LAVH Story - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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LAVH Story

LAVH Story

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I have been meaning to write about my story, but wanted to make sure I was energized enough to tell it all.

I am a 36 year old with a busy life: school, home, and family have been my priority for so long. My family is a wonderful though, and have been truly there for me each step of the way.

My issues with my menstrual cycle have interrupted so many moments in my life. Just heavy flows, 10 days long, migraines when I had it, and it was pretty standard to find myself on the couch for the first three days curled in a ball. Sometimes the pain and clots were so bad, I feared that I was miscarrying even though I had my fallopian tubes tied years before for other reasons. Every time I was intimate with my husband, I would cramp and end up bleeding for two days. It was painful and humiliating. I felt too young to have physical issues interupting my love life. Like many women, I didn't know that it didn't have to be an issue anymore - I thought I would have to suffer until a real reason called for it all to end. I went in for my routine pap and before I was even evaluated, I blurt it all out and begged for help. My doctor recommended either: Novasure, IUD, or hysterectomy. He wouldn't allow me to make decision that moment and I respect him for that, because I would have made the wrong one. I had the internal ultrasound a couple of weeks later and that changed my options. He felt that the hysterectomy was the only way to go and after listening to his reasoning I agreed.

It was 3 weeks of wait for Oct. 20th to come around. I did the house cleaning sprees, the cooking ahead and organizing. It reminded me of "nesting" before having my children. I had a meeting at the hospital the day before my big day to answer questions and meet with the anesthesiologist. It was terrific because every thing that would happen was told to me ahead of time. I didn't have a bowel prep but was told to eat lightly and nothing after midnight.

The next morning I was there by 6:30. I had my DH with me and I was given my stylish gown and slipper socks and had some blood work done and finally my IV. Everyone was so kind and I was constantly offered time and attention for any fears or questions I may have. but I felt prepared and wasn't worried. I was smiley and content to just go through the process. My DH was more worried than me, but he didn't let me down. At 8:30 I was taken to the OR and the only lasting thought was that it was cold and bright in there. I was gently nudged onto the operating table, they strapped my arms out so I wouldn't accidently roll over in my sleep and then the anesthesiologist told me I would be feeling sleepy soon. Drifting off to sleep was comfortable, and it felt natural.

I awoke in the recovery room experiencing pain. I felt inflamed and simply achy. I wasn't sick, and I could concentrate on what the nurse was telling me. She said that the TVH I was scheduled for ended up requiring laproscopic assistance but that I went through just fine and it was all done. I had three incisions abdominaly I didn't prepare for was all.

When I went up to my room, my DH and sister were there to just comfort me. I wouldn't have wanted a lot of company though, I just ached and wanted to sleep. A while later the nurse checked my catheter and she would check to see if I bled through the packing. I did fine though. I couldn't have anything accept ice but didn't even want that. I became sick that night becuase of the morphine pump I was attached too. I remember telling the nurse I had a bad headache and that I felt like I might get sick. I did to, all night. Vomiting was hard with the incisions and finally they took me off the morphine and gave my percocet and motrin. It took a couple of hours, but then I felt pretty good. After an exam by my doc where he removed my packing (OUCH!) he let the nurses take out the catheter and have a shower which was heavenly. Peeing hurt the first few times though. They let me go home by 8pm the second day. I slept on the couch for the first week only becuase my DH is way too active in his sleep and I feared him accidently hurting me.

The first week was really hard. Stairs were fine, getting up and down was okay - but voiding and BMs were harsh and my entire digestive system was a wreck. The doc had my DH bring me in day 4 to double check for infection and that was when he said why they did the laproscopic part of my TVH. It turns out my uterus was twice the size it should be and I started bleeding too heavy. The lab said it was adenomyosis and precancer.

I'm two weeks post op today and I know I have a while yet before I'm me again. Lots of people say the waiting is the hard part, for me it was the first 5 days post op that was the difficult part. However, I have no regrets at all.

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LAVH September 19th Finally returning to normal

LAVH Surgery

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David Zisow, M.D. 2005 Rock Spring Rd Ste. 3 Forest Hill - Baltimore MD 21050 410-879-1139	Casey Sprague, M.D. 3960 Coon Rapids Blvd. #101 Allina Women's Health Coon Rapids MN 55433 763-236-9236	Jennifer Schnee, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916
Jennifer Cova, M.D. 7700 Washington Village Drive Suite 210 Dayton OH 45459 937-433-6513	Barbara Levy, M.D. 34503 Ninth Avenue S. #330 Federal Way WA 98003 253-838-3695	Nisseth Urribarri, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916
Geoffrey Cly, M.D. Suite 101, 11123 Parkview Plaza Drive Fort Wayne IN 46845 260-969-5530	Molly Senokozlieff, M.D. 9279 A Medical Plaza Dr. North Charleston SC 29406 843-569-2900	Francisco Garcini, M.D. 1870 Silver Cross Blvd Suite 210 New Lenox IL 60451 815-463-3000

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