Just wanted to get opinions from others who have been through this. I have several fibroids and apparently a uterus that is a 7 month pregnant size. Symptoms are minimal except my lower abdomen is kind of huge. My uterus is now almost up to the diaphragm. I was researching supracervical hysterectomy vs complete. It's going to have to be an open hysterectomy, not laparascopic, because of the size. How long before I am up and running again? I have 3 little ones ages 5 and 6 and a business! Also I am in a small-ish town and I am not sure if I should try to find a bigger center to have it done at... there is a place about 3 and a half hours away that is listed on US news as in the top 10 centers in the country for gynecology. My gynecologist seems confident that she can do the procedure but I'm sure it's a little trickier than just a routine because of the size. I'm sure pelvic organs are compressed etc and would like to reduce the risk of complications but at the same time with my family being here it would be a bigger hardship for me to have this done further away. Any input and advice would be appreciated!! Thank you in advance.
Don't let the size worry you too much.
My Mom's best friend had fibroid s removed that were the size of watermelons (and this was in the 50's) and she was (and still is) fine.
Your local surgical center should have no problems in handling it.
I believe recovering from a hysterectomy is about like recovering from a C-section - give it 6 to 8 weeks.
Ask your question at this site and you'll get answers from women who've been through it:
I've had an hysterectomy in part because of fibroids. It was done with an abdominal incision several inches in length. Complete does not indicate how it was done. Actually all hysterectomies are complete. Smile I also had endometriosis which required that they move my other organs around to remove the endometrium.
I suggest having large fibroids is not unusual. Your doctor can remove your uterus just as well as if it was smaller. The procedure is the same. I suggest you discuss your concerns with the doctor.
I would have the surgery locally. The surgery is not complicated and does not need expert experts.
there really is no way of knowing how long your recovery will be. I was told to not drive or lift anything over a specific weight for a couple of weeks. I could return to work in 4-6 weeks. I took all 6 weeks and a couple more because I lacked energy. I continued to do light housekeeping and went for hour walks nearly every day.
I suggest it won't take you that long. I had been in pain for years. I'd had two other abdominal surgeries in the previous 10 years. I had some difficulty at work. I was worn out before surgery.
Your local doc should be fine. It is not a difficult surgery. I was up and functioning at full speed in two weeks. Hysterectomy was done with Colin and rectum removal. Good luck
My mom had this surgery in 1993 so laproscopic wasn't an option yet, but basically it is a C-Section they are just taking out the whole uterus instead of a baby. The recovery is the same, about 6 weeks with major weight restrictions. Did you have your kiddos with c-sections? Then you know what it is like. If you didn't then depending on how big your belly is will add to how the recovery time goes. I know that I had 2, 2009 and 2011 and I am just now getting feeling back in my belly because it was so big and stretched so much. I am also overweight which doesn't help either.
I don't know that it matters where you do the surgery, basically think of it as a c-section and then see how you feel about doing it locally. Good for you for getting it taken care of. And, good luck! I know you will feel better once you heal. My mom still says it was the best thing she ever did for herself!
I had 3 removed at different times but never with a hysterectomy. Recovery was pretty quick but I think in your case the hardest part will be you will be unable to lift your kids for awhile, at least 6 weeks I'm sure. I had no children at the time so my recovery was quick because I didn't have to push myself physically. Take care of YOU!!
I had major abdominal surgery for large fibroids, it was difficult and took a full 6 weeks to get back on my feet.
My sister had laparoscopic surgery for her fibroids...very large also. She was up within days. You may want to go to a larger facility that has some very skilled gyn surgeons. I wish my surgery was laparoscopic. I now have some problems with the incision area (I think it may be weak and creating a hernia)
Any major abdominal surgery (I had a tummy tuck) is going to take about 6 weeks to recover. You should expect to keep any lifting to a minimum during that time.
I can't speak to the procedure itself. But if they are opening you up and stitching you closed, it will take several weeks for that incision to heal properly.
I had laproscopic surgery to remove fibroids the size of yours. I was 11 weeks pregnant when I was in massive pain and went to the ER to discover the fibroid was growing in my uterus with my baby. I was monitored a lot throughout my pregnancy.
My original OB wanted to do a hysterectomy. When I asked her about laproscopic she said she didn't offer that because she doesn't know much about it and she thought my fibroids were too large. I asked her for a referral to someone that does laproscopic. The Dr she referred me to was a Dr that my sister knows from the hospital she works at and he is highly recommended. There aren't very many Dr's that do the DaVinci surgery, that's why they don't offer it.
I had 3 little ones when I got the surgery; 2, 4, 5. I had very little help from my MIL and my husband was away on business for a few weeks. It was hard to not be the mom the way my kids needed me. I managed barely, 4 incisions and it took the full 6 weeks to recover. I made and froze many meals, bought new kid movies, and read to them a lot.
Best wishes
It's major surgery. You shouldn't be planning much for that 6 week period afterwards. If you life something you can split yourself back open and bleed to death so don't push yourself.
This procedure isn't that hard. If this doc is a good OB/GYN and your hospital a good enough one then you should be fine. If you are really worried then got to nearest large town and find another doc that has more degrees or better degrees.
