Prepping for surgery next week

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. :eek: 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. :eek:
------------------------------------------
3/6/09 abdominal myomectomy

Comments

Good luck, ma'am! You say that tumor isn't huge? It's fist-sized, which is pretty fucking big in my book. It needs to go, and I pray that you get knocked up soon after it's taken out of you.
I guess because I watch a lot of those forensic medicine shows anything smaller than a cantaloupe seems almost not worth mentioning. :redface: Besides I saw on Oprah where a woman had a 140 pound tumor removed from her belly! I asked if I would lose at least 20 pounds, post surgery and the doctor said, "no, maybe a pound or two." :irked:
 
Well, I think the fear shows that your brain and body are working correctly!

It's a scary situation. That doesn't mean it's a dangerous or life-threatening situation, but I think a healthy level of fear is totally appropriate! Plus, you can be feeling the fear and still get everything done you need to, and come through this with flying colors.

My guess is that the bowel prep will be worse than the actual surgery. Ecchhhhhhh, I hate that stuff!

I'm sitting here saying a prayer for all eventualities, but you're gonna be fine. Less than two weeks from now, you will be home from the hospital and on the mend with all this in the past. So it's not too early to be thinking about how you want to best enjoy making that baby ....... <wink>
 
Get your man to stop smoking. It reduces fertility. Hope all goes well with you. Within six months? It's a lot of responsibility for some guys to handle. Does he know or agree to this?
Of course he knows! :tongue: He suggested it. I was all set to buy sperm off the internet.

FWIW: I'm not the kind of girl to 'trick fuck' a guy.:cool:
 
have you thought about freezing any of your eggs to have that as a back up plan?
i can understand your nervousness. it will be fine and over with before you know it. best of luck!
 
Woah you're going to have a baby too! Good luck with the surgery, I hope everything goes well for you. <3
 
good luck,,u are correct to be nervous but so well informed and smart lady....wishing u the best care and a child to enjoy...
 
I'm sure everything will turn out well for you. Don't be too nervous, everything will be ok. As for the scar, who cares? It's a story and we'll still love you. Good luck babe.
 
man I been hearing on the tv how this bowel prep stuff can do a number on your kidneys, I hope all it well. Good luck NJ,God Bless.
 
Good luck NJ,

I hope your surgery goes fine and I'm sure it will.

My Mum had fibroids, but hers was much bigger and she had to have a hystorectomy...but thankfully yours isn't.

You'll probably need a fair bit of recovery time after, so be sure to take it easy.

Good luck with baby plans too!!

Ambs.

xx
 
Thanks everyone for all your well wishes, positive thoughts and prayers. It really does help to make me feel better. :smile: I am far less freaked out than I was the other day. :cool:
 
THANK YOU for sharing this. I go in for some initial tests on the 20th. I'm hoping everything goes as well for me as it seems to have done for you. :)
 

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