I have two questions

First, which incision seems to be quicker to heal: verticle or horizontal? I have my pre-op on Thursday, but I wonder if any of you sisters have any input based on your experiences.

Second, I had been diagnosed previously with some sort of uterine bacterial infection. Now, here I am within a week of the palace, and I have that same old heavy, cramping feeling. Could this be those fibroids of mine getting larger and putting more pressure on me? The up side of this is that all this discomfort is wiping away all shreds of second thoughts.

Thanks,
Janet

Hi,
I don't know the pros and cons of the different incisions, but I thought I'd reply to get your questions bumped up.

Yes, I believe your fibroids are "talking" to you. I know mine did up until my surgery and I felt like they grew in the 8 mos. since my check-up (they did). I was so glad to evict them!

Best of luck next week!

Hi - can't help with the second question you posed. Vertical incision would usually take longer heal as there is less blood sullply in the midline. Horizontal incisions have the advantage of a close blood supply from the nearby muscular blood vessels.

Talk to your doctor about it and see what he/she says... I believe that if one has had a previous vertical incision (childbirth, previous other surgery) then any ensuing incisions also have to be vertical. Please run this by you doctor! This was true in the case of my m-i-l. I am not sure we get a lot of choice about the type of incision! And the lenghts of the incisions will vary in either case.

Take care!

Good Morning

As far as your first question - My DR told me at my pre-op that if he had to make an incision it would be a horz. one even though my c-sect 25 yrs ago was vert. Right surgery is scheduled for Friday and he plans on doing the op vag. even thought u is a 12 wk size with 2 large boids and many small ones.

Hope this helps

Karen

I've had both horizontal and vertical incisions. Honestly, I didn't notice any difference. It's something you just deal with. And your experience from surgery to surgery can be very different!

To attempt to answer your second question, yes, it's possible that this discomfort is related to the fibroids. As my surgery date approached, my uterus kept getting bigger and bigger, and I became increasingly uncomfortable. Of course, you also may be more aware of it now that you have a sugery date!

My best wishes to you.

Had horizontal for other things in the past always had my staples removed before I left the hospital and just had strips and one time also had disolving stitches. I do know that shes going verticle this time and I have to make an appointment to come back in a week to 10 days after to have the staples removed.

I had a horizontal incision because my doctor feels it is less painful afterwards. She warned that, due to both my weight (235) and the size of my uterus (18-20 weeks), she might have to change her mind in the OR. But, I'm happy to say, I had a lovely, 8" horizontal incision and a great recovery after my surgery.

They took the staples out just before I went home from the hospital and replaced them with steri-strips, which started falling off natrually 2-3 weeks later.

I had on-site help for the first 8 days after I got home, but after that I was totally alone and on my own. Being able to bend over to scoop cat litter and refresh the dogs' water bowls was important, and I had no problem doing that - not even painful. If I'd had a vertical incision, I suspect those things would've been a bit more tricky.

Thanks and hugs to all of you!!! I go in for my pre-op on Thursday, and I will find out for sure then. I am glad that you guys answered these questions. This is without a doubt the most informative website I've found on this subject. Since we can't get together, I'll raise a glass of iced tea to all of you!

Thank you again,
Janet