No Date: Dealing with fibroid pain until surgery

I meet with my doctor Monday to schedule LAVH, but she's already told me it will be at least a month from now. I'm having a lot of pain--I guess it's from the uterine fibroids. I'm a teacher and need to keep working, plus I'd like to feel like doing more than just sit on the couch for the next month. Does anyone have suggestions for how I can gracefully get through this per-surgery time?

Did you order the hyster sisters books yet? They're free and they help you get ready. I haven't scheduled my surgery yet but reading the books helps me feel more prepared. They have lots of good ideas.

Thanks! I'll order them.

Hey there, sis. I'm so sorry to hear you're having to deal with this and for such a long time before you can be out of it, but I can tell you that I'm dealing with the same thing. I can't promise anything, but I can tell you what has helped me, some.

• Make sure you're eating fiber, taking stool softeners, and drinking plenty of water. The fibroid pain is absolutely worse when you're constipated!
• If you have to go pee, GO! Don't hold it! A full bladder seems to contribute as well.
• Eat small meals and try to stay away from things that fill you up, hugely, like carbs and starches. It seems that the more full I am, the worse I feel with the fibroids trying to take up all the space.
• Invest in Gas-x or TUMs or other gas-reducing meds. Gas + fibroids = ouch!

I really hope that some of this will help you get to your surgery time with less pain and discomfort.

Best of luck, sis!

Thanks, Duchess! I had suspected those culprits, but I've only recently realized all my symptoms stemmed from the same problem. I appreciate you putting the puzzle pieces together.

are you allowed to take anything for the pain? I take advil and prescription aleve, not at the same time. It helps but not alot takes the edge off. I too teach, toddlers so i'm constantly moving and busy and I think in some strange way it helps take my mind off my pain. However when I come home I'm on the sofa for a while most days.

I don't like to look at myself in terms of being sick, however we are having surgery for a reason, something is wrong with us and it's OK to rest and take it easy prior to surgery.

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Originally Posted by beccajow are you allowed to take anything for the pain? I take advil and prescription aleve, not at the same time. It helps but not alot takes the edge off. I too teach, toddlers so i'm constantly moving and busy and I think in some strange way it helps take my mind off my pain. However when I come home I'm on the sofa for a while most days. I don't like to look at myself in terms of being sick, however we are having surgery for a reason, something is wrong with us and it's OK to rest and take it easy prior to surgery.

I'm a middle school teacher and am "gutting it out" until tomorrow - 2 days before surgery. I was on high dose Motrin, which did help considerably, but had to stop taking it two weeks before surgery. Now all I am allowed to take is extra strength Tylenol, which barely takes the edge off I have found that for the past few weeks since school started I have had to sit down to teach for 15-20 minutes at a time throughout the day. I know that is "bad practice" for a teacher, but the constant standing and moving around is causing tremendous pain , bloating, and pressure that is only relieved by sitting down. I suspect the same will be true when I return to work...I'll have to sit down for awhile and the kids will get used to it and be fine. I have also found it helpful to rest/nap as soon as I get home from school. I sit in the recliner with my feet up and I do feel better almost instantly. Right now, I am just about done for the day by about dinner time, which is SO NOT LIKE ME. I am looking forward to getting back to my active self. It is killling me right now that I had to stop running about a month ago (surgeon's orders). I can't wait to get back to that....