I scheduled surgery with sweaty palms.

I've been reading info here for a couple of years now, and have learned alot about my insides. It's has enabled me to realize that surgery might be ok. For many years I wouldn't even consider it, even though I've had horrible cramps my whole life.
I'm 46 now, and in the last three yrs, have developed a 16 wk size ute, many fibroids, with the largest @ 10cm. Like I said I've always had bad cramps, but then I started bleeding heavy. I don't alow myself to be very far from a bathroom. At work I have to excuse myself often, to deal with the flow.
I'm a very active person, I windsurf, mtn bike, hike, play tennis or any other activity that comes along. Movement is everything to me. My period has ruined too many fun days, and I've decided to do something about it. I've tried to manage it with progesterone cream, herbs, and vitamins. I became very anemic, but have improved that by adding organic black strap molassas. But every 3 weeks I dread my period coming, cause I know I will feel aweful for 3 or 4 days.
I wanted to have a LSH, or LAVH but unless I'm willing to take Lupron, it's out of the question. After researching lupron, I don't think I'm willing to take the risk. I seem to be so sensitive to anything I take. I've even avoided BC pills for that reason. I've gotten 2 opinions, with the same answers. That the abdominal is probably the best way to go, because of the size of ute and fibroids.
I thought about UAE for fibroids, but it wouldn't help with the painful periods and heavy bleeding. It sounded like it could be painful and the thought of dying tissue in me kind of freaked me out. So I'm back to the abdominal cut.
I want to keep overies and cervix if healthy. I'm a bit worried that I have endo, my sister was full of it, when she had her hyst., so they took her overies.
My fears keep getting in the way of getting it done. I'm really worried about being down for 6 weeks, it's so hard for me to be inactive. I worry about weight gain, hair loss and all the other things that I've read here. I'm hoping that my overies look good and I won't have to deal with too many of those kind of things.
The thought of never having to deal with another period, sounds so good to me. No more pain, mess, and embarasing moments. I remember this summer, I was in Oregon to windsurf on the Columbia River Gorge. I wanted to sail so bad, and aunt flow had come to haunt me. I did sail, but had to come in several times to wiggle out of my wetsuit, change plugs (tampons), take drugs, get back into your now cold wet suit, and hit the water again. It's so had when you have cramps, my mind barely functins.
I guess I'm just looking for words of encouragment, and someone to say that they think I'm on track here, and have thought it through pretty well. I'm scheduled for Nov 3rd. but I get sweaty palms just thinking about it. Thanks to all women who post here. It's helped me a ton.

Hi Luvtowsurf,

You want my opinion?? You have given this a lot of thought, girl!!

I had some of your similar circumstances. I am 46 and I was diagnosed with two large fibroids. My 1st Dr. wanted to do a TAH due to the size of my fibroids. My 2nd Dr. wanted to do a LSH after I did (3) months of lupron shots to shrink my fibroids enough for surgery.

I am like you. Very active. I am normal weight and I work out 3 times a week at the gym. My body with fibroids just started getting in the way of my activities. I had pelvic pressure from the fibroids all the time. I was consitpated a lot and I had to run to the restroom all the time due to bladder incontinence. I felt tired and so rundown and my periods were starting to get a "weird" heavy flow.

It came down to my quality of life. It sounds like it has come down to that for you too!!

I have never regretted my decision to have a hyst. Turned out to be one of the best things I ever did for myself!! I am fibroid free, no more aunt flows and no more b.c. I got my health back and I am working out.

Good luck. Just know we fibroid ladies have walked in your shoes. We are here to help if we can.

Mary

luvtowsurf,

You have done lots of thinking about this - and believe me you won't stop thinking about it anytime soon. But the good news is that after Nov 1 you will feel so much better. I am 8 days post op now and I had the same concerns you did. I spent tha last 6 months thinking of all the reasons I shouldn't have this done but in the end it all comes down to QUALITY OF LIFE!!!

I am looking forward to going places without always thinking about should I pack my "supplies" or starting in the middle of something, or messing up my best friends brand new bed sheets! Plus, there is a whole world full of chemical remedies for the menopausal symptoms (if you have your ovaries taken out) so put your chin up and look forward to the next few weeks when you can talk to your uterus as I did and just say "you are getting evicted!!!)

Good luck to you - I will follow your posts for the next few weeks!

Maria

Hi,

I'm 47, with the same types of symptoms you are reporting. 16 week size uterus, 10 cm, 8 cm and 5 cm fibroids and multiple others. I was scheduled to have a TAH on October 27th, but my doctor did another ultrasound and internal on Sept 3 and decided it would be much safer to get me on Lupron for three months first, as the risk for transfusion and complications was too high. I've been on Lupron for 3 1/2 weeks now. No side effects to date, although my DH did suggest I might be a "little cranky" these days . I'm a long distance runner, and will be racing a half-marathon on Sunday. We have been keeping an eye on my fibroids for three years. They were "silent" when my doctor first discovered them during a routine pap, so we opted to wait and watch. Over time, they have grown, and have since become a factor in my daily life. Like you, I have found the whole cycle very restricting and messy. The decision to take the lupron versus the risk to my kidney and bowels without shrinkage, was the right one for me. My new surgery date is Dec 3rd. Sometimes I wonder why I don't continue to live with the fibroids, I've got great pain tolerance and can function well 3/4 of the time.. but I know I worry about them every night when I go to bed and can see and feel them so easily. Worry causes stress, and stress affects everything else.

After November 1, you'll be on the mend, and the active lifestyle you love will be even better! You sound as if you are in great shape - you should heal quickly and well!

I don't know who told you that uae would not help painful periods or heavy bleeding, but they were very, VERY wrong. I used to know exactly when my period would start 'cause I felt so lousy for a week beforehand, and was couch bound for the first couple of days Now, it's always a surprise, and biggest surprise, it's painless. As for the bleeding, I didn't have excessive bleeding like most, but that is EXACTLY what uae was originally done for. The fact that it relieved the other symptoms was discovered accidentally. As for the degenerating fibroids remaining in your body, that's exactly what happens to fibroids when they degenerate on their own after meno.

I'm not trying to talk you out of a hyst. That is your decision and yours alone. I just felt for me that avoidance of major surgery was something to be checked out. I figured if it didn't work I could always move on to hyst. But if the hyst causes a whole new series of problems, I'm stuck. I'm very grateful to have found out about uae (on the internet) AFTER I was scheduled for a TAH and oopherectomy, but before I actually went through with it.

Best of health to you!

Cindy

I'm going in for my first lupron shot on Monday. I also have a 16 week uterus, 11cm fibroid,plus numerous golf balls. When my MD tried to inject saline into my uterus to better visualize what was going on, he couldn't. I have no uterus left. I'm scheduled for supracervical hyst, keeping my ovaries and cervix after 3 months on lupron.
I'm just looking forward to having my life back. No more worries about wicked aunt flo, and the pelvic pressure is annoying, not to mention the frequent potty breaks, and now I have started to leak urine. Yeehaw! I just want to open my eyes, and have it all be behind me.Of course, all this will change the night before my surgery, when I will most likely freak out. Oh, well.

This has been very theraputic for me. I was surprised to realise that after I had written this all down, I felt some relief. And now to get these replys from all of you, is GREAT! To read each persons way and reason for dealing with their GIRL PROBLEMS has helped me to sort through, how I want to handle it and what is most important. If I were not so fearful of Lupron, I would follow HistoryLady's lead. It sounds like you had the model recovery from your surgery, and no reactios from drus.
Emkayel...what surgery did you have done? It raises my spirts to read that you are 8 days post and doing so well. thanks for the supporting words.
Phoebe12....about the Lupron. Glad to hear you are not haveing too many side effects. Are you usually sensitive to drugs etc. I feel like I'm sensite to, even Advil. Especially if I haven't taken it for a while, it can make me sleepy and sluggish feeling. I tried Estoven which seems pretty natural. It helped with night sweats and at first made my sore knees feel better, and helped me to sleep better. But after just a couple of months I had to cut way back because my hands, and body felt so arthritic. I'm at a good point with that right now.
Franknsind you've got me rethinking the UAE and I will discuss it with my doc when I speak to him. But what deters me, is still dealing with the mess and 30 years of very painful periods. My periods are every 23 to 24 days and somtimes last as long as 9 days, with some really heavy bleeding. So it would probably take care of some of my problems, but not all of them.
I guess I'm to the point, that the finality of the hyst, to end the problems that I've mentioned, may be the best route for me. What is an oopherectomy?
Pixxie64....I want my life back too....with out ALIEN BABIES....pain and mess. Good luck with the shots...I will hope for good results for you.
I guess I wasn't willing to possibly feel bad for 3 months, possibly have bad and lasting side effects. Although it sounds like many women have great results with it.. I guess I sound pretty impatient about this, but I am. MY Goal is to be recovered enough to go on a windsurfing vacation the end of March to Margaritta! That is one of my HAPPY PLACES! I know that I probably won't be 100% but I hope I'm close. It will be a very motivating thing for me to get healed.....Sarah

lovtowsurf,

thanks for your reply. I had a TAH plus they took out the ovaries and the cervix. I am 12 days post op and walked a half mile to and from the bank this morning - it was great - to be outside and see something other than the ceiling of my bedroom!!

My only problems are energy related - like everyone - and trying to see if the Climara patch is working. since I have no ovaries and the drop in estrogen after surgery is pretty steep my doc put me on the patch in the operating room. But I have had a couple of hot flashes since so I think I might just need to increase the dosge - I go for my two week post op on wednesday and will ask her.

I still have spotting and the regulary deep ache in my abdomen but mostly I just know I am trying to take it easy and heal so I can be up and atem for the upcoming holiday madness!

Good luck to you

Maria