How long to take off for recovery post myomectomy

I was out of work for 3 weeks and then returned part-time at first and then worked up to full time. I did that in part to try to allow my body to focus on healing, all that thinking we do takes up valuable energy that the body could use to help heal itself. Also, it isn't comfortable as you are swollen and have lots of aches and pains in the first 6 weeks or so. It isn't too bad though, manageable really. It depends on many things --

* if you lose a lot of blood or go in anemic then healing will go slower, and you may be fatigued longer
* if you are in good shape your body should be able to heal you more quickly,
* if you eat really well you should heal better,
* if you really do take it easy for the time you are off you will heal better
* if you have any complications such as the incision opening then it will take longer
* some people say that the more quickly you are able to start walking again regularly that it can help promote healing -- but you can't do anything like yoga or running for at least 6 weeks.

I had Qi Gong practice last night and my instructor explained how to use the five elements. It was very interesting to learn how each organ system is associated with colors and elements and I think this will really help me out with my meditation. Here's a great page that explains the basics of the Five Elements.

Then this morning I had my acupuncture appointment. Some things had markedly improved from my treatment last week but I had some other things that needed adjusting and he totally knew what to do. I had swollen glands in my neck from my cold that were bothering me and now they feel clear and normal. From the moment he put in the first few needles I felt my body start shifting my energy around, it felt like I was going from disorganized to synchronized in a matter of minutes. Now I feel warm, smooth and even more happy. I have a faint headache just behind my eyes though, I bet something is still kinked up somewhere.

I'm doing both Qi Gong and acupuncture to try to regain health, rebalance after all of the health problems from last year and also to try to get my body to be stronger and less flimsy in general. Meditation is more sporadic but I do it with a friend of mine when we get it together. Improved health is going to take a lot of ongoing practice but I'm hopeful that I'll get balance someday.

I went to dance class today.

My doc said after 6 weeks I could return to normal activity; my six weeks were up yesterday. My body started complaining a couple days ago about wanting some exercise, I started getting achy -- amazing that it took that long. I ran down the block and back with my dog -- I can move again.

So this morning I knew from the aches and pains that I still needed more movement, to help get my energy flowing again. I went to a beginning modern dance class -- I've been studying modern dance since I was 5 so this wasn't something far-fetched. Anyway, as part of the warm-up we do some abdominal work, not sit-ups but lots of moving and stretching and small crunches and contractions. I got through that, taking a break for parts of it. Then we did footwork, brushes, tendus, degagés, passés (for those of you who have studied ballet or modern).

After about a half hour my fascia had enough stretching and was complaining so I stopped; my legs and arms and back were fine though perhaps a little weak. I've been kinda tired since, though I was run down before then as well -- I think it is my anemia from all my bleeding. I remembered how someone asked if they could do yoga a couple weeks ago, and how interesting it was to finally be the one getting to move again myself. My advice is take it slow, stretch a lot, listen to your body and stop if you need to. I'm going to keep up the exercise over the next few weeks and when I return from vacation I'll try to hit dance class again and I bet I'll be that much stronger.

Six Weeks -- Feeling Pretty Fine

I haven't had my laptop so I haven't been able to upload any photos in a week. I'll have some soon of my healing belly. I don't think you can see much change on the outside but I can definately feel the difference on the inside. I'm a lot less sore now and I have more energy.

My cramps were awful last week, I thought I was going to die and I had spotting which isn't normal for me. My period came last week, over a week late, and it wasn't normal. I had more hemorrhaging for several days and felt very light-headed. It doesn't even take that much blood loss for me to feel this way. I was anemic to start with, something I've been working on since my surgery by taking iron supplements. I think my uterus might have had a hard time contracting properly and maybe it was still adjusting to all the recent changes.

I looks like things are getting back into order though, all biological signs are A-OK now. My incision is still sensitive but I don't have to wear the granny knickers anymore and I can comfortably sleep on my belly at night. Wednesday morning my body told me it was time to exercise again. I've been aching for the first time since my surgery, the kind of aches you get when you don't exercise for a while. I've been trying to pick it up and do more physical activity including a little jogging down the street and push-ups.

We babysat my 26 month old nephew at the beginning of the week and the kid had us running around for hours. My partner says that he's not sure he wants one now, that his life will be certainly over if he has to do that every night. I don't think he is serious, he would love a baby if we had one and be awesome about it. I told him we can get an au pair, though I don't know that we really would do that. We'll figure it out when the time comes.

My partner also noticed the other day that for the first time in a couple years there is this lightness to my person, some weight being lifted. I think it is from the fibroid mostly. It was a big psychological burden on me to know that I wasn't well and that I had to manage a condition that may or may not affect my fertility. My partner said that now I know I can get pregnant and now that the fibroid is gone things are looking a lot easier. Let's hope so.

It will be another 8 weeks or so until we're able to start trying to conceive. I'll be away on vacation for part of that time and then I'm going to try to take some art classes in the new year to help keep my mind off of it all.

4+ Weeks Post Myo

Another report on how I'm recovering -- hopefully this helps people who are considering the procedure.

I retured to work part-time one week ago. I got tired and sore by the afternoon and was sure to go home. During the rest of the week I noticed that day by day I had more stamina and less pain -- it seems that the pain picks up if my body needs a rest. I was able to work almost a full day on Friday without any problem and then my uterus where I had the incision started aching so I headed home. In contrast, my first shopping trip 8 days post-op I felt lightheaded and really tired after a couple hours out of the house. My second shopping trip 18 days post op I was out for a few hours on my own and got really tired and flushed feeling -- that's when you know you need to head home.

Saturday I took it easy, just doing light housework and cooking plus lots of knitting. Yesterday I went shopping for several hours and it was only after I tried on a bunch of different pants (after having been out for some time) that I started feeling achy. I handed over the items I was going to purchase to my partner to carry and then went home. I was feeling a little tired but I wanted to get a tree for Christmas so I drove out to do that and just had the staff carry and load it for me in to the car. I took a rest when I got home and finished stringing popcorn for the tree and then after making dinner I decorated the tree and vacuumed downstairs (I had my partner bring the vacuum downstairs for me).

Every day I'm feeling more and more myself. The pain from the adhesions behind my incision in my skin seem to be breaking up a little bit and I think my skin might be adapting/growing to that situation as well. I still haven't had my period but hopefully this week. When I had my d&c for my miscarriage in July it took 50 days to get my period, I think my body tends to take it slowly and get everything back in alignment before it continues.

I had sex once so far and it wasn't bad at all -- we did it spooning, on our sides which takes all pressure off of my belly. The only reason we've only had the one go is because our sleep schedules are different so I'm tired when he's just getting interested (sound familiar anyone?).

I'm all stuck together

I try to be good and take care of myself during my recouperation from surgery and !@#$ it seems like my skin has healed by bonding itself to my fascia. A couple people have told me this will go away, another one says that she is still dealing with this leftover from surgery. I'm so upset about it because there is this pulling sensation when I move. I need to be able to move without pain, I'm a dancer. Why didn't anyone tell me this was a possiblity? I'm so bothered by it I want to hurt myself.

I'm going to have to try some serious deep tissue massage to see if we can clear it out and it is going to be painful. It's going to stay painful unless I do it though. Argh!

14+ days post op

So I had my post-op visit yesterday morning and everything was good, she said I looked great. She said removing my retained POC was very difficult because of the fibroid and that there was no way for my uterus to expel the tissue on its own based on how the fibroid was positioned filling the interior of the uterus. So my prospects for a normal vaginal delivery were probably slim to none since my uterus couldn't contract well, or at least I would have had a complicated delivery. I was sooooo uncomfortable when I was pg with the rapid fibroid growth and the pregnancy having to grow off to the side because that was the only way my uterus would move, next time should be a lot better.

My doc also said that my uterus will be enlarged for a while, shrinking back some but that it would never be the size of a normal unpregnant uterus since the fibroid made the muscle wall have to grow larger. Maybe I'll be extra fertile now though, the interior of my uterus will be one vast space with lots of room for an embryo to settle in.

She said I could remove the steri strips in the shower or bath, I just pulled them off carefully when they were dry, the adhesive was already starting to go. Uncovering the incision though made it burn more, I think this is partly due to my nerves regrowing right now --
they have to cut through some in the skin there and they may or may
not grow back completely. I had to take the 600mg ibuprofen and after an hour that wasn't helping so I took a percocet and it really helped take the edge off the pain. My father said he had that same burning sensation as he healed from his triple by-pass a few years ago. The incision looks great and I don't think that it will show that much at all in a few months.



She agreed that starting trying to conceive (TTC) again in February
sounded like a good idea and that we should try for a few months on
our own before going back for any more fertility consultations. After having way too much medical attention over the past 6 months (due mostly to the pregnancy/miscarriage) and way, way too many blood draws for my liking, now I'm in a holding pattern and it feels so strange to be told that I'm healthy and back on my own. Not that I liked being not well but you do sort of get adapted to fitting in the medical care when things go wrong. Yeah to be healthy again though!

Oh and I guess it was around 11 days post op that I started to feel
more myself and I've been less fatigued and able to do more around
the house, tidying up, cooking, light cleaning, etc.

Recap of my pre- and post-surgical treatment

The day before my surgery I did go for acupuncture. I like my acupuncturist and my body responds well to his treatment. He said that my nervous system was a bit overactive -- but that was to be expected.

I've been taking the arnica since the day of surgery, at least 2 times a day now. I took the phosphorus C the night before, and started on Traumogen (vitamins to aid healing from Thorne) the night before as well. I had no nausea from the anaesthesia, and I only threw up twice, once from the PCA meds and once from the percocet. I've been taking iron with C and Traumogen every day since my operation 2-3 times a day.

I did have some bruising around the incision as I was healing, but that's gone away now, as has most of the swelling. I hope this doesn't freak you out but I've been taking photos of my incision as I'm healing and thought you might be interested.



On day 3 you can see that my belly is very round. Two days later a lot of that swelling has gone away and the bruising showed up. The colors got pretty bright and multicolored by day 7, as bruises often do. By yesterday the bruising is gone and the swelling is mostly just above the incision.

Oh, I've been also doing some Qi Gong breathing, deep breathings to fill my lungs -- at least once a day. And you want to make sure that you stay connected to your uterus after you are out of surgery and think about sending it healing energy -- I guess some people disassociate from their wounded parts sometimes and it interferes with healing. Read this article about Qi Gong and surgery, I found it very interesting.

Medical Qigong Therapy & Surgery

Post op, stay away from cookies, candy -- simple carbs. I found that my body didn't want them anyway. Drink cranberry/pomegranate/grape juices to help prevent a bladder infection.

I also did guided imagery with the help of a CD my fibroid sister Deborah sent me in a care package. I told people about my surgery and asked them to pray for me and send healing thoughts. I also tolds people when and where I would be treated, and when to expect me home with my phone number so people could call. I felt very supported and warm for the days before and after my surgery.

You can get through this too.

What happens when you are having a myo

I'm on bed rest one week and two days post abdominal myo and I'm feeling great. Tired but healing quickly. Since you were curious about the before and after...

Pre-op consult -- they take your blood pressure, weight, check your blood to make sure you aren't anemic and get your blood type if they don't have it on record. You meet with your doc and ask last minute questions and sign a few forms. Sometime you will get to meet with the anesthesiologist at this time but I didn't. They give you instructions on when to stop eating and drinking prior to surgery.

Day of surgery -- check in 2 hours beforehand. I brought knitting to keep my hands busy and mind calm. The hospital seems to make you keep signing forms that say the same thing (whatever). My surgery was delayed by more than an hour so we went home for an hour and I did some last minute housecleaning.

When it is your turn they take you into an area with a gurney and give you a hospital gown to change into. My partner was allowed to be with me until they were ready to take me into the operating room (my doc said -- be sure to ask yours ahead of time about this). They hook you up to an IV and the anesthesiologist asks you questions about your previous experiences with anaesthesia. You have the option of asking for an epidural with sedation if you prefer, it is up to you and the anesthesiologist. I did the general and it was fine. They take your bag and you say goodbye and then they wheel you in to a freezing cold room. They hook you up to a blood pressure cuff and the oxygen monitor (little finger cuff) and then put a blanket over you. The anesthesiologist puts a mask on your face and tells you to breathe in oxygen and the next thing you know you are waking up in recovery.

They keep taking your blood pressure alot post-op and you are groggy and have a hard time opening your eyes. You are hooked up to a PCA, where you are able to dose yourself with painkillers as needed -- don't hold back because staying on top of the pain at first will help you a lot. After about an hour they wheel you to your room. They put some pressure stocking on your legs and some cuffs that compress/decompress automatically to help prevent blood clots. My wound was covered with a bandage so I couldn't see the incision -- thankfully. I had a catheter in for not even a full day, but know that the first pee can be really difficult. The nurse gave me warm water to run over my vagina while on the toilet and that helped get things moving. I recommend drinking unsweetened grape or cranberry juice for a week afterwards to help ward off a urinary tract infection -- it helps prevent bacteria from adhering to the lining of your bladder, etc.

They will have you up and walking less than a day after surgery, take it slow and roll onto your side slightly, then drop your legs off the bed and use those side muscles to lift you up. The first few times you get up will be very awkward and painful. Stay on top of the pain meds and breathe a lot and you will do fine. The pain isn't excruciating, I ranked the worst at 5 on a scale of 1-10 but it was mostly around 3-4.

And then do as I've been advised from other post myo gals -- take it easy and don't push yourself. Even though my incision looks great I can't see my uterus and it has a lot more healing to do than my skin.

Extreme Makeover: Uterus Edition

"We converted this cramped two bedroom bungalow into a special open floor layout and removed some earlier renovations which were gettingin the way…"

So, I'm home from the hospital as of yesterday afternoon and I'm well on my way to a full recovery. I'm really tired still and reading is kind of hard, I just start falling asleep so I'm going to make this post and then you'll probably hear more from me later in the week.

My entire surgical team was comprised of women. From the two REs and the anesthesiologist to the nursing team – how very cool to know that competent women were working hard to help heal me. I wore my purple fuzzy socks of courage and even got compliments on them from the nurses. I opted for the general anesthesia and other than a sore throat on Saturday it was totally fine.

It took as long to remove the remaining tissue from my miscarriage as it did to remove my fibroid, but already my bleeding has slowed. I had been bleeding for the 4 weeks prior to my surgery and was a little anemic as a result. They didn't need to give me a transfusion and they commented on how little blood was lost – I went for an acupuncture treatment the day before and that can help lessen blood loss. One of the REs said she was a firm believer in acupuncture and wasn't surprised that it would help out.

The fibroid made it impossible to use the hysteroscope to view the retained tissue but they believe they got it all out of there. My fibroid was described as being the size of a grapefruit, and was removed via a single incision about 3 or so inches long. It was growing right up against the endometrium, but it was not engaged withthe endometrium – what a blessing. So, while they had to cut all the way through the muscle wall to get it out there was no disturbance of the interior of my uterus so I've got the most surface area possible to help catch fertilized eggs.

Over the course of the two procedures my bladder was manipulated and traumatized quite a bit. Between that and the catheter the most difficult part so far has been trying to urinate; I have to sit for along time and try to relax and let got of any part I can think of. I also had blood tinged urine but the doctors said it was as a resultof the trauma. I'm drinking cranberry juice and lots of water and am under strict orders to urinate every 2 hours. They weren't sure if my bladder was enlarged from the fibroid or now, or if I'm just one of those women who can't empty her bladder completely (it happens they say) but we sure as heck don't want me to have a bladder infection so I'm going to stay on top of it.

My incision on my swollen belly is a good 5 inches long, I imagine that it will decrease over time. The gum, the walking, the sleeping mask, ear plugs, robe, slippers, granny knickers and my own pads all came in handy. The doctors and nursing staff were amazed at how well prepared I was for the hospital – I gave the fibroid ladies all the credit. They are truly the best group of women on the web.

My myomectomy scar - Day 3


Oh, and the baby making department… my RE said that the way the fibroid was positioned that she didn't think that I would have beenable to carry to term even if we didn't have a blighted ovum and that she expected that I would have continued having miscarriages. She thinks we have a great chance now and said we could try as soon as two months from now, though I think we will wait until February is over.

My partner is exhausted; I think the emotional stress of the weekend has gotten to him. He held me in the hallway last night and hugged me and said he felt so relieved that it was all done now. Poor guy; he was nice and helped watch over me the first hours after my surgery on Friday, massaging my feet and making sure they got me situated into a good room.

So, I'm feeling all right and my abs aren't too sore – they didn't clamp me, just pushed and pulled them a bit. Other than the incision site being sore and my uterus as well in the two spots they worked the rest of my body feels fine – I'm just incredible tired.

I can't believe that I'm through with the worst of it and now I've just got to heal. No regrets on my part for delaying the surgery, I know it was the right thing for me. Thank you for your prayers on Friday – I felt like I was in a warm cloud, so relaxed and comforted the entire time.

[See also: Preparing for surgery posts]

Preparing for surgery with homeopathy/naturopathy

I was directed by my naturopath to take phosphorus c, a homeopathic remedy, prior to having the surgery to help my body with nausea from the anaesthesia.

Homeopathic arnica was advised to help deal with the swelling and bruising. I am supposed to start taking this several days beforehand and several friends swear by it.

She also recommended Rescue Remedy from Bach's Remedies, flower essences, to help deal with the stress prior to the surgery. And Gelsemium 30c, 2 pellets as needed for anticipatory anxiety.

These "meds" are at worst sugar pills and quackery, at best they work wonders. They should not interfere with the procedure or anaesthesia and if you believe they will work then placebo affect or not they will provide you with some relief. I think I'll give them a go since I've got nothing to lose.

I will also be taking Traumogen, a vitamin supplement that helps aid the body with nutrients that aid in healing tissue.

Here are some links about natural medicine and surgery to check out:

Homeopathy and Surgery
http://www.drfeder.com/general-health/healing-surgery.htm

Surgery Recovery Program
http://www.naturodoc.com/library/surgery/surg_recovery.htm

Laparoscopy - how to prepare for your surgery
http://www.endo-resolved.com/laparoscopy_advice.html

Is Arnica montana safe to take after plastic surgery?
http://www.eclecticphysician.com/archive.php?action=Nbr&Nbr=235