Ovary-sparing daVinci Hysterectomy, A&P Repair, and Bladder Neck Sling

I was having painful cramps and heavy bleeding during my periods and it steadily got worse over about three months. I also had lower back and hip pain. My GYN confirmed on December 21, 2011 that I had a 5cm fibroid, prolapsed uterus, and a cystocele. He recommended the daVinci Hysterectomy with Anterior Repair and a bladder sling.

I was in shock. I thought this was an "old lady" issue and that I would many more years before I would have to deal with something like this. After talking with some friends, I found out how common it really is. I had no idea. Why don't people talk about this??? Ever since then, I've been putting practically every detail on Facebook. My guy friends hate it, but I just hope I can help someone else understand the process. I'm a teacher anyway... go figure!

So my surgery was scheduled for January 17, 2012. That way I could finish up semester exams and get grades finalized before I took off. It also gave me one more period... I guess so I could "remember". I don't know. I just felt weird about it.

My initial impression of the hospital is pretty negative, but I received excellent care during my surgery and post-op. There were a few things that made me unhappy right at the beginning.

I arrived at the surgery center at 5:30 am. All the surgery patients were led into a de-dressing station together in groups. I didn't like that. I felt like cattle or something. It just seemed impersonal.

Then I was led into the Pre-Op area where my RN did my H&P and started my IV. I made it abundantly clear that I have anxiety issues and to please give me something, but that never happened. About 30 minutes later, the anesthesiologist and the scrub nurse came to take me to the OR.

I was half blind because I couldn't have my contacts or glasses. I just remember looking up and the blurry ceiling from my gurney and crying. They wheeled me into the surgical suite where the daVinci robot loomed in the corner. That really freaked my freak and I put my hands over my face and just laid there and cried some more. I had to move myself over to the surgical table. As soon as I laid my head on the pillow, I was out. Good thing. I was really scared.

The next thing I remember was being lifted from a gurney into my hospital bed. I remember thinking how soft and fluffy the bed felt. Drugs sure are a good thing, huh? My husband and mother came in the room shortly after. The nurse informed me that I had to have a posterior repair in addition to everything else. So I pretty much got a brand new hoo-haw.

The first 12 hours post, I pretty much chatted and napped. I was asked if I wanted 1 or 2 Percocet for my first opportunity for pain meds. Still having a Versed hangover, I decided 1 was plenty. Always get the second pill. Two hours later I was pretty achy and the dragon lady from Hell wouldn't let me have another until the 4 hours were up. It was bearable though. The pain never really got all that bad. The only thing that I worried about a little was when my blood pressure machine alarmed when my BP got too low. At one point it was like 95/45 or something like that. I just had to lay on my back instead of my side and it bounced back up to a decent level. (I take a Beta-blocker.)

I stayed in the surgical center overnight for "observation". Clever how they do that to trick the insurance company into paying for an in-patient stay for an out-patient copay. My night was uncomfortable though. I had to get up and walk around 8:00 that evening. It made me pretty achy again. So, I took the TWO Percocet before I went to bed and woke up really itchy a couple of hours later. It eventually wore off and I got a little bit of sleep in between shift changes and taking my vitals.

The next morning at 6:00, the nurse removed the Foley catheter and my gauze packing. Then I showered and checked out all my new holes and fancy cardiac lead stickers. (Baby oil is your friend for removing the residue.) My doctor came by around 9:00 and I was on my way home by 10:30.

I was sent home with a Rx for Percocet 7.5/325 for pain and Flexeril 10mg for bladder spasms.

Hystersisters has helped me get through this on a daily basis. I didn't even know the site existed until I Google searched a couple of items and the forums kept popping up. What an enormous wealth of knowledge and support! And it's not all in medicalese that you can't understand. It's written in plain language by women who have been through it. I especially like how EVERYTHING is discussed. There are no taboo topics. So, as you go through the healing process and new questions arise, there is somebody somewhere who has gone through pretty much what you are going through.

And that's my story.