Fibroids/Open myomectomy experience
Hi, I read a lot of posts on this forum while dealing with my fibroids and before my surgery. I'm posting my experience here in case it helps anyone, I got a lot of info from other people's posts and would like to pass it forward.
This post is pretty long so feel free to skip to the parts of interest to you.
I'll also show the size progression of my uterus in my post.
Background: I first found out about my fibroids when I was pregnant about 1.5 yrs ago (resulted in miscarriage, not fibroid related). It didn't impact getting pregnant, I got pregnant on the first try (age mid 30s). My uterus was 16 week size then and my Obgyn described my main fibroid as orange sized. Fast forward I got pretty sick, had fever above 102F, and was diagnosed w missed miscarriage. I was given meds to pass the pregnancy. My uterus was now about 18 week size, and the other Obgyn (my doc was on vacation) said there were two large fibroids. Early 2025: 16-18 week size
Finding a doc: My husband and I moved from the SF Bay area to Austin, TX. This would have a big impact on when we saw docs. I thought finding reproductive care in Austin would be easy, there are so many kids and families. No, it was way way harder than in the Bay area. Obgyns were booked months out, let alone specialists. I tried finding surgeons for myomectomy in ~June 2025, they were booked out for consults through Sept-Nov 2025. I was referred for a maternal fetal medicine doc in Austin July 2025. They called me back in March 2026! Insane. Houston, New York, and San Francisco Bay area were far easier to book. I saw 4-5 surgeons before I chose one in the Bay area (a doc w 30 years experience and recommended by another doc). Sept 2025: 20-22 week size
PS. Choose a doc w lots of experience. Ck when they went to school, sometimes this can be obscured. The Obgyn in Austin I saw was pretty inexperienced and gave poor information, I got the heck out of there.
Surgery style: Everyone said I had to do open myomectomy, both MIGS and general OBGyns. Because mine were high up, they would have to decide on vertical or horizontal cut when I was under. By the time I saw the doc I would eventually choose, it was Dec 2025. Dec 2025: 20-24 week size
Waffling: I waffled a lot on the surgery. Both my Obgyn/surgeon and Maternal Fetal Med doc said I could actually try for pregnancy now with my husband, and if it didn't work in a few months, to go for myomectomy. They had both seen successful pregnancies with fibroids far larger than mine. I wasn't having a lot of symptoms, besides pressure on my left leg when prostrate and one day of very heavy bleeding during my period (took some iron to address anemia).
Supplements: I tried a lot of supplements and other things: EGCG, Chinese Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, NAC, getting sunshine, etc. The Chinese Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan helped with fibroid discomfort but the biggest impact was NAC. I started NAC Feb 2026 and my periods went back to normal (no heavy day), no fibroid discomfort. I felt totally fine. However I'd told myself if we weren't pregnant within a few months, we'd go ahead with the surgery.
Pre-surgery: Stop all supplements 2 weeks before surgery. This includes modern drinks that include a lot of supplements (like at Whole Foods/natural stores) and prenatals/multivitamins. Since my pre-op call was only 5 days before my surgery, I accidentally had some 5 days before surgery.
Surgery: Mine was in the afternoon. You take a carb drink 3 hrs before, and do special showers night before and morning of. They wheeled me in and I was knocked out. Next thing I was waking up in recovery room.
They ended up successfully doing a horizontal bikini cut and removed four fibroids: 15cm, 14cm, 8cm, ~5cm. Yeah, I had some big ones! May 2026: 25 week size
Post-surgery: I lost a bit of blood. My platelets were down in the 40s (normal is 150-450, if you get below 100 they start to worry). My Obgyn/surgeon was very proactive and hands on, he scrubbed back in before midnight and was in our room ordering a platelet transfusion. I got that overnight and two units of blood the next day. That first day was pretty rough, ngl. When I wasn't moving my pain was low, level ~2/10 so I didn't ask for extra painkiller. When I moved it shot up to 9/10. I thought I was supposed to walk early, so I got up early ~5am to do so. My nurse was so helpful, but it was painful!
Thank goodness they kept the catheter in for a couple days, I have no idea how I would've gotten up to pee. The nurses monitored me around the clock, which means waking up every couple hours overnight to take vitals and meds. My husband stayed overnight with me and helped a lot.
Meds: They ended up keeping me for 3 nights at the hospital. I received Tylenol, Toradol, Oxycodone, Colace, Senna, some collagen/vitamin drink they mixed, Dilaudid. Different nurses have different med philosophies, so you may get different meds based on your nurse.
Going home: I am now home with my family. I am so glad! My appetite returned after I went home. I am now on day 4 post-op and walking around the house (slowly). I still need help getting up and down. If you don't have someone to help, please get a walker or handrail you can pull yourself up by, that's the most painful part!
I am so grateful for my doctor, medical team, and support. I hope this post helps anyone out there prepare for possible surgery. I apologize in advance if I don't get to some questions, I am taking this day at a time for recovery. Best of luck to you all! May 2026: 0 week size