Still in hospital, 2nd night. (Warning-pain)

Please keep in mind this is my experience so far and in no way dictates how you will experience this surgery or pain.

I had my surgery for pubovaginal sling and gr3 rectocele repair yesterday. I was originally scheduled for noon but surgery didn't start till 1:30 because they had to wait for an OR, there was a surgeon that was running over. I am on my 2nd night here and will probably go home tomorrow. I have a team of docs here taking care of my postop needs. Not to scare anyone and I know everyone has different tolarance for pain but this has been by far the most painful surgery I have woken up from. I woke up in the PACU crying from pain with the nurse of who ever asking me if i take a lot of pain meds at home! All I remember is yelling NO!!! I am in pain!!!! I have a morphine allergy and can't remember the name of what they had me on. In addition they gave me another pain med by IV every 6 hours of which I could only have a total of 3 but it got me through the first night. i also had a PCA Pump and did I ever push that button!!

Exchanged the pump for 2 Percoset and 1Ibuprofen every 4 hours. It brings the pain down to about a 5 for a couple hours and then escalates again. I have a wonderful warm water heating pad which has really helped today.

The nurse removed my foley this morning but I could only void 40 mil and 15 min later only another 40mil with bladder scan showing about 350mil residual so she called and they said to straigh cath and let them know how much. Just as she started another nurse came in and said my primary surgeon wants the foley back in....OWE. I ended up having 650mil!!

My surgeon;s resident came by this morning and removed the vaginal packing (surprise and just how everyone describes it...Sandpaper), I only lost about 200mil of blood during surgery.

All in all pain control has been rough making for a long day. As an added bonus I ended up in a Semi-Private room...they are so full. With one lady moving out and another moving in today. My DH about went through the roof when they kept bumping into my bed sending me into downward spiral of pain. I cannot sit up yet so i am not sure how i will tolerate an almost 2 hour car ride home tomorrow.

My doc came by tonight and said he was not at all surprised that i failed the voiding test today since they pushed a lot of IV fluid through me in the OR. He added that he injected some long lasting pain relief into the bladder lift part of the surgery to lesten some of the pain and expected I would be in a lot of pain from the rectocle repair. His words were "I am not going to lie to you your rectocele was HUGE, I could fit my entire fist in the prolapse. It was much larger than we thought it was"

DH was made me cry this morning, he doesn't deal with hospitals all that well and just zones out like a zombie. My voice was very soft due to the intubation and he was short with me and frustrated when i asked him to help me...He is usually so helpful. I told him he either needs to help me or go home but he is stressing me out and to Stop it! It went so much better after that.


I haven't been sleeping more than about 30 min at a time, tonights been a bit better...little over an hour. Now it's midnight and waiting for meds at 1am...

Thanks for the well wishes. Each one of you ladies on this board is a special and strong woman. Your journey has shaped your character and given you a strength that has no match and that few can understand. Praying for each and every one of you.

I hope it goes better with you and the pain recedes. Is there any way that you can perhaps lie down on your journey back home ? I got my OH to bring my comforter, pillows and things and he made a bed for me in the back of our SUV and I slept all the way home, also two hours.

Definitely make sure you are loaded up on all of the pain meds that you can be before leaving for home, and do have lots of pillows! Even if DH has to go out and buy some before you leave. I also wonder if they wouldn't consider letting you stay an extra night considering the long trip that you will have to make to get home.
You mentioned Ibuprofen, but what strength? Hopefully, they have you on the max, 800 mg. My surgery was NOTHING compared to yours, but I did get more relief from the Motrin after a couple of days.
Hope your trip home is painless and uneventful.

Last night went a bit better, I actually got two good stretches of sleep about 3 hours each. The trick is definitely no pressure on the pelvis. My feet ended up a little too high so my bladder was tilted and didn't drain so well. A quick find and solution once the bladder started hurting. I get the 800 Ibuprofen in between and had a lot of pain at midnight and it really didn't help at all. The percoset really helped a lot though.

We brought our minivan down knowing the ride home will be tough. The back seats recline all the way so I will be able to lay down. Hubby brought a couple pillows and blanket for me. YEAH!

This is no cakewalk but i am keeping my eye on the prize!

Hi Nicole!

Getting out today!! Well that question answered.. lol... glad you were able to sleep better last night... maybe tonight you'll get a full rest... hope your trip home is comfortable...

Take care,
Kathy

I am so glad to hear surgery went well, but sorry to hear you are having a tough time in the early stages of recovery. That is great news that you get to go home today! I hope the car ride home goes nice and smooth for you! Continue to keep us updated and hang in there!! Karen

Doc came by this morning and removed foley again. Now we wait and see what happens. He said he is not worried though, everything is so swollen from the surgery and if i can't void yet then I will go home with a folley today and come back next Thursday to take it out. He also said it's no problem if I ride home laying across the back seat.

Nicole,

Your doc said today or wait another 8 days???? Is that to coordinate with a follow-up and/or the distance you have to travel???

Well, I hope no need to keep it... and recovery is easy sailing from here on...

Take care,
Kathy

I had a TVH with A &P repairs too. I was also in a LOT of pain after & in the hospital. My advice to you when you get home is to take all pain meds on schedule even if that means setting the alarm at night. I had darvocet and 800 mg of motrin and the first night I slept through the alarm and when I got up I couldn't pee & I started to panic (things all were too swollen). I took my meds and was able to go about 40 mins later. Good luck and speedy recovery to you!!!

Hi Nicole,hoping ur ride home is comfy and without bumps,so glad 2 hear it's all over,we'll all recover together,take it easy,God Bless you and keep u safe.(any consolation on DH,mine stayed home wkend of my surgery,he was outside pulling out the engine on his HOT ROD,yeah lots of help here!)LOL