TAH/BSO - My Rite of Passage - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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TAH/BSO - My Rite of Passage

TAH/BSO - My Rite of Passage

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Dear Hystersisters,

I'm 45 years old, soon to be 46 next month and had a TAH with BSO for fibroids and numerous cysts. My decision to have a hyster was based on the fibroids and my age.

The time between my decision for surgery and the actual surgery was 2 weeks exactly. If you asked me in the beginning of February if I knew this surgery was coming up, I'd confess "No". I had my annual GYN check-up at the end of January and as my GYN has been following my fibroids and cyst for 2 1/2 years and that I've have no symptoms of discomfort which occur with fibroids, I had no inkling that I would be a candidate for surgery! It was the outcome of the follow-up transvaginal ultrasound a week after my check-up which showed that the cyst in the area of my right ovary was now 5cm and had grown almost 1.5 cm over the past 13 months. The recommendation was to have it removed. I had been treated with hormones in the past year and they did shrink the cyst somewhat, but overall, the cyst continued to grow.

I discussed all the procedural options with my GYN and she offered the most conservative (just removal of the cyst ) to the other end of the spectrum ( hysterectomy). We decided on a vaginal hysterectomy with removal of the cyst via laproscope. She also prepared me for an abdominal incision in the event she didn't like what she saw through her laparoscope.

Like many other sisters, I went through the usual pre-op and post op rituals (the famous hospital gown, THE SHAVE, IV, Post anesthesia chills, dry mouth drier than the Sahara desert, the compression boots- I liked those, removal of foley catheter and IV, the first steps, first void and first gas passing) All these experiences for me were uneventful, thankfully! My pain was controlled and I was able to tolerate getting off the morphine pump 12 hours post op. I was finally off all pain medication by my post op day 11.

Although it was planned for me to have a LAVH with removal of the R ovary, I had a TAH with BSO because when my GYN peered through her laparoscope, she didn't like what she saw, plus the cyst in the area of my right ovary was not only engulfing the ovary, it was wrapping itself around my appendix! And, she found another golf ball sized cyst on the posterior of my uterus (chocolate cyst) that was pressing into my rectum- hmm, no wonder why my stools were ribbon shaped! We think that cyst was hidden by the fibroids which was why it wasn't picked up on ultrasound! And to top everything off, she discovered severe endometriosis over the uterus and both ovaries. Hence her decision to remove everything! What's amazing is that I either must have a high pain tolerance or truly didn't have the discomfort that can occur with endometriosis!!! Also my uterus was larger than she anticipated and the vaginal approach would not be indicated.

So, I think I dodged a big bullet, because if I put off having my annual gyn exam until next year, I might have presented to the emergency room with an intestinal obstruction from either the cyst wrapping around my appendix or the one pressing into my rectum!

As of this writing, I am on post op day 29. My recovery has gone well. My bowel and bladder functions are almost normal. It no longer hurts to laugh, cough and sneeze. I was very diligent about coughing and deep breathing in the first 24-48 hours post op! I had very minimal vaginal discharge around week 2- when the sutures are dissolving, but did notice the mild "odor", which indicated to me what was going on. I'm glad I read about the odor in this site.

I think the "body gas" has dissipated and I can take a deep breath without feeling like there is a sensation of pressure beneath my diaphragm. At first I thought my GYN had to shove my intestines up towards my diaphragm because during the first 2 weeks it was a strain to take a deep breath. She told me that there is a certain amount of gas that gets trapped in the body when it is opened for surgery- this is not to be confused with intestinal gas! I am walking 45 minutes at a time and it feels good. I started driving three days ago (post op day 26).

I am a competitive athlete which is probably one of the reasons why my recovery has gone smoothly, and as a nurse, I am well aware I cannot rush certain healing processes! I'm going a little batty that I cannot participate in training sessions, but I know that in time I will be back in the competitive arena. I like my doc, but I don't want to see her because I tried to rush my recovery!

I realize that everyone is different in their stage of recovery and hope that your recovery will go as smoothly as mine has. I decided to take one more week off from work and will return on April 16. I felt guilty about it initially, but after some support of my friends and hystersister postings, realize that it's better to have more rest than less!

Thank you for "listening" to my story. I wish everyone the best and am thankful for this site.

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Gerald Harkins, M.D. Department of OB-Gyn P.O. Box 850, H-103 Hershey PA 17033 717-531-6447	Anthony Trabue, M.D. 2201 Murphy Ave. #104 Nashville TN 37203 615-342-7425	Keita Sakon, M.D. 7190 S. Cimarron Rd. Las Vegas NV 89135 702 870 3921
Larry R. Glazerman, M.D. USF College of Medicine 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 62 Tampa FL 33612 813-259-8500	Robert Castle, M.D. 3650 Joseph Siewick Dr. #203 Fairfax VA 22033 703-391-1500	Ellen Wilson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd - Dept of OBGYN Dallas TX 75390 214-648-4747
Michael Wong, M.D. 4282 Genesee Ave Suite 201 San Diego CA 92117 858-268-0300	Nadia Mileo, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916	Melanie Bone, M.D. 5301 S. Congress Ave. Atlantis FL 33462 561-548-8600

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