 SAH - Trip To Castle |
From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List |
 Related Titles
TAH/LSO - My trip to the castle
TAH/BSO - My trip to the castle
TAH - my trip to the castle
TVH/BSO - MY Trip to the Castle
TVH - Trip to the Castle
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First of all, thank you for the wonderful support and information from everyone involved in this site. It means a lot.
I arrived at the castle at 6am on Tues. 11/16/04 for 7:30am surgery for SAH to remove fibroids and possible ovarian cysts. I talked to the anesthesialogist and was told that an epidural anesthesia would be less likely to make me nauseous and would do a better job of pain control. Nausea was my biggest concern with the surgery. The Dr. also gave me anti-nausea medicine before surgery and intubated me to prevent nausea. I was out as soon as he gave me the epidural. The next thing I remember was waking up in recovery about 2 hours later. Why do they wheel you around flat on your back like they're in a race right after surgery when you're really nauseous?!
I was sick from the time I got to my room until 30 minutes after they took out the epidural around 11pm. No amount of anti-nausea medicine made any difference. They set me up with PCA morphine but I was afraid to try it and I was in no pain.
The next day was much better. The Dr. came in and told me that I had 3 large fibroids, the biggest of which was 16" in diameter, as well as many other smaller fibroids in the uterus. No ovarian cysts, so I kept my ovaries. He also found a peritoneal cyst that was quite large that he left alone on the advice of another surgeon. I seem to be the breeding ground for alien life forms.
I was on clear liquids all day 11/17. The catheter was removed later that day, and I had no trouble going to the bathroom. I also had a drain from my abdomen that stayed in longer. Later in the day I had abdominal cramps so I went for a walk in my silk purple robe. I discovered I was on the floor with new mothers, which I thought was odd. I'm OK with not having my uterus, but others may not be. Why make it worse?
Starting the first day I was given a breathing device to breathe in on and expand my lungs. Despite being nauseous I did this every hour to keep my lungs clear. It's also supposed to help with nausea.
At 3pm on the 17th I asked to try oral pain medicine. I wanted to avoid narcotics fearing nausea, so they gave me motrin. It only helped slightly. Later that night I finally decided to try the PCA morphine, and it helped immensely. And no nausea! I used it that night and a few times the next day.
On Thurs. 11/18 I was allowed to have full solids - cream soup, oatmeal, etc. After breakfast I felt crampy. My Dr. came after breakfast and showed me a picture of my 3 big fibroids, and he called them Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Pretty funny. Later the nurse helped me take a shower which felt great.
Walked more to try to help the gas along, but it didn]t help that much. The nurse gave me prune juice over ice, which finally got things moving. I also asked the nurse to give me vicadin, which the Dr. told me he prescribed, so she then removed the PCA pump. I've used vicadin before and I had no problem with it.
On Fri. 11/19 the Dr. removed the drain and said I could go home later that day. He also told me the lab report showed just benign growths but also that I had adenomyonosis. I think that's how you spell it. He said I needed to schedule an appt. with him in two weeks. Today I was able to eat a soft diet. I went home at 2pm, keeping the belly binder I had on the whole time.
I really didn't feel like visitors or phone calls when I was in the hospital. One roommate I had had constant visitors, which was annoying.
When I got home I was really tired. The vicadin takes care of the pain for the most part. It just hurts if I try to sit up with no back support or when I first try to stand. My DH is taking good care of me - making meals, getting things, etc. He's a sweetie.
Laura
Related Titles
TAH/LSO - My trip to the castle
TAH/BSO - My trip to the castle
TAH - my trip to the castle
TVH/BSO - MY Trip to the Castle
TVH - Trip to the Castle
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