My Fibroid + Surgery Update (Laparoscopic Myomectomy)

Something I've been meaning to talk about for a while now is that during my pregnancy I had a fibroid. A fibroid is described as a benign (non-cancerous) tumor of muscular and fibrous tissue that is usually located in and around the uterine wall. Fibroids can cause bad menstrual cramps, pregnancy complications, and are very common in women, particularly Black women.

While receiving an ultrasound at a fertility clinic, I found out I had a fibroid a month before I became pregnant. The fertility doctor assured me that though I had a fibroid, it wasn't massive. At the time it measured around 5 or 6 cm. He also told me that most women with fibroids have a completely normal pregnancy without complications, however, women with a large fibroid (greater than 5 to 6 cm) or more fibroids might have an increased risk of specific pregnancy complications.

Some good news was that we found out my fibroid was located on the outside of my uterus which more than likely would not affect a baby's growth if I did become pregnant. So, due to that information we didn't move forward with trying to remove it. But, in other news, I sure wish we did get something done about it because I was NOT ready for what we were in for ahead.

As many of you know, we got pregnant on our own a few short weeks after paying a visit to the fertility clinic. From there, it became a situation where doctors would just have to monitor things for my entire pregnancy. I would have to deal with being pregnant and having a fibroid. I wasn't really worried due to what the doctor had told me, and I generally felt fine, which was really helpful for putting my mind at ease. But, things started to take a turn as my pregnancy went on!

My fibroid grew to 8 cm, then 10 cm, then 13 cm, and by the ninth month of my pregnancy my fibroid was 15cm!!!!! Sheesh. That is about the equivalent of a regular sized pencil, or a mini basketball. All of my prenatal care doctors would tell me, "You are measuring much larger than the average pregnant woman," or, "I think you can still deliver just fine, but that fibroid is HUGE." Not exactly something that was calming to me.

There were many times during pregnancy where my ultrasound photos couldn't be seen clearly because the fibroid was in the way. There was even a time where my fibroid grew so rapidly that my doctors weren't too sure if it was benign. The possibility of cancer had become a reality. They made me go get a MRI scan to rule it out.

Let me tell y'all - getting an MRI while pregnant is the worst! It isn't the easiest thing to do when you're 5 months pregnant. But, I did it and patiently waited until a few weeks later to hear the results. During this time, Dwayne and I were left with these options.

• My fibroid is indeed benign and I'll be fine to deliver our baby.

• It is a cancerous fibroid and I'd need to have a complete removal of the fibroid and my uterus. (I cried a few days with just even the thought of this being possible.) If this was the case, we would have lost the baby, too.

What seemed like it was the longest 2 weeks later, we finally got a call with the results. The doctor told us after careful review that the fibroid was indeed benign and that we could carry on with our pregnancy. (PRAISE GOD!! HAPPY DANCE TIME!!)

After careful consideration, my husband and I made the ultimate call to have an elective c-section. We wanted to ensure that our sons arrival was as safe as possible. We also just didn't like the idea of me trying to push him out and him getting stuck due to my fibroid. I mean, hey, things like that were very possible in my situation. 🤷🏽‍♀️

On March 22nd, 2021 we delivered a healthy baby boy and the doctor who did my surgery was great! She was so careful to deliver my son. She said that she saw my fibroid, and due to its size, it did complicate things a bit when trying to remove the baby, but ultimately it was fine.. My c-section scar is actually in a "J" shape because she had to do a little finessing to get that baby out!

Fast forward 3 months later and we followed up with the doc to see what my fibroid was looking like. I was sent for another ultrasound and this time it measured to 12 cm. Typically, fibroids are supposed to shrink significantly after a delivery of the baby because they're not receiving as much blood. Not this one.

It decreased slightly in size, but was still large enough that my doctor recommended removal via laparoscopic myomectomy. I didn't know how to feel. I was happy one minute because I always wanted it removed, but, I was also unhappy because I had just FINALLY bounced back from my c-section surgery and BAM... here we go again with yet another major surgery.

When surgery day arrived I anticipated being fully asleep while the 90 min procedure was done. Well guess what - I woke up 4 hours later! When the doctor took me in, she realized my massive fibroid didn't look like a fibroid, and it was located in an area that she needed the top surgeons to come give her a second opinion on how to complete my surgery. Honestly, thank God for doctors! I couldn't imagine how the situation unfolded when she realized my surgery was going to be a bit complicated. But, once again she did what had to be done and my surgery was complete.

(This is a photo I took the day after surgery.)

It has been exactly 2 weeks since then and I feel great! I recently went to the doc for a check up and found out that about 4 different doctors reviewed my massive tumor and we found out, yet again, it was just a benign fibroid that grew in an area of my body that fibroids don't usually grow. But the best part - it grew completely out the way of my baby and any major organs and NOW IT'S GONE! God is so good, man. I"m so thankful! Continue to pray for me so I can have continued healing and rest. Also, I pray for all you ladies & mamas out there who might have dealt with something similar before. We go through a lot in pregnancy but rest assured, we got this! I'm rooting for all of you.

Love y'all,

Monie ❤️