I had a LAVH with the SPO of the left ovary on 8/4/09. I had to be at the hospital at 8:30 am for prep. I was wheeled into surgery at about 11:00 am. Then all I remember is that they asked me to move onto the other table. I woke up many hours later in the elevator on the way to my room. When I got to my room, my husband and son were invited in to see me. I was so out of it that I visited for about 8 minutes. My family told me that I had the LAVH, didn't need to do the TAH, and that I had very little blood loss. I couldn't seem to stay awake, I was SOOOOOOOO tired! I have never had surgery before other than on my teeth. Thay also told me that the surgery that was supposed to take about 3 hours took more like 4 1/2 by the time the Dr. came out to talk to them. I had a cath that they put in for the surgery and removed during recovery. The next day about mid-day, I really had to pee bad so I called the nurse to help me. Thay brought me a bedside comode so that they could messure the urine level and nothing would come out. When they looked, I still had the vaginal packing, so they called the Dr. immediately and removed it. It HURT when they got toward the end of the packing. Then they gave me a Foley and I filledd it in about 10 minutes. Then I felt a lot better. The night of the surgery the nurse came in and gave me Ambien, Dr.'s orders. I thought that was hilarious because I had such a hard time staying awake until after dinner time. The Dr. also ordered Milk of Magnesia to keep me from getting constipated. Well, it worked a little too well. I also had to take it the next night along with more sleeping pills.
I was not released from the hospital until late on the third day 8/6 because I was having a problem with urinary retention. My bladder was only emptying about 1/2 way. Every time I went pee they had to come and do a bladder scan on me, like an ultrasound, to see the urine level. Finally it must have moved enough to empty all the way and they let me leave.
About the diet: for the day of the surgery, I was on a liquid diet and had some apple juice when I woke up, The next morning I was brought a regular breakfast but I had almost no appetite. I ate some toast and asked for some hot tea. I ate a bigger regular lunch but the appetite was so small that I has to force myself. My IV "went bad", which means it stopped flowing through that part of my arm, got very painful and swollen, and had to be moved to my hand. I kept having bad diarrhea..YUK!
After I got home, I was feeling really good until Saturday 8/8. I woke up at 6 am to use the bathroom and my head was killing me. While sitting on the toilet, I felt like I was going to throw up. I woke up 10 minutes later between the toilet and the tub with my pants still around my ankles. I PASSED OUT! My husband figured out that it because I was not eating enough. I stopped the Percocet and just took Tylenol for mild pain. My appetite started coming back as soon as I stopped the pain killers. I have been feeling fine ever since. The only pain I have had is when I have a BM, which has been normal since I left the hospital, and when I laugh or cough.
I have had the fear that the Dr. warned me about and some strange crying episodes. I also ran a low-grade fever on 8/9 of 99.9 at the highest but this is when I was due to start my period. I only ran the fever for a few hours and then it went away and has not returned. I have my 2 week check-up on 8/19. I will let you all know how it goes.
BTW-the advise about the pillow on your stomach going home between you and the seatbelt was a BLESSING! Thank you ladies so very much!
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