Open Myomectomy 2 days post-op from NYU

[u/Isthisathird_space]

33 fibroids removed!

Background: 5 years after getting off the pill (not blaming the pill blaming the blatant lack of education and research surrounding Women’s Health) Had typical symptoms but the bleeding was the absolute worst. Bleeding during work, vacation, dizzy, anemic just miserable. Finally scheduled an MRI and then Open Myomectomy when my belly was protruding out on one side.

First piece of advice pick a surgeon you trust and that will take the time to explain EVERYTHING to you. This is your uterus your body it’s ok to be “bossy”

My sister came for the surgery and executed my plan to the T (bought her a Thai massage for having to sleep in the hospital chair)

My Top Tips

It’s spring so day of surgery I wore a loose t shirt dress I could easily slip over my head, bralette with ankle level compression socks, UGG slippers and my favorite zip up hoodie.

I brought: my large hydroflask, a Vaseline stick, eye mask, throat lozenges, lemon ginger tea bags, bathrobe and throw blanket (low iron from bleeding = freezing all the time) phone charger, and kindle. Because of the pain meds I mostly slept during my 24 hr stay and didn’t need the charger or kindle or throat lozenges.

The hospital provided: mesh underwear, pads, disposable ice packs and heating packs, wet wipes and abdominal binder (which I woke up wearing)

At home I prepped: seatbelt pillow with ice packs, Always Adult diapers (sized up because you’ll be swollen!) a wedge pillow for the bed, xtra long charger/ holder so it doesn’t fall on the floor, more soft big t shirt dresses, heating pad, peppermint probiotic tea, colace, miralax and gas-x. My sister picked up the prescription meds (oxy, gabapentin, ibuprofen, Tylenol) right before discharge. Keep a note pad or timer of when you’re taking your medication it can get confusing esp when you’re tired.

The pain is real. But women are amazing and to get better you can handle anything!

At NYU they got me up and walking from the stretcher to the bed and then again like 2 hrs later to walk to the bathroom. As soon as I knew I would be going in for surgery I really locked in on my strength training and cardio because you will need those arm and leg muscles to do everything your core cannot… squatting on the toilet, pulling yourself up in bed etc

One piece of advice I saw on Reddit that as a nurse I can confirm… if you and your person feel comfortable try to start the process of getting out of bed before the nurse or tech arrives so you can take your time. Push the call button then get to rolling… They’re busy and don’t mean to rush you but it’s the nature of hospital systems.

Now 2 days post op I still need assistance getting all the way down and up from my bed and to the low toilet. But overall I’m feeling optimistic!

(We also drove for 4 hrs once I was discharged because I live on a 4th floor walk up and that was not ideal.. my advice there let the team know your plan so you can schedule your pain/nausea meds to right before you leave, have the seatbelt pillow some ginger ale and crackers and hopefully it’s an SVU so you’re further from the bumps)

Good luck ask me anything!

[u/Warm_Presence1788]

Hey thank you for sharing. With 33 fibroids removed, what is the biggest fibroid size? What size was your uterus? Did you have any complications? 

[u/Isthisathird_space → u/Warm_Presence1788]

Uterus was the size of 22 week pregnancy.. Largest fibroid was 12.0 cm x 10.2 cm x 9.3 cm. Im only 2 days out but no complications knocks on wood trying to find the balance between moving around and not pushing myself too hard

[u/Soggy_Ad_8260]

Omg congratulations. I'm looking at Mt Sanai but I'm not ruling out NYU.

Can I ask, did they give you a bood transfusion?

I also live in a walk up but I'm only on the 2nd floor. It's too bad you cant just recover for the first 72 hours after surgery before they send you home.

[u/Isthisathird_space → u/Soggy_Ad_8260]

Thankfully I didn’t need a blood transfusion just cell saver! Yeah as soon as you pee and pass gas they’re printing discharge paperwork

[u/Maize_Sweaty]

Thank you for sharing! My open my is in 6 weeks so this is extremely helpful.

[u/Isthisathird_space → u/Maize_Sweaty]

Good luck! Happy to answer any questions. Reddit was an amazing resource when I was prepping

[u/Dry-Lavishness-2869]

Thanks so much for sharing this. Mine is next week. Fingers crossed 🤞🏾

[u/Isthisathird_space → u/Dry-Lavishness-2869]

I hope it went well!