New and trying to process...

This site has been a big help to me as I process the information I've been given and the choices I'm making. Until I got here I have never written on any kind of message boards and am not very computer savvy, but here goes!
I am 46 and will be having a LAVH, BSO on Dec. 5th for fist sized fibroid and smaller fibroid friends, enlarged uterus and complex ovarian cysts. My mom had ovarian and uterine cancer and my ca125 was 444. Dr(gyn/onc) originally recommended TAH but will start laproscopically. Although the recovery is faster, the anesthesia about an hour longer so that they can cut everything into smaller pieces for removal. Has that been a concern for anyone? I think I'd rather be asleep a little longer and up and around a little sooner but my sister is concerned about the increased anesthesia time.

Also, Dr hasn't mentioned any hormone stuff, but with no ovaries I expect there wil be some changes. Is this generally discussed before surgery or after you experience symtoms? I have never had much PMS (just alot of pain, cramping & clotting )or mood swings before and I don't know what to expect.

Thanks for any input.

HI Blaze96. Welcome
Write down all your questions about your surgery, HRT, recovery and fax them to your DR office a couple days before your pre-op appt.
I did this with my DR and she appreciated it as she also rescheduled my appt so she could spend more time with me.
Good luck with getting the answers you are seeking.
Autumn

Hi Blaze96,

I was under general anesthesia for about 3 hours for a LAVH. I had 2 anesthesiologists in there with me and they hooked me up to monitors, so I wasn't so worried then. I think one anesthesiologist was fairly new which is why I had 2. Ask to see if you'll have monitors. I told my Dr. "no monitors, no surgery". He said it's required in that hospital, so I was okay with that.

I have my ovaries so I can't offer you any information on that. I can say my recovery was very quick though. Best of luck to you!!

Dear Blaze,
I think that Autumn gave you some great advice... and not JUST because this is what I did. I started by looking through the resources and articles and then through the pre-op threads and post-op threads, and came up with every question I could think of and then put them in categories, and emailed them to my doctor for my pre-op. Some of my questions turned out to be answered by my hospital part of the pre-op. Your anesthia question will most likely fall into that category (at least it would have for me)... but our doctors do have opinions about that as well... so everyone would be answering you differently. My anesthiaologist knew exactly the right amount of anesthia to give me (and the right type ~ I might add). He asked me many questions pre-op (such as had I ever had experience with nausea and anesthia, and what was my usual reaction to pain, how much pain was I in at the moment, was I anxious)... and then he went to work. When I woke up I just felt like I had had a wonderful sleep! They almost had to PROVE to me that I had had surgery!

Just start making your list of questions... if you are like me that will do wonders to calm your nerves.

Good luck to you! Please keep us posted and feel free to PM me if you want to talk.

any time you are under any form of anesthesia, cardiac and oxygen monitoring is required...without it, the anesthesiologist would not know when to add or delete some narcotics going in you...
you will do fine...best wishes on your surgery

Hi Blaze96,

You have gotten some very good replies here. I just wanted to mention that we do have a list of questions for your Doc that others have found useful. Here is the link: Questions for your Pre-Op Appointment

I hope this helps, keep asking questions!!

s,
Kay