From Being Told Surgery Was Nearly Impossible to Finding Hope: A Woman’s Journey with Fibroids, Continuous Bleeding, and Laparoscopic Surgery

For many women, the journey to surgery begins long before they enter the operating theater. Sometimes, the biggest challenge isn’t the operation itself, it’s getting the body ready for it.

One patient who consulted Dr. Indira Sarin came with multiple health concerns that had gradually taken over her life. She had uterine fibroids, thickening of the endometrium, and had been experiencing continuous bleeding for months. The ongoing blood loss had reduced her hemoglobin levels, leaving her physically exhausted and making even everyday activities increasingly difficult.

Adding to these medical concerns was another challenge. At around 100 kilograms, she was also living with obesity. She had already been told that because of her weight, undergoing laparoscopic surgery would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Like many women in similar situations, she began to feel discouraged and wondered if her weight had become a barrier to receiving the treatment she needed.

But her story did not end there.

Instead of rushing into surgery or deciding that surgery simply wasn’t an option, the focus shifted to something equally important—preparing her body so that treatment could be performed as safely as possible. With expert guidance, careful planning, and her own determination, she gradually became medically fit for surgery. Once she was ready, Dr. Indira Sarin successfully performed her laparoscopic procedure to treat the underlying condition.

Today, she has returned to her normal life, and her journey serves as an important reminder that sometimes the first step towards successful treatment is not surgery itself—it is preparing for surgery.

What Is Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop within or around the uterus. They are among the most common gynaecological conditions affecting women during their reproductive years.

Some fibroids remain small and never cause symptoms, while others grow large enough to interfere with normal uterine function. Depending on their size and location, fibroids can lead to—

• Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Frequent urination
• Lower abdominal fullness
• Pain during intercourse
• Fertility problems in selected women

In many cases, women may not even know they have fibroids until symptoms begin affecting their daily lives.

Endometrial Thickening and Continuous Bleeding

The endometrium is the uterus’s inner lining, which naturally changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Sometimes, this lining becomes thicker than expected, a condition known as endometrial thickening.

Although endometrial thickening can occur for several reasons, it deserves careful evaluation, especially when accompanied by continuous or abnormal uterine bleeding.

For this patient, fibroids and endometrial thickening were both contributing to persistent bleeding that continued for months. Instead of experiencing normal menstrual cycles, the bleeding became an ongoing problem that affected her physical health and overall well-being.

Before deciding on treatment, doctors must understand why the endometrium is thickened and determine the safest approach for each woman.

When Continuous Bleeding Starts Affecting Your Health

Heavy menstrual bleeding is often underestimated. Many women continue managing it quietly, believing it is something they simply have to tolerate.

However, prolonged bleeding can gradually reduce the body’s iron stores and lower hemoglobin levels, leading to anemia.

Common symptoms of anemia include

• Constant tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Breathlessness on exertion
• Difficulty carrying out routine activities

This patient’s continuous bleeding had already caused her hemoglobin to fall, making her physically weaker. Improving her overall health before surgery therefore became an essential part of her treatment plan.

Why Preparing for Surgery Is Sometimes the Most Important Step?

One of the biggest misconceptions about surgery is that it should happen immediately after a diagnosis. In reality, surgeons often first focus on making the patient medically fit.

Preparing for surgery may involve improving conditions such as-

• Obesity
• Anemia
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Other medical conditions that may increase surgical risk

This preparation is not a delay in treatment; it is part of the treatment itself.

For this patient, surgery was never ruled out. Instead, the priority was ensuring that it could be performed as safely as possible while reducing the risk of complications and supporting a smoother recovery.

Does Obesity Always Prevent Laparoscopic Surgery?

Many women worry that being overweight automatically means they cannot undergo minimally invasive surgery.

The answer is not necessarily.

While obesity can make surgery more technically challenging, it does not automatically rule out laparoscopic surgery. Every patient is different, and the decision depends on factors such as-

• Overall health
• The underlying condition
• Previous surgeries
• Anesthesia assessment
• The surgeon’s experience
• Individual surgical planning

In appropriately selected patients, laparoscopic surgery can still be performed safely, offering benefits such as smaller incisions, less postoperative pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery compared with traditional open surgery.

Treatment decisions should always be based on a comprehensive medical evaluation—not on body weight alone.

A Journey That Required Teamwork

One of the most inspiring parts of this patient’s story is that her successful outcome was built on teamwork.

Medical guidance alone is not enough without patient participation, and surgery alone cannot overcome every challenge. Her willingness to prepare for treatment, follow medical advice, and remain committed throughout the process played an important role in her journey.

Once she became medically fit, laparoscopic surgery could finally be performed to treat the underlying problem.

Today, she has returned to her normal routine, a milestone that once seemed difficult to imagine.

When Should You See a Gynaecologist?

Don’t ignore symptoms such as—

• Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding between periods
• Persistent pelvic pain
• Increasing abdominal swelling
• Symptoms of anemia, like fatigue or dizziness
• Fibroids diagnosed on ultrasound with worsening symptoms

Seeking medical advice early allows many conditions to be diagnosed before they become more serious and helps doctors recommend the most appropriate treatment at the right time.

Conclusion

This patient’s experience reminds us that every treatment journey is unique. Sometimes, overcoming the obstacles that stand between a patient and surgery is just as important as the procedure itself.

For women living with uterine fibroids, endometrial thickening, obesity, or persistent abnormal bleeding, timely evaluation by an experienced gynaecologist can help identify the safest and most effective path forward. With personalized care, careful preparation, and determination, many women who once believed surgery was out of reach can successfully receive the treatment they need and regain their quality of life.

FAQs

Q1. Can uterine fibroids cause continuous bleeding?

A1. Yes. Depending on their size and location, fibroids may cause prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding in some women.

Q2. Is endometrial thickening always dangerous?

A2. No. However, it should always be evaluated, particularly when it is associated with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Q3. Can women with obesity undergo laparoscopic surgery?

A3. Many can. The decision depends on the individual’s overall health, medical condition, and surgical assessment rather than weight alone.

Q4. Why is hemoglobin important before surgery?

A4. Low hemoglobin can increase surgical risk and delay recovery. Correcting anemia beforehand helps improve patient safety.

Q5. Why is medical preparation important before surgery?

A5. Optimizing overall health before surgery helps reduce complications, supports recovery, and improves the chances of a successful outcome.