A look back, WOW!

I can't get over how long it took to get to this point of recovery. I'm at the start of week 6 and feeling really good. I'm finally able to get through a day without being so tired and enjoying the great news of my daughter getting married this year! I just reviewed my posts and all my questions to my HysterSisters. Wow is this a great support group. I would have been lost without all of you! I thank you all for your answers, suggestions and support. I know we all heal differently and my recovery was pretty positive. Those of you who are waiting for your surgery, be strong and think positive (though I remember how hard that was) and you can do this! I was so scared about this whole process and now I am so glad I did it. I'm hoping I've passed the time I would have had my "mini" period (I kept my cervix) and won't have to worry about that. I'm still crossing my fingers on that. I can't wait to see my Doc this week for my 6 week visit and see how things are going and when I can return to normal life. Though I have to admit, I've somewhat enjoyed this down time. I hope all of you find peace with your body like I do. Here is my 1 week post for my sisters who are waiting. Good luck to you and your recovery. YOU CAN DO IT!
Hi HysterSisters and I really think we are all in a sense sisters because of this experience we all are sharing or shared together. My surgery was Monday morning this week and it’s now Friday—5 days after surgery. I wanted to share with you my experience because I remember reading everyone’s events during that dreaded waiting time and it really helped. I think many sisters who have good experiences get busy with their life after the surgery that they forget to share how good it’s going. And sometimes there are only the posts available of people who are looking for solutions to different problems. And that’s perfect too, this has been a wonderful site to share and find out information. Esp. with all the scary sites out there! I was very lucky: I found this site right away and stayed away from anything else. Here I found solace and comfort and information.
I’ve known I had fibroids for many years but it really got bad during the last 2 years and worse this year. 2 week periods SUCK! Over the summer I found a great Doc who said you can live with them or live without them. It’s up to you. I finally had a job I could take 6 weeks off with and said ok, let’s do it. Only thing is, I am a runner. I run 5K’s, 8K’s, 10K, 10 milers, and Half marathons. I had races scheduled all the way to the beginning of December and didn’t want to mess that up. So, my Doc said let’s do it mid-December. So, I’ve known I was going to have this surgery since July and basically focused on my run training and kept life going as normal. It really didn’t hit me until 2 weeks before the surgery that, I WAS GOING TO HAVE SURGERY! I had everything done for Christmas by the first week of December. Christmas cards were done, shopping was done, presents were wrapped and in bags labeled with post-its (I love post-its) to where they were suppose to go. The basement, yard and house is pretty clean and all my races were done. I set up with my work that I was taking 6 weeks off and I even ordered my Tummy Binder here from HysterSister. I read the entire booklet they sent me along with checking daily posts of pre-opt and post-opt. Now it was time to think….
During those 2 weeks, I went from 117 lbs to 109 because food looks terrible to me. I was averaging about 2 hours of sleep until I spoke to my Doc and she prescribed Ambien for me. Thank GOD! I was actually able to sleep “ok.” But any waking moment were filled with fear and dread:
Will I be the same person afterwards?
Will I be able to touch my stomach again?
Will my stomach be HUGE?
Will I still feel like a girl?
Will I be able to have sex again?
Will I be able to run again?
Will I need hormones?
Will it hurt?
Will there be complications?
Will I die and never wake up????
You name it, I thought it was going to happen to me. The 2 weekends before my surgery, my wonderful Husband kept me very busy. We spent a day in Chicago, went out to eat, A LOT and just vegged together. The weekend before the hospital we super-cleaned the house and we went for a 5.5 mile run on my favorite trails. I ate a little soup, finished packing my bag and he gave me an early Ambien and made sure I knew every alarm was set up to go off at 4 for a 5am hospital pre-opt time. This really created a huge closeness between us. When I woke up, I toke that last shower with that weird soap the hospital told me to use and we were on our way. It was a clear, moon-lit sky and I was surprisingly calm.
It wasn’t until we got to the hospital that the nerves started up again. I put on my gown, which BTW, the Hubs thought was so cute! NOT!!!! And a bunch of people asked me the same questions over and over again. I never realized how many people are involved in 1 person’s operation. It’s amazing!!!! And they are all there for you!!!! Your comfort, your care! I almost lost it when they wheeled me away from my Hubs after his kiss but I was brave. And BTW, being brave is tiring too…. I stayed pretty calmed as each person came to me. Everyone was just so positive, from the nurses to the anesthesiologists. I asked the last anesthesiologist will I be in lots of pain afterwards and she almost looked surprised. She said, “we don’t want anyone in pain here” and assured me you won’t even remember waking up little less any pain. She was so nice, and even gave me a little something in my IV to start putting me out as they wheeled me into the operating room.
I’m not going to lie, the operating room looks like something from X Files! Very space ship like and scary. But then I saw my Doc in her cute scrubs and became instantly relaxed. I’m sure it was the magic syringe of stuff the anesthesiologist put in my IV too. I remember scooting over to the table, someone said I’m moving your arm and then I was out. It felt like 2 seconds! I was then in a room with the most kindest man I ever met. He must have been my post-op nurse because he had the gentlest voice and hands in the world. I remember asking him what time it was and it was around 12:45. My surgery started at 6:30! All I kept thinking in my mind was my poor Hubs was waiting for me this whole time. How is he???? I slept in and out and have no idea how I got to my room. There the Hubs was great. Concerned but I could tell relieved. My advice for you in the hospital is don’t have any visitors while you recover. That was really hard to tell everyone not to come (and BTW they came anyway….) but you’re in no mood to entertain or talk during your recovery. I was lucky, I didn’t have a reaction to the anesthesia but was really groggy. I can only imagine if you were throwing up while people were there…YUCK!
I did end up losing more blood than my Doc wanted and my fibroid was the size of a cantaloupe! 2.5 lbs to be exact. She said it was big during my exams but I didn’t think that big! I was serverly dehydrated because the operation went from 90 minutes to 3 hours and I also didn’t eat or drink much for 2 weeks prior to Monday. My fault, memo to myself: Eat better and drink lots before an operation. The first night was rough. I wasn’t given anything to eat all day because they didn’t want me to throw up so the Hubs gave me tons of ice chips every time I woke up. Dang, they tasted good. But I still couldn’t get enough in me and talking was nearly impossible because my mouth kept drying up (Again, NO VISITORS is perfect). They doubled my IV solutions throughout the night. The nurses checked on me every 1.5 hours which meant no sleep for me and my Hubs. My hospital only had private rooms which was a blessing. My Hubs slept in a chair when he could catch a few minutes. I thought it was funny that they called our rooms “suites.” Like you’re on vacation! Anyway, it was a long night and I was in and out of consciousness all night. Not the best but not the worse night of my life.
In the morning I felt better. I was still hooked up to the magic pump and used it sparingly at this point. They said I was passing water well and if I thought I could make it to the bathroom they would like to take my Cather out. (BTW, nothing weirder that seeing your own pee through a tube and you have no control over it) Here was my next fear—is this going to hurt???? They had me sit up in a rocker, and the nurse was so gentle and as long as you stay relaxed it’s a piece of cake! It takes like 3 seconds. 3 hours later I was using the bathroom all by myself and off the IV pump. Whoo hoo. They wanted to know if I wanted to go home and my Doc left it up to me. My insurance paid up to 7 days so Doc said, “why don’t you stay the night and see how it goes since I wasn’t really passing much gas.” I’m not a good farter…. I ate soft foods all day and we stayed 1 more night. It wasn’t bad. We walked the halls, watched TV and the nurses pretty much left us alone to sleep. Something else I recommend is a night mask for your eyes. The lights don’t turn off in your rooms and if you like the dark like I do, it really helped. Plus it makes you feel like a movie star! I hadn’t taken any pain pills since 9pm that night so in the morning the incision on my left side really hurt. I’m glad we stayed the night because that would have totally freaked my Hubs out if I woke up like that at home. The nurse reassured us it’s all part of the healing process and the pill she gave me, took effect in 15 minutes. I had breakfast and the Doc came in, checked me out, said I did good considering how big the fibroids were and said I could go home and to just rest. Be sure to have someone at home to help you. REST, REST, REST is what you need.
Each day gets better and I’ve been walking, resting, walking, resting the last 2 days. I’m off the hard meds and now just on plain Motrin and I highly recommend HysterSister’s Tummy Binder. I’m wearing it right now and boy does it help give you support for walking, sitting up and laughing (my biggest issue). My Hubs told a joke in the hospital and almost killed me! Your worries are real, don’t minimize them and don’t let anyone else minimize them. This isn’t like taking your tonsils out—it’s a major organ that does a ton of stuff. I was lucky. Doc said my ovaries and Cervix looked great. I was able to keep them. I don’t feel that pressure anymore on my bladder that I thought was normal—dang, am I stupid! I’m using the bathroom well and my first BM was a breeze because of the ton of water I’m drinking and this great natural stool softener called Senokot. Eat light and healthy. I only put things down me that I know will make me strong. Right now I’m enjoying my Christmas tree and a new series of books.
This adventure made me really appreciate so much. Good health, my home, and most importantly my Hubs. He’s my BFF and I couldn’t imagine my life without him even with he almost killed me with his joke.
YOU CAN DO THIS GIRLS! Take it from someone who was terrified….and I feel so much better now! Cyber hugs to you all!!!