Re: 's post (was my most recent consultation)

[Guest guest]

I totally agree with you Elena on getting the myo prior to trying to conceive,

Yes, it's true that some women are able to conceive and carry a pregnancy to

term uneventfully, however, I think that it all depends on the location of the

fibroid.

As you already may know I had my first myo prior to trying to conceive, my

sister also had fibroids, when she was admitted to the hospital the day before

her myo surgery, (back in the days when Ins. companies allowed that) she went

through all of her testing, blood work included, when she got her results she

was told that the myo had to be cancelled because her test results came back

positive for pregnancy, she was really excited , she had wanted to get pregnant

for a long time, but at the same time she was nervous because she knew she had a

few fibroids and that would most likely give her a problem pregnancy.

Her pregnancy went well for 6 months, and then .......she lost the baby, her

fibroids had gotten too large and her uterus could not hold the fetus and

myomas. It was a terrible thing!!

After that she had the myo and about 6 months later she got pregnant with

TWINS!

Having witnessed her going through that, years later, when I was diagnosed

with fibroids, I decided to have the myo first.

I know that all cases are different, and I know that some women do not have

many problems with their pregnancies in spite of the fibroids, but I agree with

you in starting the pregnancy with the best possible scenario, fibroids free.

Marisa

[Guest guest]

Hi, -

I have spent a couple years researching the same questions you've raised. Of

course, you have to make your own decision, but here are the conclusions that

I came to:

Re: " Trying to conceive " before or after myo

Several women here have succeeded in carrying babies to term, even with large

fibroids (some of them had uneventful pregnancies, but others had very

difficult ones w/months of discomfort and bedrest).

My thinking is, if you can find a great surgeon and get rid of those

fibroids, why not do it before conception & give your fetus the best chance of

survival (and probably make your pregnancy a lot easier?) For me, it comes down

to

which would cause the most trauma- a myomectomy or risking (God forbid) a

miscarriage.

Of course, you need a REALLY good surgeon, b/c surgery can also cause

adhesions which can make it difficult to conceive.

Re: Laparoscopic w/Lupron vs open myo:

I, too, was tempted by the idea of a laparscopic myo but after a couple years

of research, decided to go with an open myo, for the following reasons:

1. Not only is Lupron real bad stuff, ALL OF THE TOP SURGEONS advise against

it, because although it shrinks the fibroids, it makes them mushy and much

harder to remove. I'm suspicious of ANY surgeon who recommends lupron.

2. The difference in recovery time- with an excellent surgeon- is not *that*

significant. If the surgeon can do a better job, it is worth a few weeks

recovery time to me.

3. With an open myo, the surgeon CAN do a much better job. He/she can

actually feel your uterus and remove even tiny fibroids that might become a

problem later. With a laparascopic myo, the surgeon simply does not have the

access

or the visibility that he does with an open myo.

>> Worst case without Lupron? He said (again

pending MRI results) that he imagined I'd have to have an open myo with a

vertical incision.

The above statement made by your prospective surgeon would cause me,

personally, to turn on my heels and *RUN*.

I would advise you to do some more research!. You will find that the TOP

surgeons can remove any size fibroid with a practically-invisible HORIZONTAL

incision. If your surgeon can't do that (and recognizes that from the very

beginning), I personally believe that it speaks to his lack of skill/experience.

I'd

hold out for a really top-notch surgeon.

Good luck, ! Keep us posted!

Elana in CA

Message: 20

   Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 10:14:23 -0500

  

Subject: My most recent consult: any opinions welcome