Question:
Has any woman on this site had fibroids before surgery ?

If so can they be taken out during open rny?I have recently been told I have uterine fibroids and they are causing alot of pain.I am scheduled for surgery 07-10-01.The lady that schedules the surgeries said they could not be removed during this procedure.03-04-01    — Diana S. (posted on March 4, 2001)

March 4, 2001
I would think it would be better to have this questioned answerd by your doctor...but in my opinion, I think your asking about two totally different surgeries...getting fibroids removed is completely different than something related to the digestive tract...not to mention it is much further down from where the doctor needs to operate. Maybe get the fibroids done...and then the wls...or vice versa, but I'm sure the doctor will tell you whether you should do this or not....my guess is that he will not, but I'm not a doctor...good luck
   — lynne S.

March 4, 2001
I had a fibroid compressed on my ovary during surgery,I don't know about urinary.Ask your doctor.I had one of those Drs.that checked for everything while he was in even cancer. Good luck.
   — Angela P.

March 4, 2001
I was recently told that I have uterine Fibroids also. I am scheduled for the Open RNY on the 14th of March. So far my fibroids have not caused pain but have made it difficult for me to get pregnant. I look forward to hearing what others have to offer re: our concerns:0)
   — Kristina V.

March 4, 2001
It depends on your surgeon's area of expertise. My surgeon does whatever needs done: he does the RNY, removed gall bladder, appendix, will tie your tubes, etc. He also was chief surgeon in a teaching hospital for years, so he has the expertise.
   — Cindy H.

March 4, 2001
The size of the fibroids will determine what type of surgery you will need to have to remove them. Most of the time, they can be removed vaginally and not through an abdominal/uterine incision. I was experiencing very heavy periods and in December had an endometrial ablation which removed those fibroids. This was done as an outpatient and was performed vaginally. If yours can be removed this way, I would recommend this as opposed to having an abdominal incision. However, if your doctor feels that a hysterectomy is necessary, then I would look into having the WLS and hysterectomy done at the same time. My surgeon has said that he has done this in the past.
   — Shelley.

March 4, 2001
Here's my take on this: I had a complete hysterectomy with removal of both ovaries in Dec 2000. This was due to massive uterine fibroids. The recouperation for this surgery was six weeks (open horizontal incision). My open RNY was in January 2001, and I took five weeks off to recouperate. Both surgeries were very painful and exhausing. I would recommend having separate surgeries with separate surgeons. Here's why: when you have your hysterectomy, you'll need to know exactly what you're having removed (uterus only? One ovary or both? Everything? Leave the cervix? shorten it?) and how and why (horizontal opening, vertical opening, abdominal or vaginal surgery)? There are many options!! Because of this, I feel the surgeon focusing on your weight loss surgery will have enough on his/her hands to do with that surgery; too much to go into the hysterectomy surgery too. Just my 2 cents worth.
   — Kristy J.