"It was a bad uterus," was what my doc said when he visited me ther first time post op. We had been watching my fibroid grow over 2 years, hoping we could play beat the clock with menopause. The heavy bleeding and other symptoms became unbearable late last year and he finally mentioned hyster as the first option rather than a last resort. I was devastated because I wasn't ready to close the door on my fertility yet. We considered myomectomy, but it would be very complicated and the odds of converting to a hyster were fairly high, plus the results would not solve the symptoms that brought me here, only buy me some time. Struggled with the decision, wondered if I was giving up too soon by going with the hyster, but went ahead and put it on the schedule. Over the holidays and as surgery day approached, I began feeling more comfortable with the decision as I counted the things I would look forward to afterward.
Was a little apprehensive on surgery day, a few tears, but okay overall. Surgery started a little before 10 and I was in my room chatting up a storm by 1 pm. I had some pain and they kept me on demerol and something else through my IV all day and night. Removed my catheter around 6, but that meant I couldn't hibernate in bed anymore and had to get up to go. It was a little difficult at first, but my bladder eventually woke up and that got easier, but no pain or anything from that. Clear diet the first night, and didn't sleep much due to frequent visitors for vital signs.
Woke up the next morning to pancakes and scrambled eggs, which I devoured. The doc signed my release papers at 8 am, but I stayed in the castle until about 3:30 to be sure that the oral pain meds would work sufficiently. Took a whole lot of Gas X strips starting first thing in the castle and some Miralax after dinner the first night and every 18 hours after.
Slept hard the first night home, 9 hours, and was mindful enough to ask for pain meds before I tried to get up for the first time. Sometimes difficult to tell the difference between hunger, urge to urinate and pain from surgery.
A little rougher at home the second day, having to stay on top of pain meds, take lots of gasX and walk. Ate well, but trying to take it easy on the food until that first BM. Have to be patient, as the hyster sisters had told me, but it will happen and it will be okay.
Thanks, HysterSisters for making me as prepared as I possibly could and for helping me to manage my expectations and think positively. I am convinced that my positive expectations are what led to my positive outcome. And, I might not have had LAVH if it weren't for this site. Many docs won't do it for those who have never delivered vaginally prior to their hyster, but mine did because I asked. It wasn't easy because my fibroid was about 2 pounds, but it worked beautifully. Good information, used correctly, leads to you and your doc being on the same page and acting as a team to get the best outcome. And the forums helped me deal with my emotional issues and get down to the most important thing-- getting my life back! Thanks, HysterSisters!
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