TVH botched surgery became TAH plus more

I am a 55 year old healthy active woman. I went in for my vaginal hysterectomy on the morning of July 6th. I had confidence in my Dr and was quite relaxed about it all. My older sister had had the same procedure a few years prior and said she had no problems. Just some soreness and follow up rest for a few weeks after. I have a blood disorder where I take Coumadin. That was all taken into consideration and I had bridge coagulation therapy before and after surgery. The operation was to take 2 1/2 hours (8am to 10:30am). The Dr was very definite about the time.

I woke up in recovery at 6pm!!! During surgery the Dr. severed BOTH of my ureter tubes (run from kidneys to the bladder). Luckily he discovered his mistake through a dye test at the end of the procedure. Fortunate for me an excellent Urologist was in the operating theater next door and was able to promptly come in open up my abdomen (6" vertical cut) and re-attach the ureters- (a second complete surgery). He also inserted pigtail stents into each ureter.

What a shock to wake up to this news. My husband said that I was in surgery for almost 9 hours! He was worried sick.

I stayed in the hospital for 5 days. Lots of pain meds (morphine drip... to Percocet...to Tylenol 3- all made me sick). I had a private room (seems my Dr has a conscience). I had a catheter for two weeks (horrible). After a CAT scan last week I found out that the reattachment was a success and the catheter was removed. I was able to pee properly with no leakage right away (thank goodness!) I had to also take antibiotics for a urinary tract infection and questionable healing at the incision line.

The staples were removed 10 days post surgery. The stents will stay in for another 3 weeks to help in avoiding scare tissue development.

Except for the initial mistake I was treated very well by 3 Drs and loads of nurses. Our Canadian medical system even provided for home care as needed~ which I did need for the first week and a half at home. I am confident that I will eventually be 100%, but it will take a while.

The 9 hour surgery made me anemic so that adds to my fatigue. That will take a couple of months to correct with diet and an iron supplement.

So I guess under the circumstances I am a lucky girl that the accident was detected right away. On the other hand I will be pretty inactive for a lot longer that the TVH would have been. I was the less than 1% statistic.

That's my story and so far getting a little better every day. My tummy is sore and swollen. My appetite is back. It "hurts" to wear underwear so I am staying home most of the time for now.

I doubt anyone has the same story, but I would love to hear if anyone else had surgical complications. All the best...

I did not have any complications but I just wanted to give you
You've endured a lot and I'm wishing you many, many
:

Yes! Mine was in Sept 2011. Cut left Ureter, repaired in surgery by the Urologist. Repair ruptured the night I was released from hospital. Readmitted to hospital to have Nephrostomy bag on my side for 2 months. Had open abdominal surgery and catheter, stint for 3 weeks after last surgical repair. Which was the cut from belly button down. Glad they caught yours early, but sorry it happened to you. Take care and I am wishing you an uneventful recovery from here on out. Let us know how you are doing. I am fine now!.. Thanks to God!

You poor dear. My surgical repair seems to be holding and healing well. The stents will be removed August 10th. Peeing normally too. Just a dull pain ALL the time. Icing my incision a few times a day seems to help and controls the swelling.

I am thankful to hear you are fine now. Though it sounds like you had a long tough road.

Thanks for the encouraging words. All the best to you.

Thank you so much. Glad I found this site. Wishing you all the best too.