One week post op TAH - My Story

I had a TAH on May 24 due to fluid in my endometrium from my ablation two years ago. They had drained the fluid twice but it came back worse each time. I had a bicornuate uterus and the ablation did not work right due to that. They took my uterus, right tube and cervix.

The surgery went well but they could not control my pain afterward. They had me on a Dilaudid pump, then morphine pump, then back to the Dilaudid because it least that helped me sleep as it made me really drowsy. All Thursday after my surgery and Friday I was in pretty bad pain. They finally took me off the pump and tried Percocet and that semi helped. I had a horrible experience with the nurses, they had me on Toradol every six hours and the Percocet every four, and there were two nurses Friday and Saturday that would only give me one or the other and not both. The doctor had to come and get onto them both times and said it was both. I have to say that it was the most horrible hospital stay I have ever had because of those two nurses. I finally went home Sunday even though my pain was not in control and I had pretty much no bowel sounds because I figured at least at home I could take my pains meds on time!

I was started on a regular diet the day after surgery and continued that through Monday morning, but still had not had a bowel movement (even with Dulcolax and Miralax) and was extremely nauseous and bloated. I went to the doctor for this on Tuesday and she told me to continue what I was doing and not to do an enema (which is what I wanted to do). So from Monday through Thursday I was on a popsicle diet. By Thursday (last night) I was pretty dehydrated and could barely eat a popsicle without really bad nausea (and I was taking Zofran as often as possible to fight the nausea). Finally last night I went to the ER (my stomach was bloated to 2-3 times it size!). At first they thought I had a blockage and started me on IV fluids and did a X-ray and then a CT scan. I did not have a blockage but multiple loops of dilated bowel filled with air. He said I had an ileus which is paralysis of the bowel. It can be a side effect from pain pills but he said it was probably due to the surgery since I had been having problems since then. The IV fluids really started the gas moving and I actually had a BM this morning. And it was normal, not a constipated one which kinda surprised me even though the doctor said I was not constipated. I still do not really want to eat but I am forcing myself to eat popsicles and try to drink as much as I can. I had a boost shake for breakfast, the first semifood since Monday. I am just still scared that my bowel is not working right and food just seems to make it worse since it is not moving stuff. I have a followup appt early tomorrow afternoon.

Right now my bowel not moving right is 10x worse than the surgery itself I just wanted to tell everyone my experience. I am so looking forward to being pain free though! I have been having pain constantly for almost a year now. I am glad I found this board.

On a side note, everyone at the ER last night was amazed with my TAH and wanted to see my scar. I think they thought my doctor was from the stone ages lol The radiology techs even asked to see my incision line. I guess they must not do too many of them anymore at the hospital here ( they did mine because I had severe adhesions and scarring on my tubes and ovaries). I thought it was pretty funny.