One step closer, mostly with help from all of you!

Hi Sisters,
Can't say enough wonderful things about this site. Began reading and posting a few weeks back and the information gained has been unbelieveable. I've just jumped the last hurdle as of today. Thanks to all of you I knew what to expect, what to ask, what not to sweat, and what to pay close attention to. Now I just wait to go in very early next Wednesday for the surgeries. Saw the urologist this morning for the procedure that you Sisters told me would take place. That was the bladder test with the electronic toilet of sorts. Had you not explained all of that to me before I got there I would have had no idea what was going to happen! Yes, it hurt a bit, but mostly several hours later when voiding. What made me sick was the horse pill of an antibiotic that I had to take in the afternoon. Talk about upset the stomach! Then, in the afternoon I had a pre op with anesthesia. All of my tests were already done so this was just a chance to discuss the meds and any concerns. Aside from the usual delay of not being able to be seen on schedule and the typical screw up of who had my records on what floor..........all went well. Was given a grand tour of the facility. Having freinds in high places doesn't hurt at a time like this so I decided to call in all the favors out there. Saw the VIP suite that was reserved for me and met the staff that will care for me both on the surgery floor and the med surg floor afterwards. But then anesthsia took a look at the number of surgeries I'm having done and the time that I'll be sedated and said that the likelyhood of me going from recovery up to the suite that first night were slim. They seem to think that night I'll be in ICU. So then I was shown ICU which was rather impressive to say the least. You never hope you end up in there but it's awfully comforting to know it's ready just in case.
Did I mention that all of this today was done during my work day? Ran back and forth from work to urologist, to work, to hospital, and back to work. Got back to my office and there was a call to contact the insurance company. Now, I had already read some posts by other Sisters so I had a good idea what it might be about. Well, everything is in place now but at the time of the call the insurance company computer main system only had me listed as going in for bladder surgery, no hyst, no hernia, no tuck or reduction, just the bladder! The woman was shocked as all get out when she asked me if they'd told me how long I'd be hospitalized and I told her five days! Then I told her how many surgeries were scheduled for that day and she almost died. She did some checking at other sites in the system and was finally able to to pull it all together and told me that all was approved and scheduled. Half an hour later the nausia from the antibiotic pill hit and my back and lower abdomin felt like I had been kicked. That was the bladder telling me that it had not appreciated being poked earlier. I ended up going home from work an hour and a half early. Should have never tried to work that day in the first place but with one person in the department on vacation and the other person not fully trained I felt I had to at least put some time in today. Monday and Tuesday I'll try to stay busy at work to keep the mind occupied. Considering the zoo that I work in that won't be hard!!!
But again Sisters, had I gone into things today with no prior knowledge I would have been petrified of some of the things that had to be done for the tests and some of the considerations that had to be discussed during pre op. You ladies made that experience so much easier. Thank you!

S@ndy in waiting

Hi S@andy

Good luck for the 20th if I don't get the chance to speak to you before then. (PS - sent an e-mail to you, let me know you got it)

And I agree with you, armed with knowledge and reality from this site, I believe it has helped me so much. I told all my nurses and dr about this site and am going to make sure that they tell their future LIW about it.

When I was first told about my hyster a few weeks ago, I asked for some literature from the hospital on procedures -guess what, I'm still waiting.

Take care and thinking about you
Evie

Hi Sandy. I agree that this site is a wonderful eye-opener and the support offered here is something not to be had anywhere else. I've learned so much toward helping me make my decision. I do hope your surgeries go without a hitch and you'll take it very easy through your recovery. I too had my urology appointment yesterday and had to swallow that great big horse pill. This morning I'm full of twinges in my stomach and my back and urination is a bit painful though definitely getting easier. I was told to drink lots of water and that does seem to help.

Warm regards and happy thoughts your way.

Sany I have been coming here since Sept. and do not know what I would have done without it. I feel like I am the senior of LIW because I have been here so long. Well I am off to the castle Monday and fill like I have all my armor on and know much of what to expect.
Thanks to ALL of you who have been so informative to me in these past months. I have seen a lot of women come and go and have learned from everyone.
Will post to all and let you know how things went for me in the castle...