LAVH Wednesday, home Thursday and feeling pretty good (children mentioned)

Hello all!

I've had "female" problems since I was a teenager. My periods were always heavy and my cramping and pain were always bad. I tried several different pills, but always ended up with side effects that caused me to cease useage. I had my first child a few months before my 23rd birthday. Her birth went smoothly. After her birth, however, things started to go downhill for me. My cramps, pain, and bleeding increased. I didn't want to do anything that would interefere with my fertility because I knew I wanted to have at least one more child.

I had my first laprascopy and D&C in 1995. The doctor found endometriosis and fibroids. He suggested Lupron but I was too afraid of the side effects. About a year later, I went to the ER with severe bleeding. They gave me a shot of Methergine to try to stop the bleeding, but it didn't work. I was admitted and had another D&C along with another laproscopy and hysteroscopy. The doctor said the endo was worse and the fibroids were bigger. We discussed hysterectomy but I was only 26 and still wanted to have another child. My daughter's father and I were divorcing at the time. The doctor told me "You need to have another baby soon, because you may have trouble getting pregnant if you wait too long." Then he said, "Do you have a list of the top ten things you like in a man? Narrow it down to the top five! You need to get married and have a baby soon!"

I met my second husband in 1998, and we got married a year later, and a year after that, we had a son. He was breech, and I was able to have him vaginally thanks to a very experienced doctor (he's the one who did my hyst yesterday). During the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I could tell the baby was in a funny position. I could feel his head bulging out on my right side! Perhaps the fibroids had something to do with his position, I don't know.

My son is 9 now, and I have been thinking about having a hysterectomy since his birth. I finally made the decision to have the LAVH a few months ago and it was done yesterday.

My daughter (she's 16 now) stayed with me when I was in the pre-op room. She kept me entertained; teenagers are so funny. I was scheduled for 2:00, they moved me to 1:00, but then back to 2, and they ended up taking me back at 3. I remember not liking the oxygen mask and trying to take it off...and the next thing I remember was waking up in recovery and being pretty nauseated. I had trouble speaking too, which is probably good for those who were around me because I talk a lot. LOL

Anyway, I shorten this up a bit: I feel fine today. I'm very relieved to have finally gotten this done. I think my quality of life is really going to improve. I'm really into weight lifting, and haven't been able to train much for the last few months due to excessive bleeding and fatigue (anemia). I'm really looking forward to getting back into a lifting routine. My doctor said my vaginal walls are weak and I need to do lots of Kegels. That's kinda embarrassing! LOL

So far, I haven't had the pains associated with the gas from the surgery. I do feel pressure in my abdomen, though. Oh - I was able to keep my ovaries, so I am happy about that. He only made one incision (belly button). I'm happy about that too.

I think I got more (and better) sleep at the hospital than I have in months at home!

I think having the surgery was a great idea, and I am looking forward to improved quality of life and more energy. I wish the same for all of the Sisters out there who are going through this too.