Feeling anxious and nervous.

I am scheduled for a complete hysterectomy on 6/26. Numerous fibroids were found in the ultrasound I had and my uterus was enlarged. I am scheduled for an abdominal and they will go through my c-section scar. Not how I wanted to spend my summer but looking forward to having it over with. Also not looking forward to menopause at age 42. Any advice would be appreciated.

HI DMS42,

I was in your shoes just days ago.... 100% frightened beyond words. You'll hear this time and time again but the waiting IS the hardest part.

Are you having your ovaries taken too? I didn't so I wasn't placed into surgical menopause. I'm only 4d post op so still recovering but I can deal with this. First few days were hard but things are getting a little better each day.

Thanks...Yes ovaries too. Right now all I know is that I have numerous fibroids so that makes me anxious as well as to what they will find. Hope your recovery goes well.

I did a LOT of reading / researching on this site and others. When I had my pre-op with my OBGYN (also surgeon), I had a list of over 40Qs for her to answer. My Pre-op with the hospital, I had another 25. LOTS of questions but as an analytical person, I had a need to know.

I had two extra large fibroids that were badly positioned / made the uterus not mobile. I passed on an MRI as it was added expense to tell me the same thing they already knew from my Ultrasound. The two months from decision to have the surgery to my surgery date were tough but it also allowed me enough time to get my hands around what was going on.

This helped me because day of pre-op and surgery day, I anticipated what was going to happen and understood terms they tossed out at me. Helped me keep my head in the game and out of fearland.

I had my bikini-cut hyst on the 6th, same reason. When the doc pulled out my uterus, he said it looked like Mickey Mouse because of the fibroids! He was going to go through my existing (vertical) scar, but did the bikini cut on my request (easier recovery).
Don't let the fibroids make you nervous--I have tons of cancer in my family so I don't say this lightly, but they are 99.9% of the time harmless. You just want them out of there!
I chose to leave the ovaries intact for easier recovery (I'm 47). My doc did check them out to be sure everything looked good, though.
I'm 9 days post-op and doing great. The first couple of days are tough, but be sure you have family/friend to be an advocate for you. Makes all the difference. I absolutely love my binder (from this site) and the nurses kept warm packs on my abs around the clock. I had a hard time with meds, but just kept insisting they adjust them until we got something that worked and didn't throw me for a loop!
Be aware--second day out, they pulled the cath but I didn't pee for hours. Incredible pain! My mom kept on the nurses who called the doc who suggested they re-insert the cath. Didn't want it, but I'll tell you what--it was barely uncomfortable and I felt almost immediate relief! I would do it again in a heartbeat. And an hour later I went on the toilet, no problem. Hope it doesn't happen to you, but just in case!
Take each day as it comes and know you'll be a little better each day. You literally won't believe how much better you'll feel 3 days, 5 days, 8 days out. It's really amazing how our bodies recover! Best of luck to you!!

Thank you for the info. I will definitely look into the abdominal binder. I have had 2 c-sections so I know about the whole discomfort of the surgery but that was 11 and 14 years ago and I had babies to take my mind off things. My husband has taken the week off to help out and my kids are old enough to help as well so that will be nice.

I am a 8 days Post op and I am starting to feel a little better but my body definitely lets me know when I am overdoing it. I didn't have the greatest few days at first I was sent home with a catheter that just got removed yesterday due to the fact that my uterus was fused to my bladder and with a little tugging cause a hole in my bladder thank god they caught it or I would have been in for more trouble. I was giving pain med's through I.V. also had a pain ball and something else piggy backed to my I.V. and my pain still wasn't managed but I was also told my pain would be worse due to the bladder problem. I wish you the best of luck on surgery and recovery and like the other ladies have said the waiting is the worst part I was a complete mess counting down the days to my surgery but soooo glad that it is all over with and honestly even with the problems I encountered I wouldn't change anything.. I can only go up from here ... Just take a deep breath and soon we will hear from you on the other side.

Thank you for the encouragement. I wish you well with your recovery.