My personal bleeding issues began over 5 years ago when I began bleeding mid-cycle. This issue worsened until the point at which I was almost bleeding constantly, with perhaps a few days off here and there. My doctor and I tried many approaches to see what was wrong, but the magic Ahah came during a hysteroscopy, when they insert a camera into the uterus to see what there is to see. Those darned fibroids. So, in mid-2004, we did a Hydro-Thermal Ablation, where they cauterize the uterine lining with hot water (I didn't feel a thing, but apparently some do) to prevent the bleeding. It seemed to work for a while, but within 2 years, the bleeding had returned.
Earlier in 2008, we verified the fibroids were still there, and indeed were larger than before! We discussed the possibility of removing the fibroids, but I was fearful of them growing back and making this all happen again. My gyn was ready to take the next step to a hysterectomy if I was, and boy, was I ever! I'm only 43, but I was so eager to just get rid of the darn thing!
I had to wait 2.5 months until July 31 to have the hysterectomy, and my doctor noted that I was a good candidate for a laparoscopic surgery, which would certainly reduce my recovery time. I kept my fingers crossed.
The waiting was the worst, without a doubt. At my last pre-op appointment 2 days before the surgery, my gyn said she had to check the uterus one more time. Heck, I could have told her it was still there giving me problems. They took blood samples and I went through the pre-admission process, including a lovely hospital bracelet with my name and personal information - which I then had to wear for the next two days until the day of the surgery. Funny enough, in the last 1.5 days before the surgery date, I seemed to get to a strange sense of "calm" about the whole thing... I thought this would be the worst time, but it wasn't so bad.
The night before the surgery, I couldn't eat after midnight, but that was my only restriction. So far, not too bad. On the morning of the surgery, July 31, we showed up at the hospital at 6:30. They checked me in and directed me to the outpatient surgery area. Once there, they took me in right away, gave me my lovely hospital gown and took a urine sample to ensure that I wasn't pregnant! I definitely could have told them the answer to that question... but I can understand why they need to check. I was given a hospital bed in a room with several others (for the others in that day's outpatient surgery list), and they put in my I.V. They wouldn't give me medications for my nerves until the pregancy test came back negative, but once it did, they gave me something to calm me down a bit. I had also expressed concerns about nausea, so they gave me some anti-nausea medication, too. They thought of everything!
My doctor joined me then, and they wheeled my bed down to the surgery room. My bed was wheeled next to the operating table, and they asked me to shift myself onto it. They put a warm "air-blanket" over me to keep me warm in the cold room. It felt so good. While I wasn't watching they must have put something in my I.V. to put me out, because that was the last that I remembered.
The next thing I knew, I was awake in the recovery room. My nurse came by to see if I was in any pain. Amazingly, I was not at all. Within 30 minutes, he came by again and asked if I was ready to go home! They brought a female nurse over, moved my bed to a private area, she helped me change clothes, removed my I.V., and put me in a wheelchair to go see my DH, who was waiting for me. He put me in the car, and away we went!
I was on Vicodin the first two days, and ibuprofen the next four. Since then, I haven't needed any medication at all. I've been taking 3 walks a day - each day going a little farther and feeling a little stronger. I am now at 8 days past surgery, and have one more week before I return to work. I think I'll be ready for it. My incisions are pretty small, and don't trouble me too much.
The several months of waiting and worrying were made so much better, and I felt so much more informed, due to this wonderful website!! I appreciate the honest, real, personal information and support that I have seen from the wonderful, strong women here who've gone through this before I did. It was such a help to know what was going to happen and how I could prepare myself to deal with it. Thank you all so much for having such an awesome website, with such great women providing such terrific support. I got through this with your help. Now, I'm on the road to healing and putting this all behind me. Thank you!!
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