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Hi, my fibroid story... long post
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10-13-2010, 09:24 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 17
Hysterectomy: September 27th, 2010
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
@jjr
I'm doing pretty well, thank you. I had a lot of worries before the surgery, but the recovery has been easier than I'd anticipated. The pains got significantly better after the first week.
I heard that whether a fibroid causes problems or not depends more on the location rather than its size.
My fibroid was causing lots of problems pre-surgery. It was so big -- and I'm small -- and was visible from outside, as if I had a hump on my abdomen. It caused ridiculously heavy bleeding and I became anemic. My bladder was being squished (I started to leak urine), and BM was painful, like giving birth. I'm happy it's all behind me.
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10-13-2010, 07:31 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 8,185
Hysterectomy: November 1st, 2010
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
When I read all of these stories, I realize how lucky I am. The only real issue that I have is my bladder getting squished, although I wonder if my heavy periods over the years have been caused by this fibroid. You can definitely see that my belly is distended... I call the fibroid my peri-menopausal baby and even have named it. Sorry but I have a weird sense of humour. It gets me through life laughing at all the weird things that occasionally happen to me. I wish everyone luck with their surgeries and their recoveries.
Danni
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10-13-2010, 09:34 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 502
Hysterectomy: August 2nd, 2010
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
Not weird at all. DH asked the GYN if any of mine looked like a puppy could he keep it. She said one sort of did, but he never got to see.
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10-13-2010, 10:43 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 141
Hysterectomy: April 29th, 2010
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
The doctor was not concerned, however did mention there was a small probability. ( I believe it is 1 over 1000 cases, but I could be wrong on this)
All the pathology tests were fine, but I had to wait 2 weeks for the confirmation. I asked him again after the surgery and even though the fibroid was larger than he expected, he did not have any concerns.
Try to keep calm and positive, you will be soon focusing on the recovery.
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10-14-2010, 01:52 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 2
Hysterectomy: October 20th, 2010
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
Yes, they did determine the size by ultrasound. Got a second opinion and came back with same results. Because of the size - most resonable option.
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10-14-2010, 04:13 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 125
Hysterectomy: October 21st, 2010
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
Danni I wish you best and hope your Dr does what you asked for, but I worry for you, that you aren't dissappointed if he isn't able to do everything due to his ability and complications.
I just had my Preop, surgery is next week and after my last ultrasound he found four large Fibroids that have enlarged my uterus to four times its regular size, so now I will be having an abdominal using my c-section scar. I am dissapointed but will get over it by next week. I just was hoping for a faster recovery. But I did tell him I want all the pain meds I can get, he agreed.
Good Luck and hope everything goes well.
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10-14-2010, 07:01 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 8,185
Hysterectomy: November 1st, 2010
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
Today I spoke to a friend who has had 12 gyno types of surgeries. The last three were by the same Ob/Gyn that is doing mine. She says he is the best, and was amazing with her. She has the same (bossy) attitude I do and did tell him what she wanted done as well. He followed through and she was very happy with him. She had to have repeat surgeries because her body wouldn't cooperate and decided to grow more cysts on her ovaries as well as dealing with endometriosis. After the last surgery, she says she feels the best she ever has in her entire adult life. She also gave me the heads up to make sure to take at least 6 weeks of recovery time. She did work on a laptop from home after two weeks and it took her a long time to recover. She also told me to walk, walk, and walk some more. That isn't an issue as I already walk 10 km daily during the week and 12 km on each day of the weekend. I realize I won't be doing that much at first but at least my body will be in better shape than if I didn't do all that walking. I felt soooo much better after talking to her.
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10-14-2010, 07:53 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 44
Hysterectomy: September 9th, 2010
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
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Quote: |
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Originally Posted by Danni3ll3
Hi,
I can’t believe that I just typed my whole story and lost it when I went to post. So here goes again….
It turns out that I am nurturing a lovely, huge, and happy fibroid in my uterus. I discovered a hard lump at the bottom of my belly during the first week of last June. I had recently lost 30+ lbs and always thought that my lack of a flat stomach was due to my weight. I was especially frustrated since I had worked so hard to get the weight off and still no flat tummy. At my family doctor, she said I had fibroids and sent me off for an ultra-sound and tried to book me for an ObGyn asap. The ultra-sound showed large fibroids where the largest was 10 cm. The appointment for the Ob-Gyn was booked for the end of August with no chance of it being earlier due to the lack of Ob-Gyns in town as they were either off on leave or on holidays for the summer.
In July, I went back to her as I felt that the thing had doubled in size as I could feel it up near my belly button by now. She sent me off for an emergency MRI, however, the radiologist decided that 4 weeks down the road would be just fine. With me being a pain in the neck and my doctor getting on the phone, the MRI was rescheduled for within a couple of weeks.
I finally got to see the ObGyn and found out that he didn’t have the results of the MRI even though it has been done 3 weeks earlier. Hearing this, I did not become the nicest patient on earth. I tend to acquire an attitude when frustrated. Oh well, his problem, not mine. Anyhow, he went over my options and let me pick what I wanted. I chose the least invasive method which was the focussed ultrasound done under MRI. He couldn’t answer my questions about the procedure because “he didn’t bother to listen too well because he wasn’t really impressed with the people doing the presentation”. Great!
So off to see another ObGyn who does the procedure. I wait for the call or a letter for an appointment and I don’t hear a thing. So two weeks down the road, I call to find out who I follow up with. Turns out that the two ObGyns share the same receptionist and that she had to refer me to herself and she hadn’t done it. So I stay sweet as pie and get an appointment two weeks later.
When I finally get to see the second guy, it turns out that my fibroid during the MRI at the beginning of August was 14cm. I am no longer a candidate because it is too big (and it has grown more since then). He only does fibroids between 3 and 12 cm. I did find out that I only have two fibroids… the huge one and a tiny one of 1 cm. Of course, my frustration level is at its limit and by this point, I am not a happy camper. I told him that I am fed up with this nonsense of waiting and since I am now facing a hysterectomy that I want to see the first guy today! I had to go back to the first guy for the hysterectomy. He knew that I wasn’t going to take no for an answer and got his receptionist to book me an appointment 2 days later (Good thing they share a receptionist).
So back to the first guy. He tried to convince me to rip everything out as a preventative measure as he had tried to do on the first visit. I told him that why don’t we just go ahead and cut off our arms, legs, breasts, etc. as a preventative measure. He gave me the look but agreed to only take the top of the uterus. Then we were on to the incision decision. I told that that I wanted to do a bikini incision and he promise he would although, for that size, he normally would do the vertical cut. I asked what he did for closures… well he uses staples. I told him that there was no way I was going to have a railroad track across my belly as I have the type of skin that scars badly. I told him my experience with scarring, which I won’t go into here. He told me to remind him to use sutures, however, I asked about using glue. Got the look again and was told that only plastic surgeons used it. No ObGyn used glue. I informed him that doctors in Ottawa and Toronto did and that I would be his guinea pig if he would only try it. He wouldn’t promise but he would consider it.
The next thing was anaesthesia. Long story short, I enquired about epidural… he does spinals only if he has too since he really doesn’t want me awake and aware. Told him my story of being really sick after and that I didn’t want to be vomiting after my gut had been sliced open. I have to talk to an anaesthesiologist at my pre-op.
We talked about a few more things such as the recovery period, the hospital stay, etc. as I was checking my questions off on my blackberry. I know that I tend to cop an attitude when frustrated and that I wasn’t the mildest patient he ever had, but I figured it was my body and that he needs to follow my wishes. Anyhow, I thanked him for being patient wit me and for answering all of my questions… I wanted leave on a good note since he is going to be cutting me open…
The pre-op is October 20th and the surgery is booked for Nov 1. I am feeling okay about the operation; however, I am a bit apprehensive about the pain afterwards. I have no pain now (I feel great!) and the only symptom I have is no bladder capacity at all.
If you have read this far down, I do want to thank all of the people who have posted their stories and advice on this site as I have found it incredibly useful during my lurking for the last couple of months.
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My obgyn is 75 and also my surgeon. I love him. My mother went to him before me for years! I got a TAH on 9/9/10 - bekini cut low about 6" long using real stitches and GLUE. It was real shiny and I could even shower the 2nd day in the hospital. (I stayed 2 nights, 3 days.) I don't know what the glue was called but I live in Richmond, TX. I'm feeling better every day and today is 5th week. Good luck to you!!!
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10-14-2010, 08:38 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 39
Hysterectomy: September 22nd, 2010
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
wow, this thread is reminding me of all i went through for the last year. i had a TAH 3 weeks ago, and am so very glad to have no more fibroids !!
i also did all the switching around of doctors and medical groups. once my fibroids started multiplying too fast and getting too big, i was sent to a cancer specialist (scary idea). my insurance told me i'd have to wait 2 months to see the specialist. I had to fight for my rights !! And luckily i found an advocate within the insurance co. that also fought for me. i was scheduled to be seen in one week at a great hospital....then my uterus decided to birth a baseball size tumor. i listened to my friends, and went to the ER at this great hospital (over an hour from our house, but worth the drive). it's a good thing that i did, since the tumor that was now in my vagina was getting infected. within 2 weeks i was scheduled for surgery and i had the best care possible. my doctor (and his team of specialists) allowed me to be completely active in the process, ask all my questions...and he showed me absolute respect. he wanted to do a biopsy, but i couldn't wait anymore !! i told him "i don't care if there is cancer, i can't live like this anymore, i need surgery"...and he said "alright, let's see, we can use a procedure where we do the biopsies while you are on the table" He listened to me !! What a Gift !!
fight for your rights !! i also believe that prayer made a big difference too.
i tried to avoid surgery at all costs (i tried herbs, supplements, diet change, exercise, meditation, yoga, accupuncture, and horrible tasting chinese herb teas)....but now, as i'm recovering slowly...i am so grateful to have the problem removed and to have had the surgery!! i am so much more at peace than before.
my heart goes out to all my sisters going through this challenge...be strong...and speak up to address all of your concerns and questions. the doctors are providing a service for us...so we'd better make sure we are getting the best service
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10-14-2010, 08:46 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 39
Hysterectomy: September 22nd, 2010
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Re: Hi, my fibroid story... long post
that's so funny. i too felt like i was having a baby. i always wanted more children...and i think my uterus may have been trying to "help me out" and keep birthing for me. now my swollen belly and incision site are reminding me of being pregnant (at least i walk like i am...holding my belly and all)
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