Customer Reviews

Do You Really Need Surgery?: A Sensible Guide to Hysterectomy and Other Procedures for Women

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I was lucky enough to get hold of a review copy of this book while going through the investigations and decision-making for my upcoming hysterectomy. This book covers everything I needed to know, without pushing the reader too much in any one direction. It's really good on the details and risks of hysterectomy with the laparoscope,this is information I couldn't find in any other book. As a result I now feel confident about having this procedure. I'll have the book with me as I go through the process, it has a lot of information about what happens in the weeks after hysterectomy and how to get back to better health quicker.Five stars to these sympathetic women ffor producing this sensible guide.

In Do You Really Need Surgery?: A Sensible Guide To Hysterectomy And Other Procedures For Women, Michele Moore (a family physician specializing in women's health) and Caroline de Costa (a gynecologist and obstetrician, and a mother of seven who has herself undergone a hysterectomy) combine their more than fifty years of experience to provide accurate and clear information to the reader about the anatomy, physiology, and common gynecological ailments of women. They deftly and accessibly cover diagnosis, alternative surgery, and full details about medical procedure of hysterectomy surgery. Do You Really Need Surgery? also takes the reader through the post-operative phase, explains what to expect and how to make the recovery easier, as well as how to take care after the surgery to insure against post-operative complications. Critically important and very highly recommended reading for anyone contemplating such surgery, Do You Really Need Surgery? also informatively addresses possible non-surgical options.

Five stars for Michele C. Moore and Caroline M. De C osta's Do You Really Need Surgery? A Sensible Guide to Hysterectomy and Other
Procedures for Women. Physicians Moore and De Costa write clearly, humorfully, and usefully about women's options for gynecological surgery-remembering that hysterectomy used to be the most often performed unnecessary surgery, they offer numerous choices, always emphasizing the need for the empowered patient's choice. "Remember, you are the person having the surgery, not them [doctors]!" Michele and Caroline write, using their first names with pseudonyms for their patients. They offer personal narratives about their patients, some of whom have opted for surgery! -most notably hysterectomy-and some of whom have not. They consider the options of alternative medicine as well as
mainstream Western approaches. Michele and Caroline detail not only success stories, but also they offer clear explanations of the risks and consequences of gynecologic surgery. This book is written in clear colloquial language. (...) Some possible bad consequences, often temporary, are concisely described with "Yuck." The technical details are there, clearly presented using as little jargon as possible. I have friends facing some of the conditions Michele and Caroline analyze, and I will give them a copy of this book enthusiastically.
Particularly wonderful sections are those on what to expect after the surgery that squarely face women's sexual fears and realities that follow many hysterectomies-Moore quotes one of her patient's delighted analysis: "Hysterectomy takes away the baby carrier and leaves the playpen." The concluding section-tips to make a sensible decision-is brilliant. Though I hope to be lucky enough to avoid having the complications that would
make in-depth study of this book necessary, if they arose,I also hope I would be able to consult these two wise women.

This book covers every aspect of the hysterectomy procedure and thoroughly explains alternatives. I really felt empowered by reading this book and have recommended it to all my female friends, regardless of their age. This is the kind of stuff women really need to know.

This book really helped me with my recent hysterectomy - it explained a lot of things that my dr didn't really have time to go through with me. It was a really difficult time, and these ladies really have some good advice and give you some information you can't get elsewhere.

I'm scheduled for surgery in two weeks and was lucky enough to find this book - it was great! It answered every question that I had and made me feel OK about my decision to have the surgery. I recommend it to any woman with these issues.

I came across this book after reading the authors' first book about Csection, which I found really helpful. I haven't had a hysterectomy but I needed some minor surgery and this book really explained the procedure well and what to expect afterwards. It also explained why I had the symptoms I did. My Mom also read it and though she's already had a hysterectomy found a lot of things she hadn't known (especially about the menopause afterwards) The book doesn't push you into surgeries but gives lots of information and a guide for making up your own mind.Queenie

This was an extremely helpful book - it contains a lot of information my doctor just simply did not tell me about. The diagrams and language are very easy to understand. All in all, I felt much better equipped to make the decision to have surgery or not.