to ask my gynecological oncologist for a release letter at my next appt, but they just switched doctors on me, so I'm really nervous the new one won't give me the clearance letter.

My question is, has anyone else had other abdominal surgeries close together??? I feel like the sleeve won't be quite as bad as the hysterectomy. I had laproscopic plus a bikini line cut.

Thanks for listening. Looking forward to reading all your stories, too.

[TealSister 296]

I started with a partial hysterectomy (preventative for pre-cancerous endometrial cancer cells) in March 2012. During surgery, they found ovarian cancer, so I had a complete hysterectomy. Like you, they got everything and I had no subsequent treatment. I had the hysterectomy 3/28/12 and sleeved 3/26/15. I did have 3 years between, but had no issues whatsoever with my gyn-oncologist approving. In fact, he was HAPPY since it was hard to sew me back up after surgery due to the excess belly fat.

The pain was similar (I had/have a large vertical scar) with both surgeries. A five month gap wouldn't be too bad. Healing from the hysterectomy should be pretty good by then.

You have just had a second chance at life with your hysterectomy. Take advantage of that with the WLS. I wallowed in survivor guilt for 2.5 years before taking control of my life with WLS.

[DaisyAmy 561]

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm so glad they found your cancer early, too!

I'm definitely still doing the surgery. Even with all the cancer appointments and craziness, I still kept up all my weight loss appointments. My case manager has been an angel throughout. And I still lost weight! Granted some of it was my sick organs, but still!

I'm hoping my WLS will be laproscopic. I think that's what they usually do where I go. My hysterectomy could have been, except my uterus was too large and they didn't want to cut it with the cancer in it.