A
conversation with a friend who recently underwent an operation to remove fibroids
brought back memories of my own surgery a few years ago. Prior to the
operation, I had tried my best to encourage her to remain positive, remembering
my own fears when I was first diagnosed. Fibroids are abnormal growths that
develop in or on a woman’s uterus. The growths are typically benign
(non-cancerous).
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| Meluse |
Although I
only had the operation in 2008, the diagnosis was made in 2006 after I noticed
a small growth protruding near my pelvic area. At the time, apart from the
occasional pain, it did not give me problems. But that did not prevent me from
going into research mode. I was shocked to learn that fibroids are a common
condition among women all over the world.
Not only do they come in different types, they are in different shapes
and sizes too. What’s worse is that there is very little that women can do to
prevent fibroids.
When I went
for consultation, the doctors at Zambia’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH) located
in the capital Lusaka, were assuring too, telling me it was a common condition
among women of child bearing age, but more importantly that successful
operations to remove fibroids were conducted regularly at the institution.
But even with
such assurance, I was still fearful of many things. Not being able to wake up
from the anaesthetic or my wound not healing properly, so, I made the decision
not to have the operation.
Unfortunately,
it didn’t take too long for the symptoms to start showing. My once flat stomach
started to bulge and with it came rumours that I was pregnant. In addition to
that I started to experience shortness of breath, simple activities that
required me to bend over like painting toe nails or sweeping the floor. But even
with that discomfort, I was determined not to have the operation.
But in late
2006, tragedy struck. My father died suddenly. I was in so much emotional pain that
for the first time in my life, the thought of death did not scare me. Four
months later, my sister died, not too long after I decided to have the surgery.
I wish I could say the decision was thought out but I made it out of pain,
hoping I would not wake up from that operation.
The D-day was
January 31, 2007. As I slept in my hospital bed the night before the operation,
I allowed my wonder. The doctors had diagnosed me with Pedunculated fibroids.
These are fibroids which are attached by a stalk to the uterus. The fibroids had also entered my
uterus, the doctorssaid they would have to remove my uterus too. Unmarried and
without a child, I asked myself how I would feel afterwards. But being the last
born in a family of 11, I have many nieces and nephews, so my comfort was that
I would be surrounded by many children regardless.
I had not
slept much when the nurse came in to check my temperature and my blood
pressure. Thinking I had researchedenough on the surgical procedure I was to
have, i was shocked and felt violated when the nurse said she needed to insert a catheter (a tube tied to a bag which collects urine), as I would not be able to
go to the bathroom on my own for several days. I tried to protest but according
to the nurse, it was all mandatory for anyone undergoing such an operation. I
gave in. Unfortunately, while I waited to be wheeled into the theatre one of
the nurses noticed that the catheter was leaking, so it had to be removed and then
inserted again, this time, by a male nurse.
I was so frustrated going into
surgery. The last thing I remember before the anaesthetic took effect was
protesting about the largenumber of people in the room. Being a teaching hospital, when such
operations are conducted, student doctors are usually present to observe. And while
it’s understandable, I found it rather intimidating and an invasion of my
privacy but I was knocked out before I could continue complaining.
I woke up
several hours later, mouth dry, drifting in and out of sleep but was not
allowed to eat or drink anything that day. It was only until the next day that
I began to feel the pain of the operation. In-fact my entirebody hurt, if not
from the operation located just above my pubic hairline, it was the cannula on
my right hand where I was receiving a dose of injections. My left hand hurt
too, which had a drip to replace fluids in my body because I was vomiting, so
did my buttocks where I was being given another set of injections.
Perhaps the
worst day was when I collapsed in the bathroom after the nurse’s insistence that
I get out of bed to exercise my wound. Unfortunately, I was still weak. I don’t
remember how long I was out for but I experienced a profound moment. For the
first time, since my father’s death, there he was standing before me clear as
day light. I was on the floor reaching out to him to help me get up but he kept
pushing my hand away.
I continued with
my attempts to stand up until he aggressively pushed my hand away shouting
‘shala’ which in my local language Kaonde means stay. When I came to, the nurses were fussing over
me. My sisters and cousin who were at my bed side were in tears. It is the only
time I ever dreamed about my father.
I spent five
days in hospital. The wound healed quickly, the most pain I experienced was the
time I had to clean it. I had to be helped to bath too, at least during the
first week after I was discharged from hospital.I was also unable to walk
straight for two weeks, afraid that I would rapture the operation. Something
the doctors assured me would not happen.A month later, I was completely back on
my feet, with only occasional pain on the wound whenever I exposed myself to the
cold.
Years down
the line, the scar is almost non-existent (will thank my dark skin) but
seriously I believe it was mostly the expertise of the doctors. I have heard stories of people that say they have never completely healed and complain of constant back aches, headaches and pain in their pelvic area. I thank God I do not experience any of that.
Would I recommend
that a person with fibroids has them removed? My answer would be yes, but of course doctors will advice when and if that should happen. There are many health risk factors especially for women within child bearing age. Sometimes
fibroids can cause infertility, miscarriages and as was in my case,
increased blood flow during menstrual periods. Fortunately for women who are menopausal, it is possible to live with them as fibroids feed on
oestrogen which is high in women of child bearing age but is low in those who
nearing menopause.
Overall, when faced with the decision whether to have an operation or not, i hope you choose the right method of treatment that is appropriate for you. And by the way, incase you are wondering, i still have my uterus. PYM
