My Pre Op Appt

Was today... it went SO much quicker than I expected. The dr did a 3 second pelvic exam, that HURT like h*ell ... but he said my uterus is not enlarged and he does not think there is a fibroid in there... so my surgery will more than likely be a TVH.

He plans on leaving the ovaries in unless he see's a need to take one or both out. Im not sure how I feel bout them staying, and not sure how I feel about possibly loosing them.

I didnt get near enough time to talk to him about questions.. I had a few that got answered. I asked him about if I need pap smears after this... also about yeast infections.. if I could still get them.. the answer to both are YES and YES. SO....

I have to give myself an enima on Monday morning prior to going to the castle. I will be givin generel anesthesia. I asked him about the spinal stuff.. he said they just do the general. I was kind of hoping to wake up without pain. I remember the pain when being woken from my gallbladder surgery back in the dark ages when they cut you in half to get to it.

I will talk to the Anesthesiologist monday and ask him all the other questions I have. Dr said surgery takes 1 to 2 hours. I am guessing that extra possible hour or so is due to complications...

As long as I am out I guess they can take as much time as they want, its not like I will know the difference.

NO COFFEE before the surgery. I cant imagine getting up in the morning and not having coffee. I cant even chew a piece of nicorette gum!! (I quit smoking 6 months ago.. Im not hooked on cigarettes anymore.. just the stupid gum.. LOL)

I go in to get lab work on friday. I sure hope my anemia is resolved now that I am not bleeding a river every few weeks.

Guess thats it for now. I was pretty surprised it happened so fast. I thought there would be more to do on a pre op... guess not.

Hi Stacy.

First, where in the Bay Area do you live?? I was raised in Moraga, (off Hwy 24 between Berkeley and Walnut Creek). Don't live there anymore due to DH's work, but still have tons of family and friends spread throughout the Bay Area. I miss it!

Anyway, if you feel like you didn't have enough time to get all your questions answered by the surgeon, don't hesitate to call him and get the answers you need.

Finally, I can completely empathize on the coffee issue! My surgery is at 11:00 a.m. and I have to be at the castle by 9:00. Despite the later start time, no food or drink after midnight. I'm completely expecting the caffeine withdrawal headache to kick in right around the time I arrive at the castle. I usually only have 2 cups per day, but I'm thinking of weaning down in the next 3 weeks.

Good luck!

Hi Stacey, thought i would let you know about my preop. I am having surgery on the same day as you. Monday. I went in and she sat in a chair across from me and said so you decided to have it out? i said yes I think it is time. No exam. I asked her about procedure. She said it would have to be abdominal because my uterus is to large. Then I mentioned to her I thought I might have a small hernia in the lower part of my abdomen. She said that was very interesting but a little late for me to telling her this now. She is going to see if she can call in the surgeon on call when I am having my surgery if she sees a problem. She doesn't repair hernias. Sometimes I just feel so stupid. She always gives you the time to ask questions. Shows real concern. Didn't feel rushed but just didn't have a lot to ask. Just want it to be all over with. beebop

Hi Jay Jay,

I live in Hayward. Been here all my life. We are planning a move to Indiana as soon as possible.

I dont know how Im going to manage without my coffee. Even when I drink nothing but decaf, I still must have my coffee. Right now its not decaf so I am sure I will get that horrid caffiene withdrawal headache as well. Hopefully the pain meds will kill the headache


[quote]Originally posted by Jay-Jay
[b]Hi Stacy.

First, where in the Bay Area do you live?? I was raised in Moraga, (off Hwy 24 between Berkeley and Walnut Creek). Don't live there anymore due to DH's work, but still have tons of family and friends spread throughout the Bay Area. I miss it!

Hey Beebop...

I wonder if its "ok" that they dont do a final exam before surgery. I guess logically thinking, they will be in there anyway. No better exam than that I suppose. Since she already knows you have the fibroids it seems to make sense.

I guess I was just bothered by my doc's quick exam. I spent no more than 2 minutes in the exam room before we met in his office to talk. He had me sign a bunch of papers. Gave me lab slips to do tomorrow and BLAM see ya monday!

Too bad I will be sleeping.. Man is my Dr good lookin.. LOL!!

Good luck at the castle. I am looking more forward to it now..
Nervous... yes! But I bought myself some pretties to take with me.. nice and comfy. New slippers.. I have a dozen pair if I have one.. LOL .. and a nice comfy body pillow. I used my pillow last night and WHAT do ya know? I didnt wake up with back pain!

Take care

Good luck with your upcoming surgery and warding off that headache! BTW, I'm very familiar with Hayward. My great aunt lives there and my Grandma lived "right down the road" in San Leandro, between East 14th & Bancroft. Our favorite restaurant was Banchero's. (That's in Hayward, right??)

Also, good luck with your move to the midwest. We moved here, (St. Louis) 5 years ago and like it alot. Very different from CA though!

Best wishes

Hi stacy, My preop did't last much longer either. I don't have fibroids. I suffer from adenomyosis and irregular bleeding. May have some form of endo also. Uterus is twice the size it should be. But you know I still wonder if I am doing the right thing. I am 46 and have had this trouble since 1992. Hormone medications have helped but has came to the point where my periods were coming every 3 weeks. So my doctor changed my medicine and it made me have headaches and nausea. She took me off all medication and of course I started back bleeding and have bled now for 5 weeks. I am just tired and want a better life. But some stories on the other side don't give me much hope. Getting cold feet I guess. But I am still going thru with it. I am hoping for the best. I have battled with this now for 11 years! I need encouragement.What time is your surgery Monday? I haven't even thought about what I am going to take. I have to be there at 11:00. I guess we are fixing to take the ride of our lives. Never had surgery before except a tonsillectomy at 7yrs old!

Hi Beebop...

I also have to be there at 11am. Of course by the time I arrive at the Castle here in California you might already be in recovery

I think I am also making the right choice by doing this. I have very heavy flooding and clots the size of apples. Its really time.

I have always bled heavy but in the last year or so is when it really started getting bad to the point where i couldnt even leave my house in case of flooding and clotting. Many times I would attempt to leave only to come right back in to change my clothes... and that happen moments after a fresh pad. I cant count how many times I walked cross legged into the bathroom, thinking I was done just to have to turn around and do it again... sometimes I didnt have time to sit back down after standing up... it just got way out of hand.

I knew I was anemic and I took 1000mgs of iron a day for that but no one ever warned me as to what could happen in the flooding situation. They say no one has ever died from too much bleeding during mestration, but I do wonder about it and how valid that information was... I think there are alot of us out in this world that have been very lucky to be here to tell the story.

I am nervous but also anxious to get it over with. I just need to focus on the future (and having gas next week this time.. hehe )

I think we will be fine

Take care

Thanks Stacy, I'm not looking forward to all that gas! But I guess it is part of it. i probably will be in recovery when you go in. I know we will be fine but I really feel weak today. I have something like the flu plus all the bleeding. Can't hold out to do much. The doc said just come on on Monday and take some medicine over the weekend. I sometimes wander if they listen. Maybe its because I really don't talk enough.She has always said I am not a complainer. A doc I used to see said that a woman really doesn't bleed more than a 1/2 cup of blood during menses. I don't believe that. He needs to follow you around. It does concern me to about the blood loss. Mine is not as bad as yours but it is bad enough. Trying to get things ready around here. Not very hungry. How about you? I think its the cold.