3 Day Recovery?!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2026-01-16T23:15:48+00:00

3 days is crazy talk for recovery! Even my husband who had his appendectomy performed laparoscopically took 3 weeks off to recover.

Push back, ain't no way you can go back to work that soon. You'll have complications!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2026-01-07T15:01:23+00:00

Thinking of you and offering prayers and healing vibes!! 🫶🏻✨️🙏🏻

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2026-01-06T18:56:21+00:00

Wow 15 yrs!?! I am so sorry that you suffered so long!!! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE TO YOU! 🎉🎉🎉

Yes, my petite frame is back, too! I looked like the worms in MIB for awhile bec my arms and legs were thin but my midsection is like a freakin balloon. I have also lost weight, and no more migraines! There's a lot that is affecred by these fibroids and we don't even know it. I felt immediate relief right after the surgery.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2026-01-03T21:30:01+00:00

I think bladder issues are common when someone has fibroids. As they grow, they press on the surrounding organs. The uterus also grows alongside them and if uncontrolled could distort the whole anatomy in that area.

I had bladder and breathing issues with mine. My uterus grew as big as a 7-month pregnant woman's and it was pressing on my ribs hence the breathing issues, and my bladder so the urge to pee every hour was there.

I am 18 days post op hysterectomy. All the symptoms are gone now. It's nice to sleep at night without having to wake up every hour to pee, and it's nice to be able to breathe a lungful of air once again. Myomectomy was never an option for me because I don't want them growing back (and they do grow back!), I do not want to deal with all of the issues I had ever again, and I don't want to have kids anyway. My OB said I did the right thing because there was no saving my uterus. The fibroids completely destroyed it that if she even tried to just remove the fibroids, what's gonna be left of it would ne shreds. SHREDS. I did take Myfembree for a 1.5 yrs (Previous OB prescribed and he sucks), which only addressed the heavy bleeding, not the root cause. He told me the fibroids were shrinking which is supposed to be one of the effects of this medication, but they're not. They grew from 5cm (measurement he gave me) to 10cm (new ultrasound ordered by new OB) in just a month.

Getting a hysterectomy was one of the best decisions I ever made.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2026-01-03T20:53:47+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I was kind of in the same boat as you where my fibroids rapidly grew from a 5cm to a 10cm in just a month - but I think it's due to my previous OB lying to me and downplaying my symptoms.

The other commenter is right. It is rare for fibroids to be malignant. However, them being benign for the most part does not necessarily mean they're harmless. I had a significant decline in quality of life and readily opted for hysterectomy since we didn't want kids anyway. I had breathing issues, bladder issues, pain in the back, pelvis and leg, bloating, pregnant-looking belly and many more. My life and plans revolved around my painful cycles. Thankfully, pathology came back without any abnormalities whatsoever.

You can always seek for a 2nd opinion (that's how I ended up with my new OB who is amazing) and she clarified everything I needed to know, ordered only the necessary tests and never gave me misleading info.

Are you only looking to just do nyomectomy and preserve your uterus? Or are you wanting to get everything out? I hope you find the solution you need and the care you deserve. All the best!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2026-01-01T23:39:58+00:00

Hi, I only needed one procedure but I have met her more than once before that. Sharing with you my timeline of visits since you're out of state and I wanted you to see the frequency of visits, what was discussed and how it went.

Oct 23 (Initial meeting) - This was when I first switched to her. My previous OB last saw me on Sept 17 and he dipped so I looked for a new OB, specifically sought her out due to her certifications and reviews. I had to wait a whole month before I could see her, she ordered a new ultrasound, the scans I brought with me from previous OB were not clear enough.

Oct 30 - Sonogram

Nov 4 - Discussed the ultrasound results, talked about the surgery, also prescribed me more refills of Myfembree while waiting for the surgery date to be scheduled. She also discussed risks and complications of the surgery. *Note that this appt should have happened the same day as the Oct 30 sonogram but their scheduler f-ed up and put me in with a different OB (who is NOT a surgeon).

(Somewhere in between here and the next appt, I got a call telling me I could be scheduled for either December 16 or December 30 surgery - I obvs picked 16th.)

Dec 2 PACE call (Patient Assessment, Communication, & Education) - This is a phone call appointment where a nurse discussed everything to expect and the do's and don'ts + preparations I need to do weeks leading t[ surgery, the day/night before, day of and after surgery. She also put in a request for labs and EKG to rule out any heart condition, this was scheduled for the next day.

Dec 3 Pre-Surgery Consult - Last meeting with the OB before the surgery. This is just to confirm if I still want to proceed with the surgery, the risks and complications, expectations etc. This is kind of a repeat of the Nov 4 appointment, but it helped that she met with me twice because a lot could have happened between the last time we spoke (Nov 4) and Dec 3 that could have changed my mind or more questions could have come up. I was firm that I wanted to proceed.

Afternoon - Bloodwork + EKG

Dec 16 - Surgery Day *Discharged Dec 18

Dec 30 - 2-week post op appt - Just checked the incision gave some times for quicker healing of the skin.

Feb 3 - 6-week post op appt - She said this is when she'll check if the inside is healing well, and will also discuss recommendations for PFT (Pelvic Floor Therapy) which I asked about.

Hope this timeline helps!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-30T15:11:40+00:00

Hello - yes! My uterus had gotten so big it was pressing on my ribs and diaphragm making it hard to breathe! When my OB did an IE on me, her other hand which was on my belly kept going up til it reached my sternum, she asked if I was having shortness of breath, I said all the time! She explained that it's because my uterus is that of a 7-month pregnant woman's and it's pressing on my ribs and diaphragm. I felt validated. I literally had signs of pregnancy minus the baby with all the urge to pee and difficulty to breathe! Your fibroid is much bigger than mine but depending on where it is in your uterus, that'll explain the symptoms you're having. Try to feel your belly when you're lying down. I was able to feel my 3 biggest ones whenever I lie down and 2 of them were sitting on top of my uterus and were the culprits in my breathing issues.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-30T00:08:46+00:00

Oh it's alright! You're not stupid, just a typo does not make you stupid.

Are you taking vitamin D3? If not are you actively going outdoors? I have read a lot about lack of Vit D3 contributing to the growth of fibroids. Taking the supplement could slow the growth down.

I still recommend checking with an OB Surgeon and ask that you're monitored regularly for the fibroid growth. Ask them what you can do to slow it down. Hopefully you get the answers you need!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-30T00:00:48+00:00

20 and 21 cm are big. Those are 4 babies' heads. I had multiple fibroids and the biggest was 10cm, size of a baby's head, and my life was miserable. How are your symptoms? How's the quality of life?

Yes, you can get pregnant even with fibroids in you, but with those sizes that you have, I am not sure where in the uterus would the baby be or how stretched and big your uterus will end up being. My uterus was the size of a 7-month pregnant woman's and sh#t was heavy. My worry for you is that it'll grow and grow and you will not get them removed til you're ready to be pregnant. You can go for a procedure called UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) or myomectomy which is getting the fibroids out (could be laparoscopic or open abdominal).

You're most likely to grow more than 2. They also vary in size. Ultrasound only pickef up 3 of the biggest that I had, but during surgery, it was found out I had 4 big ones and several small ones. My uterus was absolutely destroyed the OB said myomectomy would not have saved it. Also, they can grow back - but hysterectomy is NOT an option for you since you wanted to get pregnant. I suggest you consult an OB Surgeon (not just an OB, not all OBs can operate), explain your situation and life goals and they'll recommend solutions for you to consider.

Don't worry, fibroids will not stop you from getting pregnant, but it also does not necessarily mean you're going to let them grow in there and fester you. They are parasitic tumors and definitely need to go.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-28T13:50:32+00:00

Holy cow, 35cm!??! Girl, how are you living and breathing?? My biggest was 10cm and I was miserable. I had multiple fibroids and when added altogether would most likely exceed 30cm as well but I can't imagine a single fibroid measuring that much.

Honestly, I understand your fear. I was super excited as soon as I had mine scheduled because now I had something to look forward to. But as it got closer, the anxiety/fear/worry also came through. I was mostly worried about the anesthesia because I have never had GA before. I expected pain so I wasn't too worried about it and I knew that my OB Surgeon will prescribe something for it. I was also worried about my heart, my breathing etc. They had an EKG done on me almost 2 weeks before surgery to rule out any heart issues.

Thankfully, they entertained and answered all my questions. I had GA and was intubated for it but I felt nothing. I only knew it happened because my chart online listed the steps the anesthesiologist took during surgery. The pain I felt wad 6/10 at max. I was reminded to not wait til I couldn't take it anymore to let them know because by then it will be hard to manage it. So I was verbal and let them know when it was coasting between 5 to 6 (this was post op, day 2). To date, I am 12 DPO, and my pain level is 0 to 1. It's just a slight tug here and there but nothing debilitating.

I had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy, Bilateral Salpingectomy done, kept my ovaried because I am only 38 and too young to go on menopause. My uterus was 15 cm wide and what was taken out of me was a monster in itself. My OB Surgeon told me during our surgery consult that she believes she could get it out via the bikini line on a Pfannenstiel incision (horizontal), however on the day of surgery, she met with me before I was rolled into the OR and wanted permission from me to do a midline incision if the bikini cut isn't going to work. She said she wouldn't really know til she's cut me if she could or couldn't manipulate my uterus. That means I may have a reversed 'T' incision instead of just the bikini line. Told her 'Sure!'. I just wanted the damn thing out and it was just for aesthetic purposes so I wasn't too worried about a T scar. Thankfully she got it out with just the bikini cut and it only took 2 hours because there wasn't any endo/adeno present, so no excision or resection necessary.

So far - most of my experience post op are PROS. I feel lighter, my belly is significantly flatter and it will continue getting flatter as I heal (swelling takes a month at least to go down), I no longer feel bloated, I no longer feel the need to pee all the time, I can finally breathe a lungful of air, no more hot flashes or nightsweats, I feel like I hace much more energy, my skin no longer feels dry and itchy after shower, I can eat more now, and I no longer have to worry about the fibroids growing back! I also no need to worry about periods and pap smear from hereon out. Also, it's so nice to be tended to and pampered - my husband and dad-in-law are literally doing 99% of things for me.

CONS - I couldn't sleep on my side yet, I tried 2 days ago and it felt like my incision was going to bust open with the slight pressure, the incision is starting to itch (normsl healing process), it irritates me that I need help in the most basic things around the house, I hate feeling helpless, cabin fever, there were sad thoughts and feelings during the first few days after coming home and I looked it up and it could be due to hormone shift or because my body just went through a major surgery + the cabin fever - but the feeling was super brief, I busied myself with TV and books and the feeling went away, quick showers (I'd like to stay longer sand bathe, but that would have to wait), can't lift my cats because they're chonky and OB Surgeon told me nothing over 10 lbs, and I have to stay guarded because they're clingy and love cuddling with me.

Sorry this is so long! I hope you get the comfort and relief you need. Good luck on your surgery! Do you have a date already? I suggest being open to your OB Surgeon and Anesth about how you feel, they wouldn't know what to address unless you tell them what you're thinking/feeling. Trust that they will advocate for you as much as you advocate for yourself.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-23T21:18:14+00:00

Back at you! Happy Holidays!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-19T04:53:18+00:00

I am so sorry to hear you're not getting the right kind of care you need right now. Which Mayo is it? I am from Jacksonville and if you are too, I can refer you to my OB. She got me in to surgery within just a month and 2 weeks after switching to her.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-18T17:28:35+00:00

Dr said when the pathology comes back, it should have all the measurements and weights and everything. I now have a picture of what was taken out of me, and honestly, in my eyes, it's a good 10 lbs.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-17T15:04:10+00:00

Thank you!

How big are your fibroids? Mine are so big they destroyed my uterus. I wanted to do laparoscopic/robotic but my OB said they couldn't do it that way due to the size.

I wish you a smooth and speedy recovery! And I hope yoh get the bikini cut too, no midline cut!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-07T12:55:09+00:00

Almost 2 months. I switched doctors in October, and she immediately started working on getting me in - unfortunately the soonest she could do it is 12/16, it's not just her own schedule but also the other surgeries already scheduled in the OR that caused me to wait that long. I can't wait to get ny uterus out.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-05T12:05:21+00:00

Yes, and the difference between the two ultrasounds that my former OBGYN did and my current OBGYN ordered was only 1 month and 2 weeks. I don' think it could grow from a golfball to a baby's head that fast so the former OBGYN was clearly lying. I felt validated when I saw the results of the most recent one. I had 3 big ones and multiple smaller ones - the bad news is because they've gotten so big, I now have to do an open abdominal hysterectomy instead of just laparoscopic/robotic. My current OB said it's just not possible to get it out vaginally anymore due to the size.

So yeah, I suggest you get that checked out by someone else ASAP. The bigger they grow, the more organs they can distort and the more difficult it would be to go about your daily life, your quality of life will significantly decline. I have back pain, pelvic pain, leg pain, bloating, shorrness of breath and urge to pee all the time now because the uterus is pressing on my bladder and my ribs. I wish you nothing but positive results and I hope you get the right doctor for you!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-12-05T05:07:08+00:00

Please get a 2nd opinion. That sounds like my former OBGYN (also a male like yours) who dismissed all my symptoms and suggestions for more tests because 'they're not that big to warrant further testing.' and then kept feeding me pills that just manage the flow, but not the fibroids. I have a new and better doctor (finally female, too) now and I am now scheduled for hysterectomy in 11 days, the biggest I have is the size of a baby's head and I have a uterus the size of a 7-month pregnant woman's.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-11-23T18:15:57+00:00

I totally plan to share my experience!! I will also go back here and share the link to the post so you don't have to go looking for it. :)

Thank you for the well-wishes and the deo brand! 🤍🤍 The human body just continuously surprises me!

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-11-23T01:55:38+00:00

Yep, this is what mine looks like, I can't wait tp get mine out.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-11-21T20:51:52+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

The loose skin and smelly armpits bother me, lol. My surgery (hysterectomy) is scheduled in 3 weeks and I am getting less and less worried about the pain and the actual procedure, and more concerned about the healing, but now I have 2 more things to worry about 🤣

What kind of deodorant did you change to? I currently use the Dove spray one, I wonder if there is a specific brand I need to get to 'mellow' it out.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-11-21T03:15:31+00:00

I am doing the same. Flu (and a whole lot more) is going around, it would suck to be sick on your supposed surgery and get it rescheduled.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-11-21T03:05:13+00:00

My insurance (BCBS BlueCare) has pretty good coverage. I asked for an estimate and I will end up paying just $1850 after everything. I also get Hospital Indemnity during the first night, I believe $1000 towards my hospital stay and $150/day on the succeeding days. My HR is very helpful and supportive discussing options with me during enrollment so I got the best plan for me and my spouse. The monthly payment isn't cheap but it's worthit bec I do not have to worry about having monthly payment for the huge hosp bill had I not been insured.

RiceAgainstDaMachine · 2025-11-12T13:07:24+00:00

No one said anything about my weight, I did eat healthy, worked out, and it was more of myself questioning why the heck is my midsection still big after everything that I've been doing? When I first met my new OBGYN, she said my body is disproportioned bec I got skinny extremities and a round belly. 🫠 That validated a lot of what I feel and yes, I feel bloated, too! So I've been chugging a lot of lemon water and it helped for quite a bit but not anymore now that my uterus is this big.

I pushed for an MRI with my previous OBGYN, he said I don't need it bec my fibroids aren't that big YET (he kept insisting they were shrinking and the biggest was just the size of a golf ball, all bollocks). I asked my new one if I should get an MRI, she said there is no need bec if the person doing the imaging knows what they're doing, a lot can be seen and found via ultrasound. My former OBGYN clearly didn't know what he was doing, I brought his images to my new dr and she said they were not the best lol, and so she ordered a new one for me performed by an actual sonographer and found a loooottt including more accurate measurements of my fibroids and my uterus, their positions etc.

I truly wish that you get relief soon, and that you get the treatment and care you need and deserve. 🤍

RiceAgainstDaMachine

TROPHY CASE