TAH - with additional remodeling

I was so looking forward to be able to make this post.

I am the kind of person who clings to every little detail of everyone's experience~ just wanting to know everything.
So for those of you who are like me, I'll try to remember all I can!

I want to start out with my decision for my surgery in the first place. I have said a couple of times how I had almost felt guilty, because alot of you have some horrible suffering, and mine all came about in a wink of an eye, without any prior procedures. I do realise I was suffereing to an extent...I just didn't really know it (does that really constitute suffering then?) My decision was based on that I was going to have to do it someday...why not now.

Now that I am post op, I definately do not have those feelings of guilt, as there was a whole lot going on in there that we did not know. But I'll get to that...

I laid in bed the night before and thought about everyone else who was trying to get some sleep knowing their surgery was the next day. My anxiety was huge.
I was not required to have a bowel prep, but honestly I almost wished I had. I worried that I was going to hve that last minute diarrhea urge. And it was consuming. I knew once I was bare bottomed in the holding area, there would be no turning back. My drs were waiting for me, so once I was into my gown, things went really quickly. And I knew at that point it would be "any minute" that I'd be waking up. And it was. sort of

Waking up after surgery was so difficult this time. I don't reallly know why. I just couldn't wake up. I had general anesthesia. I don't really have any memory of going to my room, or really much of that day at all.
I did find out that surgery went well, but longer than expected because my general surgeon found "another" hernia. I did have an inguinal hernia that was to be repaired, but he said while "pulling back the layers" they found another larger and rare type of hernia. He said that my tissue was so very weak that he basically had to reinforce my entire abdomen.
Ovaries looked good & (and despite a little prior confusion) they stayed.

Every day got better....getting up that first time was a doozy. Can't sugar coat it. But what's amazing to me is that the next time was like 100% better. And every time after that. It amazed me that IT'S TRUE that to get up and move around makes you feel better. It's a weird thing to me.

The hospital experience, much to my dismay, was not so great this time. Until I got up and walked down the hall, I honestly thought I was in some forsaken little hallway. I swear they kept forgetting about me. So I learned that while my nurse or aid was there, get absolutely everything I needed~ telling them when my pain meds were due, because who knew when I was going to see them again!!! ...oh and my room was DIRECTLY across from the nurse's station. No lie.

The ted hose/leg pumps bugged me to no end. My last night they made me use them while I was still connected to my iv (with no meds, but no catheter) so I had to ring for the nurse when I needed to go....(and then it took em forever to get there!!)
Almost lost it with that whole thing.

As far as pain... Just alot of pressure way down low. Like bad period cramps. I did have some burning sensation in my incision, and pain up the side where my hernia was. I honestly can't say what it would've been without my extra work. My biggest fear was to wake up to some Godawful pain. And that WAS NOT the case. The gas came...and hasn't been to bad. It seems like after I walk a little, it's more gurgly, like it's moving around.
I can't really say the waiting was the worst....the waiting was waaaayy longer first of all. At least if something's unpleasant...it only lasts a millisecond.

I am sure I am leaving soooome little detail out, but the wonderful pain meds are making my eyes heavy. Can't wait for my own bed.

My intention was to relieve your fears, not add new ones. I hope I have done that...at least a little.
My advice is to just be completely and utterly informed, so that you have no surprises,
and be in control of your healthcare.
Best of luck to all that venture into the land of Hyster.