Uterine Fibroids :: Open Myomectomy - Any Advice?
Apr 1, 2014
I am scheduled to have an operation in June for an open myomectomy. I was prescribed Zoladex for 12 weeks before surgery.
Firstly I am scared of the side effects of the drug.
Apart from the medicine I am scared of having an open surgery and what I will do with myself during the 6 week recovery
Has anyone had an open myomectomy? How was it for you? Did you recovery quickly? How safe is this form of treatment?
I don’t even know if I should do it…I have 6 fibroids –largest is about 7cm. My gynae said since I have so many I am better off doing an open surgery. But I would really prefer keyhole. The only symptoms I have is pressure on bladder and basically looking pregnant.
Anyway I am hoping to hear stories from people who have experienced this and how they felt/what they recommend?
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I just had surgery done on Fri April first. 4 days ago. Today (will be) Tuesday. What was supposed to be a quick, easy surgery requiring the 3 small holes in the uterus to take out fibroids w possibly an inch incision if they couldnt take it out, they opened up "a can of worms" and had to cut a 6 inch incision horizontal "c-section" at the bikini line to get fibroids and endometriosis taken out while manipulating the bladder and filling the stomach up w gas so they can see everything. Recuperation was originally supposed to be 2 weeks but has been changed to 6 weeks w post follow up in 3 weeks. Can anyone tell me if they have had a similar "procedure" done, what I can expect in the next "6 weeks" and how going back to work will be like. My part time day job-25 hrs a week is an easy non stressful behind the desk answering calls and at the computer. My 40 hr week FT is more physical, working in a laboratory, living heavy items up to 50lbs, LOTS of standing in one place, and if there is sitting, its a stool. Please help me out. I'm 33, 5'5, 123 lbs. I'm not a big girl, but not too skinny either, toned.
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I am just over 4 weeks post open myomectomy and was wondering how others have recovered. The scar is still swollen and sore which I expected however at times I get what I can only describe as sharp "stabbing" pains. These seem to be more from inside my body rather than from the scar. Is this normal? I'm not due to see my GP for another week so just wanted to check with others who may have gone through the procedure.
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It is 5 weeks since I had a bikini line open myomectomy. Had 1 orange sized fibroid in all layers of my uterus. My doctor said the location was making my bleeding particularly heavy. I had tried to avoid surgery for the 6 years that I experienced symptoms. I just couldn't keep from being very anemic. I ended up needing a blood transfusion as my hemoglobin was at 6. A few days after the transfusion I had the surgery. It was all done quickly to prevent another period as they where getting increasingly heavy. I am happy to report that my period was only 5 days and no cramps! My anemia is going away quickly! My scar is still swollen and gets worse the more tired I get (which is surprisingly quickly). My sleep is still off and there is a little pain. But it seems normal considering it is a major surgery.
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I had an open myomectomy 7 days ago to remove 7 fibroids. The largest was 14cm and the other 6 were in the ranges of 3-7cm. My surgeon seems to have done an excellent job, thankfully not a vertical cut either which i was dreading but also removed a cyst and endometriosis on one of the ovaries which came as a surprise. I have two concerns:
1. I have no children and aged 40. Has anybody successfully gone onto have a baby after an open myomectomy after the age of 40? If so how long did it take you to get pregnant after the surgery? Was it natural conception or aided by anything? I really need some hope here!
2. Does anyone know if it is normal to experience tight, pulling sensations on the incision? Like muscles contracting and relaxing (without pain)? Is this the uterus trying to heal?
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It's been 10 weeks since my open myomectomy but I still dont have my period. Is it normal? Was told by my ob-gyn 4 weeks ago (last post op check up) that I should have my period within 2 weeks but until now...nothing. Should I go back for another check up or wait a little more?
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I am in Australia (this website is fantastic by the way) and have just finished my first week of recovery after having an open myomectomy to remove a 15x11cm fibroid.
The fibroid was on the outside right hand side of my uterus.
I feel like I am recovering quite fast (have been able to get up and active during the day). However, I have a constant tenderness like pain on the inside on the right hand side. I have been sleeping on my sides at night because I can't stand lying on my back for too long! I feel like this may be irritating my insides though, do you think I could do permanent damage by lying on my side?
What are your experiences 1 week in post op?
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It is 10 days now since I had Open Myomectomy surgery. 32 Fibroids were removed, which surprised me, and I was in hospital for 5 nights. I am now home and getting stronger each day. The days before the surgery were anxious days but at the same time I was looking forward to the sugery and being free from the many symptons that fibroids cause. I had a great surgeon and anathestist and went fully prepared mentally, physically and spiritually for the surgery.
Surgery took 2 hours and remember being brought back to my hospital bed hooked up to IV fluids, catheter, oxygen and equipment on my legs to stop blood clots. Pain was minimal, similar to mild period pain and I was encouraged to use the Morphine pump to manage the pain for 2 days. Morphine did make me feel nauseated which is common. Once I was free from catheter and IVs on day 3 I was encouraged to do my Pelvic exercises and to walk around the hospital corridor. I was given paracetamol and ibuprophen at regular intervals and BP, tempearture and Pulse was moniored on a regular basis, which were all fine. I was encouraged to drink more fluids and had no issues with empyting my bladder or bowels so knew everything was working OK. Getting in and out of bed and sitting up was difficult during the first 5 days but became easier each day. Its amazing how much we rely on our stomach muscles for so many things. Once I was home on Day 6 I started doing very light duties around the house and a 10 minute walk outside plus regular naps whenever I felt fatigue. I can now do 15 minute walks and looking forward to getting stronger each day. I have some swelling around the incision but that is normal at this stage. Will see the surgeon 20 days after my surgery for post-op checks.
Overall my surgery went very well and I am very pleased with the progress I am making. Although Open Myomectomy is major surgery, becasue of the advance in technology, the skills of the surgeon and the excellent pain management and hospital care it is a much easier experience than I thouht it would be.
If you have been told by your consultant that you need Open Myomectomy surgery do not be afraid, focus on the positive aspects of being free of fibroids symptons, read up on the procedure, watch videos of the procedure if your that way inclined, understand the risks, prepare yourself physically and mentally and follow the advice given by your consultant on the aftercare.
I am grateful to God that my surgery went well and I am looking forward to getting back to the gym in dure course and having a better quality of life without fibroids.
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I am 11 weeks post op after having 13 fibroids removed. The largest was 10cm and they were over a 1kg.
My concern is that I still have a sore to press overhang. It hurts more when my bladder and bowels are full. In fact the bowels filling still hurt inside quite a lot so am still taking a stool softener (not that they are working as well as they were).
I am also still numb around the scar but mostly down into my groin. Am thinking of booking another appointment with my specialist but don't want to waste her time if this is all just normal.
Have read some places that 3 months is the general healing process but I really don't feel like this is all going to have disappeared by next week.
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I am scheduled to have an abdominal myomectomy tomorrow morning and I am extremely nervous. I am 27, no kids and this would be my 1st surgical procedure. I am second guessing going thru with it but the pain I am experiencing is unbearable. I have two fibroid’s (one the size of an grapefruit and the other a size of an orange). My OBGYN advised against the surgery because of the position and it being too complicated. Now he wants to removed them because my condition isn’t getting any better. Does anyone have any advice?? If I continue with my panic attacks, I know for sure things will go sour!
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So I had my myomectomy last weds evening. I was nervous as hell and cried in whilst the anesthetist was tending to me. They gave me an epidural to make me more comfortable and which meant I would need less 'hard' drugs after surgery lol as they didn't want me to take too much morphine Etc.
When I came round they told me my consultant had removed 13 fibroids. I had 14 so I was immediately in my drunken state questioning them as to what she had done with number 14 turns out she left maybe 1-1.5 behind as they were small and she didn't want to risk damaging my uterus.
The next day I felt surprisingly good and wasn't really in any discomfort. I found out this was cos of the epi. I was itching though which is a side effect.
I had some off days generally with trapped wind and a feeling that my tummy was very very tight and being pulled in all directions which wasn't pleasant but it's now day seven after surgery and I'm managing to control the pain with just paracetamol. I refused ibuprofen two days ago as they were giving me gastric pain.
I can't get comfortable that much in bed as my back hurts quite a bit which might be a side effect of the epidural not sure but all in all I'm not too bad. My consultant has been amazing. She was coming to see me most nights in hospital even around 10pm to check on me. She is pleased with all and how it looks and I'm finally back home since last night and am to go back to her in 5 weeks. They told me its a very slowly healing process and I had a BIG op but slowly slowly I'll get there
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Has anyone had a Hysteroscopic Myomectomy? And what were the results. I have a fibroid that's 4.5cm within my uterus. My problem is I am constantly bleeding and the gyno surgeon suggested myomectomy. He said laparoscopic surgery may not be successful and open abdominal would be the likely option. I did some research and discovered this other non invasive option as I want to have kids so I really only have myomectomy option. The surgeon never suggested Hysteroscopic Myomectomy as another option.....
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I have had heavy bleeding non-stop for days. My hemoglobin levels are at 10.5 which normal levels would be 12. I turned 40 this year and want to have kids asap. My surgeon said that my fibroid is not so huge 4.5cm and I only have one but its so far back in my uterus that laparoscopy may not be successful and that he will probably make an open abdominal myomectomy. He also said the fibroid would not have prevented pregnancy but it has to be removed to stop my uterus from bleeding. My surgery is in a few days and I'm dreading it.
1. The Dr. said because of my age and heavy bleeding I have slim chances of getting pregnant after myoectomy but he will do his best to avoid damage to my uterus.
2. I have no idea how they can do the surgery with all my heavy bleeding still going on.
3. I have no idea what to expect with open abdominal myomectomy surgery except after reading blogs that the pain is huge.
4. I'm already panicking and the stress factor has hit the roof with me today. I am still heavily bleeding with huge cramps and really bad headaches.
5. I keep thinking to look for another surgeon but this Dr. is the chief surgeon in the gynecological unit of the hospital and I really dont have much choice here as the bleeding has got to stop asap.
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I am 4 weeks post op laparoscopic myomectomy and just started having PMS symptoms 2 days ago (breast tenderness). I've also noticed my belly is bigger/harder and I have more abdominal discomfort. Not completely sure if it's PMS related. I should be getting my period in approx 9 days.
Does anyone have any stories they can share, with PMS symptoms after a myomectomy? Were your symptoms the same prior to surgery? What was different?
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After a hysteroscopy & D&C I was diagnosed with a huge polyp they've never seen ,size of a big fibroid but not fibroid which makes me look 5 month pregnant.One doc advised hysterectomy and another myomectomy. I am 33 yrs old trying since 7 yrs to get pregnant ,had 1 failed IUI,1 IVF .I also had a history of endometrial hyperplasia. I want a third opinion.Will Uterine artery embolization be good for me ?? Will i get pregnant if i opt this non surgical method?
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I have (5-6) small multi cervical fibroids and one approx 7cm pedunculated, in consultation with a very supportive medical practitioner I have decided to have, well it is my only option now because of the size of one the pedunculated one, a myomectomy. I feel ok about the decision as my periods are getting increasingly heavier and I know have constant lower back pain, which may be related to the fibroids. I need to have 4 injections every 4 weeks to try and shrink the fibroids to a more manageable size, however, this will bring on menopausal type symptoms. I have been given a prescription for Livial, which I am loathe to take. Has anyone had this procedure recently or within the past few years? I am concerned and a bit worried, to say the least, about having the procedure as most of the testimonials I have read appear to be generally dissatisfied, as the side effects were severe.
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I had a myomectomy and signed off work for 10 weeks. I'm now fully back to work but still experiencing some pains in my tummy. I know that one fibroid was left behind (I had 14, largest measuring 10cms) because it was small and in an awkward place and just wondering if anyone in a similar situation still gets pains? My pains are generally in the ovary area, each side taking it in turns to hurt. Last couple of days it's been my left ovary area and now Im making frequent trips to bathroom to pass not that much urine and also have strong back pain just above lower back
Feel like almost my fibroids could have come back with these pains i'm having. Can they come back so soon? Or perhaps it's just my insides are still sore and healing. Is it normal to feel all this after this length of time?
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On the 18th August it will have been a year since my myomectomy..
In the last year I've gained all the weight I lost in my 5 months of being unable to eat solid food.
I have a couple of questions. Firstly I am still very sensitive above my scar, is that normal?
Secondly, I still get a lot of swelling above the scar even a year on. I know that's to be expected but it quite uncomfortable.
Thirdly obviously where I had lost the weight, that has left my scar very tight where I lost so much much and regained it.
Finally my periods are very heavy again and I frequently get bad back ache (even without PMT). Should I still be getting back ache? ( I was going to have physio but moved house so it's not within the boundary).
Lastly on a different but related note. In May I was 3 months pregnant obviously mentioned my op just in case. Announced to the family etc and that evening began having a miscarriage. After a long time in A&E, a loads of scans telling me I most likely had a fibroid again I was left in a canteen and given 2 paracetamol and lost my baby there. The pain was pretty horrendous and I spent 10 hours in hospital, A&E were good, being moved to gynecology was horrific. Will the NHS ever apologies or have any empathy at all for either scenarios? Just because I am not screaming does not mean I'm not in pain the positive is I have my life back, changed my career and began to get myself fitter. I have made some life changing decisions.
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I've been on this forum quite a bit now. Very long story. The main gist is I am now 6 months post myomectomy. Initially recovering well. My periods seemed back to normal and all ok. Initially lasting for between 3 and 5 days. As time has gone on they have got worse. Last month I had 2 weeks of terrible back pain before a period that lasted 14 days. I am still ridiculously emotional and it has actually hit me, how serious everything got before my op with my weight plummeting to below 5 and half stone. Occasionally something will trigger a flashback and set me off completely, reminding me of the pain I had for so long and the unnecessary treatment. I am feeling quite low at the moment. Is anyone else having a similar experience? I am hoping it is all the hormones settling down. It is having a huge impact on my life, I am a total roller coaster!
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I had an operation on 21 Nov 2015, this is to share my experience on those people who are nervous as I did before the surgery
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I just had my pre-op for a myomectomy. And, my doctor said I could return to work after 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. Is it me, or does this seem to be too soon to return to work after a surgery?
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