TAH - Another New Princess

My story is a short, good one - I'd been suffering increasingly worse symptoms from my uterine fibroids over the past several years and in September 2004 my doctor finally said the hysterectomy was my only other option...and I was VERY ready to take this step.

So after what seemed like waiting forever, my December 7th surgery date FINALLY arrived and I got to the hospital at 6:00 am for my 9:00 am procedure. I headed down to surgery at 8:45 am and didn't actually get in until close to 10:00 am. The only problem was that the person my doctor sent out to tell my family that we were delayed and let them know how I was doing never went out to tell them. So by almost noon they were getting pretty worried.

There were no problems during surgery; my pedunculated fibroid was just MUCH bigger than we expected and my doctor had a difficult time getting it out through the incision. It was 8" long, eggplant shaped. I had others in the uterine walls as well, but this big one was the one causing the majority of my discomfort.

There were no problems with the surgery at all. (I have a heart condition that needs to be monitored if I'm receiving anesthesia and I had NO problems at all from that.) The anesthesiologist did a GREAT job of inserting my IV into my hand...no pain at all even though it took two tries. I remember saying hi to my doctor when he arrived and chatting about getting everything started, being wheeled into the operating room and the staff putting warm blankets on me. But that's it. The next thing I remember is hearing someone asking how I felt, feeling a lot of pain, someone saying my catheter was crooked, removing it and reinserting it, and then feeling only the pain from my stomach. I opened my eyes a few times, saw my husband and my parents, clicking my pca pump as soon as they showed it to me, and then drifting off again.

Woke up to only my hubby with me and realizing I didn't have much pain. We chatted briefly about how surprising it was that I felt pretty good already. I was still very tired, so he went home to pick up our daughter at school & take her home. I ate some jello and bouillon, had a little bit of tea for dinner. But then the morphine in my pump started to make me sick. It took care of the pain but I was so nauseous! I vomited a total of 12 times and wasn't feeling any less nauseous even with some medication that was supposed to help ease it. So they stopped my pump completely and gave me a demerol shot for the pain instead. Within a very short time I began feeling better, didn't get sick again, was able to eat part of my dinner, a full breakfast the next morning and a full, non-liquid lunch!

My surgery was Tues morning, it was now Thurs morning and I was up, showered and walking the hallways a little at a time. My doctor came in to see me again mid afternoon and said there was no reason I couldn't go home!

So I'm home, no problems, pain is EXTREMELY light, my bowels are moving, and I feel better than I have in a LONG time!!! I've been truly blessed and I am taking it easy so as not to cause myself any setbacks!

My prayers and warm thoughts to all the other princesses and I wish all the upcoming princesses could have the same experience I have, without the nausea!!!

~Tammy