Anyone avoid a hysterectomy with the LapBand???

[BayCityBandster 1]

Hi all!

I am new here and have an important question. I apologize if it is TMI but I am desperate.

I have my first appt. with a band doc in April, but have been having severe bouts of dysfunctional uterine bleeding with no underlying issues identified (no cysts, polyps, hyperplasia, etc.). My current gyn is concerned about doing a hysterectomy because I carry most of my weight in my stomach and she would have to cut deep -- since I am diabetic, she is very concerned with healing issues and the risk of infection.

Since the cause of this is probably an overproduction of estrogen cause by excess weight (bmi 48), I have been told that this MIGHT be improved or even cured with weight loss. I am trying to decide if I should wait or move ahead with a specialist. I am on double doses of birth control to stop the bleeding right now (have had 3 d&c's, etc.) but I cannot stay on it forever and am still having breakthrough bleeding.

Please, please, please...if anyone knows anything about this, can you share it with me?

Thank you so much. I look forward to being a part of this board!!!

Karen

[Elisabethsew 50]

Ask about endometrial ablation. This basically burns the endometrium and stops the bleeding. Estrogen is stored in fat cells and being on double dose BC pills at 45 coupled with obesity makes you VERY at risk for blood clots (been there... NOT fun).

[peggy1011 0]

I agree with Elisabeth. Check into the endometrial ablation. I also had dysfunctional bleeding. Had an ablation, and it really slowed things down. Unfortunately, I began bleeding again, and had ablation #2. Worked again for awhile, but my bleeding started up. Ended up with a hysterectomy 1 year prior to my banding. My doc says there's no way I could have avoided it. But...she also said my obesity played a big role in the bleeding due to excess estrogen. I highly recommend the band AND the ablation. Worst case scenario will be an eventual hysterectomy, but you will have lost wait due to the band, and will do much better and be at less risk. Please let us know how you make out. Good luck!

[amamastime 0]

I ditto... ask about endometrial ablation. I am scheduled for one March 12- just around the corner. Have the band has help with some of the issues down there (w/o TMI) but I still have this last step to do. Here is a pdf article on it and what it all consist of http://www.patient-education.com/Documents/Speciality_PDF/OBGYN/OBGYN.pdf

I hope this helps you.

[hersfdn 0]

Visit hysterectomy alternatives and aftereffects, consequences, support, HERS Foundation, Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services to watch the HERS Foundation's "Female Anatomy" video and empower yourself with information about what women consistently report after hysterectomy.

It's your right to know,

HERS

[mss 1]

I had to stop taking the pill two years ago after getting a benign tumour on my liver which happens in a teeny minority of people who use the pill for many years. My periods were awful after this and the gynaecologist had mentioned a hysterectomy to me as a possibilty but she knew I was having a lapband and suggested waiting and seeing if the weight loss made a difference. Bleeding wise I have noticed a big improvement in the last two months or so which is fantastic. Hope this helps.

[Marimaru 7]

I don't know anything about what you are going through, but I wanted to mention that estrogen is stored in your fat cells and released when you lose weight... so by your gyn's logic, it sounds like it would get worse before it got better....