I could sense my eyes welling up, when the patient was describing the
daily miseries in her life after hysterectomy. If this
was just one unusual case in my practice, I would be a happier person, but
unfortunately these patients are a recurring phenomenon, all robbed of
their youth by undergoing hysterectomy at an untimely age.
I glanced into the
chart and it showed that, she was just in her late thirties, but I was looking
at someone who looked like the mother of a women in her thirties ! She was dressed shabbily,
wearing a dull loose fitting wrinkled cotton Kurtha. Grey hair was scruffy and
messy, her wrinkled face was devoid of any makeup, the black circles around her
eyes clearly indicated lack of sleep.
She described her daily life
as painfully slow, worse than death. Every single joint was hurting. If
its back pain today, tomorrow is neck pain and leg pain the next day. It is as
if the pain has become a constant companion and is traveling throughout the
body.
On and off she suffers from
hot flashes, all the body parts will burn as if on fire, after each episode she
would sweat profusely, making her drench and putting her in an awkward position in
front of her family and friends.
Every day she makes plans,
but she just do not have the energy to implement anything, so tasks keeps
getting postponed, even the trivial ones. Just getting out of bed in the
morning is a daily struggle. She keeps
forgetting things easily, sometimes even important matters. Frequent outbursts
at children and her partner has made her
unpopular even in her own family.
Her skin always feels dry
and the hair has lost its sheen and number. Sexual life is almost nonexistent or painful and dry. Her
partner, who is a fit 40 year old is
always nagging her and has found solace
in alcohol, as it helps him sleep better. (he feels)
Her tummy has bulged and
husband is happily making fun of the tyres around her body. She correctly
described it, the fat cells decided to relocate, left the breasts and
the thighs and settled in the tummy.
she summed up her condition
in few words which expressed her desperation
“Doctor, I feel death is better
than this”.
So why is she going thru all
this trauma?
Few years back, she used to get occasional back pain, an orthopedician confirmed after check up that everything was normal. Subsequently, she consulted a gynecologist who did a hasty hysterectomy stating uterine problems as the cause for back pain. Of course the ovaries were preserved, as she was only 34 years old. But her ovaries stopped working within couple of months, which is the usual story after hysterectomy, leading to a premature menopause. She was later diagnosed with disc prolapse, which probably could have been the cause for the back pain.
Few years back, she used to get occasional back pain, an orthopedician confirmed after check up that everything was normal. Subsequently, she consulted a gynecologist who did a hasty hysterectomy stating uterine problems as the cause for back pain. Of course the ovaries were preserved, as she was only 34 years old. But her ovaries stopped working within couple of months, which is the usual story after hysterectomy, leading to a premature menopause. She was later diagnosed with disc prolapse, which probably could have been the cause for the back pain.
Now she is in a state of
misery, because of surgical menopause. Even though she tried
out different types of medicines including ayurveda, she felt no
relief.
After counseling about the
advantages and side effects, we have put her on HRT, and she is feeling like a
human again. The symptoms completely disappear, the moment you give estrogen to
these women. The millions of neurons in the brain have estrogen receptors
from the time it was an early embryo, so every single function of the brain is
affected due to early menopause, which in turn affects each and every bodily functions.
You may ask, why every women who undergoes
menopause does not have all these symptoms or side effects. But the case is
different in women aged 45 years or
more. The hormonal changes happen gradually and slowly over many years, around 5 to 10
years of slow change happens during natural menopause. The neurons get used to
the changes slowly, and body is steadily adapting. If you put cold water in a hot
vessel it cracks, but if you slowly cool the vessel, it will not break
into pieces. Similarly, it is more easier
for the body to adapt and tolerate during the natural process of menopause and
there will be less side effects of menopause.
So, it is very crucial to analyse the symptoms and the
disease appropriately and accurately, before a decision for hysterectomy is
taken, because the side effects of hysterectomy and menopause can be
devastating on many women.
Dr.
Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre
anitadane@gmail.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in
south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology).
Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,
along with her spouse Dr. S Mani. She
completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist London, DFFP from ART Warwick
university and worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in
scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno
IVF centre Cochin and Bangalore. Apart from advanced
laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques
including IVF, IUI, ICSI, donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in
genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.