Sched for TAH 5/13 - 38yo and getting bent out of shape (no pun intended)

I'm 38 yo. Had normal GYN yearly exam 2/4/09. Suddenly noticed rapidly growing pelvic mass. US revealed 2 masses - one softball and one baseball, the first looking like endometriosis and the second like mucoid cystadenoma. Two Drs recommended open hyster/TAH with one ovary (hopefully) being spared. I hear bad stories all over the place these days, and although there's no indicator that it's any kind of cancer, I can't help but get scared about surgery - it's my first non-elective surgery which seems to change my outlook on the whole thing. I googled around last night, trying to understand the need for bowel prep, and that got me even more worked up. I'd like to think of getting another opinion or learning of another alternative, but in my heart I can't imagine there's any way around this. Any words of wisdom or other feedback would be welcome! Best wishes to all of you who face similar circumstances.

Good luck with your surgery, A women My DH works with had hyster last year for tumors. They had to wanted to take everything out as 1 piece to keep posible cancer from getting anywhere else. She lost 20 lbs from surgery. When pathology came back there was no cancer just benign tumors. I hope this will be the same for you.

Please get another opinion if you feel the need. As far as bowel prep that depends on the Dr. I did not have to do anything but eat light and if I hadn't gone to the bathroom in a day or so before surgery just needed to take a couple of laxatives the night before.

Sorry hit button before I was done.

Hi VCP123
I had my hysterectomy recently for the same reason as you, large pelvic mass (the size of a pineapple, which is what I was craving for months leading up to the surgery, go figure:-) The doc suspected mucinous cystadenoma, (in the end it wasn't that) and had me do a bowel prep, just in case he accidentally knicked something while in there. It really was a good thing he made me do this, as he ended up finding cancer (stage 1) and having to basically squeeze every inch of my intestines checking for any more signs of cancer. I was totally peeved that I had to do the bowel prep, but it was a god send in the end.
I am the same age as you. They took my ovaries, uteris, cervix and omentum. My recovery has been a breeze so far, I am 25 days out and power walking 3 or 4 miles a day. Trying to build my strength for my chemo treatments.
Good luck to you, and let me tell you, you will feel soooooo good getting that darn thing out of you, believe me, as soon as I woke up my words were "ahhhh, it's finally gone".

If you feel you need a second opinion, get one. You need to go into this surgery feeling confident in your surgeon and your decision. I couldn't have imagined feeling unsure of either - I wouldn't have gotten through it.

As far as bowel prep, all doctors are different. I had none ordered, but did my own with eating lightly the days leading up to surgery.