Incredible! It’s up to Part 4.
I’ll just leave the Abdominal Myomectomy links for those who want more information and you can take from there.
For more information:
Abdominal Myomectomy (FibroidSecondOpinion.com)
Abdominal Myomectomy (OBGYN.net)
Abdominal Myomectomy (Mayo Clinic)
Abdominal Myomectomy surgery video (OR-Live.com)
If you have a post-Abdominal Myomectomy experience, please tell! If you’ve shared before, go ahead and share some more.
First AM forum = 640 comments.
Part 2 = 457 comments
Part 3 = 479 comments
——————–
Related Posts:
How are you feeling after your Abdominal Myomectomy?
How are you feeling after your Abdominal Myomectomy? (part 2)
How are you feeling after your Abdominal Myomectomy? (part 3)
Is anyone having fertility issues because of uterine fibroid tumors?
Trying for pregnancy (ttc) after your fibroid procedure (Abdominal Myomectomy)?
Has anyone had a postoperative infection after a fibroid procedure?
Has anyone needed a second uterine fibroid surgery or procedure?
Muffin Top after abdominal surgery? What’s a muffin top and how do I just make it go away?
February 23, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Abdominal Myomectomy Feb 5th.
I went to my doctor today for my post-op visit. He said I am healing fine. My fibroids were 1 @ 8cm, 3 @ 4cm and 1 @ 3cm. I asked when I should return to work and he told me they would write me a note with whatever return date I choose. At 2 weeks post op, I know I am not ready now, but I have no idea how to determine when I will return. My office wants to know when I will be back because I have a big project waiting for me. Any advice on how many weeks to stay home?
February 23, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Obviously it’s different for every person, but I think a lot of drs recommend 6 weeks off for recovery. FWIW, I got 6 weeks off, but I could’ve returned at 4 weeks.
If I were you, I would tell them 6 weeks and then come back early if I felt better sooner.
February 23, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Hi Kelly, I asked this exact question on this forum a few weeks back (when I was two weeks post-op) and a lot of people shared their experiences. You might scroll back for those. As for me, I started back very part-time at about week 3, and am still working mostly from home at week 5. I expect that next week I’ll be back to regular. The upward curve starting around week 4 has been pretty amazing for me. But I will say that it took me longer than I’d expected to come around, especially in dealing with fatigue, so I wouldn’t underestimate the time needed for healing.
February 25, 2010 at 3:39 am
Dear all, time for me to share my experience. My AM was on Jan 7th and I was discharged the next day. Before I left the hospital I could manage to go to the toilet by myself. It was actually my 3rd AM since 2006. I only had slight pain post op(and it happened occasionally), which disappeared usually in seven days. I started gym on Feb 1st and feel really good now. Another surprising thing is I did a blood test on Feb 9th and it tured out my Haemoglobin is 13.4 – it had been under 10 for the past six years! I didn’t know how my dr managed the blood loss in my op. He was one of the best gyn and RE in the country and his fee and the clinic was so expensive only for one night. Now I am in my waiting period for TTC in Apr. DH and I go to gym every day. Good luck to you all!
February 26, 2010 at 12:52 pm
ok ladies, I think I’ve seen some discussion on this in earlier threads, but how long did you wait to go back to waxing?
I’ve been trying to keep things under control with an electric razor, but I really need a wax badly. I’m 2 1/2 months post-op, and my scar is more or less healed, but I def don’t want anything near it, but I was thinking maybe they can just stay below it and it’ll be fine. But then I wondered if even that area might still be too sensitive.
Any thoughts?
February 27, 2010 at 1:43 am
Hailee, I’m so glad for you!
Does anyone know if there’s any sort of website where people share doctor recommendations for this? I’m on Long Island and it’s been challenging trying to find a qualified surgeon who takes my insurance (Oxford Liberty).
March 2, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I went to Dr. Rosenfeld. He’s the chief of the North Shore LIJ Center for Human Reproduction. My surgery went really well- he’s extremely knowledgeable! I definitely recommend him.
March 15, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Hi, Jenna
I had my AM 5 weeks ago. I too had a hard time finding a good surgeon who took my insurance(it took me about a year).I finally found Dr. Evanko, he is the the Chief of Gynecology and the Director for General ObGyn and Advanced Gynecologic Surgery in New York- Presbyterian Hospital. He is an EXCELLENT surgeon.Call and find out if they take your insurance (212) 305-1107, I truly recommend him.
March 2, 2010 at 1:35 am
Jenna,
There was actually a thread on hear to find drs. Try: http://blog.geekwithfibroids.com/2006/10/18/how-do-i-find-a-good-local-fibroid-doctor/comment-page-5/#comments
March 8, 2010 at 4:38 am
Dr. Emanual Mba Inglewood Ca.1-310-677-7172
He has great hands. Does not believe in unnecessary procedures.
March 2, 2010 at 1:38 am
Jenna,
I live near NYC. I interviewed several of the recommendations from this site after I thought my gyno (and surgeon in the ofc) were too gungho abt surgery. I had my surgery with Dr. Asher-Walsh. He is awesome!!
Sorry, I used “hear” instead of here.
March 5, 2010 at 5:33 am
Hello
I am now at my 5th week postop abdominal myomectomy. I have a few questions and some commentary…all mixed together so bear with me please…
Had ab myo surgery…almost 4 hrs…to deal with a fibroid uterus at the size of a 5-6 month pregnancy, with one peduculated fibroid outside of uterus aand many others in the uterus…and soon after…about a day to two days…developed a post-wound infection. I wouldn’t have minded as much, as that is a potential complication. However, although I was told that residents only observe, a resident actually sewed my top layer stitch! I was NOT happy. Did the resident’s stitch cause my infection? Mind you, doctor was MIA over 2 day period and left me with the resident! Also, it took a few days before the doctors would listen to me as they wanted to discharge me. I was bleeding through my incision and they kept telling me it was “normal” and just “fluid”. This was 2 days after having a blood transfusion postop of 4 units/packs of blood! Hematocrit was down to 17.0.
My doctor didn’t give me any postop material and seemed “detached” at my 1st postop appt, 2 weeks later. I was told by a medical professional friend that it could be due to the fact that I had complications after surgery. Anyone have a similar experience?
I now have lower back pain, swelling where the drain was in the lower public bone area, pain in my side where the pedunculated fibroid was, uterine pain and insomnia. Mind you, I had two drains that fell out the day I got home…one day after they were put in via the post wound infection cleanup surgery. Thankfully, I had a home health nurse who came daily to check my incision and rebandage me. Anyone with similar issues?
I had a period about 2 weeks after my surgery and the pain was unbelievable! I was taking the painkillers every 4 hrs and still felt like I was gonna start screaming in pain!! Anyone feel this way postop?
My surgeon also didn’t want to renew my script for painkillers after the 2nd week or so. Thankfully, I have a great primary care who wrote me a script. The surgeon seems hooked on the fact he doesn’t want me to “overrely” on the meds or have bowel movement problems?… I’ve resorted to calling him the “torture doctor” as he’s more concerned with my “over-reliance” versus my pain management! Anyone have a similar issue?
He also said I didn’t need a follow-up Ultrasound but I got one anyway and it shows 1 fibroid outside my uterus!!! Also shows a follicular cyst at left ovary and issues identifying right ovary with the transvaginal ultrasound, although it could be seen with transabdominal ultrasound. Anyone with a similar issue? What to do what to do??? He said he got them all, but it looks like he didn’t. Is it maybe an adhesion? Anyone with this fact scenario?
I also have swelling where there was a drain…he says it’s nothing and will go away, but should I be concerned? I also have what feels like a cyst I’d get during a menstrual cycle that hasn’t dissolved on my rt side/area of rt ovary. Anyone experience this postop??
March 5, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Hi Miriam — I’m so sorry to hear about everything you’ve gone through. I agree with Gail, below, that you should have another ob/gyn look at your wound, and certain if you need any additional treatment, do it with someone else. It doesn’t sound like you’ve received good treatment.
A couple of other notes: I had my first period 12 days post-op and had a day of intense pain. From other posts on this board, it sounds like the first period can be pretty rough. See what happens during your next cycle. They say it can take several before things settle to the new normal.
As for the other pain — everyone’s experience appears to be different. I also had a large external fibroid removed and several other smaller ones. At five weeks post-op I was still tender at night, but not experiencing pain besides that. Still have the “muffin top” swollenness, though, and am more swollen on the right than the left, though the doctor can’t tell me why. I never had any drains.
Good luck to you!
March 5, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Miriam, I am with the others I am 7wks post op and had 9 big fibroids removed, and while it wasn’t a cake walk, I did not have any complications, and after being home for 1 day, I was off pain meds and taking tylenol, and by week 2 I wasn’t taking anything. My Dr. also required that I see him every 2 weeks just to make sure I was healing properly. He is also adamant that I have an HSG test to make sure that my uterus has healed properly and to check for scar tissue. If I were you I would find another Dr. to take a look. Oh and I did not have any drainage and no tubes.
March 5, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I just had an abdominal myomectomy on Monday, March 1. Feel really good, well buttoned-up; stitches are just subcutaneous with steri-strips on top. No drains were used. The pain is just soreness.
If I were you, I’d get another ob-gyn to look into your abdomen and definitely it’s a red flag the size of a football field that he didn’t want you to get another sonogram. Many doctors do the procedure: some suck at it. How many has he done? My surgeon has done over a thousand of them.
Good luck, and if there’s anything to “clean up,” you can get it done, tho it’s a huge PITA. By another surgeon, needless to say!
March 5, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Hi all..
I lost track of this site n my previous mails or i had been paarticipating here actively:
My q.. im one+ year postop, had ab myo.. but stilll, carrying heavy weights gives me an icky pully feeling, as if smbdy’s tryna open my tummy with forceps or at least pulling it.. is that smthing okay? its not severe but a week of carrying heavy weights of different kinds, tummy muscles hv started hurting.. why? is it smthing normal or dangerous or what?
March 5, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I think you should check with your doctor. I am 3 months post op and I do not have anymore pain or pulling. Doctors typically say that you should be completely healed in 6 months…
March 5, 2010 at 7:37 pm
HEY LADIES! Im so excited to be back, I had my surgery on Mar.1,10,It was very sucessful, Originally my Dr. thought that i only had fibroids on the outside of my uterus, but after going in , she found 1 on the inside as well. So my OP. took 3 hrs. a little longer than we anticipated. Ihave 10 staples, that i will have removed on the 9th. Same problem as most of you; hard time getting up, very sore on my left , had a cyst there so…, sex is not even inb my vocab right now lol. Oh yeah i did have to stay in the hospital for an additional 3 days because i didnt pass gas, or have a bowel movement, and my Dr. said that she was concerned about that . Has something to do with your bowels adhering to your uterus, and complications later if i should get pregnant. Sorry im kinda chopping things up here, but if you have any comments or questions let me know, i will try to helpif i can.sorry I dont get on here that often but i try my best. well on to a healthier and happier lifestyle, and i wish the same for all of you.
March 6, 2010 at 12:39 am
Checking in again: I had my abdominal myo just five days ago. Into the hospital on Monday; out on Wednesday. Surgeon: Charles Ascher-Walsh, who came very highly recommended, and has done “over a thousand” of these procedures. It’s his specialty.
My uterus was the size of a six-month pregnancy, which didn’t mean much to me as I haven’t had children, but the info that the largest fibroid was “nine inches in diameter” sure did. The size of a human head, ladies!!! Dr. Dimples (so I call him) took out six altogether — the big honker, and five that were 2 – 3 inches in diameter. He was able to restore my uterus to her normal conformation (YAY!!!), preserve my ovaries and cervix, etc.; no bowel or bladder perforations, no “drains,” no problems.
He also used adhesion barriers, dissolving pieces of film, over every stitch he took. These last about a week and really help prevent painful adhesions.
No great blood loss, no transfusion necessary. I’m thrilled to bits. I do feel like he did a real solid job putting me back together: I feel sore, but secure, you know? The incision itself (wide bikini cut) he closed with a subcutaneous single thread, then steri-strips on the surface, which the nurse said would peel off by themselves in a week. The incision has been pronounced “beautiful” by all the medical personnel who’ve seen it.
(BTW, I haven’t had this many people looking at my nethers since I was in college and partying my butt off!)
Ahem. Anyway, I’m very pleased with him. I’ll see him on the 18th for a post-op checkup. I’ve had a nurse’s aide with me for: the first full day in the hospital (highly recommend this if you don’t have friends or family who can pull the duty); for the first night at home alone, for the first four days at home. I live alone in a fourth-floor walkup.
Anyone else facing a stair climb afterwards: hire an ambulette to get you home and carry you up in a wheelchair. In NYC, it costs just $75, and was worth it. Try Transcare (stay the hell away from Westchester Ambulette, they were terrible).
Aftereffects: Hot flashes. I don’t have the fibroids pumping estrogen now. I’ve been using my Estrogel, which probably helps, but be prepared. I also bought a booster seat for the toilet: another brilliant idea! They only cost $20, and you can get a four-inch high one from Dr Leonard’s online catalog. Be sure to get the 4″, not the 2″ (not enough height to help), especially if, like me, you dont’ have an SO in residence to pull you up off the seat.
Other great utensils: a long backscratcher, and a pair of long barbecue tongs for getting stuff off the floor without bending over. Slippers you can step in and out of. And a donut pillow for your favorite seat. Oh! and a long-handled scrubbie for the shower.
This website has really helped allay my fears and prep me for surgery. Belleruth Naparstak’s CD on Prepping for Successful Surgery has also been brilliant. I even had it going in the OR. Once I made up my mind to do it, I put on my Warrior Goddess hat and girded my loins for battle. But the best part of all was finding a good doctor.
March 6, 2010 at 11:30 am
What a great update! I’m almost seven weeks post-op, doing great, but two things caught my eye: First of all, the first week after surgery I woke up each night drenched in sweat and didn’t know why. Your hot flash explanation makes perfect sense — I had six or seven fibroids removed, including one gigantic one. Probably also explains all the excess belly fat I was getting that’s now gone. And I also used the Belleruth Naparstek cd both before and during surgery. I used it post-op as well. Brilliant, indeed. I’ve felt like I want to buy several copies to have on hand if friends are family are going in for surgery. Best wishes for an uneventful recuperation.
March 10, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I had my surgery with Dr. Ascher-Walsh as well. He is the best. I had the same experience as you although I had many more fibroids removed (over 40). I highly recommend him. He answered all my questions and then some. Very professional and courteous staff as well.
March 6, 2010 at 12:49 am
Two more tips: get some elastic belly bands (Miles Kimball, Dr Leonard, other online direct marketers have them) that are about 8″ wide and close with Velcro. Dr. Dimples said I don’t need them, but I can wear them if they make me feel more comfortable. THEY DO. If you’ve had large masses removed like I did, and feel like a deflated balloon, they help stabilize everything. I can even sleep on my side without feeling like my innards are protruding. It’s like having a pair of hands holding you in, gently.
More important: I found Ascher-Walsh through looking at Castle Connolly’s “Best Doctors” book. NY Magazine published a partial list of doctors in our area, but Castle publishes a book that covers the country. These are doctors recommended by other doctors; they’re the docs that the docs send their OWN friends and family to. And getting the listing is a coveted honor. My ENT was a guy I found this way, and he was also spectacular.
So get the book, find the specialty, and go down the list until you find one who takes your insurance. And Voila! you’re set! I called just 4 ob-gyns listed in the NY Magazine article until I found Dr Dimples, and he was the first one who took HIP-HMO.
It really was just that easy. Good luck to you all! You’ll be hearing from me again. I’m so ecstatic to have those horrid monsters out of me, and my poor uterus repaired! SO glad I waited until I found a good doctor. He said there would be no problem with preserving my ovaries; he’s never had to “convert” to a hysterectomy (“The only way you’ll wake up without your uterus will be if it was necessary to save your life,” he told me); that he could put my uterus back together again.
But you need a specialist in ab myo’s to get this done.
Well, my belly is Pinging me. Time for bed!
March 6, 2010 at 2:57 am
Gail,
Such wit, girl! Thanks for the laughs.
I’m 3.5 weeks post-op (having delivered an 8-cm beaut. by Caesarean section) and back to normal life. Back to the gym, back to sex, back to all regular activities. But not back to work for two more weeks, yahoo!!
March 6, 2010 at 2:56 pm
can anyone tell me if anyone gets pain with carrying heavy weights a year post surgery? i hv bn picking up n dragging really heavy stuff n now my stitches site pains on n off n sharp sudden current-like pains which i used to get in first few months post surgery, now its more than 15 months to my surgery.. has anyone ever told not to pick weight for the whole life after surgery?
March 13, 2010 at 3:06 am
Hey Kim just wondering are you weight lifting or just picking up heavy items? Could it be the way you’re lifting things? Try lifting with your legs not your back…
March 7, 2010 at 1:04 am
Hey Ladies,
Its been a little over 2wks. I have good days and bad days. the inflammation is decreasing muffin top going away Yes!
My real concern is more pain with urination, feels like bladder infection. I have one more day of antibiotics no relief in sight.
What’s the problem with chocolate? I had a chocolate bar today and truly enjoyed it, what will be the side effects….
oh by the way getting out of bed
Get in fetal position push yourself up onto your knees then crawl backwards off the bed.
March 7, 2010 at 11:42 am
Hello everyone, I came across this site while trying to find some answers following my myomectomy. I am so glad I found it and hopefully someone will be able to help!
I can’t wait to be out and about just in time for spring! 
I had my myomectomy 4 days ago. The procedure went well and they removed 5 fibroids (3 that were 6-8cm and two smaller ones). I spent that night and the following day in the hospital. Had a lot of nausea and low fever, but that went away before I left. Yesterday I ran a fever again- never went above 100, but it was 99.7 with motrin and tylenol. The fever broke last night, but the nausea is still there. I was really wondering if anyone else was experiencing nausea 3-4 days post-op? I did not take any percocet yesterday thinking that might be contributing, but it didn’t change. I’m getting around pretty well- out of bed and walking ever couple of hours. Sleep is horrible, but I would expect a certain amount of discomfort and other things post-op (bottom line is the nausea is kicking my butt and although I am taking a medication for it its not going away). Anyone with advice and/or experience would help. Thanks girls!! And good luck to all of you who have had this or are going through it… Just remember- we all heal differently, but we all heal
March 7, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I guess nausea is due to taking lot of meds n antibiotics n then starting food etc..
Know what
Now I can laugh on it but when my surgery happened (nov 3, 07), it was the most painful experience i cud ever had.. and what was it, it was VOMITING the next day of my surgery.. I was started on juices the next day and then on regular food at night though I cudnt stand its smell out of nausea, also i hated the yuckiest meds/antibiotic’s taste, n refused to take it.. they made me have it n it resulted in even more nausea, they offered me anti-nausea meds n i refused to take a single more pill.. they offered injection n i didnt want a single more needle in me.. I took water and juices.. Result: I told everyone i was gonna vomit.. n i did.. vomited everything i had inside.. n I swear it was the moooooooooooost painful experience i cud have other than coughing n sneezing post op.. i felt smone was cutting through me without anesthesia with a sharp knife.. those spasms u know.. i cried loud ..but even that was hurting…. They gave me meds n injections by force later on n i took them somehow… heheh
SO. PLEASE. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME, and PLEASE take some anti-nausea med when u r needing it, for a cpl of weeks at least (only when needed)
wish u best of luck
March 8, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Marianne,
I too had nausea post-op…while still in the hospital as a matter of fact. I too was also given anti-nausea meds. However, I quickly realized that it was because I wasn’t eating. Many people cannot take high-doses of meds without eating…bad for the tummy. I was taking Dilaudid (4mg), ibuprofen (600 mg), docusate and Cipro for a post-op UTI while in the hospital. I also took them once I went home. As soon as I realized that I wasn’t eating…while in hospital, I ordered something to eat via room service and had no more nausea. My Mom also made this observation as well…it’s good to have loved ones to help you evaluate issues too.
However, I had nausea issues again right around Valentine’s Day weekend…almost 4 weeks post-op. I saw my primary care the week after Valentine’s Day and she concluded that it was the ibuprofen. I had been taking it (prescription), with the Dilaudid and then with Lortab, the first 3 weeks post-op, and alone thereafter..just OTC Advil. After 4 weeks, the ibuprofen (Advil), and maybe the Lortab in combination, was irritating my stomach. She switched me back to Dilaudid and said to stop the Advil and the nausea and tummy ache went away.
It’s a good thing I saw my primary care, at my husband’s suggestion, because I had just purchased a huge bottle of Advil from Costco, as my surgeon, aka “the torture doctor”, said taking that would be fine instead of prescription painkillers. He never said anything about possible irritation, etc. I honestly think he must have had past patients who became hooked on prescription painkillers or something. My primary care gave me Dilaudid the week after Valentine’s Day and I still have the same bottle, no refills, and it’s now 3/8. I take them as needed. But it’s good to know I have them, especially as my 2nd post-op period started Sunday and 1 Dilaudid/4 hrs is keeping the cramping to a mild pain. That first post-op period had me in horrific pain! Dilaudid seems to work well for me. They tried to switch me to Percoset in the hospital, but I didn’t do well at all with it as it didn’t soothe my pain. So they switched me back to Dilaudid. Everyone’s reaction to the various meds varies.
I was also very anemic due to my fibroids. I had a 5-6 month size uterus. So, I also saw a hematologist recently who prescribed OTC iron medicine (Vitron C) and did blood tests on me. (Thankfully, he said I did not need iron infusions.) My iron level is going up as compared to 2 weeks pre-surgery and 4 weeks post-surgery. This is important as anemia can also cause nausea sometimes. (It can also damage your heart too.) The hematologist (specialist doctor regarding blood disorders, of which anemia is one), says the best source for iron is animal/beef red meat, which I had previously avoided due to the fibroids. It’s thought that the hormones in red meat cause fibroids. As such, I now make sure…and had started this pre-surgery…to buy organic/hormone free beef and chicken. I shop at Harris Teeter where they sell “Naturals” beef and a brand of chicken called “Smart Chicken”. I also buy organic milk and eggs.
Will see my regular OBGYN this week and I had a transvaginal and pelvic ultrasound 4 weeks post-op, thanks to my great primary care doctor. (Torture doctor said I didn’t need it.) I also had a post-op pelvic/abdominal MRI last week, which was 6 weeks post-op. So, when I see my OBGYN this week, I should be able to get to the bottom of any post-op issues. I also had an ultrasound and MRI prior to surgery, so I’ll have good pre and post comparison scenarios. I think this is important so you know how well your surgery actual went and what is there after the fact. Also, you’ll know later what, if anything, grew back or got left behind during your surgery.
I also made an appointment for next week to see a reproductive endocrinologist/OBGYN, a great suggestion I got from this board/blog.
As a lawyer, I am pretty obstinate and thorough, hence my reading of this blog from “cover to cover”. But most importantly, I want to be in good health. It’s so important we take care of ourselves ladies. It was only after having surgery that I found out that, not only my mother, but also 2 of my mother’s sisters, have had horrible experiences with fibroids. Fibroids may be the reason one of my aunts only had one child and then adopted two. My mother suffered greatly as I was growing up, being admitted to the hospital many times needing blood transfusions. In my third year of college in the early ’90s, she had to undergo an emergency hysterectomy.
Personally, I believe the surgeon I used, aka “the torture doctor”, who is “renown” for these procedures, was technically proficient, but is representative of the “old-school” physician who does not communicate well or listen to his patients. Generally, I do not like these types of doctors. I was referred to the surgeon by my OBGYN, and I researched him. However, bedside manner is something that can take many visits to evaluate. Nevertheless, once I learned that I had a (pedunculated) fibroid…growing outside my uterus, it really pushed me towards the surgery. My OBGYN had me do MRIs yearly…”watchful waiting”. And last year, he wasn’t sure if it was a fibroid or something else growing, like cancer. That scared me! I just knew his referring me to the OBGYN/oncologist meant I had cancer. I was on the edge of my seat during the first meeting thinking, “just go ahead and tell me already!”. Thankfully, it wasn’t cancer, rather, a huge pedunculated fibroid. Looking at my side, I could see the bulge and was astounded I hadn’t noticed it! Although I know less than 1% of fibroid cases become cancer, I’d had enough! Nothing fit! I bled like a stuck pig! And I was anemic beyond belief and craving ice like it was food! And I knew how the story ended for my mother. ‘Nuff said! Also, I had developed pulsatile tinnitus and suffered from it for over a year…since late 2008. It was due to the anemia and my heart pumping harder to get oxygen to my blood. I felt like Edgar Allen Poe in “The Telltale Heart”! Awful to be in a meeting and hear your own pulse in your head! It’s FINALLY going away.
SO, long story short, they needed to come out. And again, “torture doctor” gets an “F” on bedside manner and communication, but a “B” on technical proficiency, as I still have my uterus, which would have been an impossible feat according to some surgeons. I only give him a “B” because I am awaiting the results of my MRI and I feel he neither managed my pain nor my pre and post-op education and care very well. He’s just now recommending the ultrasound…a day late and a dollar short! Thank goodness I had a good home health nurse that came to see my daily for 2 weeks from day after hospital discharge and answered a lot of my questions and alleviated my concerns. (My insurance has been great and paid for this, MRIs, ultrasounds and more…thankfully I chose BCBS PPO and not HMO…never a problem to date with BCBS PPO, thank God).
The nurse was the one who told me that, because I had had complications, that could be why my surgeon was so “tight-lipped” post-surgery. Little does he realize, that that was probably the worst decision he could have made with a patient like me.
We have choices and a growing voice, both as women and health care consumers. It’s not only our reproductive systems at stake, but also our health. Everyone on this board is their own best advocate.
Good health and baby dust to all!
Miriam
March 9, 2010 at 4:17 am
Hi Miriam, Thank you so much for sharing. I’m 2 weeks out and doing well but really enjoyed your story.
Thanks for the good heath wish but I’ll pass on the baby dust. I have two teenagers. I need some help raising teens dust LOL.
How interesting, you mentioned the ice cravings OMG! I’ve been chewing on ice daily for the past 6 months even up until the day they released me from the hospital. and ah the hospital had the best Ice I’ve ever had. soft and chewy.
March 7, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Hi there,
Just a couple of thoughts on the nausea …. A general anaesthetic can cause nausea. I had intense nausea for about five hours after my general (my myo was nearly 4 weeks ago). It’s possible it can last longer.
Second thought — low blood pressure gives me that dizzy/nauseated feeling. Perhaps have your b.p. checked?
Good luck to you!!!
March 8, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Hey ladies, I am currently 8wks post op and having my 2nd period. The first period after the surgery was regular and not that bad, this time my right ovary feels like it is going to explode, has anyone experienced this after surgery?
March 9, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Hi Kimberly, I am 8 weeks post op too and my 2nd period is over. Ther first one was light and the second one was a litlle more heavy. However, after my 2nd period I started to feel a light pain on my right side and sometimes my belly is full like it is going to explode. Additionally, my scar area is very tight. I don’t know if it is the same that you are feeling.
March 9, 2010 at 6:58 am
I already bookmark this post, I might get back and will read your new post… bye for now
March 11, 2010 at 2:30 am
I had my AM done on August 24,2009. It’s almost 6-1/2 months and I still have pain in my left side. My stitches and drain hole healed great, but it’s just this pain in my side. When I drive when I get out it hurts. If I walk too long in the stores it hurts. I’m unemployed right now so I have no insurance so going back is not an option unfortunately. Reading the ladies comments I think to myself I’m pretty lucky but my poor husband is freaking out. I can lift pretty much anything again, eat anything again, but I don’t know. I still have the puffy stomach. I had an allergic reaction to the tape and those marks are almost gone now. My doctor was great. Explained everything to me. He thought I only had 1 tumor at 2cm..that’s what the tests showed. I ended up having 6, one was 10cm. All I can say is if you have someone that can help you in the first 2 months then let them hepl you. Take as much time off as you can. Remember your stomach muscles were cut. Just because your exterior skin has healed doesn’t mean your stomach muscles have too. Just to breathe they move. I’m rambling so I wish everyone good luck with their recoveries and pray for no more fibroids.
March 11, 2010 at 10:26 am
Hi Karen P,
Do you have any theory to why you still have pain? Did you do too much or too little after the surgery. I am 12 weeks post-op and I have pain every day. My doctor checked me out a month ago and said everything was fine and that it was probably a nerve that was causing the pain. I was not in the greatest of shape before surgery and after surgery I ate too much. I also did not have anyone to help me after my surgery. I am now in the process of completing a huge thesis-like project for graduate school and getting about 4-5 hours of sleep a night. My stress level is extremely high. This all seems to aggravate my abdominal area. The longer I sit on a chair typing on my computer, the more pain I have. I was wondering if, as you look back on your recovery, was there was something you did or didn’t do that you think contributed to your chronic pain.
March 13, 2010 at 3:13 am
Did anyone else receive a shot of Lupron before their myo?
It’s a shot given several weeks before the myo, designed to thin the uterine lining, reduce the chance of a transfusion. It puts one into “transitory menopause” for a period of time.
My surgeon had said that period of time was about five weeks. But I’m wondering when to expect a period. I’m approaching 5 weeks post-op. The hot flashes have stopped, so I assume my estrogen levels are returning to normal, but no period, yet.
Does anybody have experience of this and can tell me when they got their first period in this case?
Thanks! My surgeon is on holiday ….
Anyone?
March 13, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Linda
I had Zoladex which is pretty similar to Lupron I think and I had my first period about 4 weeks after my operation.
Thank god the hot flashes have gone – they were pretty hard to tolerate during an Australian summer!