13 days to go and getting NERVOUS!

I will post my introduction on the introduction board.

13 days and counting...Surgery scheduled for August 11th at 7:30 a.m.

I am scheduled for a LAVH with RSO (I don't have a left tube/ovary). If all goes well and nothing major pops up, my dr. didn't think there would be a problem with doing a LAVH, but given my history I am to expect an abdominal incision. I have been dealing with cysts, endometriosis, heavy bleeding, and severe passing out pain every month since starting my period at age 12. I do have a very tiny fibroid on the left side under part of my uterus.

I opted for a hysterectomy to relive the pain I have been dealing with. My dr. has put me off for over a year now because he wanted to be certain I would not have regrets in doing the surgery. We have no bio children and our only bio child died at 24 weels after going into spontaneous labor due to a placenta infection that put my life in danger( I have had 8 first trimester losses too). We do have two children through adoption.

I am nervous and not sure why. Surgically I am in the best possible hands. I could have had the surgery sooner by seeking another dr., but chose to wait till my dr. would agree to do it. He is a very caring, gentle man that "gets it" on all levels and he gave me the option of any day in August to do the surgery except next week because he would be gone. I asked for a Friday and told me to pick one. I picked the 11th and he is off on that day and said he had no problems coming in to do the surgery. If I didn't do surgery in August, I was going to have to wait till October (my dr. refuses to do the surgery in September, the month that I lost my son).

I was given my choice of drugs for after surgery, for going home and reminded him that my incisions after surgery always get infected. I will be on Morphine in the hospital and will be sent home on demerol/phenergan combo, an antibiotic and estratest. Oh and for that lovely post surgery insomnia, I am already on Ambien and will take it once I am done with the pain killers.

I won't be kicked out after 24 hours if I don't feel like I can go home. My dr. said that when he comes to check on me and I tell him "there is no way in heck I am going home" then he plans to keep me one more night or if I tell him "please let me go home" he will will sign the papers. He said the only other reasons I would not get to go home after 24 hours would be fever or an abdominal incision. I probably will be staying both nights. With my last two surgeries, I had bladder problems at home and had to be drained both times. Dh wants to make sure I am peeing fine before coming home and I agree. Thankfully my insurance doesn't dictate how long I can be kept, but my dr. did say he would find a reason if necessary.

I am not worried about the "care". My dr. is awesome with the best best best bedside manner. I am pretty sure he will tell the nurses to call him if I have any trouble while in the hospital since he will not be on call. I have his home # already and will get his cell before I leave the hospital so that if I have any trouble after hours I can call once I am home.

I guess I am nervous about the pain after surgery and the healing time. I love the drugs in surgery holding (versced is my friend). My dr. will come in to pray with me/us before surgery and to talk to me. He won't let them take me back until he makes sure all my questions are answered.

I am so ready for this to be over with and to have my life back PAIN FREE! I am only 36 and want to enjoy life. I am looking forward to the other bonuses of not worrying about my period starting right before vacation or on vacation, wearing white whenever I want, sex not being as painful or painful anymore, not living on pain killers for 10-12 days every month and dh missing a day or two of work because I can't function enough to take care of the kids or cysts rupturing. This will put an end to the expensive surgeries to get pain relief for a year or two before needing surgery again (my insurance is probably doing a happy dance ).

I guess I just needed to talk about this!

I'm happy that you joined us here and shared your story with us. You've found the best place to get info, share experiences and support. The ladies here are great!

It sounds like you've done your research and know pretty much what to expect. It you do have any questions - please ask. As I said, the ladies are really wonderful with sharing & giving needed hugs.

Best wishes, I'll pray that all goes well for you.

S

Hi Tracey,
I am 36 as well and have been suffering for years too. I had LAVH on July 21/06 and my dr. (who is WONDERFUL as well) told me that he may have to do an abdominal. I was thrilled to wake up and he was right there in the recovery room with me to tell me that he was able to do the LAVH!!! Your story sounds so similar to mine, I couldn't beleive it as I read. The pain after is NOTHING like my period was. I was living on narcotic drugs for about 10 days of the month as well. I'm just a week into recovery and it is amazing how good I feel. I came home the morning after with no problems. I chose a Friday as well!!!
I know it's easy for me to say 'don't be afraid'. But now that it's all over with I am so glad that I made the decision to do it. It's nothing like I expected and I feel better every day. You will too!

God bless, take care, and I'll say a prayer for you too!

Thanks for the support. My stomach is in knots and I don't feel like eating much. I also have a stress and an ovulation migraine coming on.

I did do my research and thanks to the information here, I have been well informed. I took the check list of questions with me to my decision to do surgery appt back in June, but didn't need it because my dr. anticipated every question before I asked it. Got his stats on complications and pretty much knew that I didn't have anything surgically to worry about. The only thing I was not thrilled about was losing my only ovary and being put into surgical menopause, but given my history with cysts I know that it is the best thing to do. My dr. would not do the surgery and leave my ovary. He is going to work hard to find the right HRT to help me through the next 4-6 years.

I hate feeling like this and I will be glad once I am in recovery with my dr. telling me that everything is ok and what he found.

Hi, I am scheduled for a LAVH with bilateral oophorectomy and salpinectomy on aug 24. I wish I were going earlier. I hope the anxiety and fear wane a little as the month goes on. I'm also fearful of the possiblity of waking up to an abdominal incision. But I guess there is nothing I can do but get informed and wait for that day. I will be starting a new job next week, so that will be a major distraction!