I’m going in for surgery on Monday. A myomectomy. If you’re wondering what that is…I’ll tell ya. They’re going to be removing a HUGE fibroid from the outside of my uterus. I’ve been on meds to shrink it for 5 months now, and to lessen the chance of major bleeding. Of course, there is a slight chance that I will end up with a hysterectomy. Lets hope against that.
I’m scared and nervous and anxious and I just hope everything goes as planned. As nice as everyone is at the hospital, I’m NOT looking forward to being back there again for 3-4 days.
I hope you are able to rest and relax this weekend—probably not likely before surgery, but that’s my wish for you at least. My stepmother had a myomectomy many years ago. She was relieved to find out that the recovery was not as bad as predicted, but do be careful and take care of yourself.
(warning, TMI)
I wish they had done that for me when my daughter was born, but they didn’t because my fibroid was too big to take out at the same time as the kid. My OB-GYN did have the presence of mind to take a Polaroid of the fibroid, which is in my medical records. This was 7 years ago this past Wednesday (had my daughter’s birthday party earlier today). I had an embolization 2 years ago, but I guess it didn’t take, so my OB-GYN is waiting to see if I should get a myomectomy, maybe next year. Hope yours goes well with no complications, Lady Venom.
I just read your other thread there, which I must have missed the first time, and I just wanted to say how very sorry I am that you are having to go through all of this. You must be very worried, particularly as there is a possibility that this could end in a hysterectomy.
I don’t know if this helps, but I am struggling with fertility issues and had a huge (as in watermelon-sized) ovarian cyst removed 5 months ago. I was dreading the operation, as they really didn’t know how big an incision they would need until they got in there (did I mention how *huge *it was!). The first surgeon I saw was going to do a vertical lap all the way up to my belly button. After a second opinion, I found my surgeon, who was brilliant. He managed to remove the whole thing (after draining it first) through a 2 inch incision (so probably smaller than you the one you will have).
I was warned I might need up to 8 weeks off work, but went back after 5 weeks (and could probably have gone back sooner). The site of the incision healed quickly - no pain there - the only pain I have is the internal scarring on my uterus where they removed the tube and ovary. Still, it is more like twinging than pain, most of the time, so I am really not complaining.
Again, I don’t know if this helps, as it’s not quite the same thing, but I just wanted to wish you luck and hopefully assure you that the recovery will be better than you are anticipating. I think the waiting beforehand will be worse, and you won’t feel any better until after you get out of surgery and find out how it went. If you can accept that it will suck until then, that might help.
Let us know how you get on - I’ll be thinking about you tomorrow, anyway.
Well, I’m home. Doing pretty well. Sore, but okay.
I had the surgery on Monday at 8:00 am. Got in to my room around 2 or so.
The doctor’s removed 5 fibroids. The biggest one, which was originally 17cm was down to 6cm, thanks to the meds I was on.
The best news is, I have my uterus, tubes and ovaries!!
There was one mishap on Thursday morning. The nurse was taking out the JP drainage tube in my belly, got about 4" of the 8" out, and the tube snapped. The nurse was freaking out, and I was in a state of panic I’ve never, EVER felt before. The nurse went and got the intern doctor who assisted in the surgery. He tried for a minute or two to fish around to see if he could get it out. Unfortunately, the tip wasn’t close enough, and it hurt way too much. He called my doctor, who was on call, and she was at my bedside in less than 1/2 hour.
So, after all of that, I ended up going back in to surgery around 10pm on Thursday. They retrieved it without incident. I got home yesterday around noon.
We are still debating if we are going to pursue legal actions. Unsure on that one. Both of my doctors have no explanation for why the tube snapped, but did say that no matter how hard you pull, it should NEVER break.
So, I’m going pretty well. Looking forward to some time off to heal and do nothing.
LadyV, uncanny. The same tube snap thing happened to me. Same fishing around for it (God!) too, and a second surgery soon afterwards to remove the broken part. The doctor who removed it even tried to make me feel like I was partially to blame for tensing as he tried pulled it out. :rolleyes: I wonder how common an occurrence it is.
So glad you retained your fertile bits and have the whole thing over with.
This was 7 years ago this past Wednesday (had my daughter’s birthday party earlier today). I had an embolization 2 years ago, but I guess it didn’t take, so my OB-GYN is waiting to see if I should get a myomectomy, maybe next year. Hope yours goes well with no complications, Lady Venom.
