Home from 12/10 Myo

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I too am wondering if this is

the route for me to take. I have an appointment with my doctor next

Friday to discuss my options. 3 months ago he said one of them

was the size of a grapefruit and I know I have others. I dont know if

they are in the uterus, outside the uterus or in between the muscle wall.

3 months ago when he started explaining things to me I could tell

he was not pro surgery. Now I think they are putting too much pressure

on things down there. I just want them gone. I have not had kids

yet so a hysterectomy is not an option.

How large is your incision and where is it, middle, side?

Did insurance cover the cost.

Would you do it again?

Thanks,

Welby

[Guest guest]

Congratulations, . May you have an uneventful recovery.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Congratulations, . May you have an uneventful recovery.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Welby:

Mine was the size of a grapefruit, but they don't really know what they're

going to have to deal with until they get in there. Fortunately mine was in

one massive piece, which didn't take very long to extract. The scar is about

5 inches in length. It is in the pubic area (what is known as a bikini cut)

I am completely shaved in that area, but I think pubic hair will generally

cover the scar. Also the scar, even at this point, looks like a crease. I am

told by others who have had similar surgeries, the scar heals so that it is

almost completely invisible to the eye. As far as if I would do the surgery

again? To be perfectly honest I won't have a definitive answer to that until

I see the results. (after the swelling and tenderness subside and of course

my first period after the surgery). If you are at all questioning your

doctor, seek a second, third, etc opinion. There are lots of doctors that do

myomectomies and some are better than others. It's your job to seek out the

best for your situation. Yes, insurance covered the procedure for me. I am

self-insured, so I will have to pay a percentage plus my deductible.

Any other questions, I will be happy to answer.

Best,

[Guest guest]

Welby:

Mine was the size of a grapefruit, but they don't really know what they're

going to have to deal with until they get in there. Fortunately mine was in

one massive piece, which didn't take very long to extract. The scar is about

5 inches in length. It is in the pubic area (what is known as a bikini cut)

I am completely shaved in that area, but I think pubic hair will generally

cover the scar. Also the scar, even at this point, looks like a crease. I am

told by others who have had similar surgeries, the scar heals so that it is

almost completely invisible to the eye. As far as if I would do the surgery

again? To be perfectly honest I won't have a definitive answer to that until

I see the results. (after the swelling and tenderness subside and of course

my first period after the surgery). If you are at all questioning your

doctor, seek a second, third, etc opinion. There are lots of doctors that do

myomectomies and some are better than others. It's your job to seek out the

best for your situation. Yes, insurance covered the procedure for me. I am

self-insured, so I will have to pay a percentage plus my deductible.

Any other questions, I will be happy to answer.

Best,

[Guest guest]

Dear All:

I had my open myomectomy on December 10. For those of you who wish

to ask me questions in detail I welcome your personal emails. I will

be more than happy to fill you in on my experiences or answer any

questions. Here are some details on how my surgery went.

The morning of Dec 10: I was very anxious and scared. I cried a lot

and really questioned whether I should have the surgery at all. But,

not really knowing what I was going to experience led me forward.

Ignorance is bliss.

After being prepped and having, what seemed like, the entire surgical

team viewing the anesthesia prep I was whisked away to the OR. (I

had my surgery at UCLA -- which is a teaching hospital. This means

the surgery is viewed and assisted by students and residents)

The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and feeling foggy,

groggy, crampy, and very out of it. They then transported me to my

room, where I was greeted by my family. They put these god awful

things on my legs, which helped to prevent blood clots, very

confining, and provided me with the wonderful morphine pump of joy,

for pain. For the next few hours I became more alert and discovered

more and more things. I was in pain and my mouth was bulging.

(Probably sores from the intubation tube). I pressed the morphine

pumped as prescribed and lay there in a minimal amount of pain and a

lot of nausea, which they proceeded to cure with droperidol. (You

might want to read the FDA warning issued on this drug)

The surgery went without a hitch. A " cookie cutter " case, said the

doc, a lot simpler than he had anticipated. It seems my fibroids

attached themselves to each other thus making the removal quick and

easy. I don't believe the uterus even needed to be taken out of my

body, so the bowel was not even touched. Total surgery time: 1 ½

hours.

The next few hours were hazy at best. During the night I lay

confined by the (blood clot) leg chains, PVA and bladder catheter. It

was a somewhat comfortable evening in front of the TV. The next

morning I was poked and prodded by residents. They looked at the

incision, wanted to know if I was passing any gas, if I had eaten, if

I had urinated . I hadn't even sat up yet, folks.

Later that morning I was unhooked me from the sadistic medical

devices and they proceeded to get me vertical. I'm a person with a

very sensitive stomach, so it seems and getting me vertical also

meant getting nausea. Needless to say, I couldn't stomach eating

even a tiny bit of the delectable breakfast. (I really won't go into

the food because we all know how great hospital food isn't). After

awhile of adjusting to a prone position and going to the bathroom on

my own, I was able to maneuver around the floor . . . very slowly.

The incision hurts! There's no other way to say it than it hurts.

For me it felt like I'd done thousands of sit-ups the night before.

It didn't hurt as much getting up or walking, but let me tell you

laughing or coughing is a whole different story.

After they took me off morphine, they to introduced me to Vicodin.

And since I hadn't had much in my stomach, I started getting very

nauseas. This went on for most of the morning of the 3rd day. I was

angry because I wanted to go home, but I felt so lousy I didn't know

how I was going to manage to get home without puking out the window

of the car. By afternoon I had managed to down some toast and fruit

and started feeling a whole lot better. The Dr. released me that day

and when I got in the front door of my home, my appetite returned

miraculously.

Since Wednesday I've been taking it easy. It's very, very sore around

the incision. My stomach is swollen and puffy, so I can't really tell

what I will look like once the swelling goes down. I've been taking

Vicodin since last night the incision started hurting more.

Otherwise, I'm able to sit at the computer and type, talk on the

phone, do a little work . . . I actually took out some trash to the

dumpster today. I get tired very easily, but taking my meds &

vitamins are going to help a lot. Fortunately I didn't lose much

blood during the surgery and didn't require any transfusion, although

I am still anemic according to the labs, but with iron supplements I

should be back to normal in about 2 weeks.

Now four days post surgery, I am feeling pretty damn good, and

knowing my fibroids are actually gone, makes me feel optimistic about

starting a happier and healthier life in the next few months. I will

keep in check of any new fibroids and will be more aware this time.

And I . . . will be getting some rest now. Good-night all.

Silverman

Hale@...

Hale@...

[Guest guest]

GEES! And I thought a myo was in and out the same day surgery! I think I

have it confused with a laparoscopy!

Why did they give you morphine? I thought they only used that for patients

who are terminally ill.

At 12/14/01 08:13 PM, reneehale wrote:

>The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and feeling foggy,

>groggy, crampy, and very out of it. They then transported me to my

>room, where I was greeted by my family. They put these god awful

>things on my legs, which helped to prevent blood clots, very

>confining, and provided me with the wonderful morphine pump of joy,

>for pain. For the next few hours I became more alert and discovered

>more and more things. I was in pain and my mouth was bulging.

>(Probably sores from the intubation tube). I pressed the morphine

>pumped as prescribed and lay there in a minimal amount of pain and a

>lot of nausea, which they proceeded to cure with droperidol. (You

>might want to read the FDA warning issued on this drug)

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[Guest guest]

GEES! And I thought a myo was in and out the same day surgery! I think I

have it confused with a laparoscopy!

Why did they give you morphine? I thought they only used that for patients

who are terminally ill.

At 12/14/01 08:13 PM, reneehale wrote:

>The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and feeling foggy,

>groggy, crampy, and very out of it. They then transported me to my

>room, where I was greeted by my family. They put these god awful

>things on my legs, which helped to prevent blood clots, very

>confining, and provided me with the wonderful morphine pump of joy,

>for pain. For the next few hours I became more alert and discovered

>more and more things. I was in pain and my mouth was bulging.

>(Probably sores from the intubation tube). I pressed the morphine

>pumped as prescribed and lay there in a minimal amount of pain and a

>lot of nausea, which they proceeded to cure with droperidol. (You

>might want to read the FDA warning issued on this drug)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FOR SALE: New Bernina sewing machine and Bernina 2-3-4 serger

Email hobbylass@... for details.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Guest guest]

Myomectomy is the removal of myomas. It can be done a number of ways.

Laproscopically is one way and yes, that is usually a 24-hour stay. When

fibroids become too large they may need to be removed via an abdominal

incision. Morphine is the drug they have always used. In fact my sister had

2 C-sections and she controlled her pain with morphine. Pain management is

very important. It sounds like you may be new to this board and you may want

to read through some archived posts.

[Guest guest]

Myomectomy is the removal of myomas. It can be done a number of ways.

Laproscopically is one way and yes, that is usually a 24-hour stay. When

fibroids become too large they may need to be removed via an abdominal

incision. Morphine is the drug they have always used. In fact my sister had

2 C-sections and she controlled her pain with morphine. Pain management is

very important. It sounds like you may be new to this board and you may want

to read through some archived posts.

[Guest guest]

It sounds like you had a rough time of it. Are you planning on having a

myomectomy again?? I didn't realize you had yours in 1991. Things are

probably a little different today . . . in a good way. I'm very glad I

didn't require any transfusions. You were most definitely weakened by the

loss of blood. I am a little bit anemic and I've never been anemic in my

entire life. I can feel the weakness . . . doctor prescribed iron pills for

the next 2 weeks.

Take care,

[Guest guest]

It sounds like you had a rough time of it. Are you planning on having a

myomectomy again?? I didn't realize you had yours in 1991. Things are

probably a little different today . . . in a good way. I'm very glad I

didn't require any transfusions. You were most definitely weakened by the

loss of blood. I am a little bit anemic and I've never been anemic in my

entire life. I can feel the weakness . . . doctor prescribed iron pills for

the next 2 weeks.

Take care,

[Guest guest]

Of course you should be taking your iron pills regularly. But most of all

you need to control the bleeding. What are you planning on doing, or are you

still researching?

[Guest guest]

They recommend 6 weeks of recovery. Your doctor will be able to determine

when you can return to work. Good luck to you.

[Guest guest]

They recommend 6 weeks of recovery. Your doctor will be able to determine

when you can return to work. Good luck to you.

[Guest guest]

Don't be afraid of morphine. It was a God send to me. I had the

morphine IV for the first day after the myo, and then percocet for

the next 2.

> >The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and feeling

foggy,

> >groggy, crampy, and very out of it. They then transported me to my

> >room, where I was greeted by my family. They put these god awful

> >things on my legs, which helped to prevent blood clots, very

> >confining, and provided me with the wonderful morphine pump of joy,

> >for pain. For the next few hours I became more alert and

discovered

> >more and more things. I was in pain and my mouth was bulging.

> >(Probably sores from the intubation tube). I pressed the morphine

> >pumped as prescribed and lay there in a minimal amount of pain and

a

> >lot of nausea, which they proceeded to cure with droperidol. (You

> >might want to read the FDA warning issued on this drug)

>

>

> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

> FOR SALE: New Bernina sewing machine and Bernina 2-3-4 serger

> Email hobbylass@y... for details.

> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>

>

[Guest guest]

Don't be afraid of morphine. It was a God send to me. I had the

morphine IV for the first day after the myo, and then percocet for

the next 2.

> >The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and feeling

foggy,

> >groggy, crampy, and very out of it. They then transported me to my

> >room, where I was greeted by my family. They put these god awful

> >things on my legs, which helped to prevent blood clots, very

> >confining, and provided me with the wonderful morphine pump of joy,

> >for pain. For the next few hours I became more alert and

discovered

> >more and more things. I was in pain and my mouth was bulging.

> >(Probably sores from the intubation tube). I pressed the morphine

> >pumped as prescribed and lay there in a minimal amount of pain and

a

> >lot of nausea, which they proceeded to cure with droperidol. (You

> >might want to read the FDA warning issued on this drug)

>

>

> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

> FOR SALE: New Bernina sewing machine and Bernina 2-3-4 serger

> Email hobbylass@y... for details.

> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>

>

[Guest guest]

At 12/15/01 11:14 AM, reneehale@... wrote:

>Myomectomy is the removal of myomas. It can be done a number of ways.

>Laproscopically is one way and yes, that is usually a 24-hour stay. When

>fibroids become too large they may need to be removed via an abdominal

>incision. Morphine is the drug they have always used. In fact my sister had

>2 C-sections and she controlled her pain with morphine. Pain management is

>very important. It sounds like you may be new to this board and you may want

>to read through some archived posts.

No, not too new here - about a year almost. However, I have a 20-week size

fibroid and the little ones I have had until now were removed by

laparoscopy along with endometrial adhesions from endometriosis along with

a D & C. That is, except for a pedunculated fibroid that was removed by

emergency surgery in 1991.

As far as pain management goes, I don't recall what I took in 1991 but I

know I just had to take something for a few days. At that time I was off

work for FOUR weeks!!! However, I thought it was because I was so week with

a blood count that dropped to below 7 resulting in transfusion, etc. When

I got out of hospital my body was SO swollen all over I couldn't get on any

of my clothes for a week or so. I still don't know why my body swelled up

like that unless it always happens with transfusions.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FOR SALE: New Bernina sewing machine and Bernina 2-3-4 serger

Email hobbylass@... for details.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Guest guest]

At 12/15/01 11:14 AM, reneehale@... wrote:

>Myomectomy is the removal of myomas. It can be done a number of ways.

>Laproscopically is one way and yes, that is usually a 24-hour stay. When

>fibroids become too large they may need to be removed via an abdominal

>incision. Morphine is the drug they have always used. In fact my sister had

>2 C-sections and she controlled her pain with morphine. Pain management is

>very important. It sounds like you may be new to this board and you may want

>to read through some archived posts.

No, not too new here - about a year almost. However, I have a 20-week size

fibroid and the little ones I have had until now were removed by

laparoscopy along with endometrial adhesions from endometriosis along with

a D & C. That is, except for a pedunculated fibroid that was removed by

emergency surgery in 1991.

As far as pain management goes, I don't recall what I took in 1991 but I

know I just had to take something for a few days. At that time I was off

work for FOUR weeks!!! However, I thought it was because I was so week with

a blood count that dropped to below 7 resulting in transfusion, etc. When

I got out of hospital my body was SO swollen all over I couldn't get on any

of my clothes for a week or so. I still don't know why my body swelled up

like that unless it always happens with transfusions.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FOR SALE: New Bernina sewing machine and Bernina 2-3-4 serger

Email hobbylass@... for details.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Guest guest]

At 12/15/01 11:37 AM, reneehale@... wrote:

> I am a little bit anemic and I've never been anemic in my

>entire life. I can feel the weakness . . . doctor prescribed iron pills for

>the next 2 weeks.

Yes, I am anemic, too. Last time checked, my count was 7.2. The doctor told

me it would take a few months to feel better when taking iron pills. I was

so depressed when she told me that I didn't take any for a while and only

recently started to take them. In fact, it's been about 10 days since I

started but sometimes I miss a day because I forget. Trouble is, each time

I get my period, I feel totally weakened again.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FOR SALE: New Bernina sewing machine and Bernina 2-3-4 serger

Email hobbylass@... for details.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Guest guest]

At 12/15/01 11:37 AM, reneehale@... wrote:

> I am a little bit anemic and I've never been anemic in my

>entire life. I can feel the weakness . . . doctor prescribed iron pills for

>the next 2 weeks.

Yes, I am anemic, too. Last time checked, my count was 7.2. The doctor told

me it would take a few months to feel better when taking iron pills. I was

so depressed when she told me that I didn't take any for a while and only

recently started to take them. In fact, it's been about 10 days since I

started but sometimes I miss a day because I forget. Trouble is, each time

I get my period, I feel totally weakened again.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FOR SALE: New Bernina sewing machine and Bernina 2-3-4 serger

Email hobbylass@... for details.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Guest guest]

A myomectomy IS AS SERIOUS as a hyst. But that shouldn't be the reason why a

doctor recommends a hyst over a myo. There are doctors who are more

experienced at myos than others, there are doctors who have lap experience

over others. Perhaps you doctor isn't as experienced in those areas. This

you'll need to find out and discuss with her. If she is truly a caring

doctor she will try to find the best procedure for you or if it's something

she cannot do, she should be able to direct you to a better-skilled surgeon.

This egroup is here to support women and give them direction and options, but

we cannot diagnose your case or condition. This you'll have to research and

discuss with your doctors. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. These

doctors are working for you . . . and it's your body.

Best,

[Guest guest]

A myomectomy IS AS SERIOUS as a hyst. But that shouldn't be the reason why a

doctor recommends a hyst over a myo. There are doctors who are more

experienced at myos than others, there are doctors who have lap experience

over others. Perhaps you doctor isn't as experienced in those areas. This

you'll need to find out and discuss with her. If she is truly a caring

doctor she will try to find the best procedure for you or if it's something

she cannot do, she should be able to direct you to a better-skilled surgeon.

This egroup is here to support women and give them direction and options, but

we cannot diagnose your case or condition. This you'll have to research and

discuss with your doctors. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. These

doctors are working for you . . . and it's your body.

Best,

[Guest guest]

Well, naturally I want to have it removed; however, the fibroid is in the

wall of my uterus and it appears to be part of my uterus. My gyn wants to

do a hysterectomy and honestly she has not recommended that for the last 10

years during which I have had endo, adeno, and fibroids probably because I

have no children; however, I am 49 now and do not plan to have children.

Regardless of children, though, I would rather have a myo if at all possible.

I need to go back and talk to her but there is no point until my medical

benefits kick in in March. I was unemployed for six months and although I

kept up my health insurance, my sick time benefit doesn't kick in until

March 1 and depending on how long I would be off work with myo I could

really be in deep stuff without that benefit.

Do you know how long the average time is off work for a myo?

The other factor is I am returning to school in January and will be going

one week out of every month for a good portion of the year.

At 12/15/01 12:00 PM, reneehale@... wrote:

>Of course you should be taking your iron pills regularly. But most of all

>you need to control the bleeding. What are you planning on doing, or are you

>still researching?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, naturally I want to have it removed; however, the fibroid is in the

wall of my uterus and it appears to be part of my uterus. My gyn wants to

do a hysterectomy and honestly she has not recommended that for the last 10

years during which I have had endo, adeno, and fibroids probably because I

have no children; however, I am 49 now and do not plan to have children.

Regardless of children, though, I would rather have a myo if at all possible.

I need to go back and talk to her but there is no point until my medical

benefits kick in in March. I was unemployed for six months and although I

kept up my health insurance, my sick time benefit doesn't kick in until

March 1 and depending on how long I would be off work with myo I could

really be in deep stuff without that benefit.

Do you know how long the average time is off work for a myo?

The other factor is I am returning to school in January and will be going

one week out of every month for a good portion of the year.

At 12/15/01 12:00 PM, reneehale@... wrote:

>Of course you should be taking your iron pills regularly. But most of all

>you need to control the bleeding. What are you planning on doing, or are you

>still researching?

>

>

>

>