Overwhelming, isn't it?

For years now I've followed the "observe them" treatment for my dozen fibroids. They're on the outside of my uterus and so I didn't have bad bleeding... just some cramps, but I could live with that. Now at 49 my biggest bad boy has gotten way too big. I have to pee every 10 minutes and my uterus is "20 weeks" in size. Looks like I can't wait for menopause any longer.

So, I start seeing doctors and reading websites. Overwhelming.

SOME QUESTIONS:
Two gyno's say hysterectomy (leaving the ovaries) will be easier and shorter to recover from than myomectomy because the uterus oozes as it heals. Is this true?

How bad is the recovery from a myomectomy?

How much stomach muscle do they cut? (I understand that's the same for hysto and myo). How long might it take a fairly fit person to go back to work? Resume a normal exercise routine? Take a day hike? Have sex?

Has anyone had an embolization on a tumor as big as mine (cantalope, they tell me)?

Has ANYONE had good success with acupuncture, herbs or voodoo of any kind?

I so appreciate being able to talk to someone about this. My friends are either totally for or totally against hysto. I don't want children, but I don't want to lose an organ, just on principle... And, I'm the only woman I know who actually likes to menstruate. Plus, this whole thing brings up all the aging issues of a garden variety baby boomer...

Thanks for listening.
K

Hi klong1,

Yes, it is overwhelming for many of us when we're faced with these decisions.

I had a laparoscopic myomectomy at age 45 to have two intramural fibroids removed ... my uterus was 14 to 16 week size. One of the fibroids was golf ball size, the other was the size of my doc's fist (his description).

I chose the myomectomy because, like you, I didn't want to have a hyst ... did not want to lose my uterus. It takes a highly skilled surgeon to do a lap myo ... and that might not be possible in your case due to the number of fibroids and overall size of your uterus.

My surgery was done as outpatient and I only missed one week of work. As for my uterus oozing ... my gyn never mentioned that so I really can't say.

Unfortunately, my gyn found severe stage 4 endo during my lap myo and I ended up opting for a TAH/BSO about a year and a half ago. The abdominal surgery was much harder to recover from than the lap surgery. I was off work about 7 weeks with my hyst ... no intercourse until after my release from my gyn at 7 weeks. As for how long before taking a day hike ... everyone is different but there is no way I would have been ready for that even at 7 weeks post op. Maybe at 4 months ...

Although I didn't have an "open" myomectomy, I've read posts from a number of ladies here who did and some have said the myo was more difficult to recover from than the hyst. Then, there are other ladies who did very well after the myomectomy.

To be honest, if a lap myomectomy had not been an option for me when I thought my only problem was fibroids ... if an open myo had been my only choice for a myomectomy, then I probably would have opted for the hyst. I would not have wanted to go through the abdominal surgery twice.

Oh, and one more thing ... there were more fibroids growing in my uterus when I had my hyst six months after the myomectomy. My gyn also found adenomyosis ... and it's fairly common for gals in their 40's to have fibroids and adeno, even though the adeno frequently can't be diagnosed until during the pathology exam after a hyst.

Again, I know it's not easy to make these decisions. Keep reading and asking questions and make the decision that seems right for YOU. Don't let your friends rattle you ... this is your body and only YOU will have to live with your decision. Sending gentle hugs your way.

Beth