Well, Bad News First:

I just found out that I must have surgery for (benign) uterine fibroids. I'm devastated.

The surgery is in a few days. It's called a myomectomy - DON'T look it up online, I promise you the pictures alone will make you faint. :faint:It's scary.

First of all, I've never had any gynecological-related issue or procedure. Never an abnormal pap, no symptoms or irregular periods, nothing. When I go to my OB/Gyn, I just pop in for my well-woman exam and annual pap and go about my way. I'm on a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" basis with my uterus - I don't bother it, it doesn't bother me. :phanvan

So this is a HUGE deal for me. I've never been pregnant or had any gynecology procedures, so the thought of an OB/Gyn during surgery on me is hellish. The incision alone is horrible to think about - as if I don't have enough scars from my LapBand and surgeries. Most young, childless people don't quite have the incisions and scars that I do. My body is going to be so scarred up. Plus unlike my LapBand surgery or Abdominoplasty, this is the first surgery I will ever have had - where I won't LOOK or FEEL better - after having it done.

Second, and more importantly, I'm depressed because for the surgery, they are going to 'open up' the abdominal muscles that I just had repaired during my abdominoplasty. I've only had a (flatter) stomach for a short time (not even 4 months) and now I'm in danger of going back to having a distended, pot belly. Even after surgery I was hardly six-packed but I had no "hang over" which thrilled me. I'm so afraid I'm going back to the bloating, swelling, and flabby look I had after surgery. After finally getting to wear some more contoured fashions this season, this seems REALLY unfair.

Now, I'm inconsolable. One of the first questions they ask you before an Abdominoplasty is "are you planning to have kids anytime soon" and I was like "HECK NO!" They ask because pregnancies, C-Sections, etc - can 'undo' the benefits of an abdominoplasty. Now I have to get my newly healed stomach muscles torn again, and I'll be back to not being to move around, drive or lift anything for months again. As a single person, being debilitated seems insurmountable.

I was so careful to schedule my abdominoplasty in the winter so I could enjoy my spring and summer. I dreamed of spending this summer in cute little outfits and enjoying travel and fun. Instead I'm facing surgery, slow recovery, and again wearing a freaking 'surgical binder' all summer. All this for a(n) uterus? Pffft.

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The Good News:

My new band doctor says he does NOT think I have to get an unfill before this surgery. After having to start over with a new surgeon, I'm just getting up to what I think is decent restriction (which for me as a 5-yr Bandster is just under 3.0 in my 4 cc band.) So I'm at like 2.7 or 2.8 now, and I've lost abnout 4.5# in the last month which is the first big loss I've had in SOOOO long. So I'm chipping away getting towards my goal weight, though I fear another surgery and recovery (and not being able to get around) will mean I'll gain this small loss back. Will I ever get it off?

Thanks for letting me vent.

Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All.

Sho, I'm sorry to hear about this.

Look at the silver lining though. Your tummy might lay flatter after the surgery because your doctor flattened it down before, and now they are going to pull this thing out!

*hugs*

Goodness! I'm sorry to hear you are going through all of this! I hope you have a easy surgery & recovery!!

Alexandra:

IMO, though, don't rule out having kids because of your weight! My lifelong weight problem had me worried big-time about children, but I had two totally normal pregnancies and now have two healthy, slender children. Statistics mean nothing.)

Congrats on the 2 little ones! Let me clarify: when I say I won't be having kids due to my weight problem, I mean that I would be too terrified to risk any intentional weight gain, including pregnancy. I've fought my weight my whole adulthood (and before that, honestly) and I'm still fighting even though I have a LapBand . If I ever managed to break free of obesity then I promised myself I would never threaten that with a pregnancy. My body does not 'bounce back' from things, and I doubt pregnancy would be any exception. I don't believe I'd ever get the extra weight off. To top it off, I do believe fat genes exist - at least in my family - and I would NEVER, EVER pass mine on to a child. Nothing has been worse than being fat, at least for me.

TheBestMe/Kathy:

NewSho, my sister had a huge fibroid removed about 5 years ago. It was nested in with about 10 little brothers and sister (I have a picture, do you want to see it?) but the doc got it out with a C-section incision. ...The fibroids came back, she had a hysterectomy a few months ago and couldn't be happier

• My Alien Growth sounds similar to your sister's situation. I also have to receive a C-section incision. I'm absolutely inconsolable about this newest scar. As if my skin is not scarred up enough? Ack. Remember I'm single, so in my mind I can't imagine how delicate it is to explain a C-section scar when one doesn't have the normal "bundle of joy" that normally comes with it. It seems like that will be unbelievably awkward.
  
• And yes they also told me I have to sign a pre-surgical consent to agree to a hysterectomy if the docs get in there and think the uterus can't be saved. I'm not particular attached to my "nether organs" and now especially since I know this specific organ has been housing an Alien. :alien But my hormone levels & cycles have always been normal but all these years I've been frighteningly anemic. The docs have attributed this to my long dieting history, the fact that I don't eat meat, to my reduced diet since LapBanding, etc... when all the time there's been a Freeloader sucking up my red blood cells and all my Iron. It's time this 'squatter' was evicted, or at least pays some rent !
  
• When I think about the procedure, I do sometimes think "Eh, let them just take all the plumbing out" (how unromantic! :rolleyes ) but the harsh reality is that Men can sometimes be unenlightened. And surprisingly, now that I'm a 30-Something-Year-Old, I meet men all the time who ask me about having kids. So even though I don't plan to have any kids (and I do say so) they take that news a lot differently from the way I think they take hearing "I can't have kids." Right now I just don't think I'm up to dealing with those types of issues.

Vinesqueen:

Do they have to do this "open" or can they do this vaginally or lap?

Nope, it's got to be a lower abdominal incision. They call it a (ha ha) Bikini line cut, but I've yet to meet one solitary woman who felt they could wear a bikini after having one. I'm already having to figure out how to work belly dancing costumes around my LapBand scars and I dang near feel like giving it up. No "I Dream of Jeannie" outfits in my future, unfortunately. Now I'll have a smiley face under my stomach. Great. I doubt any future suitors will be inspired to smile about it, if ever I dare show it. Luckily I don't do tattoos or I'd be tempted to put the phrase "This property is condemned" on my stomach and point an arrow downward for comic effect! :rolleyes

HarleyNana:

Hugs your way, I wish you a speedy recovery, mentally as well as physically

Thank you, Harley. As you can see, I am really fighting to keep it together. I'm very upset.

You guys are the best. I've been feeling rather low about this surgery and I know it shows. So I am very appreciate of the support. I will need it to go through this, seriously.

~ Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All... ~

Sho,

Have you considered any of the lazer procedures for scars? There are a number of people who've had pretty decent results from it, from what I hear. Obviously you'll need to wait for the most recent ones to heal a bit before you can get it done, but it might be something to think about. :Banane13:

Best wishes to you and I am so sorry to hear you have to go through this!

Please don't be too discouraged about the recovery! For me it wasn't bad at all. I have had three bikini line c-sections and have to tell you that the recovery is not bad at all. My last c-section at 36 was a breeze and I was walking around with little tenderness the first week!

If I were in your shoes and knew I didn't want kids (I had my tubes tied during the last c-section), I would opt for the hysterectomy! Just think, no more periods! One would think that would be a great benefit when it comes to "suitors"!

The scar itself is minimal. Granted, I wouldn't wear a bikini anyways, so it will never been seen in public!

Take care and try not to worry!

Ugh, well, tomorrow is the big day.

Send lots of good thoughts my way - I'm going to be stuck in the hospital for a few days (I HATE being in the hospital - my sister thinks of it as a spa vacation, I think it's just one step above what jail is like. Hopefully I won't find out if the latter is true, LOL.)

Anyway, Wish me luck.

Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All...

Prayers, thoughts, and good things sent your way!!!

Thinking of you NewSho and hoping that all is well!!!

Curses to the alien freeloader!!! I hope it vacated easily!

Take care of yourself during your recovery.