YouLookFab Forum » Topic: *

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: * https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:12:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Ledonna N. on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1642557 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 08:29:18 +0000 Ledonna N. 1642557@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Keeping you in prayer. CocoLion on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1638134 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 21:06:32 +0000 CocoLion 1638134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una I'm sorry to hear you are going through this!  I suggest you buy yourself some stretchy soft clothing and treat your body gently.  Or, pull out all of your soft stretchy things and don't even try on the normal clothes until you're done with this whole procedure.  Your body deserves it. heather.enhui on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1637743 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 08:41:30 +0000 heather.enhui 1637743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You've already received so much good advice! I'm glad you found the Hyster Sister website, so much great advice there, too. Just wanted to wish you well. I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy 3 years ago, so not the same recovery, but maybe this will help - shortly after you get home you may feel pretty decent and out of boredom or practicality you may try to do too much - you might do too much laundry or walk too far or do too much housecleaning or carry too many groceries. Avoid at all costs! You want to be lightly active but do not overdo it, as you will definitely feel the effects in generalized fatigue, malaise, pain, etc. later.  Lucy on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1636947 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 03:55:11 +0000 Lucy 1636947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thinking of you ! I'm late to this discussion but here's my thoughts for what they are worth.  I had some complications, and needed 8 weeks off work. As Deborah said, six weeks is pretty standard here in Australia, but I suspect we get more sick leave too. My boss was kind enough to cover me with full pay for the whole time, though I had only five weeks officially!! I tend to agree with RunCarla. No one thanks you at work, and you have to make sure YOU are okay, and secondly your family is ok. If I had my time again, I'd take the eight weeks off, and return part time for another few weeks. I didn't heal very well, and needed further surgery to fix some stuff the following year, and I think that all made for a slow recovery. I really pushed myself at work, and at home (I had a three year old!), and looking back it would have been better to lay off work a bit, and keep up home and my own health.  That said, all righted itself in the end. But for me it is lessen learned, and now I never put work above health. Ever.  Eliza on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1636221 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 13:19:26 +0000 Eliza 1636221@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ All the best, Una. While we don't always get the answers we wish for, it does feel good to have a plan and a way forward. After you mend, the world will be a simpler place and your wardrobe will seem new again. Like that people comment on your beautiful hair. Kimberley on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1636211 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:40:39 +0000 Kimberley 1636211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Una, you've already gotten lots of good advice here, but I had similar surgery in 2013 to remove an ovary and two large but benign tumors.  One was 6 x 6 inches, the other 8x8.  I had open surgery due to the size and shape of the growths and found recovery time very short.  I was home a day and a half after the surgery, and back to work half days by week four.  It was worth it to have the growths gone and to feel like myself again.  You are healthy and in great shape and will bounce back quickly. catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1636081 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 01:19:37 +0000 catgirl 1636081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks all! I am definitely going through with the surgery. Even my doc was stunned at the size of things and I guess his short waisted comment referred to the little amount of space between the bottom of my ribs and my pelvis. I always thought I had a normal to long upper half so maybe it's all in the neck to ribs. More later as in Vegas suffering footwear woes! Will post on that. Thank you all so deeply for your concern, advice and commiseration. I feel and look so pregnant - just waiting for someone to ask when I'm due! Beth Ann on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1636044 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 00:06:36 +0000 Beth Ann 1636044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for the update, Una!  You've been managing to make tunics look terrific, and the grey hair is stunning -- not surprised people comment on it! I hope you can enjoy the Summer fully, now that you have a plan in place. 20%, eh?  Now that's one bossy uterus! Style Fan on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1635689 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 22:43:45 +0000 Style Fan 1635689@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great to hear about your hair.  It looks awesome.  So awful about the surgery.  Anyone I know who has gone through similar surgery has felt so much better afterwards.  You know best about the timing.  Robin on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1635676 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 21:39:25 +0000 Robin 1635676@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yay on the hair. Boo to the uncooperative uterus. Just had the big "what should we do with the uterus" discussion with a gyn myself this week, so yeah, it kinda sucks! Aziraphale on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1635675 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 21:38:46 +0000 Aziraphale 1635675@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una, don't worry too much about about the open laparotomy. The healing time is longer, yes, and you will have a bigger scar, but it's really not a big deal in the long run -- an extra two weeks of your life, maybe, that will involve not doing much. :-) I chose a laparotomy over laparoscopic surgery for several reasons, the main one being that I wanted them to save my uterus if possible (it wasn't; the fibroid was too big). But there were other reasons. The other medically important one was that when the surgeon opens you up, (s)he can carefully examine your other reproductive organs. This is much harder to do using a tiny camera. I was very gratified to hear that my ovaries and fallopian tubes were healthy. And on a completely superficial note, I actually preferred the idea of a low scar (which isn't really that big!) that would be completely obscured, even in a bikini, versus a puncture wound much higher up. I've seen them on other women; it leaves a dimple in your abdomen, unless your torso has no fat at all. My scar is now a thin line, no longer raised, and barely noticeable. The only weird thing is that there is still a small area above the scar that is numb! Janet on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1635517 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 14:19:48 +0000 Janet 1635517@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yikes, that is a pretty darn aggressive fibroid(s) to occupy so much of you! Mine were nowhere near as extreme and I jumped at the chance to be rid of the problem. I would be inclined to go for the surgery sooner rather than later, too, because of the risk of the fibroids growing even more and making surgery even more complicated. You really don't want them affecting adjacent organs (particularly the bowel) more than they already are. I expect that you will have a good recovery because you are fit and strong. It will be OK. Do what you need to do, and get better soon. I promise you, you will be so relieved to have this problem gone! SarahTheWhite on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options/page/2#post-1635393 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 02:11:30 +0000 SarahTheWhite 1635393@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh wow. I'm sorry... I hope that you can figure out the scheduling for the best time and that you heal and recover quickly! And congrats on all of the hair compliments. They are SO well deserved! Carla on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1635369 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 01:07:17 +0000 Carla 1635369@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just do it. Your health is too important to screw around with. No one ever put 'she was a good employee' on a tombstone. Your owe it to yourself, and your family to be the best you can be. My concern is that if you put it off too long, you will become an emergency case... Brooklyn on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1635349 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 00:20:08 +0000 Brooklyn 1635349@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am sorry to hear this. But at least you know what the problem is and have access to great medical care. I am sure you will feel better when it's all done. Anonymous on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1635282 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 20:53:10 +0000 Anonymous 1635282@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh Una, what a pile of news to receive. But 20% of your organ space?? That is quite unbelievable.  I can't even imagine how uncomfortable you must feel.  Knowing how fit and healthy you are, I bet the recovery time isn't as long as stated. As we all know, those are just estimates based on the average.  You're better than average :) I'd sure be tempted to just do it - and then get on with getting my body back together, but you know what works best for you and your schedule.  It'll all be just a memory very soon . Hang in. Anonymous on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634993 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 05:07:46 +0000 Anonymous 1634993@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm sorry, Una. I'm sure you will feel so much better when this is over. deb on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634977 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 04:30:07 +0000 deb 1634977@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have had 5 open abdominal surgeries and really I was only out for about three weeks with each.  Just do not lift anything. Two weeks after one of them I went on a cruise that had been scheduled and paid for. The stairs were a little difficult but other than that I was fine. Deborah on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634928 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 03:33:31 +0000 Deborah 1634928@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una 6 weeks seems to be considered standard recovery time afer surgery here but I do know that patients are encouraged to get moving and out of bed etc as soon as possible.   My friend who had the same procedure but via 'keyhole' surgery was back at work after 2 weeks.    6 weeks is a long time, do you have leave owing at work?  Or some holiday time? catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634925 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 03:27:55 +0000 catgirl 1634925@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks everyone - at least now I KNOW what's wrong and can look forward to a solution.  Your stories give me a reason to be positive.  Although, Debs, six weeks?  I was hoping to be out of work for no more than two weeks... I certainly would enjoy the lying about and visiting and watching movies, but 6 weeks is a long time for me.  I recovered quickly from an emergency C-section so here's hoping it will be much the same.  Appreciate all the wisdom and experience here more than you know. Bonnie on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634913 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 02:37:39 +0000 Bonnie 1634913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm sorry to hear this. My take is always to go ahead as soon as possible and get it over and get on with life. But, I can understand not wanting to miss a beautiful Alaskan summer. Gaylene on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634907 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 02:25:32 +0000 Gaylene 1634907@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My best friend had a similar experience to Deborah, except for the nicked ovary. My friend just schooled herself to think of her six weeks as a hiatus from her regular schedule and accepted the help offered by friends and family. According to her, the hardest part was after the first three weeks when, because she felt so much better than she had felt in ages, she had to be vigilant not to start back in with her regular activities. To keep her on track, her DH took her away on a holiday for the last week where the only thing she was allowed to do was carry her (light!) handbag. Nebraskim on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634903 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 02:20:04 +0000 Nebraskim 1634903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Things will work out.  rachylou on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634899 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 02:14:39 +0000 rachylou 1634899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Well, one thing, people are better at the old fashion kind of surgery, since it's been around longer. But that's quite a wait, true. UmmLila (Lisa) on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634889 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 01:37:46 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1634889@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am sorry you will need to wait so long to get this taken care of. I'm sure it would be such a relief to have it done and over. But at least this way yiu can plan and prepare. Deborah on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634871 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 00:26:51 +0000 Deborah 1634871@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Una, I can only respond based on my own experience.  I also had 'open' surgery. My fibroid was too large to remove any other way.   I was in hospital for 5 days.  I experienced a very minor complication - - it seems the assistant surgeon nicked one of my ovaries when they were closing (possibly when removing the clamp) causing an interrnal bleed.  It was quickly sorted but I was feeling sore and wiped when I woke up.  I was originally only expected to stay in hospital 2 days:)  End result was I came out with one ovary not two as expected :) I recovered well and quickly.  The stay in hospital was actually great. I was so beautifully cared for and I was able to rest and get over the surgery.  Having said that, I couldn't wait to get home  I don't know if its the same everywhere, but here they are reluctant to let you go home until you have 'opened your bowels' which can take a few days depending on the situation  Once I had been to the toilet (hope this isn't too much info) I was pretty much free to go home. I had 6 weeks off work.  I was probably pretty much back to normal by the end of week 3 - but still a little fatigued and ofcourse my surgical cut was still healing - but I figured there was no point pushing myself:)  I made the most of the recovery time with girlfriends visiting, catching up on movies and programs I had been wanting to watch, reading and pottering around home.  This may sound weird but it was one of the most relaxing and restorative periods I have ever had. DH and Master 13 (8 at the time) were fantastic and some helpful during my recovery time. I would encourage you to trust your medical practitioners, make sure you feel you have all the info you need and make sure you have the appropriate support systems in place.  I had a lovely mum from school bring my son home from school every day for those 6 weeks. DH did the morning school drop off.  My job at the time was a senior management role, and I trained a very competent colleague who covered my role while I was away.  My mum and my colleagues at work (I was on staff at my church) cooked so many meals that we didn't have to worry about cooking dinner for weeks:) I am sure it will go well for you .  And you wont believe how good you feel after i's all over xxx catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634852 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 23:33:48 +0000 catgirl 1634852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes it is - I just looked it up.  I'm not sure it will help me either. I've been reading the Hyster Sisters site. Colette on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634837 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 23:03:20 +0000 Colette 1634837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm not a candidate for UAE. Is that the procedure you are referring to? Nadya on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634833 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:45:09 +0000 Nadya 1634833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sending you good thoughts, Una. And your hair IS fabulous! Gail on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-surgery-options#post-1634830 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:31:39 +0000 Gail 1634830@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gosh sorry to hear that surgery is your only option. Is there anyway you could have it right away ? I know that for me it would be like a dark cloud hanging over my head . If you could have it really soon you may be up and running , so to speak, by the end of May then you could really enjoy the summer.