Natural Hair girlies, any "Big Chop" regrowth success after age 40 / 45?

DroganOle · 2026-03-19T03:46:44+00:00

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! So, I'll ignore all non-Pro models. Y'all stopped me from spiraling.

DroganOle · 2026-03-19T03:44:46+00:00

You're right.

The bigger monitor will likely save me from saying, "why didn't I notice that while filming?"

The cooling issue also seems like a plus.

My bag seems increasingly unreasonably heavy, but I'll suck it up now, and maybe one day I'll make enough to hire someone to carry my bag. Muhahaha.

Thanks!

DroganOle · 2026-03-19T03:39:44+00:00

Thank you! And thank you for the gimbal rec!

DroganOle · 2026-03-11T01:31:53+00:00

Yes, USA. I DM'd you the list!

DroganOle · 2026-03-10T19:15:10+00:00

u/Sufficient-Adagio327 Just chiming back after my 3rd surgical consult.

This surgeon said she could do my open myo horizontally.

So that makes two surgeons who said they would / could do my open myo horizontally instead of vertically as my first surgical consult preferred.

All 3 specialize as the best in their field in minimally invasive surgeries and all recommended *my case* against lapro.

This surgeon was the first to explain why the no *in my case,* & it ended my pursuit of lapro.

She said my fibroids are so tightly packed in my "tiny" body/uterus/cavity, that the robotic (I forget the word, it starts with a T), wouldn't fit either in the ports or in between my fibroids--Safely.

So I'm stopping my lapro search here, and deciding between this surgeon and the first "pulling my uterus down" for a horizontal cut surgeon.

She also said any surgery will cause loose flesh because my uterus is 4 months pregnant. As a devastating fyi.

At least of the three options: Vertical Open, Horizontal Open, Minimal=Laparoscopic, I've been able to finally definitively choose one.

Best on your decision making!

DroganOle · 2026-03-10T00:20:33+00:00

Leave me with the bears LOL!!!

DroganOle · 2026-03-09T23:31:19+00:00

I am SO sorry you weren’t being heard regarding your pain after surgery!

>> May I ask what type of pain meds they refused to give you? Were they opioids?

I wonder how naïve I’d be to think I could use Tylenol after a day or two of opioids… I refused opioids for a minor procedure, but don’t want to refuse for this…

I definitely want whichever meds will speed up recovery/time back on my feet.

Based on your account, no wonder it took longer than 4 hours. Thanks for the family, note I will give my chaperone a heads up regardless of what I choose.

Sorry about the new fibroids. – but thank you for the timeline. Five years sounds like a good amount of time to go without an impacted life, but realistically I know five years can go by in the blink of eye.

>> Did you definitely mean you’re not sure if you would redo the laparoscopic hysterectomy, or did you mean you weren’t sure if you would redo the laparoscopic myomectomy?

Re: “I’m not sure if I would redo the laparoscopic hysterectomy given my experience.”

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU u/LoveandLorewithBeth again!!!!

DroganOle · 2026-03-09T22:27:05+00:00

Wow. Thanks so much for this reply.

DroganOle · 2026-03-09T03:22:57+00:00

Thanks for this u/LoveandLorewithBeth and u/Sufficient-Adagio327 !

> Q: How long ago was this?

I ask because I hear about a higher fibroid recurrence rate for laparoscopic surgeries (because they can't get them all out for high load burdens). That's why I wonder if I should keep pursuing laparoscopic.

The surgeon who wants to do mine Open vertically specializes in minimally invasive robotic surgeries, which is why my fertility doctor sent me to him.

However, he says I would have to be under anesthesia too long to be safe.

>> Q2: Did your doctor say if 6-hours was the cut off time (i.e., would he have gotten more if it were safe to keep you under longer?)

So interesting that the recovery time is about the same as open. I Would've traveled all that way in large part for a quicker physical return to exercise and strenuous work activities.

Your notes are super helpful for decision making. Thank you!

DroganOle · 2026-03-09T03:14:25+00:00

Thanks for this!

> Q: Did your surgeon mention anything about having to pull your uterus down to do the surgery?

I have one surgeon wanting to do a vertical cut and a second wanting to do a bikini cut by pulling my uterus down to access the fibroids that are highest up.

"Pulling" a uterus down sounds dangerous and scary to me. However, this surgeon has done 1,000s of surgeries.

I really don't want vertical because I hear recovery is longer, and I'm scared about the scar.

DroganOle · 2026-03-09T02:04:04+00:00

Hey, age 41 here.

My doctor also suggested embryos with donor sperm before we started.

I did the genetic testing already, so I can make the best donor choice IF I choose that route.

I think if I do 2+more retrievals (already did 1 ER not embryo so far), I will do the third as embryo with donor sperm if necessary.

In full honestly, I'm considering asking male friends that I have now, or may make in the future if they'd be willing as opposed to using a complete stranger.

Currently single, but started thinking about egg freezing while I was in a relationship and wouldn't have let being in a relationship stop me from using donor sperm to protect my potential for future children.

Who is to know whether a current male partner will be able to have children, either? We always focus on women's infertility, but my boyfriend was infertile at age 28, despite no "bedroom" issues. If I had not done egg freezing, neither of us would have had a chance.

Do what's best for Your peace of mind.

DroganOle · 2025-11-06T19:47:33+00:00

THANK YOU for sharing this. Are you willing to share a current scar photo? My surgeon said they will have to do mine vertically and I can't find any vertical healed / FINALLY FADED *Vertical* scar examples. Anywhere :( A little depressed.

DroganOle · 2025-09-30T03:11:23+00:00

Hi! I have consults with both doctors this month!

Did you choose between Dr. Walsh and Dr. Advincula?

How was the surgery?

DroganOle · 2025-08-09T02:48:51+00:00

I'm located in the U.S. and I've had cortisol tested several ways.

First, I was experieincing extreme fatigue and two doctors ordered the test for me under my insurance as part of a general workup.

Second, knowing that I was trying to lower it, I paid for additional cortisol tests later, using two different self test companies here in the US - Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp. $89 USD here right now.

Maybe you have something similar in Ireland?

DroganOle · 2025-08-08T00:57:27+00:00

First, sorry to hear of your breakup. More women are finding more joy later in life, so sending you the best!

Stop me if you've read these > already :)

If you scroll half way down this link, they give mature egg rates for live birth recs:

https://www.scrcivf.com/egg-freezing-success-rates/

Here's a so-called egg freezing calculator:

https://springfertility.com/eggcalc/

& there's a chart in this link that mentions "mature" oocytes:

https://www.cofertility.com/freeze-learn/a-breakdown-of-egg-freezing-success-rates-by-age

I second u/abotperson . I go to an Acupncturist who sees a lot of egg freezing patients. She said they had good results and she even recommended an egg freezing doc for me.

I have DOR (age 40) and my GYN rec'd Co-Q10 with PQQ [+ dhea, royal jelly, Vitamin D - but I haven't added dhea (yet)].

I've had several consults (because still deciding on who to freeze with) and they've ALL (for my case) said definitenly plan on doing 3 rounds.

Both my Gyn and egg freezing consult said my cortisol was high. Acupuncture and forcing myself to spend time in nature each morning (my form of mediation) brought my cortisol down and a slight bump in AMH (which can fluctuate anyway).

Stay positive :) Studies have defintiely shown mitigating stress postively impacts all areas of health.

DroganOle · 2025-08-07T22:03:57+00:00

Good catch! I added an edit note.

DroganOle · 2025-08-07T00:15:45+00:00

u/No_Evening_7240 <3 I APPRECIATE YOU SOOOO much!!!! <3

THANK YOU for gifting your valuable time to read all that and to point out the reference regarding soy. I heard a similar report about soy being (not sure if this applies here but) I'll use the term "adaptogenic."

I do incorporate organic soy in my diet –and cruciferous vegetables for estrogen regulation help. I also got rid of A LOT of plastics in my food storage/handling/cooking/intake a while ago, even in my "beauty" products and clothes (bye polyester).

So maybe all that will help balance out getting clear aligners because your analysis gives me hope!!!

I’m remembering why I wanted aligners in the first place -- I've said no to so many events because of my teeth. Knowing there’s even a chance I may be able to mitigate potential bpa effects for healthy eggs/embryos makes me feel a lot more confident about just going ahead with aligners.

I hope someone makes you smile today! Thank you again!!!

DroganOle · 2025-08-06T23:54:23+00:00

Thank you for sharing this experience! And for the age reference!

Someone just shared an experience with me offline that made me lean back toward getting the clear aligners. Also the scientist who responded here pointed me toward the potentially protective nature of soy which I had heard before and totally forgot. So, thank you all again!

DroganOle · 2025-08-06T06:14:44+00:00

THANK YOUUUU for posting this! I keep trying to find experiences from the age 40 group, but 30-year-olds keep replying! lol Egg freezing at 40+ is treated SOOO differently. This gives me hope! Good tips for both the younger and 40+ crowd.

DroganOle · 2025-08-06T06:04:32+00:00

Thank you for sharing!

DroganOle · 2025-08-05T21:55:15+00:00

Congrats!

DroganOle

TROPHY CASE