TAH - Princess michelec's story - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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TAH - Princess michelec's story

TAH - Princess michelec's story

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I was supposed to be at the hospital at 6 a.m. for the 8 a.m. surgery. Actually I got there at 5:30 because I did not want to risk being late and having my surgery cancelled. After the receptionist took my information, she ushered me & my sister (who brought me to the hospital) to a cubicle where I had to change into a gown and socks. Still calm at this point. A few minutes later my pre-op nurse comes in to take my vitals and hook up my IV. It seems like time is flying by because before I know it is 7 a.m. and I am taken to the pre-op holding area.

My sister is there with me and we pass the time by cracking jokes. First I meet the young doctor who would be assisting my regular GYN with the surgery. She gives me a run thru of what will happen during the surgery and answers a couple of questions that I have. A few minutes later the anesthesiologist comes in and tells me what kind of anesthesia they will use for the surgery (they decide to go with general). A few minutes after that (by this time it's around 7:30) a nurse comes in & tells me that she is injecting something in my IV that "will take the edge off." I don't think it was a minute after the nurse left that I started feeling very loopy and started laughing uncontrollably. My sister says that I laughed for about 2 minutes straight and then went right to sleep…snoring loudly (how embarrassing LOL). The only other memory I have of pre-surgery after this point is being wheeled into the OR and feeling them move me to the table…the very last memory I have is of them attaching the probes (??) to me that would monitor my vitals. I didn't even get anywhere near the "count backward from 100" drill that anesthesiologists usually do.

I woke up in a really deep fog. I didn't feel pain as much as an extremely intense pressure in my abdomen like I needed to urinate and have a bowel movement at the same time…I remember telling the nurse I needed to relieve myself and she put a bedpan under me (probably just to humor me, as I look back, as the catheter was already in). My lower back had a dull ache that just would not go away…putting pillows underneath me solved that problem. It is about 2 p.m. when I am wheeled to my room (so I am told). Everything is very much a blur the next couple of hours…the only thing I remember is turning on "Dirty Dancing" on the TV (like I really expected to stay up and watch LOL) and constantly clicking on the morphine pump. I barely remember my sister going home.

The fog begins to lift around 6 p.m. I notice that I have compression sleeves on my legs to help prevent blood clots. I am given a liquid menu of jello, beef bullion and iced tea. Because of the morphine, I don't keep it down. Stick to water for the rest of the night, but because I get sick a couple more times, I decide I'd rather be in pain than deal with nausea, so I stop using the morphine. Really exhausted so I end up going to sleep very early.

DAY 2--The next morning I am feeling more alert. My doctor comes in and is pleased with how the incision looks. I tell her that I stopped using the morphine because it made me sick…she said that she would have the pump discontinued then and I could ask the nurses for percocet or motrin as I need it. I decide to go with the motrin, because percocet usually makes me feel out of it & I was trying to get away from that. The doctor also said that while I still needed the IV fluids, my catheter and compression sleeves would be removed later that morning. Had a liquid breakfast of Cream of Wheat, juice & milk, which stays down. At 10 a.m. the nurse comes in and unhooks me from everything except the IV. I go in the bathroom to wash up and put on a fresh gown…added bonus is I pee on my own for the first time. It's really awkward trying to maneuver around with the IV cart & it starts to annoy me. After I wash & change, I am allowed to sit up in a chair. I have my last liquid meal at lunch…cream of broccoli soup, milk, jello & iced tea. Since I keep it down, the nurses decide I can start having solid food at dinner. While my sister comes to visit, we walk around the hall twice…I am very pleased with myself. Before long, my digestive system kicks into high gear. I am passing gas and peeing it seems like every 5 minutes. Dinner comes & I have something that looks like mystery meat. I pick at it & have the dried fruit I brought along later. I'm getting cranky because every time I have to go to the bathroom (which at this point is several times an hour) I have to wheel that **** IV cart in with me. I ask the nurses--nicely--if they can remove it. They do get rid of the IV cart, but keep the line in…just in case. In the evening I am quite antsy, so I pull out a book of crossword puzzles to work on and my walkman with a couple of my favorite tapes. I also look out the window (I was lucky enough to be put in a room with a spectacular view of the Philadelphia skyline). I drift off about midnight.

DAY 3--The doctor had great news: I was doing so well that I could go home that afternoon. To say I was happy is an understatement. The morning just dragged by, but I finally left the hospital around 1 p.m.

It is now 11 days since the surgery and I can feel myself getting better every day. I still tire easily and a couple of minor problems have cropped up (I have just gotten over a 2 day bout with nausea), but for the most part I feel good.

Oh, and a couple of little odds & ends: Be sure to take earplugs with you. I had an obnoxious roommate who liked to talk on the phone at 3 a.m., so they came in quite handy. And I can't say enough to be nice to the nurses. Their job is so demanding & stressful that they really appreciate the patients who are polite and pleasant. And it will work in your favor because they will go out of their way to do things for you. Also, when you get home, send them a thank you card and/or a small gift. I was so pleased with the way my nurses treated me that I sent them a large box of Tastykakes (for those who don't live around Philadelphia or southern New Jersey, they are pastries to absolutely die for).

I had no doubt that I wanted to have this surgery, but I have to admit I was a little nervous about it. To all you LIWs out there, I'll say it again…the waiting really is the hardest part. Once you get to the other side, you will wonder why you stressed out so much. Take care & good luck.

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