Abdominal Hysterectomy - TAH/LSO - Princess Betsy's Lovely Crowning

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Abdominal Hysterectomy - TAH/LSO - Princess Betsy's Lovely Crowning

Abdominal Hysterectomy - TAH/LSO - Princess Betsy's Lovely Crowning

Date : 04-06-2000 - 04:25 PM - Readers : 815

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Betsy
(12/13/99 11:18:51 pm)

Princess Betsy's Lovely Crowning

My surgery started out to be a simple laparoscopic hernia repair. But then I had my customary CT scan to follow up another condition that I have, and on it there was a HUGE ovarian cyst, and my uterus was bulky and large as well. I've known about my uterine fibroids for some time, but have been without symptoms for over a year because of the tamoxifen I take for my other condition (retroperitoneal fibrosis) - the tamoxifen has stopped my periods altogether. Before that, I was bleeding every three weeks for 8 or 9 days at a time with huge clots, but would not consider a hysterectomy yet. Another effect the tamoxifen can have is endometrial cancer, so we're always concerned about that. All my docs were concerned about the ovarian cyst as well as the uterus, so, after lots of consultation, I decided to let them remove the ovary with its cyst and the uterus, in addition to fixing my incisional
hernia. All this happened within the space of about 2 to 3 weeks. So, participating in my surgery, I had the laparoscopic surgeon, his fellow, the GYN oncologist, and my urologist, who put stents in my ureters prior to the
surgery to prevent injury. He had operated on them a couple of years ago, and was concerned that they stay safe. My very own GYN, who is 90 minutes away on a good day, was leaving for vacation as all this was hitting the fan,
so we talked on the phone a lot, but we let the GYN oncologist do the hyst. I was PETRIFIED!! One large concern was that they would end up taking both ovaries, which my GYN, my cardiologist and I were all opposed to. But, until they got "up close and personal" with the other ovary, they couldn't tell whether they could leave it or have to take it. Another, of course, was that I
would die. I always leave instructions for my funeral when I have surgery. Another was the fear that it would all be a nightmare - getting the IV started (I have bad veins), waking up in recovery, post-op pain, etc. Well, let me tell you, if I could have ordered up the day to go just as I wanted it, it would have been exactly as it was. My husband dropped me off at the door to
Ambulatory Services at the castle, which is right next to the chapel, so I had a minute to go in there while he parked the car. When I got to pre-op, I had a whole bunch of friends there - I work for a doctor at that hospital, and the laparoscopic surgeon is our landlord and shares the space with us, so his
whole staff was there cheering me on, as well as the four doctors and the OR nurse, so the nightmare of getting the IV started, etc, was eliminated because of the party atmosphere in the cubicle. The anesthesiologist came in
then, too, and looked at my history, and got nervous and made me nervous. (I've had a heart attack and bypass surgery, and I'm only 44, so that threw him for a loop) Then they took me to the OR, and I knew some of the people there, too, and then my urologist (with whom I've been to the OR numerous times) came right in after us and held my hand and said encouraging things until I fell asleep. I woke up very briefly at the end of the surgery - just long enough for the nurse to tell me that I still had an ovary, and then I remember nothing at all of the recovery room - couldn't even tell you what it looks like or who was there. For me, the recovery room is the worst part of any surgery - you wake up not knowing if you're dead or alive, and if you're dead, this
probably isn't heaven, and there's pain and lots of people around and lots of scary looking equipment by everybody's bed - I'm glad I missed it this time. The surgery took about 5 hours (they had posted it for 5 1/2 hours), and it went very smoothly. They were going to try to do the hyst vaginally, but my
uterus was way too large for that, so they did a small abdominal incision where my C-section scar already was. They had warned me that this might happen. They took the ovary and the cyst out through the laparoscope, and fixed the hernia laparoscopically as well. That's what made it take so long. Back in my room, I was in and out of sleep for the rest of the day. Nurses
came in to tell me to turn in the bed, and give me IV medicines (antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, etc.). I had a PCA pump - that's an IV with morphine or other narcotic in it that you control yourself. PCA stands for "patient controlled analgesia." Some of them (like I've had before) give a small steady dose all the time and a little extra when you push a button. The one I had this
time only gave you a dose when you pushed the button. This is a very important distinction - they said they taught me about it in recovery, but, as you will recall, I wasn't really awake in recovery. So there I was thinking I was getting morphine all the time and I wasn't. Also, the pump will not let you
overdose - they program it so you can only get medicine every so many minutes - mine was every nine minutes - no matter how often you push the button. On the third day, the PCA was discontinued and I started on oral pain
meds, which seemed to work more smoothly. I had a catheter for the first two nights - they offered to remove it the second night, but I thought I would get more rest if I didn't have to get up to go to the bathroom, so they left it in until morning. They had me walking the second day. The first walk was very short because I started bleeding, but after that, it was fine. Do not, however,
walk in those silly little sock things they give you. Take your own sturdy slippers - I had more foot pain than incision pain, and I'm not kidding. The docs said four walks a day. By the time I left, I was doing more than that. Walking helps reduce the gas pains. My gas pains were not very bad. My
surgery was on Tuesday, and on Thursday, they said I could leave in the evening if I wanted to. Thursday morning had been busy, and I got all tired and weepy in the afternoon, so I stayed until Friday around noontime. Then
we went to the pharmacy to fill the prescription for pain medicine, and then I
stayed with my in-laws for a few days, because everything is on one floor in their house. I was allowed to do steps, but didn't want to be at home, where the only bathroom is separated by steps from everything else interesting in the house. The following Tuesday, I had my first post-op appointment, had some of the staples out, went out to lunch with a friend, and went home to my own house. The Wednesday a week after that, the day before Thanksgiving, I had the last of the staples removed from the long incision, and stayed in the office and worked for awhile. For the record, two weeks post-op
is too soon to return to work, even part-time. I found this wonderful site by searching on AOL for "hysterectomy" shortly
after I finished crying on the phone with my far-away GYN. It was the second item on the list, but it sounded so friendly and nice, I came directly here and have never left, or even bothered with any other of the suggested sites. I thank Kathy and all my sisters for the wonderful care and support that we all
find here.

Betsy (TAH/LSO/lap hernia repair 11/9/99)

[This message has been edited by Moved Here (edited 04-06-2000).]

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