Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy 3/11/08 - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy 3/11/08

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy 3/11/08

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Hi everyone. I have had ongoing issues with abnormal uterine bleeding and abdominal/pelvic pain. After both an ultrasound and an endometrial biopsy last year, my gyno felt I was a candidate of a TLH. While I wasn't definitely hyperlastic, he felt that was where things were heading, and also suspected adenomyosis.

Once I decided to proceed, I found this site. It helped immensely to read comments from others in the same boat as me. Being able to ask questions that I would have been embarassed to ask elsewhere was a Godsend.

I learned so much here that, in my pre-op appt. at the hospital, the nurse I met with asked if I had a medical background! I ended up telling her all about Hyster Sisters. I also told my gyno, who wrote down the info and said he was going to check it out.

As background on myself, I am 54 years old, in excellent health (weight normal, work out regularly, blood pressure and cholesterol controlled with low dosage medication). I am very rarely sick, and my regular doctor teases me about how healthy I am. I have been married for almost 18 years to a wonderful man 11 years my junior. He's been my rock through all of this.

Arrived at the hospital at 5:30 AM on Tuesday for my 7:30 surgery. They took me to the pre-op area (I guess that is what they call it - a group of curtained off bed areas), I met the anaesthesiologists, the doctors who would be assisting, etc. My own gyno arrived, said hello, my my husband, then went to get ready for surgery. The last thing I recall is being wheeled away. I didn't realize I had been given anything, but obviously I was, because the next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and saw my smiling anaesthesiologist, John, who assured me my brand new crowns had made it through everything just fine. I think I smiled and thanked him, then I must have closed my eyes again.

Next time I opened them, my husband was standing there. He looked so relieved. He had been more nervous than me! I don't remember anything else until I was actually in my hospital room. As I lay there talking to Mike (my husband), I pointed to the curtain and said, "Is the other bed in there?" He informed me that, no, that was my bathroom and sink area. I was in a room by myself! The nurses later explained that every room in the ward was private. (This was the Childrens and Womens center at Brigham & Womens in Boston.)

All of the nurses, and everyone else who was involved in my care, were fantastic. I was definitely sore, but I was able to take a walk around the ward pretty soon after being moved into the room. I have four incisions, two on the right, one on the left, and one at the navel. They used steri-strips on them and told me those would dissolve on their own over the next couple of weeks. I did have a catheter, and a couple of times I mentioned that I felt like I had to urinate. Once this was during my walk - it was because the bag was being held by the nurse and was higher up. The second time was because the tube wasn't draining quite right, so the nurse adjusted it.

I spent that night at the hospital, but I was able to easily stay up to watch "American Idol" until 10:00. Mike stayed with me to watch, but had to leave afterwards to go home. He could have stayed all night according to the nurses, but we have a dog at home and no one was around who could go over and take care of her.

He returned the next morning around 9:30. By then, I had the IVs out, the catheter out (that wasn't the most pleasant experience in the world) and had taken another walk around the ward, and had even brushed my teeth and washed my face. He took me for another walk. The nurse said I was all set to go as soon as I could pee on my own. Once I did that, they just had to find my gyno, so he could sign the dishcarge papers. Once that happened, I got in the wheelchair and went down to the lobby with one of the wonderful patient care women, while Mike got the car.

Once I was home and had been greeted by the dog and cat, I settled in on the bed and had some ice cream.

Mike stayed home with me that day and the next. Yesterday we took a walk outside, and I showered. That really helped me feel good.

My pain is partially from gas and partially the incisions. It is easily controlled though - I take 600 mg of Advil every 6 hours or so during the day, and then one of the prescription pills before bed (2 mg of Hydromorphone). I have a good (too good) appetite. I took Mirilax, a mild laxative/stool softener yesterday morning and had some success late in the afternoon. Took it again this morning, and I think if I have success again I will stop it and see how it goes.

I notice that when I wipe after urinating, I have some tenderness. I haven't looked to see if everything looks okay down there. I am assuming the tenderness is from the catheter. I don't have any burning or anything, so it isn't an infection.

I thought I would be more tired. I was up until 11:00 the night I got home, then up around 6:30 the next morning. Only napped for an hour or so. Last night I was asleep around 10:30, then up today around 6:30 again. Today I am on my own, Mike is back at work. He's already called twice, and it's only 10:45.

I would say I am doing really well. I get frustrated by things - moving so slowly is just not "me" and I hate not being able to just pick up the big spring water to pour some or reaching down to pick something up off the floor (though I do actually do that sometimes....probably shouldn't....) .

I look forward to continuing to feel better each day.

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Gerald Harkins, M.D. Department of OB-Gyn P.O. Box 850, H-103 Hershey PA 17033 717-531-6447	Nisseth Urribarri, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916	Christina Ellis, M.D. 600 E. Marshall St. Ste. 205 West Chester PA 19380 610-903-6200
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