 TAH - my castle event |
From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List |
 Related Titles
Online Event - Live in Orlando March 30
TAH/RSO - Home from the "castle" to the real castle!!!
HysterSisters Articles
Options to Hysterectomy
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor
Advertisement
Well, we arrived four hours early as no one had bothered to call me in the last four weeks to tell me my surgery was rescheduled from 7:00 to 11:30. Of course, I could’ve called the day before to confirm, but I had my pre-op appointment on Friday, the 21st, and asked them specifically what time I should be there – by about 6:45 was their answer. No big deal – I was given the grand enema, and a xanax. I had already shaved, so the only other prep was to scrub my tummy and prepare the IV. That wasn’t so bad. Since the surgery had been pushed back so long my DH and I had to figure out how he was going to pick up the kids from school, (it would’ve been perfect timing had the surgery been at 7:00 as originally planned). Well, there was really no one else to do it, so he would have to leave as soon as I got to recovery and pick them up. My mom had said for me to call if we needed anything, so I told DH to call and ask her to come down and stay with me while he was gone so I’d have someone there if I needed anything. He called, she said no. She already had plans, and I wouldn’t need anything since I’d be “out of it anyway”. So, the last thing I had on my mind before someone putting a mask over my face was that my mother wasn’t willing to be there for me. Nothing new, really – she’s always put me last over my other two sisters, so I wasn’t surprised, but DH was really upset. I was out before the mask even touched my face, so I didn’t have time to think about it any further. I really don’t remember waking up. I vaguely recall DH kissing me good-bye and saying he’d see me as soon as he could. Next thing I knew I was in my room, being pampered up a storm. A true  My first night in the castle I had two great nurses, Mike and Susan. They came in every hour or so, (it seemed), and adjusted my body, my pillows, whatever I needed. Loaded me down with drugs, constantly asked if I needed anything, and I even remember one of them just standing by my bed gently rubbing my forearm. They seemed to truly care about my well-being.
The next morning, when their shift ended, it was as if I had been transferred to another hospital. There seemed to be an awful lot of chaos when I woke up. Two nurses checking my vitals, one asking me questions, and another pushing me out of bed so she could change the sheets. Luckily my DH was there, so he helped me to get a shower. I didn’t know how to take care of the dressing, so I asked the male nurse, and he said to leave it on in the shower and he’d change it when I was finished. Well, upon stepping out of the shower, my incision was draining heavily; the dressing was soaked and blood was drenching the bathroom. No nurse around. Poor DH had to grab a towel and hold it over the incision while we waited for a nurse to come back. Meanwhile, he draped a hospital gown over my shoulders. Finally we had to call the nurses station and ask someone to come put a dressing over my incision. About 10 minutes later, (felt a lot longer), the male nurse came in and just looked at me. When DH went to remove my gown, the nurse said, “Oh, I’ll come back when you’re dressed and ready for me.” He was out the door before we could say anything at all.  By this time, we’d been through two hand towels and one bath towel with my incision. DH, patient man that he is, struggled to help me get gown on, and managed to tie the last towel we had around my waist with a robe strap. We waited….and waited…and waited. When no one returned I called the nurses station again and told them I needed my dressing replaced. Same male nurse came rushing into the room announcing that he had forgotten about me! Can you believe that?!! Even if I had forgotten about someone, I don’t think I’d come right out and say it, or I’d at least offer some excuse. When he started to fix my dressing it was obvious he was either nervous or had no idea what he was doing. Luckily, another nurse came in behind him and took over. GEEZ!
My next nurse was a little more honest with me – she let me know right up front that it was her first day back after being gone for 7 weeks because of having a hysterectomy and then gall bladder surgery, so she wasn’t sure how much good she was going to be. Great! She was right, though. She wasn’t much good at all. She happened to come in the room when I was moving my table from one side of my bed to the other, (I didn’t like where it was, had asked that it be moved twice, and no one seemed to hear me). She just stood there and watched me while I finished moving it. She should’ve scolded me up one side and down the other! Oh well; I’d already decided I was going to have to take care of everything myself for the remainder of my stay, so I was doing pretty good when all of a sudden this killer headache hit me and I started bawling! The “not much good nurse” walked in and started checking my blood pressure. I don’t know if she didn’t see the river pouring out of my eyes, or if she just didn’t care, but she didn’t acknowledge it at all. About that time, my doc and DH walked in together. DH immediately shoved the nurse out of the way and started petting me. Doc sat down, held my hand and waited for me to finish before he said anything. When I finally calmed down I told him I thought the Dilaudid they had me on, and the poor treatment I was receiving, had caused my headache, and asked that he change my medication. He immediately took the Dilaudid away, and put me on Percocet. That worked much better for the pain, and I didn’t feel so out of it.
That night…you mean there’s more?! Yep – that night I had to have my IV changed because the hand they had it in was swollen up like a balloon, (of course I had to point this out). Well, one nurse tried the same spot twice and lost my vein both times. She called in another nurse who tried two other spots and missed both times. By this time I was ready to pass out – I hate needles anyway. Finally, a third nurse found a vein and captured it, but I now look like a drug addict from the early 70s with all the bruises I’ve got on my arms. From then on I had to ask for everything I needed, and I do mean EVERYTHING – even toilet paper, at least three times before I ever got it. I even had to call and asked to be wheeled down twice when it was time for me to leave.
I am so glad that part’s over with! Now I’m home with the three men who care the most about me – DH and 2 DSs. I couldn’t have been blessed any more. They have been so great! Let the pampering continue!
Related Titles
Online Event - Live in Orlando March 30
TAH/RSO - Home from the "castle" to the real castle!!!
Gerald Harkins, M.D.
Department of OB-Gyn
P.O. Box 850, H-103
Hershey PA 17033
717-531-6447 |
Wilfredo R. Ramos, M.D.
5301 F Street, Suite 210
Sacramento CA 95819
(916) 453-3440 |
Susan D. Hunter, M.D.
626 Ed Carey Dr
Harlingen TX 78550
956-428-4868 |
Jennifer Cova, M.D.
7700 Washington Village Drive Suite 210
Dayton OH 45459
937-433-6513 |
Molly Senokozlieff, M.D.
9279 A Medical Plaza Dr.
North Charleston SC 29406
843-569-2900 |
Chris Hutchinson, M.D.
Suite 7B, 1301 Taylor St.
Columbia SC 29201
(803) 254-9461 (Ext. 136) |
Francisco Garcini, M.D.
1870 Silver Cross Blvd
Suite 210
New Lenox IL 60451
815-463-3000 |
Arnold Advincula, M.D.
Florida Hospital Celebration Health
400 Celebration Plac
Celebration FL 34747
407-303-4190 |
Charles Miller, M.D.
120 Osler Drive
Suite 100
Naperville IL 60540
630-428-2229 |
|
|
|
Advertisement
 Helpful Links
|
|
|
Store »
Hysterectomy Checkpoints
