Hysterectomy

  • Thread starter Thread starter SavedByHim
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SavedByHim

Guest
Disclaimer: Not looking for medical advice.

Due to a suspicion of placenta accreta – which will hopefully be diagnosed or not in 2 weeks at a final pre-op ultrasound – I need to face the reality that I may not have my uterus after I have this baby.:crying:

I know I haven’t positively been diagnosed with placenta accreta yet and I don’t want to jump the gun – as my DH tells me I am doing :o 😛 – but I also want to be prepared in the event they tell me that I do indeed have it. I want to have had this time to think about my options.

So, in doing a little research, I have found that “planning” to do a hysterectomy after a c-section has much better/safer results than not planning on doing one, having the hemorrhaging problems associated with placenta accreta and then requiring an emergency hysterectomy.

** My question is, if they do indeed diagnose me with placenta accreta and DH and I decide to go ahead with the hysterectomy to hopefully keep me safer, is this permissable in the church?**

I am just struggling with the decision to knowingly mutilate my body – especially a part of my body that DH and I have completely given to God in terms of our family planning – and then on the other hand, being responsible about my health care to make sure I am around to take care of our 4 little blessings. It seems that if I trusted in God enough, I would NOT plan a hysterectomy and completely trust in the Lord to bring me through the emergency if there is one.

Again, I’m not trying to jump the gun and get myself all worked up – even though I am :o – but I just would like to know what my options are in the eyes of the church.

Thanks all!
 
If a hysterectomy is needed for health reasons then it’s fine. You might want to speak to your priest, just to calm yourself.
 
SavedByHim said:
** My question is, if they do indeed diagnose me with placenta accreta and DH and I decide to go ahead with the hysterectomy to hopefully keep me safer, is this permissable in the church?**
Click to expand...
From what I understand, as long as you are removing a diseased organ that is currently threatening your life, then it is permitted. So, if your uterus starts hemorrhaging during/after birth, it’s okay to have it removed to save your life.
 
Depending on the severity of the placentia accretia, it would be necessary to remove your uterus in order to save your life and therefore is a licit action. Just as in the case of uterine tumors, it would necessitate the need for a hysterectomy and would also be licit.

Doing a little research, it does appear that women have succesfully given birth to babies after an initial placentia accretia, but each infant comes with some risk. However, given a good OB/GYN who is aware of your increased risk? I can’t answer that one. That is something between you, DH and God.

Keep us updated and my prayers.
 
kage_ar said:
You most definately want to speak with a Catholic Medical Ethicist BEFORE making a decision. These are two orthodox places to begin looking for advice:

ncbcenter.org/

popepaulvi.com/
Click to expand...
I agree . Contact these groups. Or call up your diocese. You have to analyze your motivation.The question you need to ask - is a diseased organ being removed ( a medical treatment) or are you removing it to prevent a high risk pregnancy ( sterilization). Strict NFP might be another option without a moral question.

Prayer for your difficult decision.
 
SavedByHim said:
Disclaimer: Not looking for medical advice.

Due to a suspicion of placenta accreta – which will hopefully be diagnosed or not in 2 weeks at a final pre-op ultrasound – I need to face the reality that I may not have my uterus after I have this baby.:crying:

I know I haven’t positively been diagnosed with placenta accreta yet and I don’t want to jump the gun – as my DH tells me I am doing :o 😛 – but I also want to be prepared in the event they tell me that I do indeed have it. I want to have had this time to think about my options.

So, in doing a little research, I have found that “planning” to do a hysterectomy after a c-section has much better/safer results than not planning on doing one, having the hemorrhaging problems associated with placenta accreta and then requiring an emergency hysterectomy.

** My question is, if they do indeed diagnose me with placenta accreta and DH and I decide to go ahead with the hysterectomy to hopefully keep me safer, is this permissable in the church?**

I am just struggling with the decision to knowingly mutilate my body – especially a part of my body that DH and I have completely given to God in terms of our family planning – and then on the other hand, being responsible about my health care to make sure I am around to take care of our 4 little blessings. It seems that if I trusted in God enough, I would NOT plan a hysterectomy and completely trust in the Lord to bring me through the emergency if there is one.

Again, I’m not trying to jump the gun and get myself all worked up – even though I am :o – but I just would like to know what my options are in the eyes of the church.

Thanks all!
Click to expand...
I haven’t researched your question, but this is my story.
My mother ignored the doctor’s advice that another pregnancy would kill her therefore she should have a hysterectomy. She died at age 43, following miscarriage of her 11th child, and leaving nine surviving children, the youngest, four years old. The loss and grief and the consequences reverberated through all our lives.
 
Seatuck said:
I agree . Contact these groups. Or call up your diocese. You have to analyze your motivation.The question you need to ask - is a diseased organ being removed ( a medical treatment) or are you removing it to prevent a high risk pregnancy ( sterilization). Strict NFP might be another option without a moral question.

Prayer for your difficult decision.
Click to expand...
I completely understand your question and definitely see the difference. Just to be clear, none of this is about preventing future pregnancies. I have complete faith in NFP in that regard. 🙂

It’s all about the day of the delivery and preventing a life-or-death emergency situation. What if the doctors tell me that they cannot definitively 100% tell me that the placenta is NOT attached to the uterus. Let’s say they tell me that there is a good chance that it is, but they are just not sure.

If I go ahead and plan a hysterectomy with the intent of it to be a life-saving procedure IN CASE it is attached, rather than have them get in there, discover it’s attached and it becomes a medical emergency to save my life because we were not prepared ahead of time to do the hysterectomy, is THAT OK? Does that make sense?

Like, if they tell me FOR SURE that the placenta IS attached and the uterus needs to be removed in order to keep me from bleeding to death, I feel like my conscience can be clear. I remove the diseased organ.

Likewise, if they tell me FOR SURE that the placenta is NOT attached, I will not have the hysterectomy and this issue becomes, well, not one! 😃

It’s the in-between that I’m so unsure of what to do! :o

Anyways, I need to contact these places you guys mentioned and talk to my priest and see if I can figure out what the right thing to do is. Thanks so much for your continued insight. 🙂
 
Trishie said:
I haven’t researched your question, but this is my story.
My mother ignored the doctor’s advice that another pregnancy would kill her therefore she should have a hysterectomy. She died at age 43, following miscarriage of her 11th child, and leaving nine surviving children, the youngest, four years old. The loss and grief and the consequences reverberated through all our lives.
Click to expand...
I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. :crying: That’s exactly the situation I want to prevent – leaving my little ones behind – and why I am torn about “Why would I not just plan to have it taken out so there is no surprises come delivery day?”

Sigh.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. May God bless and keep you.
 
Father, in Jesus’ name, please guide SavedByHim to the choice that You desire for her and her family. With certainty, let Your will be done in her life and that of her family. Thank You, Father
 
I would say talk to your doctor about options at that time and see if it is possible to do things first before a hysterectomy to try to preserve your fertility. I think the hysterectomy is for times when other management has failed or the bleeding is excessive to the point of risking death. If that is the case, then of course it is permissible to remove the organ because there is excessive bleeding. These people at the hospital an be ready quickly to do a hysterectomy, but can try other things first to stop the bleeding if in fact you have placenta accreta. If that fails they may go to that.
I found this that talks about managing accreta and options before hysterectomy though its a little hard to understand:
obgmanagement.com/article_pages.asp?AID=2963&UID=

“Hysterectomy may become necessary if uterine bleeding cannot be controlled. While attempts may be made to salvage the uterus, immediate hysterectomy is indicated should the patient become unstable.”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top