Laparoscopy

Please help. I am scheduled for a partial hyster on Monday, Dec. 27. I have a 15 cm. by 11 cm. broid and am scheduled for a bikini cut abdominal surgery. Please tell me if you feel I should see another doctor and try to get lyproscopy surgery. I am worried about the painful effects of the bikini-cut surgery.

If you are not sure and have questions still, you should get your questions answered before you have surgery. If this surgery is elective, you can cancel it, get a few other opinions and then resched. if it is still what you should do.

I failed to get other opinions and regret it. Don't feel you need to go through with it just because it is on the calendar.

I'm not sure I know enough here to really give you good direction.

I am assuming here that you've done pre-op testing, met with a gynecologist and a surgeon (unless your gynecologist is also a surgeon) and the surgery has been recommended to you, or you wouldn't already be scheduled.

It is fairly common during the pre-op period to have second thoughts about surgery. I know I had them. ("Oh, it's not so bad", "I'm such a whiner" -- you know the drill) But after doing my research, I determined the best course of action for me.

If you are apprehensive about having the surgery, or if you don't have confidence in your doctor(s), then you owe it to yourself to get a second, third (or ninth, if that's what it takes) opinion. You can always have the surgery done at a future date.

But I have no ability to advise you which surgery alternative is best for you -- only your medical team can do that. Please use them! And we're here for you, whatever you decide.

Hi Robin,

I agree with Pearle and Mjd. Get a 2nd or 3rd opinion if it would make you more comfortable with your decision.

My 1st Dr. wanted to do a TAH due to the size of my fibroids. She said I was not a candidate for a lap surgery. My 2nd Dr. disagreed and said I was a candidate for a LSH, if I did (3) months of lupron shots to shrink my fibroids.

Best wishes,

Mary

Mary: Could you please tell me more about lap surgery. You said you had your uterus removed. I'm thinking I should probably have my uterus removed because it is the source of constant pain and heavy, heavy bleeding. I don't want a large scar across my abdomen. Please tell me how lap surgery is conducted.

Thank you for your response.

Robin

Robin,
I am not Mary but if you don't mind I will reply There are lots of neat web sites that explain it better but I will do my best. I had a LAVH which is Laproscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy. My doctor performed the procedure with another doctor from his practice (which happens to be his brother). He said because of it being so tedeous he only does it that way. I had Both ovaries, uterus and cervix removed. They placed 4 tiny incisions in my belly. One in the belly button, one to the right of the belly button and 2 to the left of the belly button. Which by the way only one is now visible and I had this done 8 months ago. Within those incisions is where they place the scopes and the tools. They snip everything loose and then remove it all vaginally. At lease this is how the doctor explained it to me. The 4 incision I had were so tiny they didn't even stitch them. They just had band aids on them. It was great. A lot less recovery time. My doctor did explain to me however that if he got in there and found something unexpected that a bikini cut may be necessary. After a $1000 worth of pre-op testing all they saw was 1 tiny cyst on my right ovary and some adenomyosis. Well, when they got in there they found that both ovaries, and tubes were engulfed in cysts. It's a good thing I told them to take all prior to surgery because he said he probably would have had to anyway. There is a certain type of cyst that doesn't show on xrays or ultrasound and I had a bunch of them. So, good luck. Just do your homework and take all web sites to your appt. That is what I did. My doctor had actually recommended a TAH, I took in paperwork on LAVH and asked him about it and he agreed that yes I was a candidate for this. Good luck.

Annie

HI Robin

I feel that if you are unsure of the type of surgery your doctor is performing, then you should definently discuss other options with your doctor and get a second opinion.

Here is a link to the different types of surgery available.
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/vie..._articles_list

Sometimes there are risk factors involved with a certain type of surgery and that might be why your doctor is requesting an abdominal surgery. Your doctor should be able to explain why he has choosen this route. If you are not completely satisfied with his answers, then please get another opinion.

Hi Robin,

In answer to your question about my LSH....I had two small hip incicions and a belly button incision. Some lap ladies have 4 incisions as Annielee mentioned. Thanks Annielee!!

From what I understand, my Dr. put a laparoscopic camera through my belly button and watched my surgery on a TV in the surgery room. Two tubes were placed through my two hip incisions. My uterus and fibroids were dissected and brought out through the tubes. I kept my cervix and ovaries. My surgery took about 2 hrs. plus since my largest fibroid was right on top of my cervix and my Dr. took some extra time with it.

I could suggest discussing surgery types further with your Dr. There are different reasons ladies are candidates for the different types of hysts available. From the info. you are collecting, it will help you and your Dr. with your choice.

Best wishes,

Mary