h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.h2g2.com/A498765

I wrote my personal experience first, and it got kicked out. {first person!}
So here is a properly researched entry complete with links.
I've even had it checked over by a
I must stress that I wanted this entry to be able to be understood by non-medical people, because there is nothing so frightening as finding out information on your own condition, then not be able to understand the medical jargon.
I welcome your comments.

Hi,

Another great article!
I think the personal perspective is really important when dealing with emotive medical issues like hysterectomies, and you've put that across really well.

A couple of points:

1) Vaginal hysterectomies don't involve suction of the uterus through the vagina. Their full title is 'Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH)'. The majority of the operation is done via using laparascopic techniques, and is then removed via the vagina. LAVH is much less traumatic than the traditional route.

2) Instead of 'change of life' I'd say 'menopause (change of life)'

3) It may be worth mentioning that bilateral oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) is a big step: Whilst not all women having a hysterectomy need to have their ovaries removed, it is important to ensure that women about to undergo the procedure are made fully aware that they are or are not having their ovaries removed, and that it is possible on the consent form to state that they don't want to lose their ovaries. Some (in my opinion not very good) surgeons will remove them as a matter of course, and it can be very distressing for the patient to find out after the event. Obviously sometimes it is essential to remove them.

Hope that is some help with what is an excellent article!

- Adam

Greetings Galaxy Babe.

Really great article.

I have put it in as a link in my Hydatidiform mole article. Trust you don't mind...

Thanx
Eternity

Well done! Very informative, well written and helpful. I think the personal perspective is also extrememly helpful for topics like this.
I agree with Doc Wonky's comments as well
There are a few oddly places /s.... unless that's just a problem at my end?
I hope it goes in promptly.. I think it would be a very useful addition to the guide.
Would you mind if I added a link to it from my "Miscarriage" article?
cheers-
Ari

Sorry I have not had time to work on this entry.
I hope to rectify that situation this week.

I will be finishing off this entry today.

I think that you should put an introductory paragraph something like this:

A hysterectomy means the surgical removal of the uterus (womb). Many women need their womb removed for medical reasons. This entry explains the possible reasons, the types of operation and how it affects the woman.

All done!
Any further comments?

This entry has been in Peer Review rather a long time.
Any more comments?
Please?

Had two other entries accepted today.....

Hopefully this one will be the third..

Hiya GB... me had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago... my scar runs from my belly button downwards... it a big scar, as...well... in the doctors words... "I had to have a good root around in there!"

I had cancer, and everything had to be taken away, and then he had to check to see if the cancer had spread anywhere else... luckily it hadn't... just thought me would tell you.. as the bikini line scar isn't the only one you can get from this operation....

As to depression after the op... well I had it before... but think it is worse now... and I hate to admit... but I still can't even pick up a baby as it upsets me to think I could never have one of my own... ~faint smile~... I tend to ignore them if I can...

I wrote a poem after I returned from hospital... thought you might like to read it...



Cursed

No one can give me back that which I have lost
People tell me I am lucky, but at what cost
They took away the very heart of me
Stole something very precious so I will never be


I have tried not to think of how much worse
It would be for me, if they had not removed the curse
Of how no future was in sight
For the curse would grow and I would lose the fight


But somehow that does not seem so bad
When I think of all that I could of had
Maybe it is selfish, I want a little one of my own
Someone to love, who came forth from the seed that I sowed


Now this miracle of life can never be
This female right was taken away from me
I did nothing wrong, but life was not kind
A new meaning to life I have to find


One day maybe I will look back
And not mourn over what I do lack
But until that yearned for day arrives
I will envy others, their new born lives


Maybe it was because everything happened so quickly... the cancer was discovered in March... A letter from the hospital arrived in early April and by the end of April I was out of hospital, womb and ovaries removed... I proberly didn't have time to accept it... and as the doctors told me... if it was left I would of been dead by the same time the next year...

One lucky thing was meeting Stooby... who accepted me... my moods... my lack of being able to have children and loved me for what I was...
Hopefully given more time my anger.. for that is what it is.. will abate... and I do understand a lot of people are happy to have the operation... but for me... it wasn't welcomed and I still hurt when I think to deeply about it...

Tis a great article you have.. well written and researched... It is bound to be a guide entry... well done...

Greebs

Forgive me my selfishness, but I would rather have a live, wombless Greebo...
Thank you for your story.
May I add it to my entry?
~huggle~

Of course you may... and is happy to be alive... honestly... ~grin~

I'm glad to hear it...
I'm sorry for your loss...
I also have a friend who had to have a hysterectomy & she had no family. She also has bowel cancer...and had to have a colostomy.
Sometimes life is very cruel.
We should cherish the good moments.
They don't last long.

I added your poem to my entry.
Thank you...~huggle~
~leaves Greebs a~

I think you ought to leave the line-breaks in the poem - every fourth line...

There's a Uni project on woman's health at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A534944, which proposes to talk about Hysterectomy. Perhaps you could talk with them and wee what happens?

One more thing: I think you ought to explain at least a little bit what, say, Fibroids are, for those of us who are thick. But this is another great entry AGB - this is getting to be a habit with you...

Incidentally, Greebo, there's a recc'd entry on experiences on cancer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A531848 - you might want to talk to the author (St. Justin) as well, if you want to share.

Hi Lucinda... will take a look at Justins page... thanks for pointing the way...

Well done, GB! This entry's going to go into the Edited Guide!

As I'm sure you know, it will be sent off for a Subeditor to tweak, which can take a little time, but you'll be emailed when it gets the Front Page status it deserves.

Well done - keep up the good work!

This thread is now officially closed.

no it isn't!

Galaxy Babe: your part of a project, and you've got this entry approved via peer review... I'm afraid you need to pick one or the other...

{the bonus of writing so well that lots of people want your work }

One or the other?
Thanks...Nexus...Lucinda...

Can I get back to you?