LAVH/BSO - Jennifer's Joyful Jaunt to Hysterland - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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LAVH/BSO - Jennifer's Joyful Jaunt to Hysterland

LAVH/BSO - Jennifer's Joyful Jaunt to Hysterland

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My story starts 2 years ago, after the birth of my son. He was the fourth child and was the last one I had wanted so I had my tubes tied. 2 months later, problems start with my period, could never tell when it was going to start. 1 week early here, 2 weeks late there. Then the pain started. Month by month it got worse, heavier periods, more excruciating pain, and never knowing when I was going to start.

In June of 2001, I had a really bad period. I was flooding and trying to pass out. I made the decision to go to the doc. I couldn't get in to to see the doc that I wanted to, so I went on a limb and called another doctor that I had heard raves about from the ladies in church. I went in and tried to explain to him what had been going on with me. He put me through an excruiciating pelvic exam sent me home with a 3 month supply of pills, and I got told to schedule an ultrasound for the following week for suspected cysts. Ultrasound confirmed cysts on both ovaries. So I went home and stayed on the pill, and took pain killers for the pain. I also decided that no matter WHAT happened I was NOT going back to that doctor again.

So in October, I called the doctor that delivered my oldest son and went in. He said it was obvious that the pill wasn't helping with anything and the next step would be to do a laparoscopy. That got set up for the following week. Went in and found a hemmoraghic cyst on my left ovary and Post tubal syndrome affecting my left tube. (In short, the blood supply to my tube during the tubal ligation, had either been completely severed or dramatically dropped to the point where my left tube had begun atrophying.) So during the lap, I lost my left tube, and ovary.

My next period, immediately following the lap, brought more of the same, much to my dismay. Another week on the couch nauseous and miserable. I went in for post op (the soonest I could get in) and explained to the doc that things were still the same. He gave me two choices, either switch up pills, or a hysterectomy. I asked him what if the pills didn't work and then he said well it would be a definite hysterectomy then. So to cut out the guinea pig session, and 3 more months of possible pain, I opted for the surgery. Surgery was scheduled for the following week... so I had 7 days to prepare mentally

I went in on the 17th for pre op and got told that I needed to be at the hospital at 7 am the next morning for surgery.

I wake up early on the 18th, go see my daughters, who are up getting ready for school, and kiss them goodbye, for what I fear might be the last time. Got to the hospital and had a hard time trying to figure out where I was supposed to be, but once I got there and situated, it wasn't too bad. The castle had me in a private room in the Mother Baby Unit. I didn't mind. The MBU nurses are outstanding. I look at the clock, after my iv is all set and I am in my frilly backless frock. 1 hour 15 minutes to go till surgery. I freak out, totally. I start bawling on the spot. Terrified that I wasn't going to make it out alive. I wanted my Mom there. I wanted my dh to go back to holding with me. I wanted to see my sons (who had spent the night with their dad) I wanted to finish the letters I didn't have the courage to write. My poor dh just sat there and held me, and rubbed my back and told me I was going to be fine.

They came and wheeled me to holding. Once I got to holding, I was okay. Mind you there was nothing in the IV yet, except glucose and antibiotics. They took me in to the Operating Room. My doc says its going to be a little cold in here.. and I am already freezing and my teeth are chattering. The anesthiologist comes in and says I'm going to give you something to make you a little sleepy. I actually say whoo hoo.. bring it on...

I pass smooth out....

Okay this next part gets a little scary, or at least it does to me, looking back on it.

I remember getting yelled at.. Jennifer you HAVE to wake up!!!! I remember the doctor asking what my resps were. I remember she replied 14. And then more yelling. The doc yelling for oxygen and the nurses yelling at me to wake up. I slowly come out of it. I see that I have my nice little PCA full of morphine and an oxygen mask on my face. I wanted to see my dh. I asked how much longer do I have back here in Recovery, they said a little while yet. I asked if anyone had called my dh and let him know that I was okay. She said not yet and that she'd go ahead and get on that. I do my best to stay awake. I finally get to see my dh and promptly pass out.

I'm in and out of it the remainder of the day. They bring me broth and jello. I didn't try the broth but I ate the jello. Halfway through the day, I start itching. I also feel like I have to pee REALLY bad. I ask the nurses about it, and they explained it was due to the packing and the catheter. Calls are made to let the family know that I am okay. I try to rest, in spite of the itching and urge to urinate constantly.

3am and I am not asleep :cry: I am itching worse than ever before, and cant sleep because of it. The nurse comes in and checks my vitals, and I tell her I can't stop itching. She calls the doc and gets me some Benadryl. Whoo hoo.. no more itchies. I get the IV out at 6am and the catheter at 7. The nurse tells me that it usually takes 1-4 hours to be able to go pee on my own and not to worry about it. It only takes me 5 minutes. So I am able to FINALLY get some rest. No itching and no pressure/urge. (BTW, I found out that I'm allergic to morphine) I rest off and on, looking VERY much forward to getting released that day. Doc comes in and tells me that they sent everything to pathology, and that I wouldn't know anything from path until 2 weeks, since they were getting backed up. And then we discover "the bruise". It wasn't really big at this point in time, just big enough to make the doc worry. So one more blood draw to make sure I wasn't actively losing blood and then I was home free with the usual no nothing for 6 weeks, no tub baths for one, no unsupervised walking or getting up and about for the first week.

That was 5 days ago. I am getting stronger everyday. "The bruise" now covers 1/3 of my abdomen easily, but has started fading. Still not able or up to getting up and getting around by myself. But that is okies, my dh loves it. He says he likes feeling like he is escorting me to the prom everytime I have to go to the potty.

This site has been awesome about pre surgery jitters, and questions, as well as just having someone to relate to and talk to.

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Richard W Farnam, M.D. 1700 N. Oregon Suite 520 El Paso TX 79902 9155335600	Ellen Wilson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd - Dept of OBGYN Dallas TX 75390 214-648-4747	Bret Lewis, M.D. 5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ste 295 (#2 Location) 11975 Morris Rd., Ste. 310 , Alpharetta, GA 30004 Atlanta GA 30342 404-255-3633
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Liza M. Colimon, M.D. 21 W. Columbia St Suite 101 Winnie Palmer Hospital Orlando FL 32806 321-841-6060	Mark Richey, M.D. 1200 Airport Heights Ste 205 Anchorage AK 99508 9072724443	Mayra J. Thompson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd Dept OBGYN Dallas TX 75290 214-645-3888

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