8.5 pound uterine tumor removal/total hysterectomy

MrsClark83

Hello to all, we are survivors! I had a 8.5 pound uterine leiomyoma tumor removal July 16th of 2021, with a full total hysterectomy, so no more ovaries or cervix, with omentumectomy where they had to remove around the vascular branches of the tumor clear up to my liver portal vein, lymphnode removal, and umbilical hernia repair. I looked pregnant with triplets from 12 pounds of acitisatic fluid around the tumor through out my abdomin--this, and the 8.5 lb. tumor; protruded my bellybutton outwards and herniated the abdominal wall.

I had Major Open Abdominal Surgery by a wonderful Oncologist and her fellow staff, aswell as a Team of Vascular Surgeons and other related Specialists. I continue with chronic pain in my abdomen and where my uterus used to be has felt like pre-period cramps. My Right Hip as also given me trouble, but recently it has gotten worse. My PCP did range of motion in the office the other day and really cranked up the pain discovering that I have probably torn the ligaments in the ball and joint socket. Gave me a tordol shot, sent me home with PT starting next week. Last night: I slipped on some 'invisible ice' up on my deck of all places, reflex grabbed the side handrail to put on the brakes so I didn't fall, and injured that hip, the pain so bad I was hysterically calling my husband at work in gulps of air. Off to the ER we go!

The Emergency Room x-rays come back with no broken bones---surgical clips---that's what I got!!!!

----Surgical Clips ---- all throughout my pelvis!! ("What the bloody hell"?)

---Why was this never mentioned to me before?

---And after reading this forum, I am wondering if these clips aren't the reason for my continued abdominal/pelvis pain.???

I appreciate any comments, rants, or answers on this. Thank you all so much. Glad 😊 to be a new member.

NoTimeForCancer

Yikes! If you are willing, can you share where you had this done? I read where sometimes they are left in, being made of titanium, but I think you would have been told about them.

Forherself

Gosh. That is a huge fibroid. I hope your biopsies were negative for malignancy. I would definitely expect to be told if metal clips were left in my abdomen. And yes they could cause pain in my opinion. Even adhesions cause pain and clips would be even more irritating. I would talk to my surgical office if this happened to me.

BluebirdOne

I am so sorry that you had to go through this. Surgical clips! Metal? Leaving anything foreign in a body after surgery without full disclosure seems to me to be a gigantic screw up. Especially if you need to fly or have an MRI, or it might interact in other ways. I would get an exam with a doctor who is independent of who did your surgery and let them assess the situation. This just doesn't sound right, but it also seems that you had a major complicated surgery compared to most of us with hysterectomies and BSO. Let us know what they tell you.

MoeKay

My surgical clips have always been mentioned in any pelvic CT scans I have had over the years. For example, one report states, "Multiple surgical clips are seen in the iliac region and in the retroperitoneum consistent with previous lymph node dissection surgery." That CT report was from 2001, which was two years after my 1999 radical hysterectomy, including pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy.

It's my understanding that the use of surgical clips is fairly common.

MoeKay

BluebirdOne

Thanks for that, MoeKay. Is it something that needed to be disclosed? Metal or ? No one should be surprised to find out that they have them?

BluebirdOne

Forherself

ligs clips left in after radical hysterectomy, problems!!

This is a post on this board from 2012. https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/242654/ligs-clips-left-in-after-radical-hysterectomy-problems

It discusses clips. I have a titanium plate and screws in my back. I have gone through the airport with no problem (did not set off the alarm) as I was advised by my neurosurgeon. I believe you can have MRI's with them too, but I have not tried it. I just think it would be nice to know you had them.

MoeKay

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1701560#Comment_1701560

Hi Denise,

You ask an interesting question. I can't speak to what currently needs to be disclosed to the patient prior to surgery to satisfy the requirements of informed consent. My surgery was over 23 years ago and I don't specifically recall my gynecologic oncologist discussing anything about surgical clips with me before surgery. However, I couldn't swear to that fact given how much time has passed and how stressed I was between diagnosis and surgery. I do recall the office staff having me sign a consent form before surgery and I do specifically recall that they added language to the form about my possible need for a radical hysterectomy, given the location of my tumor and other concerns my gyn-onc had. Whether that form may have mentioned surgical clips or not, I can't say, and if I still have a copy of that form, it's filed away in a box somewhere and not with all my test results.

I did check my Operative Report and see that it says, "hemostasis was achieved by Ligaclips and Bovie cautery." So I Googled "Ligaclips" and I found some references to the fact that they were made of titanium. Also, for anyone like me who has had a breast biopsy, they likely have a surgical clip in their breast at the site of the biopsy. Since my breast biopsy was also done more than 20 years ago, I can't remember if I was told ahead of time or not that a surgical clip would be inserted, but I may have been. It shows up on all my mammograms and I understand that those clips are used in case the biopsy tissue is found to be cancerous and additional surgery is needed.

None of those old metal clips ever caused me any problems at the airport. My titanium hip replacement done in 2011 is another story and has caused issues at airports. Although the surgeon's office gave me a card to show when I go to the airport, TSA doesn't take the card at face value and I've gotten additional screenings before they let me on the plane. For that, and the safety of the flying public, I'm thankful!

BluebirdOne

ForHerself and MoeKay,

Wow, that is eye opening. I had no idea about clips left in intentionally, I would assume that this should be disclosed but I guess not? I know that adhesions can all create all kinds of pain because I have some on my right side, not bad enough to go in to fix but they act up.

Glad that we have some posts we can look up that mention the clips.

Denise