Pre-Op Lab Work Today

My surgery is one week away and I'm not quite a basket case--but getting there. The nurse I met with today told me I would have to keep a catheter in for the first night (I'm only staying one night in the hospital) which was news to me. I was under the impression the catheter was removed before I woke up.

As I write this, I'm trying to understand why I'm feeling so anxious. I'm nervous about the surgery itself and definitely not looking forward to recovery and "down time." I am also feeling a bit of sadness about the loss of my uterus. I am 46 years old and certainly don't plan to have any more children. I have three wonderful children--ages 26, 20, and 13. I didn't expect to feel this way. I am going to go with the flow (no pun intended this week and accept the emotions that come my way.

I'm very grateful to have this site to express myself and communicate with others who are experiencing what I am!

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Originally Posted by Runtlg My surgery is one week away and I'm not quite a basket case--but getting there. The nurse I met with today told me I would have to keep a catheter in for the first night (I'm only staying one night in the hospital) which was news to me. I was under the impression the catheter was removed before I woke up. As I write this, I'm trying to understand why I'm feeling so anxious. I'm nervous about the surgery itself and definitely not looking forward to recovery and "down time." I am also feeling a bit of sadness about the loss of my uterus. I am 46 years old and certainly don't plan to have any more children. I have three wonderful children--ages 26, 20, and 13. I didn't expect to feel this way. I am going to go with the flow (no pun intended this week and accept the emotions that come my way. I'm very grateful to have this site to express myself and communicate with others who are experiencing what I am!

Hi, I have found most of the ladies on this site have gone through similar emotions...there is a sadness and grief to losing our female parts even when they no longer serve us and cause us pain.. I am post menopause, with 3 wonderful children as well but still I went through a 'mourning' period after my surgery and I have to say thought I would not feel normal emotionally again...sadness and grief took hold...but I'm here to tell you that it went away and I realized I'm still the same person and was so happy to realize that. Now that I'm healing and feeling better I look forward to life again. This surgery takes a toll on you emotionally and physically..something the docs don't elaborate much on. You will be glad you found this site...as you will find that while family and friends care about you they don't fully understand your pain and there is always someone here to talk to..take care...good luck. you sound like a very positive person! Keep us posted!

Hi runtlg,

I had no idea about time frames before my surgery, but I had a catheter until midmorning the day after surgery. I was rolled into surgery at about 5:15 pm and was in my hospital room about 8:30 that same evening. I was so out of it that I did not even know I had the catheter in. When I was a bit more awake I did not even feel that I had it. The pain medication that I was given had me sleeping on and off most of the night and with the pressure devices on my legs they did not want me out of bed until the next morning anyway.

I am 62 and never had my own children but I do understand that feeling of sadness because I went through that even though I had been in menopause for 10years. After finding out about having uterine cancer my thoughts turned to being glad everything was taken out. It was somehow still a generally sad feeling about how my uterus had let me down when I thought about everything.

You are entitled to feel nervous and anxious about the surgery. We all go through that, I am sure. I know I dealt with my nerves by cleaning, and arranging and shopping and stocking the fridge, etc. Getting everything ready kept my mind busy and it helped to feel that I had organized everything the best I could for the weeks after surgery.

This site is a good source of support if you need it. Best of luck with everything!!