Well, it's official! I'm having an abdominal myomectomy on 3/6/09 and I am suddenly terrified. The surgery has been scheduled since before Christmas; but I had my pre-op testing today and now I'm scared. I have never had major surgery like this or had to spend the night in a hospital before. Now it seems I will be spending at least 2 nights there and I'm scared. I trust my doctor and the facility. Emory University Hospital is very good and my doc is knowledgeable, experienced, kind and patient. But those 'what ifs' are running thru my head now.
My primary goal is to preserve my fertility. My doctor and his staff are on board with that. So in addition to being scared of the pain, having a big ugly scar on my already imperfect over 40 body, my biggest fear is that they will find something else, like cancer and I will end up having no choice but to have a hysterectomy. :frown1:
Today I found out the fibroid is 7x6.5x6 cm. So it's not enormous; but it does explain the heavy bleeding, lower back pain, and major cramps I have been having for about 2 years now during my period. Oh and this is one of those procedures where you get to do a clear diet the day before, fasting after midnight and a bowel prep :yuck:
Doc says I need to wait 4-6 weeks after surgery, but then to get cracking on the baby making. :smile: He would like to see me pregnant within 6 months after I recover. So, no pressure there.
I guess that means I'm going on the road because my bf is a long distance trucker.:biggrin1:
My Gynecological History aka TMI :tongue:
endometriosis - since my first period (@11.5 yrs)
12/98 - myomectomy & D&C
1/25/06 - dx: genital wart :yikes:
2/3/06 - vulvar biopsy – took two weeks too heal!
2/17/06 - dx: well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (vulvar
carcinoma)
Note to self: Warts are not normally biopsied but removed. He knew it wasn't a wart when he scheduled the biopsy. :irked:
3/1/06 - wide local excision (@ UPenn University Hospital Phila., PA)
3//17/06 - dx:hidradenoma papilliferum – (rare dx for a Black woman)
3/20/06 – dx: staph infection
-------------------------------------
9/08 - gyn check up dx: at least a dozen small uterine fibroids
9/08 - vaginal pelvic ultrasound suggested treatment: hysterectomy
was told my uterus was the size of a 12 week pregnancy! {No wonder I
have trouble finding pants that fit}
10/08 2nd opinion in Atlanta @ Emory University Hospital
vaginal pelvic ultrasound
dx: adenomyosis, some small fibroids, uterine lining 18mm which is too thick
hysterectomy not necessary, may try Mirena, need to do more tests.
12/2/08 - D&C and Hysteroscopy
Outcome huge uterine fibroid which covers the entire back of my
tilted uterus. Was not seen during ultrasound because it thought it
was the back of my uterus.
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3/6/09 abdominal myomectomy
My primary goal is to preserve my fertility. My doctor and his staff are on board with that. So in addition to being scared of the pain, having a big ugly scar on my already imperfect over 40 body, my biggest fear is that they will find something else, like cancer and I will end up having no choice but to have a hysterectomy. :frown1:
Today I found out the fibroid is 7x6.5x6 cm. So it's not enormous; but it does explain the heavy bleeding, lower back pain, and major cramps I have been having for about 2 years now during my period. Oh and this is one of those procedures where you get to do a clear diet the day before, fasting after midnight and a bowel prep :yuck:
Doc says I need to wait 4-6 weeks after surgery, but then to get cracking on the baby making. :smile: He would like to see me pregnant within 6 months after I recover. So, no pressure there.
My Gynecological History aka TMI :tongue:
endometriosis - since my first period (@11.5 yrs)
12/98 - myomectomy & D&C
1/25/06 - dx: genital wart :yikes:
2/3/06 - vulvar biopsy – took two weeks too heal!
2/17/06 - dx: well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (vulvar
carcinoma)
Note to self: Warts are not normally biopsied but removed. He knew it wasn't a wart when he scheduled the biopsy. :irked:
3/1/06 - wide local excision (@ UPenn University Hospital Phila., PA)
3//17/06 - dx:hidradenoma papilliferum – (rare dx for a Black woman)
3/20/06 – dx: staph infection
-------------------------------------
9/08 - gyn check up dx: at least a dozen small uterine fibroids
9/08 - vaginal pelvic ultrasound suggested treatment: hysterectomy
was told my uterus was the size of a 12 week pregnancy! {No wonder I
have trouble finding pants that fit}
10/08 2nd opinion in Atlanta @ Emory University Hospital
vaginal pelvic ultrasound
dx: adenomyosis, some small fibroids, uterine lining 18mm which is too thick
hysterectomy not necessary, may try Mirena, need to do more tests.
12/2/08 - D&C and Hysteroscopy
Outcome huge uterine fibroid which covers the entire back of my
tilted uterus. Was not seen during ultrasound because it thought it
was the back of my uterus.
------------------------------------------
3/6/09 abdominal myomectomy