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The Kitchen Table

Fibroids and Hysterectomy Question

14 years ago

Hi ladies. This question is for those of you who had large uterine fibroids and the associated abdominal swelling/paunch & bloating, and then had a hysterectomy (partial or complete). Did your gut (caused by the fibroids) go away after surgery? If so, how much - some? All? None? If so, how long after surgery did it take before you felt that you were back to a pre-fibroid stage?

Many thanks!

Suziequ

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Comments (6)

hayjud_mn
14 years ago
It was too long ago for me to remember.

I'm sure your age will determine some of this. If you are 45 or over, you may be starting that older belly from loosing muscle tone. I know that isn't what you would like to hear, but if age is a factor, then at least you have an excuse. Boohoo....
suzieque
Original Author
14 years ago
I have 4 fibroids. 2 are grapefruit sized and 2 are navel orange size. The belly is definitely from the fibroids. I am 5'5" and weigh 120 pounds. I know muscle is lost with age and I'm Ok with that and expect a little tummy, but this is not that.
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goldy: This woman has internal fibroids that the doctors feel would be a risk if she got pregnant & because of the large fibroids causing so much trouble every month she probably can't get pregnant anyway with them inside & if she did she probably couldn't carry a baby to term. She is trying alternative medicine with no success. Surgery to remove them might cause infertility also if the uterine lining is destroyed. So sad! Glad your experiences turned out well & that was so many years ago & fewer options then!
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I had a total hysterectomy at the age of 36 due to an ovarian cycst the size of a grapefruit. (It had become that large in a matter of 3 weeks). They had prepared us for it being cancerous but luckily it was not. When they opened me up, I also had endometrosis everywhere. They literally had to scrape all my internal organs and even removed my appendix. I had already had uteral surgery to help me get pregnant and a C-section with the smiley shaped incision but they had to do a huge incision that goes from above my belly button all the way down to you know what! It kinda looks like an anchor with both incisions. Let me say this was way back in 1986 so alot has changed since then. I took estrogen and progestone for a few years then dropped it to just estrogen. I stoppped that about 10 years ago now and my biggest complaint is that everything on me is dry. I have tried the creams and stuff but nothing seems to work. Hot flashes come and go but overall that isn't my main issue. I still have paps done every three years - its actually more of the lining of course but you should still be checked for endometrial cancer. The estrogen threat is not just for the ovarian cancer but also breast. It was actually my husband who suggested I talk with my doctor about stopping the estrogen as it was being discussed among the doctors at the cancer center where he works in Radiation Therapy. As I said that was 10 years ago or more. So much depends on your age - I was so young at the time, the hormones were basically a necessity but now I am glad I have stopped them.
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Oooh, I feel for you. I can't give you advice on this, but I agree with Sylvia that this forum is sometimes slow with responses to such a specific problem and she is right on with the Kitchen Table Forum. There is a wealth of info there and they always have a chair open to join them! Good luck with your health issues, I went through similar problems in which they also took out my gallbladder (which, like you, wasn't the problem) but mine turned out to be thyroid and stomach issues rolled into one. I felt like a lab rat at the end of the first two years of testing and know how frustrating it can be. Let us know if you get any news.
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Mine was a radical hysterectomy. Hospital stay was two weeks with another week in bed, only getting up when necessary. Don’t know how long the surgery lasted, but I suspect it was longer than my previous ones. I tend to react poorly to anesthetic; out like a light; difficult to wake; extreme nausea - on a ‘baby dose.’ That time was a whopper! My back was badly bruised, and my legs were swollen the size of a wrestler’s. The nurses kept commenting how athletic they were, while I protested I have bird legs, normally. The scar was a work of art “so I could wear a bikini.” Well, I had never worn one prior, and never have since. My expectation to be back to work in record time, dragged to 6 mos. I’m certain it would have been sooner if I had a desk job. I’m not content doing nothing. I also experienced the feeling as if my insides were shifting others mention.
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rthummer
14 years ago
I had to have a complete hystrectomy. It was an emergency as I started hemmoraging, think I remember they said one had ruptured and started bleeding...Been awhile back, so I can't remember too well. Dr. said I had tumors on ovaries as well. I had one that dr. said was the size of a 5 month old fetus. Mine has never gone down completely, and I still have pain on sides sometime. Don't know why though. I hope everything turns out good with you, though. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
suzieque
Original Author
14 years ago
Ooh - I'm glad that yours was taken care of, rthummer. Sounds very scary! I'm fortunate in that my biggest complaint about the fibroids is my huge tummy. I have icky discomfort when I lay on my side as the biggest fibroid pulls. Some times the fibroids ache. But my doctor isn't at the point where she says definite hyst. yet. She is hoping that the fibroids will shrink (I am 2 years through menopause). I want them gone! But from what I'm reading on other sites, it seems that a lot of women get a swollen belly after surgery and sometimes it lasts for a year or more. You say yours never went down completely. I'd be ok with not completely, but this is is so darned uncomfortable and discouraging. My dr. said my abdomen would measure at about a 5 month pregnancy size.
lunchlady1948
14 years ago
Go to Hystersisters.com~~~lots of good info there. Helped me alot when I had mine
suzieque
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, lunchlady. I just found that site tonight and frankly, it's not sounding good. That's where I saw so many people writing in complaining about their "swelly belly"!

Did you have fibroids, then the hyst., and a belly (before and/or after?).

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