Hysterectomy Hot Flashes Are Often The Butt Of Jokes

Women and hot flashes are often the butt of jokes but hot flashes are no laughing matter even if you are somewhat prepared for them. Often times after hysterectomy women experience the immediate onset of menopause and all of its symptoms. Faced with the sudden appearance of this inconvenient, somewhat mystifying and at times embarrassing symptom a woman may become depressed and frustrated. Just knowing that hot flashes are commonplace can help some women deal with them. There are also a few actions a woman can take which may help relief them.

The simple act of having a hysterectomy will not automatically cause hot flashes to happen. Hot flashes generally indicate the onset of menopause but there again having a hysterectomy does not automatically cause menopause to happen. In some hysterectomies only a woman’s uterus is removed. Theoretically if the ovaries are left intact menopause will begin at about the same time as it would have if there had been no hysterectomy; this is true even if only one ovary is spared. There are cases though when the signs of menopause show themselves even if the ovaries have not been taken out. Doctors theorize that this occurs because the blood flow to the ovaries may have been diminished in some way by the operation. Surgical menopause will be immediately induced if the ovaries are removed as part of the hysterectomy procedure.

Even medical professionals don’t know why natural menopause or surgical menopause causes hot flashes; obviously there is a connection between the diminished production of estrogen by the ovaries and the beginning of signs of menopause. However, the precise link between the specific symptom of a hot flash and decreased estrogen has not been determined. For some reason there is a momentary fluctuation in the part of the brain that regulates body temperature; when that happens a woman can feel as though she is almost feverish in what seems like seconds; this feeling usually lasts from three to thirty minutes. The hot flash may be accompanied by a red face or even red extremities, heat palpitations and drenching sweat. Sometimes a woman will wake up in the middle of the night with a severe hot flash accompanied by massive perspiration, this is called night sweat. All told, hot flashes generally occur off and on for anywhere from two months to two years.

Women find varying degrees of symptom relief from a wide variety of treatments. In the past, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was almost universally prescribed. Serious side effects from some forms of HRT have arisen though and many women opt for other approaches to battle hot flashes. For some women twenty minutes or more a day of cardiovascular exercise such as brisk walking can be very helpful. Other women swear by herbal remedies such as black cohosh. Soy supplements may also alleviate the symptom as may B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. Lowering the intake of caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol can also decrease many menopause symptoms. Women may also want to dress in layers so they can take off a piece or two of clothing when a hot flash rears its ugly head.

Without a doubt, hot flashes are one of the most annoying aspects both natural menopause and surgical menopause. Their sudden and sometimes very evident onset can be embarrassing and highly inconvenient. Take heart, however, most all women experience hot flashes at some time during their lives; eventually they will taper off and finally disappear altogether.

Check Out Our Brand New e-Book –> Women’s Hysterectomy Stories – The Essential Guide by: Ruth Steeves. Click Here Now for Instant Access!

Getting Ready for your Hysterectomy Procedure

So you are going in for surgery? Great! Now, it’s time to decide how to prepare for your hysterectomy procedure. There are some tips which can make your day go quickly if you are scheduled for a hysterectomy and some things you need to know which will help you get ready:

• Regardless of which procedure you are scheduled to have, you should know, you’ll likely have some waiting times. Most OB/GYN doctors schedule their surgeries all on the same day so you may be the first and you may be the last, you just never know. Take something to do or take along a book because you’ll likely spend a lot of time in the waiting room prior to surgery.
• Wear comfortable clothing especially if you are going home after the procedure. If you are staying overnight, pack comfortable and baggy clothing so you won’t feel confined after surgery in tight clothing.
• Take all of your medications with you on the day of your hysterectomy procedure. The nurses at the hospital will want to know what medications you are taking.
• Make sure you are on time. Your doctor will want you to be there when you are supposed to be there so their day will stay on schedule.
• After your hysterectomy procedure, you won’t be able to drive so have someone ready to drive you home after the procedure.
• If you are staying overnight, try not to let too many people know so you can enjoy some peace and quiet as you are recovering from the procedure.

A hysterectomy procedure can make for a long day prior to your surgery because unless you are first, it is hard to say when the doctor will rush in to do your surgery. However, once it’s time for your surgery, things move fast. You’ll be strolled into surgery and taken down to the OR quickly and the next thing you know, you’ll wake up in the recovery room.

Check Out Our Brand New e-Book –> Women’s Hysterectomy Stories – The Essential Guide by: Ruth Steeves. Click Here Now for Instant Access!

Are All Hysterectomy Procedures Traumatic?

Almost all women know that a hysterectomy procedure refers to the surgical removal of the uterus. Unless a woman has had one herself though she may not know that there are a number of different hysterectomy procedures each directed toward solving particular problems. Since hysterectomy is the first or second most performed type of surgery on females, it may be wise to know a little about the various methods employed in hysterectomies.

Hysterectomy may be used to cure a variety of ailments. Indeed, there are those who think that doctors often prescribe the operation when lesser or alternative therapies should be tried first. However, each circumstance is different and a woman should discuss the particulars of her case in depth with her physician and get a second opinion if she is not confident that hysterectomy is the best path for her.

The most commonly performed procedure is the total hysterectomy. This term is somewhat misleading as a woman might think that total means that all of the reproductive organs will be taken out. However, this type of hysterectomy refers to the removal of the uterus and the cervix only. A salpingo oophorectomy is the medical term for the removal of the fallopian tubes (salpingo) and the ovaries (oophorectomy). There may be times when one ovary is left in order to delay the onset of early menopause. If both sets of tubes and ovaries are taken out the operation is referred to as bilateral.

Partial hysterectomies, sometimes called subtotal, refer to the removal of the uterus only. Occasionally a radical hysterectomy may be necessary. In this procedure the uterus, cervix, both ovaries and both fallopian tubes are removed. In addition, the ovarian ducts, the upper region of the vagina and lymph nodes will be excised.

There are three basic types of hysterectomy surgery: Abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic. A fourth hybrid method using a laparoscope in combination with a vaginal hysterectomy is sometimes used in order to have a good look at the pelvic region without performing an abdominal procedure.

In the last two decades, laparoscopic hysterectomies have become a widely used procedure. This method uses a long thin optical tool called a laparoscope in conjunction with other slender tools to find, examine and take out the uterus. A good view of the affected area is available with this hysterectomy procedure; however, its use is limited by the size of the organs and/or tissue which must come out.

Abdominal hysterectomies consist of a six to eight inch incision in the abdomen through which the damaged organs are removed. The cut may be made either horizontally or vertically. An operation of this sort is generally performed when the diseased organs have become too large to remove vaginally or with the more slender tools used in a laparoscopic hysterectomy. The doctor is also afforded the best view of the entire area.

Endometriosis and small fibroids may be treated using a vaginal hysterectomy. Although minimally invasive the vaginal hysterectomy can be used for a very small range of problems. As a hysterectomy procedure it offers the physician very little ability to examine the patient for other problems. Sometimes after the procedure has begun a doctor may find that the size and condition of the uterus may dictate changing to an abdominal hysterectomy.

All hysterectomy procedures are traumatic. A woman may want to consider alternative therapies before undergoing a hysterectomy. It is important though to stay in close contact with a gynecologist and not to be afraid to undergo this common procedure without delay if necessary.

<strong>Check Out Our Brand New e-Book –> <a href=”http://www.hysterectomyresources.com”>Women’s Hysterectomy Stories – The Essential Guide</a> by: Ruth Steeves. <a href=”http://www.hysterectomyresources.com” rel=”nofollow”>Click Here Now for Instant Access!</a></strong>