History: Heavy periods since age 13, but like clockwork, 7 days, doable. Two pregnancies and births 20 and 23 years ago.
Began to have periods that became heavier with more clots, flooding, lasting longer and coming more frequent. As I was in my mid forties I figured this was part and parcel of peri-menopause.
Over the past 2 years the prolonged bleeding and clots and flooding became worse, with two periods a month lasting 10-14 days each. We were constantly looking for rest rooms where ever we went, I carried emergency pads with me all the time, and can't tell you how many times I've had to change clothes, bed sheets, and had embarassing moments.
I went to a new gyne in September and I asked about an ablation. She was all for it, but I needed to get a pelvic ultrasound first, there it was discovered that I had invasive fibroids and an ablation was no longer an option.
I had an endometrial biopsy (no biggie, just take 800 mg ibuprofen a hour before) and all came out benign.
My doctor is trained in laparoscopic hysts and told me this was my best option since I was 47, finished having children, and my life was completely overun by my period.
I was in shock. I never dreamed I had these benign tumors, but after some thought, finding this site, reading everything I could about LSH, even watching an acutal surgery on OR Live, and getting a second opinion, I decided to schedule my LSH for Jan 10. (I work in a busy chocolate shop and didn't want to have surgery in the middle of the Christmas season.)
I was a nervous WRECK the week before surgery. I was in total nesting mode, talked about it all the time, and was sick of my periods and/or upcoming surgery being the subject of my every conversation for literally years. Not to mention the mystique is completely gone from my marriage with constant bleeding and bathroom seeking. As scared as I was, I had complete confidence in my doctor and I was more than ready to be finished with the whole mess.
My doc orders a bowel prep before surgery. No fun, girls, but a necessary evil. Please drink gatorade and other fortifying drinks with your clear liquids. Don't be surprised if it changes the color of the water of your stools, I had neon green water after drinking purple Gatorade!
At 1 am on the day of my surgery I woke up with a horrible head ache, I think from dehydration even though I drank a ton of fluids during the prep. I was NPO after midnight so I didn't take my Excedrine (which I hadn't taken for 10 days prior because it contains asprin) and by the time we walked into holding at 5 that morning I was hardly able to talk above a whisper my head hurt so badly.
Needless to say, as anxious as I was, I was begging to be put out of my misery, even if they had to do surgery to get it done.
I don't remember much once they started pumping drugs into my iv, I remember riding into surgery, the bright lights, moving over to the OR table, and then a mask over my face.
I woke in recovery, I still had a head ACHE! I had some pain and nausea, but remember little else. Because of my situation in recovery (which I don't remember at all) they found a private room for me.
Once in my room, I slept on and off for 2 or 3 hours while hubby, twinsie and daughter talked around me. I still had my head ache and it was making me feel sick to my stomach. Finally, I gave in and threw up, hubby held the emesis basin (still no mystique) and after I woke fully, I asked twisie to hand me an Excedrine from my purse, put my light on and told my nurse I was taking that Excedrine, and poof my head ache went away within the hour.
The nurse pulled my iv a few hours later (left a hep cap for meds and IV piggy back's), yanked my cath (hardly felt it) and I was in jammies and a sweater, hair combed and up to the potty and chair feeling like a million bucks. No problems emptying my bladder. Be patient and take your time, it will come.
They brought a clear liquid diet, but because of them hydrating me to help get rid of my head ache, everything tasted like salt from the saline in my iv. Salty cherry jello, NUM!
Hubby spent the night, nurses were excellent, got him a cot, and then around mid night I got hungry for some chocolate and a Pepsi and hubby went on the hunt for a mid night snack for us. It was cozy and peaceful to be in that room with him.
I am amazed how well I felt from that time on. There was some discomfort at my three tiny incisions, and some cramping, but nothing a darvocet 2 or 3 times a day didn't handle. I took stool softeners every single day from my first post op day, and then Milk of Magnesia one time to bring on my first bm at post op day 6.
We did little outings to the grocery, once out for lunch, and a movie and church over the past 8 days or so (I am 12 days post op today). These tire me and sometimes make my belly hurt, but it's all doable and good for my recovery.
I have kept ice packs on my belly around the clock for the first 10 days and had very little swelly belly. The coolness really made my belly feel good. I highly recommend it. Plus, I kept a pillow over the packs and that protected my belly from possible doggie or kitty hops.
Today, I will drive to Target and do a little bit of shopping. My first outing by myself, and I hope to be at work, with light duty, on Monday. My post op appt is Friday and I'm sure she'll give the go ahead as long as I listen to my body, and I WILL! That will be post op day 18.
I'm in my jeans! And that feels great. My fibroids were the size of a soft ball, baseball, 2 golf balls, and a lemon. I don't have to urinate but a couple times a day (and I PUSH FLUIDS to help with healing). It's amazing how much I peed before surgery!
The best part, Ladies, after I bled for 55 out of 60 days pre op, and I was bleeding when I went into surgery -- I have not had a single drop since. This is bliss.
I am a Christian woman, I feel like the woman who touched Jesus' hem, I was covered in prayer from our friends and family and sisters here, and I am so grateful for the technology and healtchcare available to us.
And finally, I have the best husband in the world. He absolutely took care of every single thing for me, keeping my wubbies (my ice packs full) and doing housework (up to my standards, too), and just making sure I wanted for nothing.
My prayer for you is that you seek the best treatment for your problem. Lots of docs do not do laparoscopic sugeries yet, some hospitals don't have the equipment. Seek out professionals that can do all types of surgery so that you can make an informed decision.
Second and third opinions are the BEST defense against nerves pre op.
Buy really cute jammies and have them on a shelf where you can get to them easily. Start stocking up now!
One more thing, go to the recovery progress reports and read from the beginning. You'll see how people are doing right after surgery and throughout the healing process. It's very calming, most problems have been encountered by one or the other and there are many problem solving solutions that are tried and true.
My prayers go with you all as you prepare for surgery.
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