Knowing I was due to
undergo an abdominal myomectomy this year, I scoured the internet and talked to
friends and colleagues who have been through the procedure. I wanted to have an
idea of what to expect prior to, during and after the operation.
Each UK health trust
works differently, my own (Croydon Health Services) were vague about recovery.
It occurred to me that a few blog posts on my experience might be of use to
others.
Image: http://www.wisegeekhealth.com
What is a Myomectomy?
A myomectomy is a surgical removal of uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous
tumours that grow on or around the womb.
While the exact cause of fibroids is unknown, we do know they are linked to the hormone oestrogen, at least 40% of women experience fibroid growth to some degree, and fibroid growths develop more frequently in women of African Caribbean origin.
While the exact cause of fibroids is unknown, we do know they are linked to the hormone oestrogen, at least 40% of women experience fibroid growth to some degree, and fibroid growths develop more frequently in women of African Caribbean origin.
Two types of Myomectomy
There are two types
of myomectomy, laparoscopic and abdominal.
Laparoscopic (keyhole): Surgery incision
through a keyhole cut, an instrument is used to remove the fibroids. Typical recovery
is 1 - 2 weeks.
Abdominal (open): A cut is made in the
abdomen to remove the fibroids. Typical recovery is 4 - 6 weeks.
My consultant
explained the size and location of my fibroids called for abdominal surgery.
The clearest
explanation of the abdominal procedure I have found is here, I have summarised below.
- The surgeon makes an incision on the skin over the uterus and takes the uterus out.
- An incision is made on the uterus itself, the fibroids are found and cut out.
- The surgeon uses dissolvable sutures to reconstruct the uterus walls.
- The restored uterus is 'popped back in' (not a medical term obviously), the incision is sewn closed.
I found a very interesting video of the procedure, Note: I DID NOT watch this before the
operation - you have to know for yourself how much information will help calm
your nerves and what will freak you out!
Thanks for reading! Next post on this topic "Is it hot in here, or is it just me?"
Further Reading
Abdominal Myomectomy Blog
http://how-to-avoid-hysterectomy.com/blog/abdominal-myomectomy-2.html
http://how-to-avoid-hysterectomy.com/blog/abdominal-myomectomy-2.html
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