Vaginal packing

I'm scheduled for a TVH on July 8. (Somehow seeing that in writing makes it seem real!) Fibroids, irregular bleeding, complex hyperplasia--progressed from simple in one year.
I am compiling a list of questions for my gyn, but my pre-op visit isn't until late June. So in the meanwhile, what exactly is vaginal packing? would those of you who had an epidural go that route again? what kinds of pain meds might I be able to take since I get very itchy from codeine, percodan and percocet.
Thanks so much. This is such a great support system.

hi, i had a tvh a week ago, april 26. the vag packing is just gauze in your vagina for the blood in the incision. i joked with my doctor while she took it out the next day that she looked like a magician because the gauze was one loooooooong piece that she kept pulling and pulling and pulling. it reminded me of the magicians with the scarves. it didn't hurt coming out.

i had general anesthesia for this. i liked that route because i definitely wanted to be out while in a crazy position. i had epidurals when giving birth which was perfect for that this situation.

the pain pills i have are oxycodone and they definitely do the trick. i also take advil several times a day. i also get itchy with some meds, but not with the oxy.

hope this helps. everything seemed very simple and recovery is going fine. i love laying in bed all day take care

I had a TVH 5-1/2 weeks ago and did not have vaginal packing. I guess it varies by doctor.

I didn't have an epidural, but I did have a spinal, and yes, I would do it again. I was so tired from lack of sleep (and anemic, as well) that I dozed through most of the surgery. I woke up from time to time and heard the conversation between doctors, but went back to sleep. They had to wake me up to tell me it was over. One of the advantages was the opportunity to see the uterus afterwards. Looking at it in a Ziploc bag, it was hard to believe it had caused so much trouble. It wasn't as big as I expected, and neither was the largest fibroid. The other advantage was pain. I never needed anything in the hospital or after I came home stronger than ibuprofen. I felt very mild cramps the first day or so, but they became less frequent as the days went by. Lying in the recovery room with legs that wouldn't move was a little annoying, but not all that disturbing. I had versed before the surgery to calm my nerves and it was very effective!

My first instinct was to be knocked out for the surgery but I didn't like the idea of the breathing tube. It was reading the posts here about spinals and epidurals that made me decide to have the spinal. I was very happy with it. There's a purple search button at the top of this page so you can search to find other threads on the topic.

Good luck!
Margaret

Yes, it does vary by doctor, but maybe also patient to patient. My doctor mentioned to me after surgery that he considered packing but decided that it might be irritating so didn't do it.