Should I be doing this at 57/second thoughts

I am older than you are....and the waiting (10 weeks) nearly killed me. I was so scared - I didn't think I'd wake up.

I'm on the other side - I woke up - I'm healing. What gave me strenght was reading books on hope and healing. Most of my friends think I'm crazy - but I'm telling you - it helped me 'conquer' my fears.
As I have posted on this website before - no matter what people tell you - when it's your uterus - you get scared. You want to close your eyes when they administer anesthesia thinking about a positive outcome.

I'm not doing much around the house -because my focus is getting my strength back. I sit a lot, watch the history channel all day long and needlepoint. This works for me. I am walking more and more each day.

You'll get there. But the waiting is absolutely horrible. Every time I called my gyno - he would ask me - are you going to cancel the surgery - NO. I couldn't wait not even 2 seconds longer. He always answered my 9 zillion questions. I was calm for a few days - and then I'd call him back with another zillion questions.

Good luck - be strong! I'm praying for you!

My gosh you are so lucky. I will read books like that. I do pray everyday and try to say the rosary. It all gives me such peace. Here I thought 57 was so old to do this and now I realize we can all be thrown in the same soup no matter the age. Poor us. I will keep your kind thoughts and words. I am so scared I do think I cry at least once a day. Sometimes the tears come out of nowhere. I just want to feel good again. I don't even remember what that was like. Now I can't wait for this to be done.

The two days before my surgery - I was like Niagra Falls. People only had to call me - and I was a total wreck. The pre op nurse was so wonderful - when she called to confirm time, etc - she asked me what I was so worried about. I went over my concerns - she answered them. I was satisfied and I managed to stop crying.

The dr. called me two times (the day before surg) to make sure I was still on board....He also went over my concerns. I'm sure everyone at the surgicenter thought I was insane. Like I mentioned - when it's your body and they are doing things to you while you are asleep - you are entitled to get hysterical.

I am so grateful to everyone for being so kind!!!!! Keep yourself VERY busy. It's those moments when you are alone that your brain goes into overdrive crazy and you imagine every terrible thing that could go wrong.

Have faith in your physician.

The books on hope and healing will help you understand that you are not alone. That's how I got to the other side mentally.

I am not sure if any tears will be left by then. You are lucky to have had a good Dr. I believe I am in good hands also. Tomorrow I talk with the anesthesiologists for pre-op stuff. I have a whole lot of fears with them! My list will be made tonight to be prepared when they call. I truly wish I was in the same place that you are now. It is hard during the day when H is not home. Not that I burden him too much with this but for some reason I panic a little being by myself. That is strange to me because being alone never has bothered me like it does now. I actually watch the clock but I haven't got as bad as the dog yet sitting by the door :O). So far my imagination has not let me down. I am wondering if I was always this strange and it just now is rearing its ugly head. UGH, now I worry about that?????

The good news is - you are having the davinci surgery. My surgery was different (lavh) - from what I've read on the internet - this is an easier recovery. That's a good thing!

My recovery isn't terrible - just sore. My procedure was outpatient. I went home 6 hours later.

The other thing I know you must be freaking out about - bm. My take on this - and I am not a dr. My dr. told me to do an enema. The whole idea is yucky to me - but I did it. From start to finish - 5 minutes.

From what I understand about DaV - you get to do the colonoscopy prep - not a bad idea. You want to be cleaned out. I had 'stuff' from before the surg sitting inside of me. Waiting for my organs to wake up (post op) and for the softners to work, etc - was very uncomfortable (for 2 days). I really made myself drink water, things started waking up and I had a bm. I'm now in the human race again!

I really worried a lot about the post op bm business. (I think my hobby is worrying and I lived in a state of high anxiety for the weeks before my surgery). I am now calm, not worrying, and going one day at a time. I am focusing on not overdoing things around the house.

I think people that are younger than us worry about swelly bellys. My dr. didn't want me to use a belly binder. I am wearing capri pants from walmart....comfortable and easy.

Most of the time, I'm not in bed. I'm moving around the house. You will be surprised at how much energy you'll have once this is behind you!!!

If it helps - print this and reread it a zillion times. It should help you get control of your worries.

topteach,

I always worry about bm with this kind of thing. I will be dwelling on ythat for sure. I think I am having the davinci type. My doctor called it laproscopy(sp) with robotic assist. I said to her what if the robot doesn't know what he is doing and she said he better because she is controlling it. Sheesh, what a world. Wow they sent you home in 6 hours?? My schedule is I have to take that prep (the big cleanout) and I have to be on a liquid diet the whole day before. Bummer for me I am a 3 meal a day eater and I get so weak when I don't eat. Next day got to wash this body with ibeclens and then off to surgery at 7:30. Then I get to stay overnight and go home. I am not liking that at all but I will probably be glad in the end. Sounds like your surgery went well and you are recovering fast. So lucky.

Doing this at 57? Well my opinion is that I plan to live until 100. I am 51 so I figure that gives me another 49 good years without being dog tired, nauseous or anemic. What if you don't experience menopause until you are 60? Yikes! Plus, menopause won't necessarily cure you.

I waited too long. The endometriosis created so much scar tissue that it fused down my ovaries and twisted around my bowels. Everyone is very different. I’m just saying I wish I had been pushier with my doctor. 3 weeks after surgery and although I'm not 100%, the heaviness in the pit of my stomach that I endured for years is now gone.

Good luck with your decision.

Timeoff,

You have a great outlook. I really love reading these positive posts. I have gone from feeling the lowest in my life this morning to feeling like I think I might handle it. I guess we all have the same fears it is just how we act towards those fears. I think my biggest fear is that yes they will find that endo as well as the adeno and since I too have put up with this for so long damage may have been done. I spoke with my doc today and she said she might find it and might not and she will do the best she can if she does find it. I told her to take my ovaries ONLY if they are bad. What is the sense in putting this off any more I cannot wait to be back to normal. My goal is to start to run. Then train to run (not too soon) a marathon. Just a short one. I keep that as a focus, pray and think about doing agility work with my dog. It is all I can do to make the light start at the end of my tunnel. Thank you for your words.

Don't worry about the prep - I stayed out of the house the whole day before (was on liquids) - just keep yourself distracted. I never got hungry.

My dr. didn't have me do any body washing, etc.

From my readings - the DaV surgery does usually require a night in the 'castle'. (Every time I drove by the surgicenter - I thought - I passing by the 'butcher shop'.). My dr. felt that sending a patient home cut down on infections, etc. He doesn't do DaV (yet?).

The DaV technique is pretty high tech and it's less invasive than my lavh. As long as your dr has experience using it, etc - you should be fine.

I can tell you - I'm still not that interested in food/eating. I have never had that problem before. This is better than weight watchers. All I do is drink. My meals are smaller than before the surg.

I just take one day at a time. I'm feeling better each day! The bottom is less sore each day. These are all encouraging signs!

You'll get there! But I know - the waiting will kill you!

I don't know about this robot thing. She does it and has a couple of people from other hospitals that are on this "team." I am told by the hospital staff that she is awesome but this robot thing kills me. I figured they would do a little slice and I would be done. All this is too high tech but it sounds like we are OK. The wash I am told by her is her deal. She has everyone wash in this ibeclens to keep infection away. Some hospitals have problems but so far this hospital has not so she does the "cleanout" and the "cleanup." Her standard operating procedure. I will do what I am told she is the boss once I am out. I just want to poop and pee when I am done and oh yeah eat.