Doc threw me a curve yesterday...

The doctor who did my surgery estimated my uterus at 16-18 weeks; the doctor from whom I got the second opinion estimated 18-20 weeks. Either way, it was big.

My doctor initially said she'd do a horizontal incision, because it is less painful and an easier recovery. The doctor who gave the the second opinion said a vertical was more probable, given my size and the fact that the vertical would therefore be safer.

When I went to see my doctor for the pre-op appointment (one last pelvic exam plus the "scare speech") she said that a second doctor from her practice would be scrubbing in with her, and that is why she felt comfortable attempting the horizontal incision. She reiterated that the horizontal is less painful and better from the recovery perspective. She did say, however, that if the incision proved to difficult to work with, she might have to go with a vertical.

Bottom line, I had the planned horizontal incision with absolutely no complications, despite a uterus sized at approximately 18 weeks (depending on which estimate you believe).

Maybe the second doctor scrubbing in makes the difference?

Please do not feel bad about not wanting a vertical incision! I feel the same way. I am having a LSH for a uterus that has a 9cm fibriod and a 2.5 cm fibroid. Don't know how many "weeks" they have me at. I don't think you'd be a candidate for a LSH, but I do think you may be able to find someone skilled enough to do a bikini incision. You may have to take Lupron first to shrink your fibroids.

I did go ahead and meet with my usual gyno and asked her a long list of questions. The same list that I had asked the other doc. I guess each has their methods. He said the bikini would take him alot longer, I would loose more blood etc. She said that there would not be much of a time difference, between the vertical vs. horizontal, but that she did the bikini because she felt that patience healed up alot faster, and "no I would not want you looking at that kind of scar forever" she said.
She was very confident that the bikini would be a good way to go for me. I made sence to me, I watched my older sisters c section, and was amazed that an 8 lb baby came out of the bikini incision with no problem. So I think it should work well for me, and my fibroid family.
It did calm my anxiety quite a bit. I was able to do a 4 day vacation to Southern Utah, relax and enjoy the sun, go windsurfing, mountain biking, and best of all I slept pretty well. No panic attacks in the middle of the night. So I feel more settled now and feel like I'm on track. I'm sure I'll get more nervous again when the Nov. 1 day approaches, but for now I feel calm and confident with my lady doc, and how she wants to do things. I'm very glad that I went for another opinion. Thanks everybody!

I am so glad you went for another opinion! Good luck, I'm 9 days behind you (surgery set for 11/10).

Luvtowsurf,

I'm so glad you got things sorted and you are feeling much more settled now. The stress of facing hysterectomy is bad enough without thinking the surgeon will be doing something you don't want done.

Glad to hear you went away and had some fun. I prescribe lots more of the same!:dance2:

Best of luck with everything. We will be looking forward to reading your first post telling us about your neat little bikini line cut.