Abdominal Hysterectomy: TAH - 16 Days Post Op

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Abdominal Hysterectomy: TAH - 16 Days Post Op

Abdominal Hysterectomy: TAH - 16 Days Post Op

Date : 11-21-2007 - 06:29 AM - Readers : 656

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My surgery went very well and so has the recovery is my summary statement. I will elaborate (probably too much) and describe the events below.

I have had fibroids for several years but always thought they were fairly small because my GP had problems feeling them initially. I saw a gyno for a while because of repeated PAP problems but that had been resolved when she retired and I didn't care for her partner I was sent to. So, I just went back to my GP. Every year he would tell me that he was going to make the same notes about the fibroids he had the previous year.

This year on July 31 I saw him. It was totally unexpected when he said to me, "Your fibroids are large enough you should consider a hysterectomy." I was in shock. I asked if it was medically necessary and he said no. I said I didn't want one and he said fine and closed the file. Then, I went home and it started bugging me. So I did some research. I found that a lot of my problems I had blamed on age (I'm 42), childbirth and being out of shape were probably due to the fibroids.

I called and got an appt in the gyno practice I had been seen at several years ago and called my GP to get me an appt that I knew would be locally. I was resistant to the idea of having it done locally until I met the dr. He was a surprise to me and I felt very comfortable w/ him. He recommended a TAH and Burch bladder repair. The other gyno I saw recommended a SLH and TOT bladder repair.

The local dr made me far more comfortable and after research and prayer I decided to go w/ him and the TAH.

Surgery went well. I had a spinal block for pain. So I never had a pain pump. I have a 6 1/2" horizontal incision. Ovaries looked healthy so he left them. Surgery was about 8:00 a.m. on Nov 5. By about 3:00 a.m. the next morning I had managed to infiltrate my IV. I was also repeatedly setting off the alarms on the leg massagers if I managed to doze off. There were some issues w/ my oxygen levels so I was also on oxygen.

I know everything and everyone says you will need a lot of rest but frankly I wasn't sleepy after sleeping off and on all day. I had problems remaining awake until about 6:00 p.m. but by that time I was wide awake and stayed that way. So, when I had all the issues in the middle of the night they unhooked everything and let me get out of bed and start walking the halls. HOORAY!!!

The worst part of any of the post op days was always in the morning. On the 8th and 9th I took a pain pill in the morning but nothing after that. I had severe bruising (I did not know that much of the body could turn that purple!) and had to keep the staples in a week. They removed those and the cath at a week and everything was fine.

Now my story has a twist. On Day 8 my dr called to tell me the path report had come back that morning and I have a rare form of cancer. I see a gynecological oncologist next week.

What I took from all of this was that I didn't want a hysterectomy and initially would not consider it. But, I kept getting "pushed" that way. I also "knew" that the LSH was not the choice for me. I firmly believe that God pushed me in the right direction. I now have an early diagnosis. I may have to have more surgery but everything will be just fine.

I wasn't sure I would reach the point where I could say I don't regret doing it but I had to reach that point quickly. It is still hard. I have a hard time feeling that I am still feminine w/out my "parts". I always joked htat the only thing feminine about me was my reproductive system. Now it is gone. I have always been prepared to lose a breast because breast cancer is in my family. I have actually always found my breasts quite annoying and didn't think that would be an all bad event. I have never complained about having periods and though I am glad I had the surgery for obvious reasons I wonder will I ever stop mourning the loss of my reproductive system.

Oh one more point. I have SEVERE, FREQUENT migraines. My official diagnosis is severe, chronic, intractable migraine. My surgery has had no real effect upon them. We will see of the BSO does. I'll let you know.

Sorry this was so long. Apparently I had a lot to say.

CS

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