Questions Before Surgery

I AM GOING FOR A TAH/BSO ON 11/19-I AM REALLY SCARED OF BEING PUT TO SLEEP, SO MY DOCTOR AGREED ON GIVING ME A SPINAL, MY FAMILY AND FRIEND THINK I SHOULD NOT DO IT THIS WAY. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK ANYONE CAN GIVE ME
ON THIS. ALSO, MY DOCTOR WILL BE PUTTING ME ON THE PATCH RIGHT AFTER SURGERY, ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHICH PATCH IS BETTER?. I AM 37 YEARS OLD AND HAVE ENDO, SMALL TUMORS AND ENLARGED UTERUS, I DON'T BLEED MUCH, I AM CURRENTLY ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS AND IT DOES HELP SOME, BUT MY DOCTOR BELIEVES THAT IT IS BEST TO REMOVE EVERYTHING NOW, MY WORSE DISCOMFORT IS THAT I GET A LOT OF PAIN WHEN URINATING MAINLY FROM HAVING THE ENDO, I ALSO GET BAD BACK PAINS, BUT I LEAST I KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE SURGERY,I KEEP CHANGING MY MIND ABOUT IT. I KNOW THESE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT I AM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.
ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU

The epedural thing is completely your choice. If you have a low pain tollerance, this will also help with the pain afterwards. It was recomended to me, but I chose not to do it. I have an extremely high pain tollerance, so I am not a good person to ask about this. (Pain from hyst was a 6 out of 10).

Now, the HRT is a question I have done lots of research on, and my dr. agrees. Because of endo, I need progesterone to combat any estragen put back in my body. Together my dr. and I decided to use a higher, more normal for my age (31) dose of hormones. I am using the Ortho-Evra patch - yes, it is birth control. Instead of on 3, off 1, I wear one all the time. Birth control gives younger women the hormone dosages closer to the natural ones they should have. This made my transition much easier. I had the crying jags for about a week at the end of week 2 (VERY normal), and will get moody towards the end of the week when my patch needs to be changed (or if I have sweatted a lot that week). Later in life we will take another look at hormones, but for now (and the past 17 years) birth control has worked wonders at keeping me normal.
Hugs,

Hi Alex,

Maybe it is because you type all in capitals that I get the feeling you are very emotional about this whole situation?

Did your doctor go through what to expect with a spinal, epidural or general. Did he/she talk to you about what you would experience with each?

Does the idea of being awake while they are cutting, cauterizing and stitiching your insides appeal to you? Are you of a clinical mind that can separate yourself from the idea that the cutting, cauterizing, suctioning, stiching is happening in your abdominal cavity?

Do you like the idea of waking up and feeling a minimal amount of pain but not having to hear all the stuff that went on durring the surgery or do you feel like you will have a little more control if you are able to hear it all?

You know that the surgery can take any where from 1-3 hours, that's a long time for your mind to assimilate all that is happeneing to you. Are you comfortable with that?

Have you done any research on the different types of anesthesia available to you? If not why not call the hospital, ask to speak to the Patient Educator and tell him/her your fears and get some reading material from them. You could also ask for an appointment with the anesthetist or anesthesiologist, and discuss the options with him/her.

Also by using your search engine you can do research on the different types of anesthesia on line.....so why not do some reading?

Have you examined what it is about "being put to sleep" that fightens you? It is a euphamisim that we use when animals get put down, which can leave a negative imprint in the mind. Is there something else besides this?


Are you the type of gal that gets really nervous- and how does your nervousness present itself? Will your type of nervous presentation help or hinder the operating room staff?

You have several weeks to do some homework. Please do it. No one can tell you what you should do- it is kind of like falling in love- it is your decision alone. So do your homework and after you have then you can sit down with your doctor and discuss what you have learned abd what you feel would be best for you.

Good luck Alex, and God Bless...you have time to figure this question out

Dilu

I had a LAVH and I did not have an epideral. I did just fine.
I had both ovaries removed but I am not doing HRT. After three weeks post op I started NHRT -Herbal. It is working fine for me.
These are decisions that only you can make. If you can, research all options.
I am so happy I had my surgery. It was the best decision for me. I am sure whatever you decide to do will be the best for you!
Take care!!

Hi All:
I had a TAH and was put under and did great! Even though I was totally nervous about it, having never had surgery before. I was concerned about nausea and disorientation after surgery. I told the anesthesiologist (who was super-cute *LOL*) about my concerns and he said he would take care of everything. I remember nothing until I woke up in my room. I was groggy, but hubby insists I did not babble out all the family secrets *LOL*. My only problem was a whopping headache the next day as I came off the morphine pump. I mentioned it to the nurse and one shot in the butt later I felt fine.

Kim

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ADVISE AND SUPPORT, I GUESS I HAVE ONE MONTH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. I HAVE HAD A REALLY BAD REACTION TO THE ANESTHESIA WHEN THEY REMOVED MY GALLBLADDER AND I AM JUST CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
I WILL DO SOME RESEARCH AND SEE IF THEY CAN GIVE ME SOMETHING FOR THE SIDE EFFECTS.

DILU= THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY-THE CAP LOCK BUTTON ON MY LAP TOP IS BROKEN- I CAN ONLY WRITE IN CAPS FROM THIS COMPUTER-I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SITUATION BUT THE CAPITAL LETTERS ARE NOT A SIGN OF BEING OVER EMOTIONAL.
I DID TAKE YOUR ADVISE AND STARTED TO DO MORE REASEARCH.

THIS IS A GREAT WEBSITE-WITH GREAT PEOPLE TO TALK TO AND I AM GLAD I FOUND IT-I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON WHAT I DECIDE TO DO.
THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS!!