Just as Much a Woman

i read several other books before i had my hyst, but this one was so realistic and down to earth it seems to be personally written to me. it answered all the questions i was too afraid too embarrassed or thought was stupid to ask, and gave many helpful hints about what to do to make the process a bit smoother, if that's possible, as well as, calmed my fears on what to expect. the main thing is that its not sugar coated but straight in your face how it is.

If you have ever faced a life changing operation -- or one you feared could change your life -- you will appreciate the powerful and sensitive approach Nancy Rosenfeld and Dianna Bolen have taken in JUST AS MUCH A WOMAN, a guide for the woman facing or living through a hysterectomy. Armed with her own direct experience, the personal experiences of many other women, and thoughtful input from professionals in the health and psychology fields, Nancy Rosenfeld provides a sympathetic and well-organized presentation of the wide-ranging issues confronting any woman advised to have or consider having a hysterectomy. Each year over 650,000 women are advised to undergo this uniquely female surgery. While a portion of these women have life-threatening conditions requiring immediate surgery, many more are advised to elect surgery for a number of health reasons. The decision to proceed with an elective hysterectomy -- or to decline to proceed -- is indeed a comlex and multifaced decision. For example, the woman considering such a surgery may have a choice between a total and partial hysterectomy, a choice between an abdominal or vaginal removal, and a choice among varrious approaches to hormone management. If you face these decisions, your doctor may or may not explain all your options clearly. Nancy does. Further, she provides the language you will need in order to understand and discuss your options intelligently. She helps you anticipate the decisions you may confront and the thoughts and feelings you may experience. Personal narratives from a dozen women give the reader the sense of sharing a mutual experience with friends, friends who have faced the same concerns and fears. JUST AS MUCH A WOMAN is the book I wish I had had when I was faced with this profound female issue myself.

This book quickly brought me up to speed on the medical/physiological processes involved written in a way that I could understand the information. The information and personal experiences of the author and the other 12 women made me feel more comfortable about my upcoming surgery. Not everything said was encouraging, but I felt comforted by the honesty. It is better to know what to expect than to be in the dark. I especially liked the hindsight information about how to prepare for the surgery and the recovery period, suggestions for freezing meals, losing weight and getting in shape before the surgery were particularly helpful. This book was the real thing, and written in a manner that made me feel like I was having a conversation with the author. The sharing of the emotional experience before , during and after the surgery helped me to feel normal. The author literally walks you through the day of surgery and each of the first five days following in great detail. Thank you Nancy Rosenfeld! I recommend this book as required reading for any woman contemplating or needing a hysterecomy and for their partners!!!.

Nancy Rosenfeld and Dianna Bolen bring the reality of the entire process of a hysterectomy to life in their book. Nancy has taken a personal experience and has focused on all the aspects of the trauma that the mere mention of a hysterectomy causes. Dianna focuses on one area that is often poorly addressed by physicians: sex.I commend Nancy's frank truthfulness and for her taking this personal experience public to allow women to benefit not only from her story, but from the stories of other women as well.Sebastian Faro, M.D., Ph.D., John M. Simpson Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

JUST AS MUCH A WOMAN is an enlightened and appropriate title for this book. Numerous books on the market delineate how to avoid having a hysterectomy. No one talks about the women who choose this option or perhaps don't even have a choice due to their particular medical condition. It is time for a well-balanced personal view of a complicated and emotional topic. Congratulations to Nancy Rosenfeld and Dianna Bolen for presenting such a book. It is a well-rounded guide to the entire hysterectomy process.Heather Krantz, M.D., Highland Park Medical Association, Highland Park, Illiois