SU - Surg sched 7/8 (LONG)

[Guest guest]

I'm so happy to have found this group. Just knowing that others

have the same worries is comforting. I am 32 y/o, never pregnant

(never tried). My SU was diagnosed by accident...during a test for

something else, the radiologist spotted " something " and recommended

a follow-up MRI. The MRI confirmed a complete septate uterus all

the way down to the cervix.

Prior to my SU diagnosis, I had already been through 2 serious

medical problems (non-reproductive in nature). I'm sparing the

details of those other problems b/c the point is simply that I think

my previous experiences are causing me to worry A LOT about this

upcoming resection surgery. I've read the medical literature and it

seems that lap/hys is considered a safe and effective approach to

resecting the SU... so why I am so focused on the possibility of

extremely rare complications? I am trying to think positively, but

my mind keeps taking me back to disturbing possibilities. Most of

what I have read on this board is very reassuring, but so many women

with SU seem to need 2nd surgeries and I'm already feeling that

mentally, I cannot endure this nervous anticipation again.

I'm seeing my doctor on Monday and I intend to present all of my

fears to him. I don't want to seem like a headcase, but I consider

it his job to reassure me that all proper steps will be taken to

assure a good outcome.

Also wanted to mention that since age 11, I've had extremely heavy

and painful periods. Birth control pills have helped lots. I am

wondering if anyone had " bad " periods before SU resection and if so,

did your periods improve? I asked my doctor and he cautiously

responded that I " may " see some improvement. My main objective is

to prepare for a healthy pregnancy, but I would be thrilled to get

the bonus of more bearable periods (w/o having to be on the pill to

control them)!

I remind myself that it was a blessing to discover my SU when I did

b/c I may be spared the heartache of a m/c. Still, there is risk in

having this surgery and I have exactly three weeks to calm down and

get my attitude where it needs to be. Any insight that you gals can

offer would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Theresa, NJ

32 y/o, SU, never PG, never TTC

[Guest guest]

Hi Theresa and Welcome!

You are quite lucky to have found this anomaly before becoming pg. I

know that fact doesn't make it any easier to swallow. I was kinda

freaked out when I found out my uterus was not *normal*. My SU was

1/3 the length of the uterus and very wide at the top. They found it

when I had an u/s to confirm that I was m/c at 12 wks in Dec 01.

I can understand some of the fear that you are feeling. I think that

sometimes it is because having an MA usually catches us all by

surprise. And also, for me, it was scary that someone was operating

on my uterus and I had irrational fears about what could go wrong.

I have been on this board since my m/c and I think that the worst

outcomes that I have seen were a severe infection and a ruptured

bladder. MOST are very uneventful surgeries. It really is a simple

procedure especially for an experienced RE. With a full SU, it just

may take more than one surgery to remove it. I never considered this

possibility with my shortish septum and I had a hard time when I

found out that it was not gone (I think the dr was too timid in

resection, worse yet, he refused to acknowledge it was still

there...so I found dr #2 to do the next surgery). In fact, you may

want to start talking to your dr about how much septum is acceptable

to be left without doing another surgery to remove it. Some journal

articles indicate that anything under 1 cm is ok, but we have a few

women with slightly longer SU remnants that went on to have

successful pg.

Painful heavy afs...I can relate. In high school and college I would

sometimes faint from the pain of my cramping and I would bleed

extremely heavily for 7 days. Then I took the pill for 12 years and

I wasn't sure if it was the pill or just age, but my periods were not

as heavy after that. One thing many of us have noticed is that the

cramping seems to disappear after the resection...a very nice perk!

One theory was that the inelastic SU does not allow the uterus to

contract rhythmically and expel af and the uneven contractions are

the cramping that we feel.

You are right that it is a blessing to find your SU now, but I'm sure

that it's still hard news to deal with. I hope that you find lots of

support and answers here.

Welcome again,

Sara

Wisc., 36, SU resected x2, dd 8 mos, #2 8w0d

[Guest guest]

Funny you should mention cramping disappearing. Miy cramping disappeared

after the resection and I never put 2 and 2 together!

Liz

>

>Reply-To: MullerianAnomalies

>To: MullerianAnomalies

>Subject: Re: SU - Surg sched 7/8 (LONG)

>Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 15:02:32 -0000

>

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for your response and words of encouragement, Sara. I'm

hoping that my final pre-op visit with the gyn-surgeon on Monday

will help me to make peace with my decision to have the surgery. I

know that all surgery carries some risk. I think the reason I'm

struggling is because the resection is truly elective surgery. The

only other surgery I have ever had -- a unilateral adrenalectomy --

was absolutely necessary. I didn't have the " luxury " of weighing

pros and cons because not having the surgery was the greatest

danger. Now, with the resection, I feel differently because even

though I know the surgery will probably increase my chances of a

healthy pregnancy, I know that it's not an absolute necessity to my

general well-being. I'm torturing myself imagining complications

and ultimately, possibly being worse off. I'm not usually such a

pessimist, but this seems to be a place to air real feelings and in

doing so, I hope that others like you can help me to mentally

prepare for surgery. Many thanks again for your message.

Theresa, NJ

32 y/o, never PG, never TTC

SU surg scheduled 7/8

> Hi Theresa and Welcome!

>

> You are quite lucky to have found this anomaly before becoming

pg. I

> know that fact doesn't make it any easier to swallow. I was kinda

> freaked out when I found out my uterus was not *normal*. My SU

was

> 1/3 the length of the uterus and very wide at the top. They found

it

> when I had an u/s to confirm that I was m/c at 12 wks in Dec 01.

>

> I can understand some of the fear that you are feeling. I think

that

> sometimes it is because having an MA usually catches us all by

> surprise. And also, for me, it was scary that someone was

operating

> on my uterus and I had irrational fears about what could go

wrong.

>

> I have been on this board since my m/c and I think that the worst

> outcomes that I have seen were a severe infection and a ruptured

> bladder. MOST are very uneventful surgeries. It really is a

simple

> procedure especially for an experienced RE. With a full SU, it

just

> may take more than one surgery to remove it. I never considered

this

> possibility with my shortish septum and I had a hard time when I

> found out that it was not gone (I think the dr was too timid in

> resection, worse yet, he refused to acknowledge it was still

> there...so I found dr #2 to do the next surgery). In fact, you

may

> want to start talking to your dr about how much septum is

acceptable

> to be left without doing another surgery to remove it. Some

journal

> articles indicate that anything under 1 cm is ok, but we have a

few

> women with slightly longer SU remnants that went on to have

> successful pg.

>

> Painful heavy afs...I can relate. In high school and college I

would

> sometimes faint from the pain of my cramping and I would bleed

> extremely heavily for 7 days. Then I took the pill for 12 years

and

> I wasn't sure if it was the pill or just age, but my periods were

not

> as heavy after that. One thing many of us have noticed is that

the

> cramping seems to disappear after the resection...a very nice

perk!

> One theory was that the inelastic SU does not allow the uterus to

> contract rhythmically and expel af and the uneven contractions are

> the cramping that we feel.

>

> You are right that it is a blessing to find your SU now, but I'm

sure

> that it's still hard news to deal with. I hope that you find lots

of

> support and answers here.

>

> Welcome again,

> Sara

> Wisc., 36, SU resected x2, dd 8 mos, #2 8w0d