large fibroids

This might seem like a wierd question but, for those of you who have had large fibroids removed, did you take before and after measurements of your stomach? Did it shrink much? I realize it wouldn't at first because of being swollen from surgery. but after 6 weeks or so I'm hoping I don't still look prego.

I have at least 5 aliens one the size of a grapfruit. Uterous looks to be about 5 months according to doctor.

Thanks
Barb

surgery scheduled for July 21 TAH

Hi........This is an interesting thought. I had TAH on June 1, kept ovaries. My condition was 4-5 fibroids. I am seeing my dr Tuesday for the 4 week check up and I will ask her what was the sizes? I was told before the surgery the cm size and I saw them on the ultrasound, but I kind of avoided knowing and forgot the dimensions. I know they were large as I could tell you were two of them were from feeling them on the outside.

I defintely went up one pant size. I wonder if I actually lost weight from them being removed?

Now, I can say I am sure my abdomen is smaller. I lost a bit of weight from the surgery. Overall I am okay. But, I know I lost body weight. Yes, I get a little swelly, not overly.

Good luck to you..........Lily-Claire

I not only looked pregnant, but I had to wear pants for pregnant women. I was beating myself up over how fat I had become. Geez, how dumb can you get! Even though my fibroid was only medium-sized it pushed out my tummy and my stomach something awful. I think part of how much it shows depends on where it is located.

I'm still fat 5 weeks later, but no one would think I was pregnant.

I know I looked really pregnant because an older woman in the coffee shop asked me when my baby was due. I'm 53 yrs old for ***** sake!

Iphie
P.S. the largest fibroid ever removed weighed (hold onto your tummy) -- 140lbs. Mine was big and bulky but slightly less than one pound. My uterus was enlarged too.

I'm 4 weeks post op from LSH surgery. Lost 12 pounds but I still have that darn swelly belly thing. Don't know where I lost it from but my pants are a little baggy now so that's good news.

All I knew about the size of my fibroids is that everybody told me they were "huge". Both times I had ultrasound the fibroids were so big my ovaries couldn't be seen. My belly is going down a little, improved alot after 3 weeks. I'm about 11 weeks post-op and in the morning when I get up it's almost flat, but less than an hour after it's already back. Not complaining, it's still smaller than it was pre-op and post-op I looked like I was about to give birth. I'm sure it will go down more in time. It can take many, many months for it to go down in some cases.

I was lying in bed this morning, prodding my belly full of aliens.

I think it has grown in the last week or so - it used to stop just above my navel now it is a couple of inches higher.

I am contemplating taking a digital photo of my tummy just before I go to the castle and then comparing it after.

I think I'm getting obsessed with how big things are in there!

I have an ultrasound on Monday so I'll get to find out. Last one showed the biggest as being the size of an orange but that was 4 years ago and I had no belly to speak of.

Things sure grew fast! 14 months ago when I was stressed out with a horrible job I lost heaps of weight. When I tried on a pair of blue pants I could almost pull them down without undoing the zipper. Now the same blue pants are tight ! :cry:

I'm not going to buy anything new (unless the alternative is running around naked) until I've been to the castle.

Hi

I am almost 2 years post-op and had TAH for fibroids. I know you might be asking for more immediate results and I cannot attest to that, but my stomach now is very flat. I started doing crunches and abdominal exercises (slowly) about 9 months post-op. If you have an abdominal incision I think this really weakens your abdominal muscles and you need to strenghthen them up, not just for aesthetic reasons, but I think that your back muscles can get unduly strained if you are not careful and your abs are weak.

It takes patience and a little work. I still get a little more swelly at night, but nothing like the first year. It did take over a year for me to get rid of swelly belly and at times I'm not sure it is totally gone, but usually my stomach is pretty flat. Yes there is a big difference, but you have to get past the recovery and that can be as long as a year. Mine was.

I recommend being very, very careful about your weight post-op. I've gained 8lbs since my one year anniversary which I am trying to take off. I was blessed with no appetite for several months. When I started eating again, I ate very small meals. This kept the weight off for about a year. One year post-op I was down 10lbs from my pre-surgery weight and looked great. Most people would think I look great now, but the 8lbs I've gained in the past year, even with regular exercise has me concerned. Its too easy for my weight to creep up almost imperceptably, but very hard to take off.

Don't be too impatient about your recovery. If you haven't had a hyst yet, there seem to be many more ads lately for non-surgical fibroid removal options. I would suggest looking into them.

Green&Pink,

I am 9 weeks post op and my stomach is back to pre-fibroid. It is flat again. Unless I eat a big meal!!

I had two large fibroids that sat on my lower stomach. I could really feel them when I laid down.

Now they are gone with Aunt Flow!!

Hi there everyone,

My tummy is also larger than ever! Looks like I am about to give birth. Do any of you remember if your fibroids were considered "complex cystic masses" on cat scan? This is the impression on my report and I am still waiting to see the doctor again. Just curious.

Thank you for any information and I am so thankful for all of you!

Kathy

I have huge fibroids. Just now confirmed surgery (I was ignoring the severity as long as I could). I also hope my abdomen gets flat again after surgery. I can only wear two pairs of my pants, and the zippers are threatened in those! I will live in sweats if I have to until surgery. I am tired of buying pants that bag everywhere and are tight in the stomach. Good luck with your tummy size! Dee