Almost A Year After Trachelectomy

Hi,

I had an abdominal trachelectomy and lymph node dissection 8 months ago and would be interested in hearing from anyone else who has had a trach in the past and what they have experienced, what has changed, etc.

Is there anyone who would like to post what they have experienced?

Hi Lisa- it's jennifer!  Sorry it has been so long since I wrote- I was scanning across this site again because my sister is now diagnosed with cervical cancer. How are you feeling?   As you know- my year is coming close as well- May will be a year- My 2 paps I have had done have come back normal and I am feeling great.  My periods are still really really late and I am getting dialated every 6-8 weeks now.  I still worry like crazy about the cancer returning and how they will know if it is somewhere other than the cervix, since the pap is the main screening method.  It scares me becuase that is only the surface that they do the pap with. I had 1 or 2 cat scans I think and all looked good, but I still worry.  How is your recovery doing and is your doctor doing all the same things for monitoring?  Also, every few months they do a vaginal/pelvic ultrasound to see if any adhesions are developing on my ovaries.  Talk to you soon!

jennifer

On 1/15/2008 Ltk7321 wrote:

Hi,

 

I had an abdominal trachelectomy and lymph node dissection 8 months ago and would be interested in hearing from anyone else who has had a trach in the past and what they have experienced, what has changed, etc.

Is there anyone who would like to post what they have experienced?

 

 

 

 

It has been 5 1/2 months for me now since the Ab-Trachelectomy.  I am now 37, just yesterday.

I have to say I regret having the ab instead of the vaginal.  I only went with the ab because my Dr. only performed it that way & I did not want to waste time getting another Dr.  I now have a Dr. that perfroms the vaginal and he said I would not have the numbness I still have in my groin & of course would have had much less recovery time.  Also no scar. So for those of you that are thinking of having the Ab Trachelectomy it is worth spending the time finding a Dr. who is able to do the vaginal.

What else has changed for me is the periods.  Up until 1/11/08 my periods were normal (once a mo. about 7 days with no Birth Control) but after a biopsy on this date it has been almost non-stop exception of only a few days break about once or twice a month. My doctor (new Dr. at Mayo Clinic here in Jacksonville, Fl.) says it is due to the type of surgery I had.  I was surprised to hear this because I did not find this side effect on the many sites I researched or with my surgeon at the time.  Have any of you had this or heard of anyone having this?  Anway my DR. said the Depo Provera should stop the periods so hopefully he is right.  If not he said the only way to solve it is a Hysterectomy.  Hopefully it does not come to that, the last thing I want is another surgery.

Another change is intercourse.  What little I have been able to have (due to period) I do not feel the same sensation during intercourse therefor I do not have the same orgasm.  Hopefully in time it will get better as things heal more. Thankfully I have no bleeding during as I was told I may.

Last is I do not urinate as easily, I have to push to get all out. 

Now for testing I have had 3 paps, 2 pelvics, 2 biopsies, CA125 blood test & a pelvic MRI since the surgery (my doctor said this will show up cancer better).  From what my doctors have said and the research I have found is if the cancer does return it will be on the cervix if you have any left or in the uterous with having the Trachelectomy.  If it were a Hysterectomy that would be a different story.  

I am little concerned because my pap did come back abnormal but the other tests showed all was normal.  I have a follow-up again in 1 month.

Please share in detail anything you may have that is like what I have had or information you have received from your doctor.

Thank you!