Laproscopic Myomectomy - TERRIFIED
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello, I am hoping someone can help (and hopefully reassure) me.
Some background
I have had fibroids since my mid-twenties (I'm now 38) but other than bloating they have never bothered me. As such I never did anything about them. Then 3years ago I got pregnant with my little girl: note to others if you plan on getting pregnant DO SOMETHING about your fibroids. The pregnancy was tough. I went into premature labour at 28 weeks, had to spend a week in hospital and then was put on bedrest until I gave birth as the fibroids aggrevated my uterus enough to send me into premature labour. Then I had to have a c-section due to the size and location of the fibroids. They had basically twisted my uterus so when they cut into me my whole uterus tore from front to back. I had two major haemorrages resulting in 4.2l of blood loss and them having to take my uterus out, sew it back up and put it back in. I was hours awake on the operating table, 4 days in the HDU unable to move at all, a further week in the hospital and I ended up having to beg to go home even though I stuggled to walk from one side of the room to the other. Even now 2.5 years later I am still traumatised by that time. I nearly died on that operating table and I've had health anxiety since.
The issue
After the birth they told me I needed to have the fibroids removed if I ever plan on having kids but in all honesty for me its the discomfort. I'm not sure if its my fibroids but I am tired and emotional all the time (even though my periods are fine), I struggle to walk around my time of the month as the fibroid is pushing on a nerve down my leg, I have CHRONIC constipation, chronic haemorids urination problems, bloated stomach and the usual back and hip pain. I have seen several surgeons all of whom say I need the surgery: my fibroids (that they can find) are 1x 10cm intermural right on top of the cervix, 2 x 5cm intermural anterior and they think there is a larger one on my posterior that could be causing the colon issues. So I know there is no way about it I need the surgery as they are truly making my life miserable. But I am terrified. I am honestly terrified I'm going to die. After what happened with my c-section I'm terrified I won't make it through and my daughter will be left without a mum but the pain is getting worse monthly and I know that is no way to live either. Please can someone who has already had the surgery tell me if they think the surgery is worth it? Would you get it if you were in my position?
LASTLY
This is completely vain but can someone tell me if what happened with their weight post myo? I have read a mix of either remarkable weight gain or weight loss. I've already put weight on since having a baby and lockdown and I am really nervous about putting on any more. I'm 5ft 6 and have gone from 130lbs to 145lbs - I am hoping that they surgery will help loose weight if my colon is clearer but I keep reading mixed results!
0 likes, 4 replies
doll52134 camilla91152
Posted
Camilla,
Wow you went through a lot. Good to hear you came out okay. I had a laparoscopic myomectomy and Myosure hysteroscopy the same day almost 4 weeks ago. I suffered from extremely heaving bleeding that led to prolonged anemia, cramps and pressure on my bowels. It is still early, but my first period after surgery was extremely light. That alone makes it worth it for me. I barely had any cramping, the pressure on my bowels is gone and my pelvic area is flat because the big fibroid is gone. Mine was 9.2cm. My biggest worry was the surgery turning into an open myomectomy, but that did not happen. I am still healing, but I feel like a normal person for the first time in 4 years.
I lost weight after the surgery, but I think it's because I reduced my caloric intake since I can't exercise yet. I can't tell you what to do, but I can say I am happy with my decision. My symptoms were too severe to not get the surgery.
joshuapryce1987 camilla91152
Posted
The weight loss is not so bad. 15lbs is normal. It all depends on diet, surgery and removal of spots and other things like fibroids are possible to cause one to lose weight but in the long run. Keep checking and give it time. Pain will occur in early stages after procedure but time heals.
harriet0324 camilla91152
Posted
Hi Camilla,
What a terrible and scary experience!
From your symptoms, it sounds like you need to have your fibroids removed. Leaving them, is not an option. OK so...
...So then it is important to find the least invasive and best-tolerated method of removal. There are many options these days (beyond hysterectomy, which is basically all they used to do) and I might want to go see an Ob/Gyn, surgeon or specialist who specializes in modern less-invasive methods (robotic, laparoscopic, etc).
It is extremely unlikely that you will die! Fibroids are very common, and fibroid surgeries and hysterectomy are very common too..doctors have had a lot of experience with these conditions, it is a well-travelled path...you should feel free to talk about your labor/delivery experience with your doctor, since it might affect how they approach the surgery.
re Weight Gain - a secondary issue, and you are nowhere near obese (or even overweight?) but setting your mind to eating healthy and exercising daily, could be a way to deal with life... You don't have control over your fibroids, but you do have 100% control over your own lifestyle...
What I would do: Seek medical expertise, carefully research the various procedures (in consult with doctor). That's maybe all we can do, as patients...
alexis16419 camilla91152
Edited
Hi Camilla, I can relate because I used to be terrified of doctors and surgery and could not imagine myself consenting to something so scary and invasive. I've always been super healthy, but my fibroid made my life living hell - I had every symptom in the book, and I mean every single one, so I really had no choice.
I finally had my robotic myomectomy about 8 weeks ago and have not experienced weight gain or loss. My belly looks much flatter, though, despite not doing abdominal exercises while healing, since the fibroid was making me look pregnant. As someone who suffered horrifically with the fibroid symptoms, this operation was the best thing in the world. Laparoscopy a relatively easy surgery, probably a lot less painful than childbirth and faster to heal than a c-section. I was on my feet running errands after 4 days and back to work in less than a week. The worst post-op symptoms subside after 2-3 days, and I stopped percocet on the 2nd day after the surgery. Even during the first couple of days, I only felt the pain when moving, and the most uncomfortable side effects were nausea from anesthesia and bloating and constipation from CO2 and meds. They did not leave a catheter in, and I was able to go to the bathroom normally, although it was uncomfortable for a day or 2. I had some occasional shooting pains in the umbilical area for a few weeks - I went back to my doctor's office and they told me that it's normal and due to the stitches in the largest incision (the smaller ones were glued and only took a couple of days to close) and just general healing processes, but honestly they were nothing compared to the pain and other symptoms of the fibroid. My energy level is way up (probably to decreased bleeding) and I feel like a new person. I'm so happy, I want to cry sometimes because of how much I suffered for years.
The only thing I would advise is to choose your doctor carefully. I used to have lousy insurance, and the fibroid specialist I got sent to by my clinic refused to do a myomectomy, saying it was too much work to reconstruct my uterus, blah blah blah, and it was not worth it at my age since I was too old for kids (I was 38 and my 40-something friends were having babies all over). After a fruitless search and several job changes, I finally had insurance with coverage at a better hospital, and the first doctor I saw was completely appalled by what I told him. He said that anything under 10 cm (mine was 7-8 cm intramural/submucosal) is straightforward to remove, and I was totally welcome to preserve my fertility regardless of age and probability. I was still very scared because the fibroid was sitting right on top of my bladder and that whole anatomical area is full of vital organs, but my surgeon is very experienced, and for him my case was a cakewalk. He also knew my previous doctor, and was very unimpressed by her surgical skills despite a flashy resume. Surgical complications are very rare in laparoscopy (excessive bleeding or conversion to open, certainly not death), and almost non-existent with good surgeons, so you really do not need to be scared. General anesthesia can be risky if you have heart or lung issues, but it's still fairly safe if you have the surgery at a full-service hospital instead of an ambulatory surgical center. They discharge you very quickly with laparoscopic/robotic procedures, so infection risk is low too. If you are suffering, the surgery is definitely worth it.