Re: Requesting info on SU surgery

[Guest guest]

Siamar-

I am 27, and found out in January after an HSG (trying to find

reason for infertility) that I probably had a septated uterus. On

April 29th I had a laparoscopy/hysteroscopy/metroplasty to correct

it. From my experience, here are the answers to your question:

> 1) How long the surgery takes

I believe the actual surgery took about 2 hours. The longest wait

was the five weeks from the time the surgery was scheduled until the

actual day.

> 2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation

General anesthetic

> 3) What the risks are

There are always risks with surgery. My doctor explained that you

have more of a chance of getting in a car wreck on the way to the

hospital than having anything serious result from the procedure.

The biggest risk is scar tissue that could form.

> 4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of

surgery

My surgeon is very experienced; he is Board Certified and he

specializes in reproductive surgery. A great bedside manner as

well; very caring and patient.

> 5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery

I was pretty sore for a couple of days. I was back to walking 5

miles in a week and running in two weeks. I did experience some

HEAVY bleeding about 2 and a half weeks after the surgery due to the

estrogen that the doctor prescribed, but the doctor claimed he had

never had anyone experience it as bad as I did.

I would recommend having the procedure, if you feel it's the right

thing to do. It's been a little over two months since my surgery

and the doctor says we can start TTC again. I started Clomid

today. I would do it all over again if necessary.

Good Luck-

[Guest guest]

Siamar,

Here is my experience. It's good that your husband worries about you, but

he should not blow small risks out of proportion.

<>

Rarely over an hour. If the septum is big and thick, it could take longer.

Could also take a second surgery. Both my surgeries lasted 45 minutes,

probably a little less for the second one.

The main problem with a longer surgery would be fluid overload, between the

IV and the fluid instilled in the uterus, but intake and output are strictly

monitored to head off fluid overload problems.

<<2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation>>

General, usually, but you could have a spinal block if you insisted.

Between a cerclage and c-section under spinal, I can't imagine why you

couldn't so the same with a septum resection if general anesthesia bothered

you.

I had no trouble with the anesthesia except sleeping away the rest of the

day of surgery.

<<3) What the risks are>>

Fluid overload; the minimal risks of general anesthesia; perforation or

other injury to the uterus and possibly even the viscera, especially if a

laser is used; poor result and need for repeat. Some people worry about

adhesions, but that possibility is extremely uncommon, unless an infection

rages.

I was one of the unlucky 1% and had a perforation of the fundus, because my

surgeon had only done 25 or so septoplasties. Simultaneous laparoscopy

showed no need to repair. I did have a c-section just to play it safe,

though. Might have been able to deliver vaginally.

<<4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of surgery>>

He was an extremely accomplished uterine surgeon, but not especially in

septoplasty. A surgeon who had done a hundred or so would have been nicer!

<<5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery>>

Both recoveries were uneventful. I had minimal shoulder pain from the lap

and a sore belly button for a while. Some cramping and very light bleeding

and discharge. I was so darn happy to get something done after having had

so many miscarriages. I did have another 1st-trimester miscarriage a few

months after my second resection, but then carried a baby to term. I had

had a complete SU. Now it is subseptate with quite a bit of remnant left,

but what was done made all the difference in being able to carry a baby

beyond 19 weeks.

I hope you do go for the surgery. Good luck.

Beth

SU resected x 2

Teddy 12/3/02

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Beth - I really appreciate the info!

Kind regards -

(Siamar)

> Siamar,

>

> Here is my experience. It's good that your husband worries about

you, but

> he should not blow small risks out of proportion.

>

> < the details about your surgery? Here is the information I am

> specifically interested in:

>

> 1) How long the surgery takes>>

>

> Rarely over an hour. If the septum is big and thick, it could

take longer.

> Could also take a second surgery. Both my surgeries lasted 45

minutes,

> probably a little less for the second one.

>

> The main problem with a longer surgery would be fluid overload,

between the

> IV and the fluid instilled in the uterus, but intake and output

are strictly

> monitored to head off fluid overload problems.

>

> <<2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation>>

>

> General, usually, but you could have a spinal block if you

insisted.

> Between a cerclage and c-section under spinal, I can't imagine why

you

> couldn't so the same with a septum resection if general anesthesia

bothered

> you.

>

> I had no trouble with the anesthesia except sleeping away the rest

of the

> day of surgery.

>

> <<3) What the risks are>>

>

> Fluid overload; the minimal risks of general anesthesia;

perforation or

> other injury to the uterus and possibly even the viscera,

especially if a

> laser is used; poor result and need for repeat. Some people worry

about

> adhesions, but that possibility is extremely uncommon, unless an

infection

> rages.

>

> I was one of the unlucky 1% and had a perforation of the fundus,

because my

> surgeon had only done 25 or so septoplasties. Simultaneous

laparoscopy

> showed no need to repair. I did have a c-section just to play it

safe,

> though. Might have been able to deliver vaginally.

>

> <<4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of

surgery>>

>

> He was an extremely accomplished uterine surgeon, but not

especially in

> septoplasty. A surgeon who had done a hundred or so would have

been nicer!

>

> <<5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery>>

>

> Both recoveries were uneventful. I had minimal shoulder pain from

the lap

> and a sore belly button for a while. Some cramping and very light

bleeding

> and discharge. I was so darn happy to get something done after

having had

> so many miscarriages. I did have another 1st-trimester

miscarriage a few

> months after my second resection, but then carried a baby to

term. I had

> had a complete SU. Now it is subseptate with quite a bit of

remnant left,

> but what was done made all the difference in being able to carry a

baby

> beyond 19 weeks.

>

> I hope you do go for the surgery. Good luck.

>

> Beth

> SU resected x 2

> Teddy 12/3/02

[Guest guest]

hi siamar

i was SU resected last 3/9/05 - these are my answers to your

questions:

> 1) How long the surgery takes

2.5 hrs ==> i climbed onto the table at 9.30am and woke up from the

general at noon. i think it's fair to say the surgery per se took

probably 1.5 hrs and the rest was prep time and 'clean-up'

afterwards ...

> 2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation

it was general for me - i had asked for a spinal (i had a c/sec with

a spinal in 2001) but the surgeon and the anesthesiologist were not

thrilled with that option - looking back i think it was better to be

completely out - i'm not sure i want to be aware (or at least

partially aware) of what they say/do etc .... being me i would have

freaked out about any comments or stuff i probably wouldn't have

understood anyway. besides, being under a general made me think the

whole process took only minutes

> 3) What the risks are

i'm not really sure about these - i was TERRIFIED of the general

because in 1957 my aunt died due to an allergic reaction - but this

was 1957 and a different country - anesthetics have come a long way

and i talked about this with the anesthesiologist prior to the

surgery and i really liked him and found what he told me very

reassuring.

> 4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of

surgery

i didn't ask him about how many procedures like this he performed

but i knew he was one of a few REs with experience in treating MAs

like mine in the area where i live (Seattle, WA). he's an assistant

professor at the Univ. of WA and he wrote a text book (like

a 'surgeon's manual') detailing septum resection among many other

surgeries/procedures.

> 5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery

it took me 1.5 months to feel COMPLETELY back to normal (no

lingering pain around the ovaries etc ...) but i was pretty well a

week afterwards. i had to take it easy the 1st 2 days and i improved

little by little every day - at 1st it was hard to walk/go from

standing to seated and viceversa but these all subsided after 4 to 6

days - i noticed that my periods following surgery were way less

painful than before and also much heavier - i guess it's because now

i have more endometrium to shed - before the septum was taking over

70% of my uterus ....

I'm no fan of hospitals/drs/etc .... and i was afraid of the surgery

too but i would do it again anytime - i personally don't think this

is such a risky procedure - maybe you and your husband can meet with

the dr PRIOR to even scheduling the surgery and talk to him about

your fears - that's what i did - we went 2 days before surgery and i

had a loooooooong list of questions for my RE ... it also helped me

to talk to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist the morning of the

procedure, before entering the OR - i sat down with both of them and

they answered (again) all my questions - i was really concerned

about the general but the anesthesiologist was great and shed some

light on some of my preconceptions .....

i'll send you the detailed account of my surgery - maybe you'll see

that it was not such a big issue after all and the whole experience

was really great from my point of view ....

good luck with your decision - i just hope whatever it is it brings

you peace

take care,

gabi - 38

SU - resected 3.9.05

1 ds - 7.7.01

2 mc - 6.21.04, 1.10.05 (boy)

1 chem pg - 6.21.05

2 copies MTHFR C677T

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I had my resection surgery 11/04 and now I have a roomy uterus!

1) How long the surgery takes

My surgery took an hour, but my RE scheduled two hours in case she needed to

remove endo. Thank goodness there wasn't any. My surgery was scheduled for

8:30am and I left the hospital on cloud nine around noon.

2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation

I had general.

3) What the risks are

There are risks with any surgery, but the biggie is uterine perforation.

4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of surgery

My RE is very experienced and I went to a large teaching hospital. I went to

s Hopkins. She gave me pictures and my uterus is septum free and actually

heart-shaped!

5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery

I had no cramping whatsoever, I was amazed. I was more sore from the lap and

took a week off of work to recover. I had bleeding, but no cramping. Now during

my AF for the first time in years, I have little cramping which is a miracle.

I hope this helps! Please email if you have any other questions.

Ally

resected SU w/BU fundus

TTC #1

1 m/c

---------------------------------

Sell on Yahoo! Auctions - No fees. Bid on great items.

[Guest guest]

Hi Siamar - just wanted to mention that it sounds like you have a

fabulous DH, he obviously cares an awful lot! Many DH are

uncomfortable with adoption, its great that he is so open to the idea.

We were pursuing adoption when I got pregnant with my DD. We still

hope to adopt in a couple of years, although we'll probably ttc again

for a year or so first. Whatever happens, you'll have a child and that

is the important thing.

On the risk side re: the surgery, if you commute to work by car, or

drive at all regularly, you are taking far more risks that this

surgery would involve.

Good luck with your decision.

a

36

SU

-

[Guest guest]

Hi Siamar -

I had a septum resection on 02/17/05. I was also concerned about the

surgery because 1) I'd never had surgery of any kind, and 2) They

were not sure my septum could even be removed (it appeared to be very

broad and perhaps more like a SU/BU combo).

Based on my MRI results, my RE was confident that the top of my

uterus was rounded (no fundal dip) so he did a hyst only (no lap). I

think this made the recovery MUCH easier.

I think that you are very lucky to have a loving & concerned husband,

and hopefully some of our responses will help you two make a more

informed decision. Here are my answers:

> 1) How long the surgery takes

My surgery was at 9:45 a.m. and I was in the car on my way home by

1:00p.m., I think the surgery itself was a little over 1 hour.

> 2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation

The anesthesiologist told me I was not going to be put under general

anesthesia, they would just induce a deep sleep. It worked very well,

I don't remember a thing until they woke me up at the end of the

procedure.

> 3) What the risks are

My RE gave me a long list of potential risks, the same as when you

have any other surgery. They will go over this with you in detail.

After reading all the posts on this site, I felt the benefits

outweighed the risks.

> 4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of surgery

I'm not sure how many resections my RE had done, but he did have two

other very experienced REs present assisting with the surgery. These

other REs were there to help make him the final diagnosis and

determine whether it was best to resect the septum or not. Between

the three of them, there was a lot of MA & surgery experience so I

felt very confident in their abilities.

> 5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery

My recovery was a breeze, probably because I did not have a lap. I

was very groggy for several hours after the surgery, and a little

crampy. The bleeding was not bad and only lasted for three days. I

had suprisingly little pain and did not take any of the percocet they

prescribed, I just felt like I had my period. I was on estrogen for

14 days to prevent scarring, so my cycle got totally screwed up. I

didn't get my period until the beginning of April. My first period

was very heavy, but not painful. After 2 periods (April & May) I

began TTC and got pregnant at the end of May. I'm now around 8w5d

pregnant.

Hope this helps & best of luck to you!

Cheryl, 31

m/c 7 wks 03/04

m/c 17.5 wks 12/04

SU resected 02/05

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Ally! I really appreciate the information that you

shared.

Kind regards -

Siamar

> Hi!

>

> I had my resection surgery 11/04 and now I have a roomy uterus!

>

>

>

> 1) How long the surgery takes

>

> My surgery took an hour, but my RE scheduled two hours in case she

needed to remove endo. Thank goodness there wasn't any. My surgery

was scheduled for 8:30am and I left the hospital on cloud nine

around noon.

>

> 2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation

>

> I had general.

>

> 3) What the risks are

>

> There are risks with any surgery, but the biggie is uterine

perforation.

>

> 4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of

surgery

>

> My RE is very experienced and I went to a large teaching hospital.

I went to s Hopkins. She gave me pictures and my uterus is

septum free and actually heart-shaped!

>

> 5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery

>

> I had no cramping whatsoever, I was amazed. I was more sore from

the lap and took a week off of work to recover. I had bleeding, but

no cramping. Now during my AF for the first time in years, I have

little cramping which is a miracle.

>

> I hope this helps! Please email if you have any other questions.

>

> Ally

> resected SU w/BU fundus

> TTC #1

> 1 m/c

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Sell on Yahoo! Auctions - No fees. Bid on great items.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Siamar--

I had a septate uterus with a slight dip at the top, which made it

look BU on various diagnostic tests--but ultimately two REs agreed

that it was SU and they recommended the surgery to resect it. I had a

late-term loss last year (no cause ever proven) and I was told me

chances were good " next time " if I had the surgery to remove my

septum, which was very wide and extended almost down to my cervix. I

was scared of the risks (a little), but not for my health, just that

it wouldn't work, or they would damage my uterine lining (which I

understand is rare). And I really wanted to have a baby from my body--

at least to try one more time. The surgery was a success--my new and

imprved uterus looked very normal on follow-up testing. I am now

almost 18 weeks pregnant and so far, so good. In answer to your

questions:

> 1) How long the surgery takes --

approx. 45 minutes

> 2) Whether it's general or twilight sedation --

I had general and woke up fairly quickly--they used just the " right "

amount

> 3) What the risks are--

I was told they were the common risks of general anesthesia; risk of

perforating the uterine wall; scarring or adhesions on the uterus;

and not having it all removed and having to do the surgery again--my

doctor told me that these issues are all uncommon in his experience

> 4) How experienced your surgeon was with doing this type of

surgery--

I met with four REs, partly because my diagnosis was tricky and

partly because this was a huge step and I wanted to find someone in

whom I felt very confident. The doc I went with does this type of

surgery an average of 7-8 times a year (for the past several years)--

> 5) What kinds of things you experienced during your recovery--

My recovery was fine. I was a little sore for a few days, only needed

real painkillers the first day, then Advil after that. I went back to

work within a week, could have gone sooner but I am a teacher and

didn't want the little ones to bump me, etc. I did not take any

medications to prevent adhesions---I did not take hormones either,

before or after my surgery and i healed well. at my follow-up visit,

everything was great. i also had testing done a few months later and

my uterus looked " normal. "

I am very glad I had the surgery, and am hoping for the best this

pregnancy. Good luck to you as you ponder this big decision.

Take care--

Jen

>

> The reason I am asking is because my husband and I had a long talk

> last night, and it seems, to my surprise, that he doesn't want me

to

> have the surgery. He thinks it will put me at unnecessary risk,

and

> he would rather that we just start pursuing adoption. I'm not

> opposed to adoption at all (we've already discussed it in the

past),

> but I don't know if I can deal with the fact that I could have had

> what I think is pretty simple surgery to correct my issue so we can

> have a child of our own and just not have gone through with it out

> of fear or ignorance. I am already scheduled for my first appt

with

> the RE to ask him about my options as well, but I would really be

> interested in the story of someone who's been through it.

>

> Thanks for your help or thanks for your consideration if you would

> rather not provide more details.

>

> Take care -

>

> Siamar

> 39

> 1 m/c