Swollen overhang after C section style open myomectomy

Hiya

I had hysterectomy in July last year and I was off work 7 months due to pain on left side, I went in for surgery keyhole in December to find out what was going on but he could not get in to see due to adhesions, I went in again for open laparotomy 29th march and I had mass adhesions my bowel was stuck to tummy wall and other organs were stuck too, this is my complications but I had previously had 2 c sections then abdominal open hysterectomy so a lot of scar tissue grew, regarding going to toilet even weeks after op wen I go to toilet it hurts real bad I have mentioned this as it actually stops me in my tracks wen walking x I am due a eurodynamic test to see what going in as I also pee myself x I am 44 years old x please see your gynie to see what is going on hope you feel better soon hon and keep us updated

Nic 😘😘

Sorry to hear your situaton, the healing process after open myomectomy varies, and is dependent on the amount of fibroids removed, their size and position and how deep the cuts were into the womb.  I had 32 fibroids removed in January 2016, so 16 weeks ago, and still healing, I tend to feel soreness if I go to the gym or do very long walks.  I was told by my consultant that it will take 6 months for healing of my womb.  Most people are told 3 months for healing, but usually they have only had few fibroids and smaller sizes removed..

With regards to the numbness around the scar that can last up to 1 year, I was told to gently massage with Vitamin E oil twice a day.  Its to do with the nerves that were cut during the surgery in that area and is common, the feeling comes back gradually.  i dont have an overhang that you described as I decided to stick to underwear that went up to my belly button i.e. large knickers, until the 6 months is over as I found ordinary underwear caused the elsastic to irritate the area around scar and cause a smal overhang.

For strenthening the womb my consultant recommended swimming, but I cant swim, so did hydrotheraphy for a bit which I found was helpful in speeding up the healing process.  You could try swimming or gentle exercise in a swimming pool.

Its worth seeing your consultant because of the bowel probelms as that could be adhesions. You should not need to be taking stool softners this far after an open myomectomy unless you have a very bad diet i.e. no fibre, lots of processed foods, not drinking enough water. I took softners for 2 days immediately after surgery but since then exercise, water and normal diet is all I have done to keep my bowels moving.

Let us know what your consultants says, I hope you start feeling better soon. Remember that open myomectomy is major surgery so healing will take time.

Hi Pipchick

I am 14 weeks post op and i had 7 fibroids removed largest of which was 18cms.  This is my first surgery and am hoping it to be my last!  I still have a very tender scar and get stinging/burning pains around my abdomen if i have sat or walked for a couple hours.  The numbness will be because when they cut ur skin it disrupts little nerve endings that supply your skin.  It will improve but you may never get bacj all of your sensation.

I never really had bladder issues.  You can try prunes to help soften your stool.  I use 2 a day and it keeps me soft and regular.

As hard as it seems we have to remember that they did alot of cutting to remove your 13 fibroids and all of that has to heal while we continue to move around and move the area that is trying to heal.  General healing takes 12 weeks but to fully heal i think we gotta give ourselves 6 months to get over it.  I still have not gone back to work yet as I am a temporary worker in the NHS and will be expected to just get on with it but i am looking for a part time job if i can get one.

I admit i was expecting to feel much better than this by now so this is a steep learning curve!  We just got to be patient even though it is very frustrating.

I have an Uncle who had a hernia operation in October last year and he tells me he still gets twinges when he turns over in bed or stretches! And i would say our surgery is much more invasive.  So hang in there hun.  All sounds about normal to me.  These wretched fibroids cause alot of damage inside that we cannot see and after squashing our organs for months and years they gonna tske a while to recover from being 'freed'

Wish you all the best with your ongoing recovery.  

Please see my post https://patient.info/forums/discuss/grateful-for-the-surgery-go-ahead-and-do-it-512352

I too have this swollen area just below my navel and just above the incision. I had my 6 week visit today and the doctor was suprised that this area was still swollen but assured me that it will go down in time. She did not specify how long but I am going to assume months. She said that it was just swollen tissue area. 

I am still freaking out as i am  anturally slim woman and this looks really odd on my body. I can only wait it out which is frustrating.

Hi Pipchick

I know this is a really old thread but if you still have an account on here I wondered how your healing went?

I had an open myomectomy 7.5 weeks ago, as far as I know (as wont be seeing my surgeon for another 2 months, and my doctors surgery is closed during lockdown) I had the 2 largest removed 13x13cm and 12x10cm - not sure at this point if they were pedunculated and then 2-3 smaller ones which I know were at least 3 - 5cms. Although these sizes were from an MRI done almoat 2 years previois and a scane 5 mths before the op last November 2019 which is not as accurate. One of the smaller fibroids had been presssing on my bladder for years. I suffered really badly with being very ill and my usual migraines went from every 2-3 mths to weekly.

I have a huge overhang which still hurts - like you I am slimmish but have always had a flat low tummy. My stomach was huge like 6 months pregnancy before the operation but again I could always mame my lower stomach look flat. It is a shock as I have to lift the overhang to see and clean the scar!! I expected pain and healing to take ages but the overhang has not gone down. How long did it take for you? Many thanks and hope you are well.

Hi,

i am just 8 days post myomectomy and my overhang is swollen too. i go to my appointment on Wednesday but i have never had surgery before and am just really concerned something is wrong. are you still swollen?

l had a myomectomy in January this year and i remember thinking I'd be fully healed after the six weeks; no ma'am, I'm six months post op and still randomly get a twinge of pain. nothing like what i experienced the first few months though-it definitely gets better!

Hi Ladies!

I have to tell you guys, I have been reading this entire thread since the hours leading up to my surgery and now, 6 days post.

I had an open abdominal myomectomy to remove 14 fibroids, the largest being 7cm long, and the entire surgery took 6 hours.

I am currently on Estradoil for the (1) small remaining fibroid that wasnt able to be surgically removed due to its position near the bladder and uterine lining. I got out of surgery around 9pm and was discharged the following day at 6pm. I was on a tynenol and ibuprofen pain management schedule while at the hospital and continued it when I came home up until Day 5. I have a high tolerance for pain but since I've stopped taking the pain medication, i have been having sharp rib pain and waist pain on the left side. I think I onsetted this by attempting to sleep on my side in the middle of the night. (Sleeping on my back is super uncomfortable for me)

Have any of you experienced this type of pain? Did you have bruising above the incision site? And how was your heart rate while healing at home? My seems to be above 80 -99 even while sitting down and resting.

Hi

i had Myomectomy last year October 2019. I am so lucky that i healed pretty well but like you do, I have an over hang belly. I wasn't sure if I have to be concerned about it, my belly is back to the size as before my operation, I'm 50yrs old and already experiencing pre menopausal symptoms. Can fibroid come back as quick or during menopause?