I just got home from the hospital a few hours ago and my TVH was yesterday afternoon. About 24 hours ago! I'm here to say that after scheduling this TVH 3 separate times and canceling it all three times out of fear on this 4th attempt I FINALLY had the courage to follow through with it and get 'er done!!
So here's my experience in a nutshell for those of you that are still waiting for your surgery date to arrive. Let me start off by saying that everyone on here that said the WAITING is the hardest part is soooo true! I have been in a fog and nervous as can be for the past 2 weeks just thinking about all the "what if's" that could go wrong that I was just about to drive myself crazy and cancel my surgery once again but I didn't this time. I knew I needed the TVH and I needed to be done with all the hell i've been going through these past 2 years regarding my adenomyosis, heavy heavy bleeding and cramping that left me very anemic.
So I decided to have a spinal block and be sedated rather then going under any general anesthesia. My friend did the same thing for her hysterectomy last month and she raved about getting a spinal block because while you're sedated you're not aware of what's going on but you can breath on your own instead of being intubated with general anesthesia. Also, under the spinal you cannot feel a thing and when they sedate you you're basically in la-la land anyway. I just preferred to breath on my own which the spinal allowed me to do. Also it quickens the recovery time since general stays in your system for 30 days and keeps you tired.
So my surgery was yesterday and this afternoon here I am back home typing this to all of you!
My TVH took only 40 minutes from the time it started to the time it ended. So it was pretty quick to my surprise even tho the gyn said hysterectomies today and usually done quickly and easily. He was true to his word and 40 minutes later I laid in recovery talking with the post op nurses!
I was no pain at all right after surgery and all of rest of the night I wasn't in any pain. My surgery ended at 1:30pm and while I was in NO PAIN at all I did throw up the entire rest of the night until 10pm and I had severe dizziness. Both the vomiting and dizziness last for 9 hours so they couldn't give me any pain meds because I would just throw them up so they didn't even attempt to. So I had my 1st pain med (percoet) at 10 pm last night and when they gave it to me I still had NO PAIN at all. My only complaint was the vomiting and dizziness caused from the morphine they had given my in recovery.
So by 10pm last night I had stopped the vomiting and the dizziness went away so I was a happy camper and STILL NO PAIN AT ALL!! I fell asleep after they gave me my 1st dose of percocet at 10pm and slept like a baby till 5am this morning. STILL NO PAIN upon waking today!
But the nurse strongly encouraged me to take one more percocet at 5am which I did even though I wasn't in any pain still.
At 9am I got up to take a shower at the hospital and honestly, I felt like a million bucks! Once the vomiting and dizziness were gone (caused my the morphine they gave me in recovery yesterday) I really woke up feeling so terrific that I wanted to shower and begin my day with flying colors! At the hospital I took a nice hot relaxing shower and even shaved my legs and conditioned my hair. I went so far as to put on some make-up!
All day today (the day after surgery) I still have NOT felt ANY PAIN! Nor did I have the gas pains that I"ve heard others talk about. So this major surgery that I've dreaded forever was a piece of cake!
Honestly, I don't even need the percocet so I think I"ll just remain on Advil to play it safe. As I type this, it's 6:30pm and my last dose or percocet was this morning at 5am so it's worn off by now and STILL NO PAIN.
So basically what I'm saying is that this TVH was so easy. The pain I experienced with my period cramps was 100 times worse. Before surgery my cramps were horrible and now...no pain whatsoever! So If the first 24 after surgery is this easy and pain free I'm excited to know what every day from here on out will be like!
So sisters...If you're worrying about the surgery I am here to encourage you that the worrying really is the HARDEST part because I've had more pain from a paper cut on my finger! This was the best thing I ever did and I'm so happy I didn't chicken out a 4th time. It's finally over with!!!!
I do however want to give God all the glory and thanks for answering prayers. He is merciful no doubt!