Health: Aku, fibroids dan Dr Aziz

Period pain has been my bestfriend since I was in school.  Sakitnya Tuhan je yang tau.  Alhamdulillah sejak dah beranak-pinak sakitnya makin berkurangan.  Tapi Dec 2014, I had a very unbearable pain.  Aku ni manusia yang sangat tahan lasak dan tahan sakit.  Tapi kalau dah sakit sangat tu, maknanya memang sakit sangat2.  I thought it was ok, but the following month I had the same brain-damage-period-pain.  So I decided to visit my GP, Dr Chai. 

Dr Chai tanya, "bila last buat stomach scan?"
Terkulat-kulat aku jawab, "probably when I was pregnant of my youngest child, 6 years ago"

Maka Dr Chai pun buat ultrasound kat aku.  Fefeeling pregnant la aku masa tu...berangan.

Dr Chai: Wan, you have fibroids.
Aku: Tipu.
Dr Chai: Not one. You have multiple fibroids.
Aku: (terkebil-kebil)

He printed out the ultrasound result showing the fibroids in my uterus.  There are few fibroids sizes between 3cm and 7cm.  Lama lah aku mintak nasihat dia what are available solutions yang ada utk fibroids ni.  Then he wrote a referral letter for me to see gynae.

The following week I met Dr Tan in PCMC for consultation and ready for the next step.  After my own research and giving it a long consideration, I know exactly what I want to do.  I want a permanent solution - hysterectomy.  Dr Tan confirmed that there are multiple fibroids, 3 yang besar saiz dalam 3cm ke 9cm (dah membesar dia rupanya), and many smaller ones.  Not only that, I also has endometriosis.  Tapi Dr Tan tak setuju untuk aku buat hysterectomy.  She said "You are too young to do hysterectomy.  Usually hysterectomy is for women age 40 and above.  We can try few options which can help to stop the growth".  With determination, I replied, "I am 38 and what different does it make with 40? If I don't remove everything now, I will get it again when I am 40.  I don't know if I would still be healthy and have the money by then.  I have an active life - I travel, I hike, I cycle etc. I don't want to be sick when I can actually prevent or cure it when I can, which is right now."  She insisted that we try other options such as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) where the doctor will insert a catheter throught the groin, maneuvering it through the uterine artery and injecting the embolic agent into the arteries which will shrink the fibroids.  However, this is a temporary solution because fibroids tend to grow again.

With a recommendation from my lecturer, I made appointment to see Dato Dr Aziz (oh Dr Aziz...).  I explained that I want to go for hysterectomy, why I want to do that and I fully understood the consequences.  As a surgeon, he reminded me, "What if you meet someone, get married and want to have more kids?" Eh hang nak kawin dgn aku ka?? - ni aku tanya dalam hati je. "If he wants kids, he shouldn't marry me. As simple as that"  So kami pun tetapkan the following week for the robotic hysterectomy surgery.

Hysterectomy surgery ni ada dua jenis - conventional and open surgery (mcm caesarean nak beranak tu) dan robotic surgery.  Open surgery is cheaper dalam RM13k - RM15k and it can be fully covered by insurance.  Tapi boleh menyebabkan pendarahan yang banyak dan recovery period is longer up to 3 months.  Robotic surgery is more expensive dalam RM30k and not covered by insurance.  However, it reduces the risk of losing blood and recovery period is very quick.  External wound will heal within 2 weeks time.

12 Feb aku checked-in kat PCMC dengan persiapan mental dan physical tahap gaban. This is a life changing decision.  Aku tak setuju kalau orang kata rahim/uterus is a symbol of feminity.  Feminity is how we carry ourselves. Uterus is an organ of a woman where offspring are conceived and in which they gestate before birth; the womb.  Life goes on ladies! Preparation before surgery ni selain dari mental dan emotion, physical kena prepare gak.  Make sure pubic hair is clean shaved dan semua bulu roma halus di perut juga.  Make sure tido awal ye.

lepas check-in tu depa dok amik dara darah aku.......I hate needles!

13 Feb pagi2 lagi aku dah dibawa masuk ke OT.  Sempat lagi aku dok pakai eyeliner konon nak cantik walaupun during operation.  Tapi aku sentap bila nurse suh cuci.  Kagum aku first time masuk OT tgk semua equipment, doctors and nurses busy with the prep.  Aku rasa mcm dalam cite Grey's Anatomy!!  Masa my anaes bagi injection aku teringat J pesan masa sedut gas tu kira lah how long I could last until I became totally unconcious.  Bila depa letak gas mask kat muka, aku pun start counting...."one..................................................................."

muka sebelum surgery dan sebelum nurse suh padam eyeliner...grrrr

ni lepas surgery. baru pindah masuk ward balik.  pengsan.

around magrib camtu baru sedar.  sekali tgk ira joe ada kat sebelah.

2nd day after surgery. nurse kata kena berjalan-jalan sikit supaya keluarkan angin dari badan aka kentut.

makan tido makan tido je. tak boleh tgk tv and reading sebab sakit kepala.

makanan orang dalam pantang. ikan haruan bakar dengan sup sayur. sedap!

ada beza ke muka ada uterus dan takde uterus?

view from my window

ni la kesan jahitan robotic laparoscopic ada 4 lubang ditebuk kat perut.

ini lah rupa uterus yang telah dikeluarkan.  berbonjol sebab dalam tu meriah dgn fibroids. 

Memandangkan hanya uterus yang dikeluarkan dan fallopian tubes masih dikekalkan, I am still not menopause yet but I will not have period anymore.  That is very convenient tak payah beli pad tiap2 bulan.  Also, since I am not menopause, I don't need to take hormone injection every few months.  Alhamdulillah surgery berjalan lancar and the few days recovery seem going on very well.  I'm grateful for having Dato' Dr Abdul Aziz Yahya as my surgeon and the whole team of doctors and nurses who have been taking care of me before, during and after the surgery.  Dato' Dr Aziz has a clinic in Gleneagles Hospital and he is a gynae consultant in Prince Court Medical Centre.

I was discharged from hospital on the 5th day.  Believe me or not, I drove home!! It was still painful but bearable.  Drove slowly like 50km/hour!  I was given 2 months sick leave and I made full use of it for a very good recovery.  For the scar, I recommend dermatix ultra gel, a bit expensive but very effective.  Just finish one tube you'll see an amazing result.

The price for a 15g is about RM150.

Life has been great after the surgery.  I realised I don't get tired easily when I exercise. I enjoy outdoor activities better than ever.  I run, hike, dance, cycle, walk etc.  Do not hesitate to make any important decision in our life.  Life is beautiful.  So do we.