Hi Everyone-

I am going to have a myomectomy in a couple weeks and I'm trying my best not to be scared about recovery, but I am. Does length of recovery (and how much pain is involved) vary on how many fibroids you have removed? I only have one fibroid that is 4cm. I'm 37, no kids and in good shape/health. My doctor told me recovery would be around 2-3 weeks, but reading the stuff on this board and others makes me fear that I could be headed for a long road of recovery ahead of me. Is the time spent in the hospital post surgery pure hell? Forgive me for being such a chicken, I've never had surgery in my life and have never taken any drug stronger than an 800 motrin.
Any advice would be helpful! Thank you!!

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Hi and welcome!

Surgery is always scary- no matter what is being done. I had a long recovery because they removed 6 Large fibroids. I know someone that had one like your removed and her recovery was a few weeks and was ttcing again the month after that. So I suspect your recovery will be the 2-3 weeks they said.

My hospital stay was 4 days. The second day was the worst because they stopped the morphine and made me walk. I remember that! It was bad. But again I have more removed and had a longer recovery. To me the morphine was a godsend. I have no idea if the pain is different due to number and size. Your pain tolerance will affect it too.

Expect to rest those 3 weeks. Stay off your feet and don't do any heavy lifting or anything. Take it as a nice LONG vacation where you can stay in your pajamas, watch tv and veg out. I did love the 2 months off work. I did enjoy watching tv, reading novels and just relaxing. Helped me evaluate my life and actually motivated me to update my resume and get my dream job. So take advantage of the time off.

What made you decide to remove it? Pain? ttcing?

Good luck and keep us posted.

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Thanks for responding! I will definately take your advice and welcome being lazy for a month or so! To answer your question about why I'm having the fibroid removed...after crazy heavy & painful periods getting worse and worse by the month, I had a sonohystogram and found out I had a polyp and fibroid. Doc said the polyp caused the bleeding (so I'm also having that removed) and she said I should remove the fibroid if I want to try and have kids one day (which I hope to!). So, I kind of found out about the fibroid by accident and I guess the bleeding that lead me to have the tests was a blessing in disguise.

Thanks again for your advice.

You should feel relief from your bad periods eventually. I always reccommend removal of polpys and fibroids if you want to get pregnant. Good luck with the surgery and keep in touch. While on bed rest feel free to post here- tell me how you are doing and just chit chat. I posted alot of the board when I was recovering.

GOOD LUCK!!

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Hi - I haven't been on this message board for awhile, and I am glad I checked it out. I had two 7 cm fibroids removed by myo on Jan 22nd - they had to cut pretty deep in and around my uterus so I was put on 'bedrest' for six weeks. I was in the hospital for three days and then home. I would say I started to feel about 50% after three weeks and I am doing pretty good now. My advice would be to listen to your doctor, restrict your activity (no matter how stir crazy you become), have lots of books/magazines/DVDs handy, and let your husband wait on you hand and foot! Things that I wasn't prepared for? Constipation - my reaction to the morphine - and the anticipation of feeling better. Good luck and keep us posted!

hi I am new to this.

I had my first surgery in 1998 at the age of 28. my doctor removed 9 fibroids remaining with one which he said was 2 close to my womb so he left it, here i am 9 years later scheduling my 2nd myomectomy in 2 wks. today was so painful i needed some medication for my pelvic pressure. My fibroid is so big i can feel it in my navel, it feels like the size of an orange. The worst part about going back this time it is 5 fibroids and just thinking of the rolling gases makes my eyes water, i hate to do that again but i have no choice. the second worst part i presently have a bikini cut from my surgery in 98, now my doctor wants to the a horizonal cut from my navel downward (that is scary)

I am so sorry. I would also be scared to go through it again knowing how it was when I did it the first time. Why does he want to create a new incision? You'd think he'd go through the original scar.

Hang in there and keep us posted.

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well where the fibroids is located its way up to my navel. She told me it is so big she would have to open the old scar wider or do a horizontal cut to get out the fibroids easier. i will go with the old scar. "Right now I feel so much pressure in my left side. I just want to get this over with. I guess me and scarybelly will be going through our ordeal at the same time. I will keep in touch. My next appointment is Mon. 12th to go over all my paperwork then I would know what day my surgery will be.