4 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

One of our members is REALLY suffering from fibroids and REALLY needs input from other members who know about them or any of our members in the medical profession. Feel free to post info so we can all learn about this or if you want to pm or email something to her please send it to me and I'll forward it to her.
I've left it in first person, thank you for your input and insight. Kamala

I’m wondering if anyone can give some advice about fibroids and options for treatment. I have a large fibroid (7cm) and at least two smaller fibroids (1-2 cm) and have been experiencing heavy bleeding, clots and pressure. Every month is a battle for at least 7 days with two days of hemmoraging and often the bleeding continues 9 or more days. I’ve had up to 14 days of bleeding. All this has led to anemia.

I’ve discussed with my doctor my options and he has said my best options are either an abdominal myomectomy (large incision across abdomen and removal of fibroids) or laproscopic supracervical hysterectomy (removal of uterus but leaving ovaries and cervix).

I’m wondering what the risks and benefits are of the two surgeries. In particular I’m concerned about prolapse of my bladder in the future if I have a hysterectomy but wonder if the same risk is inherent in myomectomy or not.

I also wonder about how likely my ovaries are to work properly if I have a hysterectomy or if I will have to have hormone replacement therapy.

I wonder if the myomectomy will really solve the problem or if I will have continued bleeding and pressure or not and since my fibroid grew more than 1 cm this past year if I am more likely to be a patient who will have fibroids reccuring.

I wonder if a hysterectomy that leaves some of the muscles as a supracervical hysterectomy does, will be enough to keep the bladder from falling.

I also wonder, as a diver , if an abdominal surgery such as the myomectomy will damage the muscle in such a way as to make lifting a tank to dive much harder if not impossible as compared to the laproscopic surgery.

My latest testing showed a 6.2 x 6.9 x 5.3 cm submucosal mass lesion and another subserosal mass lesion in the fundus of the uterus measuring 1.9 x 1.6 x 1.0 cm. These most likely represent fibroids.

[Scubatooth]

For the record the following post is my opinion, and does not constitute medical advice or recommendations, its just my opinion based on my experience and training. Treatment plans/decisions are a decision between you and your doctor.


My first recommendation on this would be to give a call to DAN. Beyond that there is only certain parts of the questions asked I can shed light onto.

As for any surgery that goes through the abdominal wall, you should not dive until the incisions are healed completely(not red, or raised but normal colored scar/keliod tissue) as not doing so is asking for trouble (infection, and more). Laparoscopic incisions heal relatively quickly(Individual healing times/factors dependent) as there size is small, where as long abdominal scars cut through more tissue and takes longer to heal as well as recover from. Personally if i have the choice i go with the minimally invasive side of things as i have enough scars and dont need anymore.

As for the lifting question. Once the incision is healed and the underlying muscles have come back together you should have no problems. I have a abdominal scar that from two surgeries that is approximately 8" long (4" above and below the navel)and is 1/4- 1" wide, and had no problems lifting double alum 80's and 2 alum 40's at one time.

Im not of any help on the rest as that is beyond my scope of knowledge/experince.

Tooth


WW - if you want to delete this feel free to for privacy concerns/reasons after its passed along.

[Bubbles]

This is a subject I know all too well, and suffered from fibroids for several years before finally having surgery in September last year. By that time they had gotten so big and so numerous the only option was a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH). In fact there were over a dozen fibroids of various sizes inside and outside my uterus with the entire mass being almost the size of a 5-month pregnancy.

After my surgery strenuous activity was not allowed for six weeks. This was particularly hard for me because I'm pretty active and was playing tennis 3 to 4 times a week. Walking was encouraged but I had to VERY slowly work up to any distance. They actually had me up and walking around the nurse station the day after my surgery.

Before the surgery my doctor told me that once I recovered I would feel better than I had in years, and she was right. It has been just over a year and I feel great! I do not miss the monthly suffering and the various other problems. I've been diving off and on throughout the year, including a week on a liveaboard in September, and I have had no problems lifting tanks. It was almost 4-months post-op before I dove for the first time. I probably could have gone sooner, but I couldn't fit it into my work schedule until the Christmas holiday.

There is an excellent website called HysterSisters.com which is a support group of women who have had similar issues, and can provide advice regarding all surgical and non-surgical options related to fibroids. Please keep in mind the individuals on this site ARE NOT medical professionals, but I did find their comments helpful during my recovery process.


Kamala - You are welcome to share my cell number with this individual if she wants to talk to me in person.

Edited by Bubbles, 24 October 2010 - 08:14 AM.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Aren't our members FANTASTIC?

A call for help goes out, and without any questions, hands reach out to offer any assistance or answers they can provide.

My only assistance in this case is an offer of friendship, a shoulder if it's needed, an ear as a sounding board, and my prayers that whatever decision is made, that it WORKS and gives our member some relief.

[WreckWench]

SPECIAL THANKS to those members who have also sent me pm's and emails! Keep them coming...they are TRULY a blessing and helping our very own to manage thru all of this.

As Tammy says...we have FANTASTIC members!


p.s. Bubbles I will pass your number along...