TAH - A Princess at 27! - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

		HysterSisters > Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles
TAH - A Princess at 27!

TAH - A Princess at 27!

From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List

HysterSisters Articles

Options to Hysterectomy
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

I am a 27 yr old mother of 2 boys!
7 yrs ago got an IUD and thats when it all started.
Had laparoscopy, the surgeon had diagnosed me with adenomyosis and said nothing could be done surgically aside of a hysterectomy. He put me on BC pills again followed by shots and all kinds of other stuff that just didnt work for me! Of course after the surgery I lost my job. Got another and was fired from that one pretty quick for the same "availability" problems.
Totally tired of not being able to work and support my kids. I decided to look into this whole Hysterectomy thing. 6 months ago
it was decided that I was going to have it, if I wanted my life back! I got 3 seperate opinions from 3 different Dr's who all agreed that it would be best for me.
I was scheduled for TAH, take it all and leave ovaries, on Monday, Dec. 6th
Sunday is when it really began though...
I was put on a clear liquid diet the day prior to surgery and ordered to do a BP at noon the same day.
Of course Saturday I was too nervous to eat anything, so by the time I woke up on Sunday I was starving!!!!
BP at noon really clarified it for my brain that I was going in for Major Surgery and drinking that nasty Fleets Phospho-soda was my final consent to do it! After I drank it... there was no turning back! (atleast in my mind) I knew I would gag, so I drank it in the bathroom. (smart idea) within 10 minutes the bathroom was my sanctuary!
11:55 p.m. I took my final drink, and I swear at midnight I was dying of thirst!

I did manage to fall asleep around 5:30 a.m. Monday morning.
Woke up at 7 a.m. to get kids off to school.... took a shower, stared at the walls for a bit, posted here on pre-op, stared at the walls some more, finished up some last minute things I saw. Then started to bug S.O. (who was lucky enough to still be sleeping)because I was nervous and tired of being alone with my thoughts.
So we decided to leave a little early because I kept trying to get a drink.
Arrived at the castle 30 minutes early (@9:30a.m.), only to find that the first hysterectomy of the day was running late. My surgery wasnt scheduled until noon anyhow. It didnt bother me much... atleast I was there. At 11:30 they told me the first lady was finally done, there were complications for her and her surgery lasted 4 hours. Complications was the last thing I really wanted to hear... but I just continued to breathe.
At 12:00 noon the Anesthesiologist came in and talked to me.He said there was 1 hysterectomy ahead of me and 1 more after me, and that it would be about another 2 hours. (total of 4 hysterectomys that day)
He remembered me from my Laparoscopy a year ago. I was thankful to have him... he is a great man. And although I didnt really know him at all... I felt I could totally trust him. He has been doing his job for a little more than 30 yrs. which also helped with the trust factor.
Around 1:00p.m. the Surgeon came in and said "Are we ready to lose that thing?"(smiling of course) I just replied with a nervous "Sure" and he quit smiling. Told me they would come take me into the O.R. in a few minutes.
@ 1:30 the O.R. nurse came and took my hand and escorted me into the O.R. Dr. Feel Good (AKA anesthesiologist) was there at the head of the bed... giving me those reassuring words.
I laid up on the table and everyone began to scramble. I was trying not to pay attention to anything other than Dr Feel Good, who was asking me what my happy place was. The rest of the people were placing blankets on me and those great boots that fill up with air to prevent blood clots. Put my arms out on the arm boards. More blankets. Asked me what kind if incision I was going to have... "The bikini one" to which they reply "OK we are going to need......." Nerves bubbling to the surface, I had my last panic attack. Dr Feel Good noticed tears in my eyes as I looked up and stared at the IV bag dangling above my head. He said he was giving me something to relax me and for me to think about my happy place.
Places the oxygen mask on my mouth and tells me I'm going to start feeling sleepy and to just continue thinking about my happy place.
Everyone was ready and the surgeon walked in and gave me a last smile. I took a long blink opened my eyes again and told him I would see him later!
Next thing I remember is someone trying to place a suppository in me.
Then I was in my room in total pain... crying and freaking out!
Apparently there was some kind of confusion... causing major delay on my pain meds. All the meds during surgery had worn off and I was really feeling it!
I remember my S.O. having a fit talking about a law suit

and stomping out the door to demand pain relief for me.
I remember my kids were in the room and I was trying to explain to them that I was really ok, and that they just forgot to give me my pain meds. (Dont know why my kids were there)
I remember finally getting the Morphine Pump and the button to relief in my hand. It was on an 8 minute timer.
Until we got my pain under control enough for me to realize where I was everyone was pushing the button for me... including the nurses.
The next thing I remember is me being a completely rude and agressive witch!!!! My mom was on the phone argiung with my step dad... which totally irritated me so I told her to shut up and I hung up the phone. I told S.O. to get the kids out of my room, (they didnt need to see me like that) among a ton of other things I did and said that were totally unlike me. It turned out the morphine never took away the pain... it just put me to sleep long enough to shut me up now and then. Later on Monday, I had some irritating vaginal itching... I asked a nurse if it was normal... she decided to take a look. Then she calle in another nurse to "take a look" they were cleaning me up and sayin "Look at this" and "Oh my goodness can you believe this" ... Finally I just said WELL I DONT BELIEVE IT... WHAT IS IT????? Apparently the suppository they gave me was placed in the "wrong hole" and thats why my bladder was giving me problems. The suppository was for bladder contractions... and I never got it. (Atleast not where it was gonna do me any good)
Finally the next day, they took me off the morphine, but decided to give me Vicodin. I dont even remember taking it. But I do remember saying "That aint gonna work!" I have been on vicodin for 2 years... it dont even take away a back ache or headache anymore! So I asked for Darvocet, which I have also taken before, but not enough to be "immune" to it! They came back with Percocet which worked wonderfully for me. Thats when things began to get better... for everyone around me especially!
The next day I got the pleasure of meeting the evil nurse.
Apparently she was ok until she informed me that I was going to start taking Ibuprofen. Again I say "That aint gonna work!"
By now I was emotional over all the prescription mis-haps leading to more pain for me. I set my fork down (obviously I was eating)
and just shook my head. She said "What? Is there a problem with that too???" I said yeah... I have severe ulcer problems!!!!
If I take take that I will be in yet MORE PAIN!!!! I said " DR. knows about my ulcer problems... which is why I have been on vicodin for so long... its just about the only thing I can take without causing damaging results and pain." she rolled her eyes
which only totally ticked me off... I started getting teary eyed again and I just went off. I told her the last thing I needed was more pain and I was tired of the way they were "handling" it!
She stormed out of the room... S.O. again talked of law suits

She later returned saying that she got in touch with the Dr and I was right.. I cant take ibuprofen. I guess she thought I was a lier... I dont know! So in came my next and 3 hour late round of Percocet. I apologized to her for yelling at her and said I know its the dr who must have forgotten to write it in my file... and that I was just tired of the pain. She said it was ok and they dont take things personally. YEAH RIGHT!!! She said I needed to get back into bed (I was in the chair trying to eat) and that she would help me. I sat on the bed-side she loosly held my hand.... she told me to lay back.... she started to lift my legs onto the bed and with no back support I began to feel the pain in my tummy. All of a sudden my abdomen had a horrible spasm and my body threw itself backwards. Nurse Evil yelled at me saying... "NO.. WHEN YOU LAY DOWN YOU NEED TO GO SLOW"
I cant remember what I said... but it was something real smart.
She threw her hands on her hips and stormed off. I yelled "Dont let the door hit ya in the ***" followed by "Demon be gone"

Finally I began to feel better. Every single RN LPN and CNA after that were pure angels! I could have asked for none better.
I told one nurse.. "I dont care if I am dying... do not let that lady back in here!" The nurse laughed and said that wouldnt be a problem. By Wed. I was out in the halls racing the other patients.
Awake most of the day, and was allowed to travel downstairs to the cafeteria.
Nurse Evil did return on Wed.... but not to my room! She didnt even come in to change the names on the board! The LPN did though... and my mom changed Nurse Evils name to Nurse Hatchet. That night at shift change the next RN saw it and laughed and said it must be Nurse Evil we were talking about.
I hurt myself laughing. It was nice to know that it wasnt just me and that she really was evil.
2 nurses there .... who were there every day.... were the best I have ever seen. Washed my back with wet wipes and gave back massages. Asking how my pain was at just the right time. Coffee usually without asking for it. When they had time they sat and conversated with me over my health and why I needed the surgery and what I will need to do for recovery.
Thursday (today) I woke up pretty early. Gas pains are horrible, and still havent announced themselves. Dr came in and told me as soon as they do... I can go home. I fought the major gas pains and ran around the floor. Bumped into the lady that had the first hysterectomy on Monday, and delayed us all. She was out and walking and doing great. So I gave her the hystersister referral.
Took one more lap around the floor... and p00f... I got the sign that I could go home. It really is funny how excited the nurses get when you pass gas!

So now I'm home ... wishng I was still in the hospital being pampered!
I have major gas pains, swelly belly, and still look like the hunch back of notre dame, but I made it.... I'm a princess.
I went in during Aunt Flo's final visit... they asked me what my pain was b4 surgery and it was 7.... 1 day post-op they asked me my pain level and I was at a 3.... was it worth it? ABSOLUTLY!
Would I do it again? DEFINATELY!!!
Sorry So Long... but if you got this far.... thanks for reading!
Love and Blessings to all my Princess sisters and all my Hyster sisters in waiting. If I can ever answer any questions or offer any support, my email will always be available... or you can PM me.
Thanks Again,
Melissa
TAH 12/6 for enlarged uterus and adenomyosis!

Printer Friendly Version

TAH - A Piece of Cake

TAH - A princess at last

Find A Doctor Near You

John Welsh, M.D. 102 Handley Park Ct Goldsboro NC 27534 919-734-3344	Bret Lewis, M.D. 5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ste 295 (#2 Location) 11975 Morris Rd., Ste. 310 , Alpharetta, GA 30004 Atlanta GA 30342 404-255-3633	John Garofalo, M.D. 30 Stevens St. Ste A. Norwalk CT 06850 203-855-3535
Liza M. Colimon, M.D. 21 W. Columbia St Suite 101 Winnie Palmer Hospital Orlando FL 32806 321-841-6060	Nadia Mileo, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916	Arnold Advincula, M.D. Florida Hospital Celebration Health 400 Celebration Plac Celebration FL 34747 407-303-4190
Bruce Pierce, M.D. 2 Princess Road Lawrenceville NJ 08648 609-896-0777	Richard W Farnam, M.D. 1700 N. Oregon Suite 520 El Paso TX 79902 9155335600	John Dulemba, M.D. 3321 Unicorn Lake Blvd #121 Denton TX 76210 940-387-6248

Receive support and resources for your hysterectomy related needs: