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.

Fibroids and pregnancy

Welcome to the club. I've met some women here who have successfully carried babies to term with fibroids in place, with some fibroid growth. I've also heard women report that they have had excrutiating pain from degenerating fibroids and the babies were fine but the pregnancy was rough on the mother. There are also a lot of women who have had miscarriages, which may or many not have to do with their fibroids -- myself included.

Doctors don't really know which fibroids will cause problems and which ones won't -- at least not beyond just normal clinical experience, the studies just haven't been done yet on a lot of topics. Some tiny fibroids can become really large during pregnancy. Large fibroids might experience some growth but not cause too many problems, or vice versas. I learned of one woman recently who had her fibroid removed during a c-section to deliver her baby -- the fibroids and the baby weighed the same. What you want to find out is where is/are the fibroid/s, what type are they (submucosal, intramural, subserosal)

The Babycenter.com fibroid message board has lots of posts from women who are trying to conceive with fibroids in place or post myomectomy (surgery to remove fibroids), as well as women having to deal with fibroids during their pregnancies.

Just because you have fibroids doesn't mean that you can't conceive and carry a healthy child to term, but it can make the journey a little less smooth.

I've posted a bunch of interesting articles about fibroids and fertility in the Links area of the NUFF uterinefibroids message group. Do check them out (subscription required).

Go out to the bookstore and buy: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Uterine Fibroids, and Sex, Lies and the Truth About Uterine Fibroids.

Oh, and I would seek the assistance of an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) if you have a diagnosis of uterine fibroids. They are more knowledgeable about hormone imbalances and specialize in fertility issues -- they are ob/gyns with advanced training -- and if you haven't had any luck with well-timed intercourse after a year the you should go for a consult anyway. They might try to push you for surgery and fertility drugs but it is up to you what you want to have done.

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.