SAH - grapefruit fibroid, out in 48 hours

I had a really good surgery/doctor/hospital experience, and have now been home for a week with just a little discomfort.

I decided to have my hyst after a frightening experience a couple of weeks earlier - ended up overnight in the hospital needing a transfusion due to out of control menstrual bleeding, and progesterone shots to stop it. Turned out the bleeding happened because the birth control pills I was taking stopped working: they interacted in my liver with the Prevacid I take for reflux, and rendered to b.c. pills ineffective. Experience left me anemic and scared.

I had a number of related problems: fibroid the size of a grapefruit, multiple smaller ones, hormonal imbalance and fibroid in wall of uterus. I'm 43. Asked my ob/gyn what the chances were of making it to menopause (when the fibroids should shrink) and she said "not good." So together we concluded it was better to do a hyst now, on our terms, rather than on an emergency basis.

I told her I didn't want to wait: timing was good for me personally, and for my job. So I went in 1 1/2 weeks later, July 7th. It was great not to wait.

She wanted to take the ovaries and cervix, too. Her reasoning: eliminates any chance of cancers in these areas. I did some research & decided I'm at very low risk for ovarian cancer, and just felt that it was better to let my body regulate my hormones for the next ten years rather than take hormone replacement therapy this early. As for the cervix, I heard stories about vaginal prolapse, and it seemed better to keep (PAP smear monitors for cervical cancer). When I told her my decision (didn't even give her a reason, just told her I was "uncomfortable" with her recommendation), she didn't argue at all. She had made it clear it was my decision.

I was nervous the day of the surgery, but not as bad as I thought I'd be. My doctor came in to see me in preop, and stayed with me into the operating room (she pushed one end of the gurney). Her partner was waiting in the operating room. She rubbed my forearm the whole time I was waiting to be put out. Very lovely, caring people.

I knew a lot about what to expect from reading postings on this site, even if my doctor hadn't told me: knew I'd have a catheter, morphine pump, intestinal gas, a sore belly and lots of activity restrictions. I didn't feel there were any surprises. I think the intestinal gas was the worst-- it was so bad in the middle of the night that I got scared I was having a heart attack -- the muscles in my chest were so tight. The gas started to pass as soon as I was allowed up (24 hours after surgery).

I went in to the hospital on Friday morning. I was released on Sunday at noon. I was thrilled. My initial reaction to my own bed the first night, however, was that the hospital bed was easier to manage, with its buttons and bars to grab onto.

It's now a week later. I only take pain medication at night, ibuprofen during the day (right from my hospital release). The doctor said to go easy on the pain med - it causes constipation. Hasn't been a problem, pain is minimal. I've been eating a lot of fresh fruit (blueberries are great, also read in a posting here), and I've had no problem so far.

All in all, a positive experience. How yours goes/went as smoothly.