Last test and consult before surgery

Well, I just had the last test which was the cystoscope. Something that I worried about for weeks and it wasn't so bad. This is what he found out from that test and the others. I need uterus vaginally removed, bladder repair, it is so prolapsed , rectal repairs, don't know the exact name for them. He told me that
i would be in the hospital for about 2 days. the catheter would be removed the day of discharge and if i could pass water by myself, I would go home without it. if not, then I would have it in for another 2-3 days at home. A nurse would come and take care of it whatever that means.He told me I have bladder spasms most all of the time and that the urethra is kinked and he would take care of that by using a mesh support for the urethra or bladder valve is what he called it.He explained himself throughly but i still can't get some of it. So the 4 walls of the vagina would be repaired. i don't know what that means.Will using a support under the urethra really stop the incontinence? He said that i really am leaking but the kink in it is stopping it from coming out. After surgery there would be packing in the vagina and that would come out the next day. Wow that must hurt some!! He wants me to use this cream called estrace now and for about 2 years after. He says it strengthens the tissues in the vagina area. The bladder will not be put in a sling but put back up using my ligaments.May need therapy after and to do kiegel exercises now to get strength. Anyone and i mean ANYONE can give me some information on this stuff please help me out. Surgery will be in 6 weeks if not sooner. He has to get authorization. I haven't slept for days thinking about the cystoscope. Can you imagine how I am going to feel now? I am really starting to depend on this site for support. Thanks

You have been dealing with these problems for a really long time, and now they have reached the point where you can no longer continue the way you have been. I can only imagine that it has been your fear of the surgery that has stopped you from having the surgery before, so now you must still be feeling the fear, but also feeling like you can no longer hold out. I know that I am sure not in a "happy place" when I feel that I have lost a sense of control over my life. I hope that, in spite of how you are feeling, that you are able to make some peace with what is about to happen.

At the same time that you are experiencing the fear, try to also remind yourself of how different (and better!) your quality of life will be once this is behind you. I suspect that you have been in a lot of pain and discomfort for a long time, and so the post operative pain should be manageable for you. It's amazing how they can keep pain under control with the right medication. You will be able to take that for as long as you need it, and the recovery might be much quicker than you expect.

With so many things being repaired at once, you will definitely need to rest well and have some help. I made sure I had lots of meals prepared in advance and frozen so I wouldn't have to worry about cooking for the first couple of weeks.

Take care. Keep us posted.

Actually I have not avoided the surgery because of fear. One of my daughters went into cardiac arrest a couple of years ago and every year that i decide to have the surgery, there is a surgery planned for her, and then gets cancelled so I am trying to go forth this time. My quality of life this way is unbearable and yes I actually dream of what it would be like to be able to walk around without pressure and feel normal. I am 63 and worry about my age for the surgery but i am taking that chance. Will keep in touch

Wow! That's been a huge amount on your plate. I hope things go well for you this time and that you are able to have more freedom in your life. Take care!