Hysterectomy in 3 months after Lupron

(Backstory: I'm 39, 1 large fibroid, 20 week size 16 x 12 + simple hyperplasia)

So, after exploring all other conservative options I finally met with the surgeon on Friday. I am not a candidate for UFE because of the hyperplasia. I am beyond terrified of an abdominal hyst and especially a vertical incision! Yikes! I was pretty sure I wouldn't be a candidate for a less invasive surgery due to the size. Well, my surgeon is a da vinci and laparoscopic expert and pleasantly surprised me. He is basically hellbent on not having to do an incision unless it's an absolute last resort. He's pretty confident he can do this laparoscopically and said he's only ever had to resort to 2 abdominal surgeries in his entire career. He's basically awesome so put my mind at ease quite a bit! It really does matter what Doc you have. He's taking everything but ovaries.

He's starting me on Lupron next week to try for 3 months to shrink it in advance. Not sure how I feel about it but I guess I'll find out. He feels very strongly it's worth it to try to avoid an abdominal surgery and that the procedures are worlds apart in pain/recovery, etc. I guess my fears were founded, even the doc doesn't want to do that to me!

Aside from the Lupron, I'm actually looking forward to just getting this all over with and getting my life back. In the meantime, I'm so stressed and anxious every day. ughh...

I had a Divinci specialist for my 14 pounder. Also did 6 months of Lupron before hand. All went well and I'm glad you found a specialist!!! LOVE MINE!

OK, now I'm freaking out and really need help. Been doing some research on the Lupron and um... ***? I'm thinking of not taking it and just going for an abdominal. Am I nuts?

First of all, I am afraid that I'm going to hemorrhage again from the initial over-stimulation of hormones. When I took the pill to regulate my period, that's what caused the first hemorrhage and I ended up getting a transfusion and finding out what was going on. I'm stable now and with some lifestyle changes my periods are still heavy but no where near as bad and I just can't go through that again!

Second, there's no guarantee it'll work to shrink the fibroid. PLUS my vaginal canal has to be wide enough and that may be an issue since I've never had kids. So, I could take this shot and then still have to have an abdominal anyway.

Third, am I to understand that if I do have a vaginal hyst, they will cut me open down there similar to an episiotomy? umm.. hell no! I don't not want my va-j-j compromised in any way and if I had to choose, the abdomen loses.

I guess i just feel like with odds like that, I want to just sign up for the abdominal and get over it. I already know that I can do a bikini cut and not a vertical. I also own my own business and can't afford to be dealing with the detrimental side effect of this shot for the next 3 months including memory loss. I am an accounting professional and need my brain at 100%! You can have my uterus but not my brain or my long term health if I have debilitating long term damage from that stuff.

Anyone with thoughts on this or experience with the shot abdominal vs Davinci? I'd really appreciate it!

Lupron completely stopped my bleeding while I was on it. I would have stayed on it forever if they let me. Once I was off I had no choice. I had 4 blood transfusions 3 days before emergency surgery with a Davinci specialist. It was the only option for me because Davinci has less bleeding during surgery. I'm still sad about having to have major surgery but glad I had Davinci.

Oh and nothing was taken out of my vagina. Uterus, cervix, massive fibroid were morcellated and taken out of a port on my right side.

Thank you so much petrified! Do you mind if I ask you how large your fibroid/uterus was? Mine is 16 x 12 cm or 20 weeks.

I don't remember the centimeter size, but remember the doc said it was as big a full term twins. I made it into the medical journals.