Questionhello...firtsly id like to say thankyou for offering you proffesional advice to people in need of answers on these particular issues. its an excellent service.
now...what im mailing you for is, because im worried about my grandmother. you see, she is 71 years of age and we have currently been told that she is passing blood in her urine. i know this could be a symptom of a thousand problems, but she does have a condition that its probably directly linked to. i'm not really up on gyneological issues, but i do know that she a problem that i can only describe as "things are falling out of her" (im sorry for that description).when i say things are falling out, im refering to her reproductive organs (womb, ovaries etc.)she has been told in the past that she should have a hystorectomy, but refuses because of her age- her attitude is "once they start looking for things they find allsorts" and that scares her. so, they have been putting some kind of band around her organs to hold them up and in. which shes happy with, but she keeps getting allsorts of inferctions and shes in a lot of pain with it. so anyway...like i said, she was told about the blood in her urine and she has to go for tests. now she had another one of those bands fitted around a month ago and the chances are that the blood in the urine is linked to that. but what im looking for from you is advice concerning, if she did decide to have the hystorectomy- is it safe for a women of her age, with a heart condition. i know that going under anethstetic has its risks for anyone- but what about a women of her age and condition. could she handle it. also, the actual operation, what risks are involved in that, and would it be advised.
i am worried about it, but i would rather her have the surgery to cure it for good rather than going back and to, to the hosptal for bands fitted that cause infection. anything youve got to say on this matter will be much appreciated. i hope you can help me and my gran.obviously, its her decision, but she needs advice on this. communication between doctors and patients is a bit hazy at the best of times, but in her case she just doesnt understand the implications of this condition, and if i did. i could explain them to her in laymans terms.
thank you very much.
kevin redmond.
AnswerHi
It sounds like your granma has the exact kind of problem I treat. You will find good information on the following 3 websites:
Mine www.mybladderMD.com (GO TO FAQ'S)
American Urogynecologic Society www.augs.org (GO TO WOMEN'S HEALTH INFORMATION PAGE)
Society of Gynecologic Surgeons www.sgsonline.org
The blood in urine (aka hematuria) is a separate issue from the prolapse (aka things falling out). The hematuria has to be looked into.
There are surgical options that don't involve a hysterectomy. Especially if sexual intercourse is not likely to be a part of her life in the future, there are minimally invasive ways to handle things.
The site www.augs.org also lists urogynecologists in her area. I think she should see a urogynecologist.
Best of luck
