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TAH/BSO - So many "unexpecteds"...

From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List

Dear Friends,

Just thot I'd give a report on 'my journey'.

The afternoon prior to my surgery, 8/1, I drank the 'bowel prep' stuff exactly as instructed. But, apparently by bowels did not know what 'the plan' was and did NOT respond. I was up by 2:30 a.m., unable to sleep anymore, and still...NO movement in the bowel area. I decided to call the hospital and spoke with a nurse on the floor I'd be put on after surgery and she said to call the Dr. Since the hospital was a long ways from our house, I did not want to drive all that way and him say he could not do the surgery.
The Dr. called me back and said the surgery would still go on........hey, have any of you not responded to this bowel prep????...
But, of course...by the time I arrived at the hospital it began to work so even after they'd inserted the IV, I kept having to have them disconnect it so I could dash off to the bathroom...not a whole lot of fun.
Apparently the surgery in front of me ran into complications so my surgery ended up being 2 1/2 hrs. later...I was really glad I'd read on this site to warn our DH's about this possibillity so that he would not worry. I had a very kind nurse in the 'waiting' area and she saw I'd been there for a long time and sent for my DH and he was able to stay with me til they rolled me off to surgery.
My surgeon came into chat with me before and I asked him if he was gonna do staples or stiches...I was really glad we talked about that cuz he decided to do stitches since I live so far away and that way I was not having to return a week later to have the staples removed...that's been a blessing.
I woke up in recovery saying "my stomach hurts, my stomach hurts..."....I think they ignored me. But, they were busy putting these bag type, inflatible things on my legs ..and then took me to my room .
I had a morphine pump, which was great. I really did not experience excrutiating pain as I had anticipated. The drugs were able to control my pain. But, one thing I did not expect was to have such a DRY mouth and tongue!.....then, my stomach was upset some. It was not real significant at this point, but I did mention it several times to the nurse.
I really did not eat much for a week so have lost 8-10 lbs. but am sure that will come back soon as my appetite is definitely back!
I ended up in the hospital for 5 days....I really wanted to come home so when the Dr. came in the final morning I hid my little 'throw up' dish under the covers. Maybe I should have told him because the worst was yet to come.
I got home and over the next two days got sicker and sicker. Honestly...I have NEVER, ever, ever been so increidbly sick!!!!.....in my head I finally determined it was the pain med that was killing me. "Lortab". The throwing up after just having your stomach cut open..NOT a good thing! I felt like my stiches burst open and burned. It was horrible. Then, the constant nasea feeling for two days was the lowest of low points for me!
I'd called the Dr. and he called back and wanted me to wait til the morning to see if the stuff was out of my system and I felt better and I just burst into tears...."you don't understand, I don't feel naseas every minute, it's EVERY second...I cannot wait"
He had me take some medication and over the next day and a half...my symptoms disappeared. What a relief...!!!
When I first got up my heart would beat fast just walking to the bathroom, ...but now that it's been a week and a half, my strength is returning slowly. Each day I'm feeling stronger.....
Thanks for hanging with me through this journey..it's just so comforting to know that you can share with folks who truly have been through it and DO understand.

blessings to all,
rjj/Ruth



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