Principessa Surgery Update II

Sharp lower back pain,
Killer cramps month after month,
Uterine fibroids


It's just two more weeks
Myomectomy frees me
I just cannot wait!


I go for my pre-op testing on May 20, 2009 @ 2:00 PM.
Then hysteroscopic myomectomy surgery on May 26, 2009 @ 7:30 AM.


As some of you may remember, I was supposed to have an abdominal myomectomy back on March 6, 2009 but my surgeon changed his mind. Though it was terribly inconvenient, I had to do a bowel prep . I'm actually glad he referred me to another doctor. By referring me to a different surgeon, I will not have to have the huge bikini cut or do a bowel prep. Dr. Roberts will be removing my uterine fibroids vaginally. This cuts recovery time in half or less. It also leaves the uterus intact which means I may not need a c-section when I get pregnant.

For those of you not skeeved out by the gory details of the female reproductive system I have included the details below of the procedure which I will be having.


What Is a Hysteroscopic Myomectomy?

Hysteroscopic myomectomy is a technique that can be performed only if fibroids are within or bulging into the uterine cavity (submucosal). This procedure is performed as outpatient surgery without any incisions and virtually no postoperative discomfort. Anesthesia is needed because the surgery may take one to two hours and would otherwise be uncomfortable. A small telescope, the hysteroscope, is passed through the cervix and the inside of the uterine cavity can be seen. A small camera is attached to the telescope and the view is projected on a video monitor. This magnifies the picture and also allows the physician to perform the surgery while sitting in a comfortable position.

Electricity passes through the thin wire attachment at the end of the hysteroscope, allowing the instrument to cut through the fibroid like a hot knife cutting through butter. As the fibroid is shaved out, the heat from the instrument sears blood vessels and the blood loss is usually minimal. Women go home the same day, and recovery is remarkably fast, with most patients able to go back to normal activity, work and exercise in one or two days.

When fibroids are the cause of infertility, pregnancy rates following hysteroscopic myomectomy have been about 50%. And when performed for heavy bleeding, nearly 90% of women have a return of normal menstrual flow. Only a few years ago, treatment for fibroids in the cavity of the uterus involved major surgery-an abdominal incision and either cutting open the entire uterus to remove the fibroid or performing a hysterectomy. Hysteroscopic myomectomy has been a major advance in the treatment of women who have submucous fibroids.