|
Letter to Oprah
After watching Oprah's show on hysterectomies, I got inspired
to write my own letter to her.
| The
feelings women go through when they suffer
from Surgical Menopause are tremendous. Not
only have they lost their internal organs,
and for most women, the ability to have children,
but they are experiencing all these emotional
and physical symptoms beyond anything they
ever imagined or been told! |
Dear Oprah,
In general, as I sat and watched your show on June 15,
1998 on the subject of Hysterectomies I cried. I thought
to myself, "If only someone had aired this a year
ago my life would be different."
You MADE a difference in a lot of women's lives that day.
But it is time to take it a step further. What about
the women who have already made this drastic step and
now suffer daily? What options do they have? When will
the hell end? These women I am talking about are your
sisters, your friends, your co-workers. They suffer
from Surgical Menopause.
It is said that this is supposed to be a "normal"
process everyone goes through in life. Although this
may be true, it is a proven fact that most of the women
who go through menopause are actually suffering from
"Surgical Menopause". Women go through this
mainly after the removal of their ovaries but some women
suffer just as much with the removal of their uterus
only. When I say suffer I do not use this term lightly.
Some women experiencing Surgical Menopause go through
Hell. This process has destroyed marriages, family relationships,
self worth and made a lot of women wonder "WHY
DID I DO THIS TO MY BODY?" and "WHY IS MY
BODY WORKING AGAINST ME?"
The
Feelings
The feelings women go through when
they suffer from Surgical Menopause are tremendous.
Not only have they lost their internal organs, and for
most women, the ability to have children, but they are
experiencing all these emotional and physical symptoms
beyond anything they ever imagined or been told! Loss
of sexual drive, inability to have orgasms, hot flashes,
hair loss, bladder problems, joint pain, thyroid dysfunction,
painful intercourse, dry skin, anger/rage, crying spells,
suicidal thoughts, depression, insomnia...the list goes
on an on. A woman going through Surgical Menopause will
experience all or some of these symptoms. Some women
experience more severe symptoms which will have her
going to all types of doctors, put on all kinds of medicines,
just to be told "It is all in your head,"
or "Take this antidepressant and come back in a
few months." It is time to educate the doctors
about what is going on with our bodies. This is not
in our heads! Our feelings are real and although it
may look like we are losing it, we are reaching out
for the help that we deserve.
My
Story
I am 29, a young woman who feels
10 years older. I should not be going through this in
my life right now but because of poor research and a
doctor who just wanted to "take everything out"
I am suffering from Surgical Menopause. I had my surgery
in September of 1997 because of painful intercourse,
pelvic pain, and adhesions from a C-Section. My doctor
said I would feel as good as new. I was 28 years old
and I had only been married a month. Now, nearly a year
later, I am still experiencing painful intercourse,
pelvic pain, and adhesions. The same symptoms I was
having which forced me to have a hysterectomy have returned.
My life changed in September of 1997. My marriage suffered,
my health suffered and my job suffered. I experienced
all symptoms listed above and more. I had to have another
surgery in February of 1998 to remove more scar tissue
only to be told that it would reform and I would just
have to live with it. The day after your show I found
out I had a tumor on my vaginal cuff around the nerve
endings. This was not supposed to happen to me. Now
I am faced with another possible surgery if the in-office
procedure does not help me. Sex is out of the question
because of the severe pelvic and back pain I get. I
am also STILL trying to find the right HRT "cocktail".
I know there are people in worse condition than I am.
I am not trying to complain but to EDUCATE. That is
the key. If, through my experience, I can help another
young woman from going through this then I know I have
made a difference.
In
Conclusion
Although this letter is long, I
hope it has reached your heart. The women of this world
NEED a show on Surgical Menopause and what it does to
your body. We need the education so we can make a responsible
choice about our bodies. I urge you to do a show on
this and I can guarantee that you will be blessed by
millions of women faced with this problem.
Thank you for your time and help.
Kellie G
|
|
