The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy: Advice from a Gynecologist on Your Choices Before, During, and After Surgery

With insurance limiting time doctors spend with patients and the shock of hearing the words "you need a hysterectomy" there are so many questions that can go unanswered. THIS book is your answers. It's as if the author is sitting across the table from you, or on your sofa, enjoying a glass of wine and telling you the what ifs. She not only gives you the history ( which will make you grateful you were born when you were) but she explains every little thing...the pros and the cons. How to prepare, the fact you really aren't crazy, and what to expect. I highly recommend this book. I went from high anxiety to " Ok, I know my options and this is what I want to do and why.". When you finish reading this book, you will be a very educated patient and it will answer all your questions. At least it did for me. 10 stars if I could.

I've read several books about hysterectomies in the last three weeks. I found this one to be the best and most informative with simple straight forward language you would hope to gain from any doctor. I like that the book was written by someone with knowledge outside of their own personal story. This book helped me to fully understand all of my options and when I meet with a specialist soon I will have an educated list of questions about my personal health along with the information I gained from this book. This is why we look for these types of medical books, for real information that can allow us to speak to our own doctor. I very highly do not recommend Through the Land of Hyster: The Hyster Sisters Guide unless you are having some sort of depressive difficulties in letting go of your female organs. That book is silly fluff and won't ever make you feel that you are getting your information from a reliable source. Imagine opening an online forum and letting everyone have crack at it with their so called advice. That's what that book is about. Just my thoughts after spending more money on so many books and more than necessary to get to this book and actually gain the information I needed at a crucial time in my life.

I ordered this book a week before my hysterectomy and didn't get it until afterward, but I still found it very helpful. Great detail on preparing for surgery and what to expect the day of and the week after. The chapter about the pros/cons of keeping your cervix interested me because my doctors had opposing opinions. The last chapter contains comments from patients and husbands that I found revealing and reassuring. At 6 weeks past surgery, I'm still referring to the book. I recommended this book and The Woman's Guide to Hysterectomy to my gynecologist. Both are comprehensive and informative; this book is slightly more "readable."

I was diagnosed with breast cancer last March. I had the tumor removed and was lucky not to have chemotherapy or radiation. However, because there was DCIS throughout both of my breasts, I will need to have a bilateral mastectomy w/reconstructive surgery. Since my breast cancer is hormone-receptive, I am also having a hysterectomy as a preventative measure to avoid future cancer. I have been getting conflicting advice from all of my doctors as to whether or not I should have just my ovaries removed or the uterus/cervix, too. I bought this book to learn all about the options, the risks and the side effects of going into surgical menopause. I found it to be extremely informative. Dr. Streicher begins the book with interesting facts exploring the history of early treatments and the development of the hysterectomy. As I am only 43, I really wanted to know as much as possible before plunging into this. This book helped me weigh the pros and cons of various surgical techniques and allowed me to make the best choice for myself. I read the book before consulting with a surgeon and because I had learned so much, I felt competent discussing options and procedures. After spending the last few months educating myself about breast cancer, it was nice to have one good resource to turn to for hysterectomy. Dr. Streicher spells it out clearly and thoroughly with a soft sense of humor to boot! I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about or getting ready to face a hysterectomy.

This book is truly the "Bible" when it comes to every bit of information one would ever need in regards to hysterectomy. Dr. Streicher covers everything from who needs a hysterectomy (and perhaps who doesn't), to the different types of hysterectomy and even life, sex and excercise after one!. She addresses not only all the medical aspects, but emotional also. Every question one might have is answered here. It is SO informative and even quite humorous! I took it to the hospital with me and referred to it there and at home EVERYDAY for 2 weeks after my surgery. I have shown it to all my friends and have even sent one to my sister in New York City to pass along to her gynecologist there. I want all of her patients to know about it too. If you or anyone you know may be needing a hysterectomy, this is a "must read". Finally, a very important point that Dr. Streicher makes is that MANY hysterectomies can be done laparoscopically. If your doctor says that you are "not" a candidate for this type of surgery, find a doctor that does laparoscopic hysterectomies and get the correct answer from them. Your recovery will be much faster, with little or no pain, and tiny incision sites that will disappear instead of long abdominal scars.. Many doctors will tell you that you are NOT a candidate for a laparoscopic hysterectomy, when the truth is that you ARE, your doctor just isn't trained to do them. I was fortunate to have Dr. Streicher as my doctor and she removed my ovaries AND uterus laparoscopically. I had No pain and No bleeding. My recovery was remarkable and felt really good at my 2 week check up. (I even went to a Cubs game on day 15!).

I joked with my doctor that after reading this book I could probably do my own hysterectomy! Certainly I could not have successfully maneuvered all the ins and outs and ups and downs without this indispensible guide. I had greater confidence in my doctor after hearing him tell me exactly what I had read. I brought a copy with me to the pre-op consultation, and he was happy to see that it did not contain touchy-feely "girlfriend" kinds of advice. Instead, the Guide is well-organized and clearly written (like talking to a VERY knowledgeable girlfriend) and continues to be a great help even as I am comfortably on the road to recovery. As a thank-you to him, I am purchasing a second copy in hopes that he will pass it on to help someone else.