TAH/BSO - New Princess Home from the Castle - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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TAH/BSO - New Princess Home from the Castle

TAH/BSO - New Princess Home from the Castle

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Had TAH/SBO on 10/13. Came home from the castle on 10/16.
This is my story.

Day before surgery had only liquids all day. Fleet enema 1 hour before bedtime. Got up at 6AM morning of surgery. Washed hair, shaved legs, etc (assumed last time for awhile).
Got to castle at 7:30. Sat with DH for about 5 minutes until they took me into admitting. Another 10 minutes of paperwork and they came to get me. DH wasn't allowed in pre-op so we said goodbye there. (Think I felt worse for him than I did for me). I had a period of calm set in the day before and outwardly it was still there but my stomach was in knots & I was a little shakey.
A nurse gave me a gown to put on and a bag to put my clothes in. Waited about 20 minutes after that till they came and got me. I was put in a bed. 2 others were also in preop at this time. Nurse came in to take alot of info and said I would be asked the same questions 2 more times so don't get annoyed. She was really nice and funny. It helped alot. By this time I was ready to hyperventilate! They used a local anesthetic first in my hand before they put the IV in. No pain! They were taking blood and checking everything else and people were still asking me questions. They surgical nurse first, then the anesthesiologist. I was supposed to have an epidural for my procedure but the anesthesiologist talked me out of it. Said it would be twilight sleep only and there's a lot of pulling & tugging going on that I would feel in my shoulders. Said I didn't want to feel anything so we agreed on general. (original reason for epidural being suggested is that general anesthetic makes me very sick - 12 hours throwing up after knee surgery). He assured me he would do everything he could. They gave me 3 meds before surgery including one given to avoid nausea for chemo patients. More was given during surgery and more after.
They gave me my "happy juice" and from that point on, I didn't care what they did! I remember big lights in the OR and that was it - out!
Woke up it seemed like minutes later in pain. Not horrible but burning. I don't remember seeing anything - I must not have opened my eyes. I just remember warm cocoon-like (heated blankets). I said I hurt and someone said we'll take care of that. Again awoke nauseated - same. They took care of it. I was in recovery a long time. Didn't get to my room until 2:30 but later was told no rooms available. They wouldn't let DH in until I was in a room. He was a little aggitated by then.
Woke up in my room feeling great - tired but NO PAIN! That pain pump in WONDERFUL! DH couldn't believe it. I slept alot that day. DH spent the night with me. Had cathiter so didn't have to get up. Nurse tried to give me a hormone patch which I refused. DR came in the next morning and said all went well but a little endometriosis - they got it all. Told him I didn't want hormones unless I needed them and then I thought I wanted to try Premarin. He said no problem. Had much company that day. Felt well but kept fading out from pain pump. No one stayed long. Send dh home that night. BIG MISTAKE! Worst time there. Gas couldn't get out through bowel was backing up in my stomach. Horrible heartburn, pressure. Had taken out cathiter that day and had to pee 10 times that night and of course - no nurse! Complained about the gas and asked if I could have something with symethicone. She said not on my chart but she'd check (I had some in my bag but couldn't get to it!) I got up several times on my own that night and dragged the IV to the bathroom. Slept most of night sitting in chair. Finally got sometthing for gas and got in bed. they kept closing my door and I kept asking them to leave it open since I was alone and didn't feel well.
Night nurse had come in and listened by my bowels and said no movement going on. That was bad and due to narcotics so I quit pushing the button. So I was miserable all Tuesday night and wednesday until they took it out and gave me orals. Then I felt OK again. IF THEY TELL YOU THIS - DO NOT LISTEN! YOUR BOWELS WILL START ON THEIR OWN ONCE YOU'RE OFF THE PUMP! DON'T MAKE YOURSELF MISERABLE! YOUR DR KNOWS WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO SWITCH YOU. Anyway, that night and half day was the worst of it for me. All in all, Much easier than I anticipated. I came home Thursday and after some pain pill adjustment, have felt great since. They gave me percoset in the hospital and it worked but I noticed my back itching. They sent me home with it and when I went to take a shower that night my back, butt and back were a solid rash. I had some darvoset here so I tried that but made my dizzy and nauseated so I've been taking only naproxin 550mg since and I'm find. Not numb like I was- but not hurting either. They only burning I'm getting is where my appendix were (I had them taken too). Turns out the rash was not from the percoset but whatever they wash their laundry in at the hospital. I wore their gowns the whole time.

Anyway, It is now Saturday. Yesterday I showered, washed my hair and put makeup on. I went through all the mail, talked on the phone to friends and today I'm going to do some work on the computer. So far I feel great.
Oh yeah. I've had no bleeding. My incision had no staples or stitches that have to be removed. They used glue and dissolving stitches. The DR said I could shower right away and get it wet. Tape only that will come off on it's own.
DH has been wonderful. He takes such good care of me. He goes back to work Monday. I just feel bad that he got to spend his vacation doing this. He said he doesn't mind at all just to get well!

Love to you all. The anticipation was much worse than the actual experience. Hope you all have it as good as I did! And thanks to all the previously crowned who helped me through this. I would have never made it without you!

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Liza M. Colimon, M.D. 21 W. Columbia St Suite 101 Winnie Palmer Hospital Orlando FL 32806 321-841-6060	Aileen Caceres, M.D. Center for Specialized Gynecology/Florida Hospital 410 Celebration Place, Suite 302 Celebration FL 34747 407.303.4190	Anthony Trabue, M.D. 2201 Murphy Ave. #104 Nashville TN 37203 615-342-7425
Melodie Wilson, M.D. 3650 Joseph Siewick Dr. #203 Fairfax VA 22033 703-391-1500	Susan Carter, M.D. North Colorado Medical Center/ MCR 1800 15th Street, Suite 220 Greeley CO 80631 970 353 1335	Michael Wong, M.D. 4282 Genesee Ave Suite 201 San Diego CA 92117 858-268-0300
Stephanie Cross, M.D. 1932 Alcoa Hwy Knoxville TN 37920 865-546-1642	John Thiel, M.D. 100-2631 28th Ave Regina Canada_Saskatchewan S4S6X3 306-586-1800	Wilfredo R. Ramos, M.D. 5301 F Street, Suite 210 Sacramento CA 95819 (916) 453-3440

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