Hysterectomy scheduled 2/1 for large fibroid, concerned about how quickly it was scheduled

Hi Ladies;

I just found out two weeks ago I’m having my Abdominal hysterectomy on Feb 1 . I guess they must have seen something concerning because it was very quick. I have a very large fibroid I have been struggling with over the last year, however was not expecting surgery so quickly. I’m worried because I have gained a bunch of weight over the last year due to Covid and I’m afraid it will make recovery hard.

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I saw your concern added on to another discussion, and felt you needed your own thread. "Add ons" tend to get overlooked.

The speed with which surgery is scheduled doesn't necessarily that something is seriously wrong. I was initially aiming for 2 weeks from my appointment, but extended that a month out because the initial date would've been in the middle of several outstanding items at the office.

But why not call your doctor and get clarification on "why so soon"? Ask outright if there is any concern that makes surgery imperative at the beginning of February. The surgeon might not think it is and simply scheduled you on an upcoming date - or perhaps, going ahead and scheduling you as some states are disallowing elective surgeries due to the surge in Covid hospitalizations. Unless it's indicated otherwise, you can push it out, seek a second opinion, maybe explore alternatives (for instance, laparoscopic rather than abdominal surgery) and options to a hysterectomy (ablation, myomectomy). A hysterectomy IS major surgery, and recovery has to be measured in weeks rather than days.

I think many of us have packed on a few pounds because of Covid, but plenty of our Sisters here are on the fluffy side (as a few have humorously put it) and get along well enough. Skin folds over a bikini-line incision may need a little extra attention in recovery. You'll be able to ask your doctor about incision care, and we have tips regarding that as well.

If they were concerned with something they would most likely tell you, but I would still give your surgeon a call to discuss your concerns!

I am in a similar boat. I pushed surgery off in the summer due to Covid and then my fibroids kept growing and my surgeon said no more waiting. She offered to schedule me 12 days later because she had a cancelation but I said that was too quick for me to mentally prepare. Now I'm scheduled for Feb 2. Part of why she was trying her best to fit people in quickly, her scheduler said, was because they never know what will happen with Covid numbers and if elective surgeries will be further restricted (they already have limited spots.) So, that could also be a reason for you. I'm in Maryland and our numbers aren't terrible but they still keep that on the radar.

I, too, am worried about the fact that I'm in the worst shape of my life due to Covid, but she was not concerned. There's a lot more to how you recover than just your weight.

I'm technically considered obese now that I've gained about 15 pounds since the spring. I had a laugh with my husband last night that I qualify for an earlier vaccine round because of my BMI but that I'll probably lose enough weight after surgery to disqualify me. If I want the vaccine sooner I'll have to snack my way back into phase 2A!

For me, once I made up my mind to go ahead and was satisfied with the plan I wanted to have it done with as soon as possible. Mine was, if I remember right, about 2 weeks after I gave them the go-ahead.