New and petrified

Hi everyone:

I'm brand new to the forum and have found it so helpful to read as I get ready to have my surgery on Friday (Aug 17).

I'm not that good with the abbreviations yet, so I'll just type it out longhand and hope I'm relaying the info correctly.

I just turned 42 in July. Went in for my yearly exam and the doc felt fibroids. This didn't surprise me b/c I've been having horrible periods for the last 2 yrs or so -- heavy periods with clots that last upwards of 14-20 days. Or sometimes just a light period before the one that's heavy and uncomfortable. Needless to say I was (and am) having my periods all the time it seems.

Went in, had a vaginal u/s and they found fibroids (don't know the size, but they are large enough to be felt by pushing on my abdomen) and an ovarian cyst that was a size "6" (they say there's a red flag if it's larger than an "8". I quickly learned the best possible solution for all this was a hysterectomy. However, I was also told my uterus was too large (normal was 100 and mine was a little over 300) to perform a vaginal hysterectomy, so I'd have to have the abdominal one.

A little background... my husband and I never had any children, nor have I ever been pregnant before. I also have NEVER had any surgery -- major or minor -- in all of my 42 yrs. I've been very lucky on that.

But now that's all changed. I have my pre-op appt this Thurs (Aug 16) and then I go in for surgery on Friday Aug 17.

I have no idea what to expect. Most ppl tell me it's like having a c-section... yet I have no experience on which to draw for that. I've never had anesthesia -- I'm afraid how I'll react to it. I have Mitral Valve Prolapse and I have to take 2000 mg of penicillin an hour before any surgery or dental work (I've had to do this with dentist appts and oral surgery I've had in the past). And I take blood pressure meds (100 mg Toprol XL) plus a diuretic every morning.

I'm rambling.. but I'm nervous. I had a CA-125 blood test done and the marker is 0-35 and mine was a 37. The doc told me that elevation could just be an indicator of the fibroids though. But she said this surgery can't wait because the cyst on my left ovary is lacerated and growing and she's afraid it will burst and make me septic. She says if I leave it alone it will grow as large as a melon possibly and burst and that's a lot of bad stuff for me to contend with internally.

I don't have any attachment to my uterus (and I'm hoping I can keep my right ovary -- which she said she would if it doesn't look cancerous or anything else wrong with it) so I don't mind it coming out.. I just dread the whole surgery thing.

Anyone else have a situation like mine? Help. Talk me thru this, please!

Thanks so much for listening.



Leslie

ADDED: I also am on my (never-ending) period and will be heavily into it come time for surgery. Is that going to be a problem? My "regular" period is around the 15th of the month, but who knows when it'll come these days. But as of this writing, I've started my menses for the month and it's light right now.. but by the 17th it will be heavy.

Gosh.. I hope that's not going to be a problem. And I'm anemic.. have been forever. I'm on iron supplements....

Sorry... just thought to mention that.

Leslie - Welcome to Hystersisters. It is so totally normal to be petrified. I too had fibroids, though no cyst. Bleeding was so profuse i just could not deal with it until menopause ( I am 44). Mine was performed vaginally though.
Like you, i have always been healthy and have never had any kind of surgery. It sounds as if you are OK with the whole hyst thing, just scared... who isn't afraid of the unknown. Your anesthesiologist will take all your meds into consideration come surgery. It sounds as if you have been well informed and at some point you have to put your faith in the doctor and her/his advice. You could always get a second opinion... which you are entitled to as far as insurance goes.
Pre-op might involve some tests, and then just basic education on the procedure. They will tell you about bowel prep, etc...
I know it is scarey, but you really will be fine. I do think recovery is more than a csection - you will have to really take good care and follow docs instructions for the full time - you have one chance to heal, so so not rush it. Others who have had a TAH can give you better advice on the healing...
Continue to ask the questions you need to here and hopefully it will ease your anxieties. The waiting is the hardest part..
I hope it all goes well for you!

Hi- you are doing the right thing- and you, like me, will be fine.
I had 2 c-sections and unfortunately, this is a bit "worse" because they are doing so much more than taking a baby out. But it's nothing that we strong woman can't handle.
When I had my 1st c-sec, the incision pain was quite bad. But with my 2nd c-sec, I barely had any pain on incision- because they went over the old scar tissue (nerves already cut). So lucky me, at least they will go over my old scar and that will help with incisionpain.
BUT- I too have major mongo fibroids and can only be taken out thru abdominal. I hope to keep at least one overy. I have very little health insurance and will basically be paying for this operation out of pocket. geeze, it took me 10 years to pay off my student loan. Here we go again. So much for my kids college or a retirement fund. Plus I have no perscription coverage.

You have the same problems I had. I'm also TAH/RSO (uterus, cervix right tube and ovary removed) Tomorrow will be 6 weeks post-op. I'm still very tender inside my tummy, and tire very easily. The first 2 weeks are the hardest, but everyday is better than the one before. Just stay on top of the pain with your pain meds, theres no need to be brave when it comes to pain. Keep it under control by taking them on schedule and your recovery will be better. Make sure you heed the advise to take it easy and rest, very very important. Be prepared to not be able to drive for a couple weeks and have everything you'll need at home prior to surgery. Your list of "Can't Do" will be probably longer than your list of "Can Do", which can't be difficult if your very independent and don't like to ask for help like me. Make it easier on yourself and swallow your pride and accept those offers. We all heal at a different rate, so it's possible you won't have much difficulty.

I don't regret surgery at all. I don't like that there's still things I can't do and I don't have my energy back, nor am I at the point I feel like "Me" yet. I thought recovery would be easier and didn't expect it to take this long, bu I'm giving it time to heal properly. Every day is one day closer to those things though. A positive attitude will get you through this. It's normal to be scared and nervous and it's wonderful not to have the horrible bleeding and pain associated with it.

You're going to be fine and so much happier after!

I too am new and petrified, the surgery is on 17th so not long, part of me wants it over now but the other part could wait for ever. I am taking medication to stop the fibroid growing and that has induced medical menopause I hope I will be able to get HRT after as the hotness - Flushes- are awful. I am eating the famous menopause cake but ne relief Good luck to all pending surgery.

Hi, Leslie,

My heart goes out to you, because I remember only too well just how terrified I was. Like you, I was anemic before my hysterectomy, and had so many fibroids, my doctor said she couldn't count them all. In fact, just reading your post brings it all back even clearer. But as someone said, the waiting truly is the hardest part. And believe me, I cried quite a lot before my surgery. I didn't see how that could be possible beforehand, but it really was true.

We are all here for you, and there are those who are going through it, and those of us who have been there. We all understand and support you. I know what it's like to have those huge clots, and once you've had the surgery, they won't be there any more. Though you will be tired for a while, it probably won't be the anemic kind of tired. I hope you will have a very uneventful operation, with lots of kind and caring people around you, and a speedy and uneventful recovery.

Hugs,

Debbie.

Hi! I'm Aug. 17th also. I understand your apprehension, I'm right there with you! I am having a TAH/BSO, and I have never been cut on before. I had my pre-op today, and am feeling a little better about my decision. I know you and I will both feel much better afterwards. I went on a lunch "date" with my husband after my pre-op and we were able to discuss things, and I think he now understands the seriousness of the surgery. At this point, you have to think about if you want to live the rest of your life dealing with these issues, or do you want the quality of life that you are supposed to have. I am very petrified about the surgery, the recovery, and the HRT, but I also am looking forward to a better quality of life. Continue looking through this site, and you will learn so much. Everyone has been very helpful and uplifting, because they all know what we are going through! Good luck on Friday and prayers for a blessed recovery.
Jen

Thank you all for the kind words of encouragement. It really does help.

I wish it was OVER already and I was on the road to recovery. I'm currently on my period and it's funny because I'm cramping and grumpy and achy and with all these feelings I actually realize I'm going to LOVE not feeling this anymore. I've been having my period for exactly 31 years (last month -- I started on July 4th, 1976 -- how can I forget, I was about to turn 11 on the 15th and it was during the big bicentennial bash and I was soooooo embarrassed!! LOL!)

Anyway, I'll be so glad not to have anymore discomfort. And I mean EVERYTHING from cramps, to bloating, to sex.. nothing is "good" for me anymore and I want that to turn around.

Thanks ladies, y'all are wonderful!

I had my TAV/BSO on July 27th. I had never been cut either. Having my period going into surgery was no problem. When I changed into hospital clothes they gave me mesh undies and a pad. I had several fibroids, cysts and adhesions that no one knew about. My pain was managed by morphine the first day and pain pills later. The worse part was when I stood up for the first time and looked down. It was like being on the worst merry go round ride ever. Pain is still here and I am still on pain meds. The worst pain has been equal or less then the monthly cramping pains. This pain I know is getting better daily and going to be gone soon.

Good luck, zenwin! I had my first surgery ever last year for a broken ankle when I was 36. I was so scared and did cry right before going in, but it wasn't that bad even though waking up was a big scary because I was freezing cold.

You'll do fine! Just think happy thoughts and remember how all of this is going to help you so much in the end!

Jennie