Surgery while pregnant

[mae141]

I have to have a lumpectomy next week. Biopsy said it's not cancer, but it's growing rapidly and needs to come out soon. I'll be 14 weeks. The surgeon has spoken to my midwife, OB, and an anesthesiologist to prepare her, even though this is not the first time she's operated on a pregnant woman. I will be completely out for the surgery. I've had two miscarriages, so my anxiety level is already pretty high, and this is just making it worse. 

Anyone have any stories of surgery while pregnant and everything was fine? Anyone have any experience with a lumpectomy and what I should expect? 

[motzie]

sparkythelawyer

[awkwardpenguin]

rbp had surgery while pregnant

[niki]

I had ankle surgery done and asked to have a spinal block over general. The anesthesiologist was mildly annoyed (I think he thought I couldn't handle the pain-I knew I could-there was none) but my surgeon was fine with it, so we did it. I would ask if there is an option like that. It is so much better than going under general. Time in recovery is super short. My anxiety was GREATLY reduced when I found they would do the block.

[jenny1223]

I did at 13 weeks. (Not a lumpectomy but I was under general anesthesia.) Unfortunately, I'd already had a missed miscarriage prior to the surgery that wasn't detected until after the surgery (100% not related to the surgery). So I guess I can't give you a true success story. But wanted to offer support! I was so terrified about the surgery at the time despite all the medical professionals around me assuring me.

[Myrrhine]

My good friend had abdominal surgery when she was about 3 months along. She and the baby were perfectly fine. Her daughter is 4 months old now.

[mandapanda18]

no advice, just hugs, t&p's sent your way!

[kate1482]

Me! I had surgery at 16 weeks. I had to have a dermoid cyst/ovary/tube removed laparoscopically. It was scary but everything turned out fine and now I have a 9.5 month old heathy dd. They did keep me in the hospital overnight for observation and I had to take 2 weeks off of work to recover. (normally it's a outpatient procedure & a week recovery). Huge hugs.

[6fsn]

I was 23 weeks and had an appendectomy. They weren't able to do laproscopic and I was awake, but that son is a happy, healthy, smart 7 year old.

[dcrunnergirl52]

Not quite a surgery but I had to have a cerclage (so my cervix stitched shut) when I was 20w with DS2. I had a spinal, and my MFM did it. It took about an hour, and then I went to surgical recovery, which was the hardest part. It took me longer to regain feeling in my legs after that then my c/s.

[LaceyV]

I had my appendix out at 16 weeks. It was an emergency laparoscopic surgery and my DD is now a happy 2 year old.

[Deleted]

I know 2 people that have had surgery while pregnant and one had prior miscarriages. One was gallbladder surgery and the other was intestinal, they all were fine. Good Luck!

[rbp]

Dec 14, 2015 17:38:05 GMT -5 niki said:

I had ankle surgery done and asked to have a spinal block over general. The anesthesiologist was mildly annoyed (I think he thought I couldn't handle the pain-I knew I could-there was none) but my surgeon was fine with it, so we did it. I would ask if there is an option like that. It is so much better than going under general. Time in recovery is super short. My anxiety was GREATLY reduced when I found they would do the block.

Man, what a crappy situation mae141. I'm sorry that you're going through this. My thoughts are with you!

I also had ankle surgery (34w pregnant). My OB would have been ok with general, but he preferred a spinal so that's what we did. I also had propofol to knock me out. (As an aside, I didn't know the second part going in, so I pictured myself undergoing ankle surgery while fully awake. I brought huge headphones and an iPod full of relaxing music because I was not about to hear them operate on my ankle with power tools LOL. The anesthesiologist was like "What's all this?" and laughed when I explained it to her. She said "we're going to give you some propofol, and you'll just take a nice long nap." That's exactly what happened.)

It was an outpatient procedure, but my ortho kept me a few hours after recovery so I could be monitored by OB. Fetus was totally fine, so I was discharged that afternoon. Really the only problem was the vast amount of pain I was in after the spinal wore off. M was born full-term, six weeks later, and is perfect (except that he's a toddler now, so tantrums LOL).

My OB was really awesome and worked closely with the ortho, even though they were at different hospitals, to figure out the best plan for my care. Have you talked to your OB about these concerns? My inclination is that there will be no problem with general anesthesia, but if you're concerned then the OB may be the best person to talk to.

Good luck!

[quesyrah]

I had my gallbladder out when I was 23 weeks pregnant with DS. According to my surgeon, surgery is safest in the 2nd tri.

It went fine and they had a L&D nurse in the OR the whole time just monitoring DS which made me feel better.

I will warn you in case you get the same paper work, I had to sign a paper acknowledging that a risk of the surgery was premature delivery and noting that my baby was not viable yet. The risk was so, so, so low but it was still difficult to read and sign.

Good luck! I'm sure all will be fine.

[niki]

Dec 14, 2015 21:58:32 GMT -5 rbp said:

Dec 14, 2015 17:38:05 GMT -5 niki said:

I had ankle surgery done and asked to have a spinal block over general. The anesthesiologist was mildly annoyed (I think he thought I couldn't handle the pain-I knew I could-there was none) but my surgeon was fine with it, so we did it. I would ask if there is an option like that. It is so much better than going under general. Time in recovery is super short. My anxiety was GREATLY reduced when I found they would do the block.

I also had ankle surgery (34w pregnant). My OB would have been ok with general, but he preferred a spinal so that's what we did. I also had propofol to knock me out. (As an aside, I didn't know the second part going in, so I pictured myself undergoing ankle surgery while fully awake. I brought huge headphones and an iPod full of relaxing music because I was not about to hear them operate on my ankle with power tools LOL. The anesthesiologist was like "What's all this?" and laughed when I explained it to her. She said "we're going to give you some propofol, and you'll just take a nice long nap." That's exactly what happened.)

It was weird being awake. Hearing the noises. I told my surgeon after that it was like being in a M*A*S*H episode-hearing all the chatter-mostly just talking about non-surgery stuff (kids, music that was playing). I actually got bored and started to doze. I wish I had thought to bring some headphones. I would've preferred to listen to an audiobook over their boring conversations.

[heygrey]

I had a lumpectomy when I was 20 (not pregnant). It was an outpatient procedure on a Friday and I was back in classes on Monday. I had to take it easy for while - no heavy lifting, etc. but overall it was fine. H walked me to classes and carried my books

[mae141]

Thanks for all the good thoughts and stories. It's reassuring to know others have gone through similar things. I can't wait until it's over.

[sparkythelawyer]

I had my gallbladder out at 14 weeks. Was no big deal. They checked heartbeats before and after. Second tri is ideal if you have to have surgery

[6fsn]

I was awake too! I was in a tiny town on a holiday weekend. My surgeon was out of Cincinnati (they had to page him at the hotel pool) and the Reds had a 13 inning game that night. I got to hear all about the game. I also heard that my appendix was hard to find and they had to do a lot of pulling. I talked to the anesthesiologist a lot. He lived next door to my boss and the only other anesthesiologist in town lived next to me. He went to school were my brother was a clinical professor.