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The W - Ladies Only - My Fibroids and Me
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tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
My fibroids and Me
By Tricia

Hello! My name is Tricia and I have fibroids.

Why am I posting this? I feel kinda silly posting about this. But my surgery is next Tuesday and I am really getting nervous and stressy about it and I need to vent a little about it. Also, I thought this “woman only” forum could use a new thread and conversation.

About a month ago, I had finished a monthly breast exam on myself and was feeling my abdomen as well and I noticed that my own abdomen felt hard and lumpy. I thought that this was odd and I wondered if I had a real problem or was in the first stages of hypochondria (LOL). I had to see my gynecologist soon for my yearly pap smear so I had her feel my abdomen as well. She did confirm that I did have lumps and am not imagining anything (whew!). I had a CT scan done of my abdomen and it confirmed that I have four(!) fibroids, the largest being 10 centimeters. That must be the hard lumpy thing I feel when I feel my abdomen. The other three are just hanging off of the uterus in the back. After the CT scan, I got the endometrial biopsy (ouch!) last Wednesday the fourteenth and was told that the hysterectomy surgery would be on Tuesday, October twenty if I wanted it, which I do. They will remove the uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix; they would let me keep my ovaries.

Although I have lumps, I am not all that worried about cancer at this point. Husband works in the hospital lab (pathologist) and one of his coworkers checked the biopsy and Husband would have been the first to know if the coworker saw anything suspicious. Statistically, fibroids are usually not cancerous; just annoying and lumpy.

Now my gynecologist is a competent, intelligent female physician. She encouraged me to think about the other treatment options out there and to check the internet. I was always told that if I wanted a second opinion that was okay too. But I always thought in the back of my mind though that if something liked this ever did happen that a hysterectomy would definitely be a good option. The fibroids don’t hurt, but they are making my periods goofy. I have husband shredding menstrual cramps and I have been bleeding a lot more these last couple of months. I had thought about not treating them at all, because of the lack of general pain, but the CT scan showed that one the fibroids in the back is rubbing up against one of my ureters and if it blocks that, that would be a problem.

A hysterectomy would be the only way to guarantee that I would never have the fibroids grow back. All of the other methods of treatment involved a percentage risk that I would have them grow back to annoy me again. Also, one of my fibroids is now baseball sized and the size alone makes several of the other treatment impractical and unlikely to be effective. Hormones to shrink the fibroids just shrink them; they don’t completely disappear. Half a baseball is still pretty big. Also the hormones can cause menopause and bone loss. I am only thirty four and have a long way to go before menopause. The other interesting treatment involved cutting off the blood supply to the fibroids. I didn’t seriously consider this because this involves a great deal of pain and it still has a chance of fibroids growing back AND a chance of going into menopause early too.

I think that getting a hysterectomy is the usual treatment for fibroids. They are more treatments now than they used to but I have looked at those options and I still think that the surgery is still the best one for me. We don’t have any children but we both made a personal decision to not have any kids soon after we met anyway. Our parents have other grandchildren with our brothers and sisters. Also, I am starting to be of the age now where a pregnancy could result in a downs syndrome baby. I really don’t have a reason to keep my uterus anymore. Also a hysterectomy would cut my future uterine/cervical cancer risk to ZERO (yay!) and no more periods (glory hallelujah!!). I wish men bled out their butts and cramped up once a month like we do.

So I am prepping our home for my confinement. To Husband’s amusement, I am hoarding pop, snacks, cans of soup, and frozen pizza rolls. I am moving all video games, books, and toys upstairs because walking up and down stairs is discouraged. My computer is downstairs so there will be a period next week when I won’t be able to check this chat board or my private messages at all. I will go into surgery on Tuesday, and stay for three days at the hospital. Then when I am released I am on bed rest for at least a week and I probably won’t feel up to full strength for four to six weeks. I probably won’t be able to leave the house for a while after the surgery. I am not supposed to do any heavy lifting or exercise until they say so. I am getting really nervous about this; this is the second surgery that I have ever had and the first time I will stay at the hospital ever. (I had my wisdom teeth removed surgically in college. Then I was taken home the same day.) I am kinda sad that I cut my hair. I realize that it is vain and shallow but I had long black hair to my waist. I realized that it would be a huge pain to have that in the hospital for not only me but the techs, nurses, and staff. So I found a place that donates hair to Locks of Love and had them cut my hair really really short. Right below my ears short. So looking in the mirror reminds me of the surgery.

Ladies- questions, comments, or flames are okay. Or better yet, if you have any stories to share please do!




tricia @@@:)
Promote this thread!
emma
Cherries > Peaches








Since: 1.8.02
From: Phoenix-ish

Since last post: 445 days
Last activity: 167 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.39
Well that's all a damn nuisance for you. Sorry it's something you need to deal with.

Sounds to me like your quality of life should be sooo much better after you get recovered. And if there's even a chance that the husband-shredding will subside, he should be thrilled to run upstairs with ice cream & chocolates at your every whim. Don't forget the hubby-summoning bell. It would be so unseemly to have to bellow "Oh, honey!" down the stairs.

I knew I didn't want to have kids, so I had a tubal ligation done. Not ever having to worry about the pregnancy issue again is sooooo nice! And planning romantic vacations without having to consult your calendar will be even nicer!

I gather that there are 2 different ways to do the incision -- are you going to have a vertical scar, or a horizontal bikini-line one?

I've had general anaesthesia 4 times, but only one was an inpatient procedure. Since you're staying over, & since you'll automatically be on some pain meds afterwards, you'll just kinda be fuzzy-awake off & on, & do lots of sleeping post surgery. Which is actually rather easier than having to leap up, get dressed, & trot home.

You might want to put together a bag for hubby to bring you post surgery. If you take stuff with you when you first go in, there's a chance that things might get misplaced. But once you're parked in a room, you can settle in & get comfortable. I like to have a comfy pillow from home -- be sure it has a non-white pillowcase so it doesn't get lost among the hospital issue. I want my own toothbrush & toothpaste. Whatever will make you feel better.

I found I was too fuzzy & tired (between the surgery & the meds) to read much, but it can be nice to have a few pictures of people/pets/places to check in on.

Don't know if you do nail polish, but sometimes they'll remove some of it for the pulse meter & to check the colour. So's you know. (Drove me crazy to have 8 rose-coloured fingernails & 2 naked ones.)

Be sure you throw in some good stuff along with the pizza rolls for recovery at home. :-) Because you're not up & active, you may find you need to get some extra fiber into your diet, if you catch my drift.

Bummer about the hair. But Locks of Love is a really cool thing. But doing that can actually also be kind of liberating -- and a lot easier to deal with. Go with that!

That's just some random thoughts. Basically, it'll be fine! The surgery will go fine. At some point, you'll have a couple of days of the "why did I do this?" phase. That almost always happens just as you're starting to heal. But it'll pass. Just remember: the surgery is a one-time nuisance, & once you're recovered, you'll be soooo much more comfortable. Rather than dealing with the icky symptoms for the next 15-20 years!
Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.58
They are pretty good at this kind of procedure now.

I had a lapriscoprisy for endometriosis and I know all the crazy thoughts that were going through my head prior to that, so I sympathize. (I don't know if they are doing a similar surgical procedure for you, but if it is... the scars are tiny)

I understand a bathrobe and slippers are required items to have while at the hospital, just to keep chills off. Favorite foods are required when you get home.

It sounds like you've thought this through and it is the right decision for you.

Take it easy, and the after is always easier than the before.
emma
Cherries > Peaches








Since: 1.8.02
From: Phoenix-ish

Since last post: 445 days
Last activity: 167 days
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.39
My ligation was laparoscopic too, & that's certainly a much quicker recovery. I believe in Tricia's situation, they need to do an actual abdominal incision. (I was thinking about it -- I can't see getting a baseball out through any of the tiny scope incisions!) I'm sure they'll do a really nice, tidy job with the closure though -- they know that women are concerned with those aesthetics. After it's all healed, it'll just be a little, faint line. That's why Tricia has a longer recovery time than we did -- it just takes a while for that abdominal incision to heal up. On the other hand, all surgeons are reeeeeeally experienced at the abdominal access & closure, so it's certain that it will all go perfect.

No sit-ups til after you're cleared by the doctor! Just relax & enjoy the pizza rolls!

Hey, if you're going to be incommunicado for a few days, maybe you can have hubby drop somebody here an email, so we know it's all good.

[ETA] Hand/body lotion in your "travel bag".

(edited by emma on 18.10.09 1140)
tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
I was told that I was having a horizontal below the bikini line cut. Laparoscopy was discussed for two whole seconds but was immediately dismissed. The lumps are just too big. A laparoscopy hysterectomy involves cutting away the uterus and then pulling it out through the vagina. (A lifetime ago when I was pre-med, I followed around a surgeon and witnessed this procedure.) Also the laparoscopic procedure is five and a half hours compared to the one and a half hour that the more tradition procedure is.

The CT scan is pretty sensitive. They also found a small “spot” on my liver. I think I will deal with that another time though. It would also extend my surgery time and force my doctor to do a vertical incision and not a horizontal one. The CT report mentions that the “spot” could be caused by the birth control pills I have been taking for the last 10+ years. They warn you about blood clots with the pill, but I never heard of liver spots. Maybe I should have read the fine print better. I still adore the pill; one the greatest inventions EVER. Excluding lately, my periods and cramps were much much lighter because of them.

My second job out of college was working for a pathology laboratory as their cytology processor. I would unwrap pap smears and stain them for the doctors to read. I also would process the body fluids for the doctors; filter out the body cells, fix them to glass slides, stain them, and prep them for the doctors (pathologists) to read. (This job is where I met my cutie Husband.) One late night slaving away, we got a late surgical specimen. It was an ovary slightly larger than a football. We had to call the pathologist on call because it was larger than any of the specimen containers that we had around. He came around and cut it open so it could fit in a formalin container; it was full of weird fluid. [yuck!] Myself and the night secretary (female) stood around and marveled about how you could let something grow so big and not notice it! Well now I feel like a bit of a jerk; how did I let a baseball grow in me and not notice it for so long? I guess because it didn’t cause any pain… (To be fair: the lady with the larger than football sized ovary could have been 1) really obese, 2) scared of doctors, 3) or had an ovarian cyst that grew really really quickly. Or some combination of the three.)

They gave me a detailed sheet of pre and post operative notes; I am rereading them over and over out of nervousness. I have never cared about my fingernails; they look it too. So I don’t have too worry about a pulse meter. I washed the cat barf out of my only robe and I hope that a pair of old flip-flops will have to do; I don’t own slippers. Husband volunteered to get me his super loud air horn from his boat or his super loud cow bell he takes to Wisc. Badger games. I think he’s joking. I have told Husband about this chat board repeatedly over the years; it doesn’t register in his mind. He uses the internet to pay bills and to watch online videos of people hurting themselves and doing stupid things. [Groan.] So I can’t promise any updates before I get out of the hospital. Sorry!




tricia @@@:)
Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.58
Check in when you can. Try not to work yourself up. (Yeah I know, like that works...) The good news is that it is only a big deal to you, it is routine for everyone doing the work.

I would totally take your hubby up on the extremely loud bell/air horn. I mean that's good for a laugh at least once.

Also... anesthesiologists have all been huge liars in my experience. "Just something to help you relax..." is the last thing I always remember, even when I say "This is going to be the last thing I remember isn't it?" and they say "No."
tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
The flu and cough that has been floating around here has bit my gynecologist too. So my operation just got bumped from Tuesday to Friday. I hope she gets better soon!

I don't care what the anesthesiologist uses; s/he can use a brick for all I care. I want to be knocked the f*** out!



tricia @@@:)
Dutchie
Summer sausage
Moderator








Since: 29.1.02
From: Michigan

Since last post: 7 days
Last activity: 1 day
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.52
I have no personal experience with fibroids, but it sounds like it is very fortunate that you caught them when you did so there is a surgical option for removal. And how annoying that you've prepared yourself and now need to wait another 3 days - at this point you're probably just ready to have the procedure finished. Good luck!

And regarding the anesthesia, I completely agree. Give me lots and give it fast, because I don't want the last thing I hear being "Um, I don't think it kicked in yet..." ;)
emma
Cherries > Peaches








Since: 1.8.02
From: Phoenix-ish

Since last post: 445 days
Last activity: 167 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.44
    Originally posted by tricia
    The flu and cough that has been floating around here has bit my gynecologist too. So my operation just got bumped from Tuesday to Friday. I hope she gets better soon!
Still on for Friday? You want your surgeon to be bright-eyed & bushy-tailed, so make sure she's all better! :-)

    Originally posted by tricia
    I don't care what the anesthesiologist uses; s/he can use a brick for all I care. I want to be knocked the f*** out!
Don't worry about that -- you will be! Bricks are only rarely necessary.

How's the postponement affecting your mood? I think I'd probably be, "Oh, c'mon, let's just get this done!" On the other hand, if you like sports, there will be much more to watch on TV on Saturday & Sunday. (If you hate sports, you're kinda screwed on that front.)
tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
The flu is going around the hospital something fierce. Husband has lost about five of his histology lab coworkers. Waiting is a mixed blessing. If she makes me wait until next Tuesday again, I won’t be angry or anything. I must admit that I spent today a little disappointed and thinking that I should be in a hospital bed and full of drugs right now. (LOL) But I also am getting a lot of stuff done (laundry, cleaning/eating the leftovers out of the fridge, prepping the house, finishing the shopping) that I didn’t manage to get done by Monday night.

I am not a sports watcher; I wandered into this chat forum as a pro-wrestling fan but that isn’t considered a sport anymore LOL. I tape everything I think is worth watching and then watch it later skipping the commercials. I was planning on bringing some books to the hospital and skipping TV altogether.

Actually, what I want is to keep the number of house guests to zero. I want to keep Husband from having people over while I am in the hospital. I have home privacy issues and we sometimes disagree about letting people into our home. (No parties!) On the other had, I want to keep well meaning family members from coming over and “helping”. I had to tell some of Husband’s family to not visit; the sister in law was planning on visiting before this surgery came up. She has had a hysterectomy herself so there was no problem there. My mother is a different matter. It would be a big hassle for her to come and visit; she lives 9 hours away and would need to take a bus because she wouldn’t dare drive that entire way alone. She really doesn’t have the money to fly either. I keep telling here she doesn’t have to come and that she isn’t a bad mother if she can’t come here. I also keep telling her that I would be less stressed out if I didn’t have any house guests. I would feel like a host; not like a recovering patient. We shall see…



(edited by tricia on 21.10.09 1925)


tricia @@@:)
Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.59
Oh boy. I hope Mom opts for the "I'm a horrible mother for not being there" speech for the rest of her life. Maybe you could promise to visit when you're recovered, and she can baby you then?

My mom is usually ok if I tell her not to help, but my grandmother... there was one time I only managed to get her to stop by convincing her that I was about to have a nervous breakdown if she didn't stop RIGHT THEN. I think I had to hyperventilate a bit to make it stick.
emma
Cherries > Peaches








Since: 1.8.02
From: Phoenix-ish

Since last post: 445 days
Last activity: 167 days
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.44
OK, here's an absolute truth that maybe you can use:

All the well-wishers want to show up first thing. Or be there *for* the surgery. You're asleep, or drugged up. You barely know they're there, & there isn't really a damn thing they can do to help out. Other than your husband, you really don't need a whole flock of people sitting around staring at you. It's draining to have to focus & be alert & engage with them -- you don't need it. Right at the beginning. It's a total waste of their time & well wishes, & it's exhausting for you. (Cards & stuff are fine, 'cause you can enjoy them ... between naps & as you're feeling up to it.)

After a week or so, then they can actually start to be useful. You'll be getting bored by that point. You'll be perky enough to enjoy the company. "Hey, what's new in the outside world?" is a useful topic of conversation. This is also about the time when the pizza roll stash will be dwindling, the laundry will be piling up, & your husband's dish washing skills start to come into question. This is about when you'll be starting to get up & do things, but there will be whole bunches of things that you shouldn't do. You can fold some of the laundry, but you can't haul it out of the dryer or put it away -- but you need to feel like you're doing *something*. *This* is the interval when they can be useful.

So, tell them that you'll sooo be looking forward to their help during your extended recovery, & that you'll really appreciate their help ... later. "We'll keep you posted on progress". And you'll let them know when they can come over to help. This way they can still feel engaged, but you can control who & when. And absolutely do put them to work! (Well-wishing is fine, but being helpful is better!)

The other interesting phenomenon is that, once the novelty wears off, they'll kinda lose interest. Don't take this personally -- it always happens. So, if you can defer them, they'll settle down.

The trick is to make sure they feel important & involved. Let them help, but let them help with what you want or need.
emma
Cherries > Peaches








Since: 1.8.02
From: Phoenix-ish

Since last post: 445 days
Last activity: 167 days
#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.44
No word from Tricia (or her hubby), so I assume the surgery happened on Friday. She wasn't expecting to be back online for at least several days (or more).

So, when you get back:

Welcome back, Tricia! How you doing?
tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and well wishes. They are much appreciated! I went in for surgery on Friday and checked in at 1030AM. Surgery on Friday, recovery Saturday and Sunday, and went home Monday at about 1100AM.

I am borrowing Husband's laptop; my real computer is in the forbidden area. It is down a flight of forbidden stairs in our basement, so I am going to be brief until I can get to my computer and write of a longer set of notes and observations about my experiences.

1) All of the hospital staff was very nice, competent, and caring. I didn't have any problems whatsoever with the staff.

2) My removed uterus was at least two pounds. The largest fibroid was baseball sized and was protruding into my uterine cavity. It was also the fibroid making my periods goofy. At last count, they had found eight fibroids of various sizes. Husband (a pathologist) reassures me that the uterus absolutely had to come out. They also removed the fallopian tubes, the cervix, and an ovary. The ovary was becoming cystic and the gynecologist decided to remove it when she saw it. Husband's coworker opened the ovary and I was growing a fibroid in the smooth muscle tissue right in the ovary itself. Apparently this is RARE, so I guess I'm Special! Yes, I am a dork....LOL

3) I am so totally glad I cut my hair. It would had been a huge pain to have waist length hair during the time I was in the hospital.

4) I am not supposed to do vigorous exercise but having a Wii Fit Plus is helping. That little bit of physical exercise is helping me stay "loose" and more comfortable.

5) Cats are dicks. LOL

When I get access again to my computer in the basement, I will have more to write about. But for now, I think I am doing pretty well considering what happened. I am not really in pain; I am just really sore and am moving slower.



tricia @@@:)
Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.59
Glad you're doing well. Take it easy and try not to find out what your limits are for a few more days.

I think ice cream and milkshakes help with the healing process. I'm sure there's medical research to support that...
emma
Cherries > Peaches








Since: 1.8.02
From: Phoenix-ish

Since last post: 445 days
Last activity: 167 days
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.43
Yea!! I'm so glad to hear that it all went smoothly & that you're coming along well. Two pounds is pretty impressive -- you're going to feel so much better!

OK, what's the cat doing? I can think of a littany of possibilities. I had a back surgery, & one day actually got stuck under a 20 pound cat. He was just trying to be cuddly.

Dutchie
Summer sausage
Moderator








Since: 29.1.02
From: Michigan

Since last post: 7 days
Last activity: 1 day
#17 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.53
Congratulations on the rare fibroid! (I'm a dork too, I can totally appreciate that ). Glad to hear everything went well and you're able to relax and recuperate at home. Have you been able to keep the well-intentioned houseguests at bay?

I would second the milkshake/ice cream therapy. Any sort of surgery causes swelling, and part of reducing swelling is ice - so why not ice internally? ;)
tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
Well it has been about a week, so I skulked downstairs as gingerly as I could, and am sitting at my own computer tapping this out on Microsoft works word processor. I am more comfortable tapping this out on the processor first and transferring it to the chat board. I now know why they tell you to not climb stairs more than once a day; you can really feel it in your abdominals when you go up stairs.

I live a boring, drama free life. But I think this is a great blessing; I am not a fan of drama. So being told I was going into surgery the very next week after getting my endometrial biopsy was kinda shocking, even though I knew that the surgery was going to happen by that point. This surgery for me is the most dramatic thing that has happened to me in a very very long time. So writing about it like this is therapeutic for me. I hope no one minds that it is so long; I tried to be brief and only type the interesting stuff.

Friday:
Woke up. Got nervous; I couldn’t eat but wanted too. I was told that I had to stop eating by midnight Thursday night. So I ate four pieces of pizza the night before; which I would latter regret. LOL Husband works in the hospital, he came home to bring me to the hospital so I could check in at 1030AM. Check in, give insurance information, went to the outpatient surgical area. While waiting for surgery, our hospital first puts you in the outpatient procedure area until you get wheeled in. A nurse came in and she asked me all of the standard questions: when did you eat last, did you take your meds this morning, etc. (I did take my metoprolol only that morning; if you are on that medicine, like I am for hypertension, and don’t take it, it can cause heart beat irregularity.) A phlebotomist also drew blood; I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the last of three pregnancy tests that I have taken since I discovered the fibroids. I didn’t sleep well the preceding night, so I was napping when the orderly/grunt came for me with the push cart to wheel me into the surgical ward. I had taken the precaution of leaving my suitcase with Husband in his office; which is good because it took the staff an extra day to find my old clothes and glasses I left in the outpatient room. (Thanks Emma!) I got wheeled into the back, and watched the busyness of the surgical ward for awhile, and met some nurses and staff. A very experienced nurse tries to start an IV and she misses. I tell her not to worry about it; I tell her about the plasma selling place and all of the blood drives I have gotten kicked out of over the years. I meet my nurse anesthetist and he luckily starts my IV. I got to see my gynecologist again; she is feeling much better now. Everybody leaves to prep and then my nurse anesthetist is called away to the ER because of a trauma there. So there is another delay for twenty minuets [groan!]. When he comes back, he gives me “something to help you relax” in my IV. I do remember more (I must have better luck than Lise/Mrs. Guru); I distinctly remember being pushed into the operating room and moving myself from the cart to the operating table. They put an air mask on me and then I remember getting sleepy……..zzZzzZzZZ

I woke up in the recovery room; now my memories get really fuzzy. While I was under, they removed my uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix. My gynecologist decides to remove an ovary because it was enlarged and cystic. Also, they checked one of my ureter; one of the fibroids was pressing up against it and they were worried about blockage. She injected dye into it; for the next two days my pee was blue-green. I woke up with a catheter; but I don’t remember feeling it at all. I never had one before so I thought I would feel it more. Or it could be the push button morphine drip LOL. Later, I was told they had a problem intubating me. My neck got really stiff after I was put under and they cut my lip when they had trouble pushing the air hose into me. I might need to get a medical alert bracelet because of that. In recovery room I do definitely remember laying on the cart but not in pain; I remember instead feeling like I had to pee super really really bad. When I complained, they told me I had a catheter and they checked to make sure it was draining (it was). I think it is interesting how my nerve signals got scrambled like that. Then pushed to the elevator, up to the third/surgical recovery/ob delivery floor. I got a double room but the current occupant was leaving as I was coming. No one else was assigned to my room until I left, so I basically had the room to myself (sweet!). Husband brought my bag after he was done for the day; I was half out of it still so I let him go after a while……zzZZzzzZZzz




tricia @@@:)
tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#19 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
Saturday and Sunday:
All of the staff during my entire stay was very nice, caring and gracious. Every time there was a shift change, some new nurses and techs would introduce themselves and check me over. For my part, I made a concentrated effort to not be a total cranky demanding douche bag bitch. I still feel bad about barfing on myself late Friday night. I have never stayed in the hospital before so everything was new to me. I didn’t know that the surgical anesthesia also shuts down your intestinal track too. So although I was getting continuous fluids via IV, I was thirsty as hell from surgery to Sunday. But when I tried to drink water, it came back up as fast as it went down. Exorcism fast [nasty!]. Also, the morphine drip makes you nauseous too. So as time ticked on, it was me and the nurses waiting for the surgical anesthesia to make its was out of my system. The nurses also kept checking my intestinal track to see if it had started moving. Getting asked by every new nurse if I had pooped yet. Great. They also started walking me around the floor Saturday morning; felt like a death march the first time. With my IV. And catheter. And I barfed. Again. Just great.

My internal medicine doctor visited me Saturday and Monday morning. I have one because I have hypertension and am pre-diabetic. I had a question about my high blood pressure medications and I personally like him, so it was nice to see him. My gynecologist also saw me Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning too. She ordered them to remove my catheter on Saturday morning but I talked her out of it and managed to delay that order to that night. It wasn’t causing discomfort. I was glad I did that because they gave me my three daily hypertension meds that morning again and they make me pee like a fountain. Going to the bathroom with my IV was still hard because I was still kinda loopy. Also, they were checking my pee output, so every time I peed, I would have to call a nurse, even when I felt better later and could make it to the bathroom myself. Husband was working on a side project for his job, so he would drop in and say hi Saturday and Sunday too.

I know that the surgical anesthesia left my system late Saturday night because I was actually kinda hungry on Sunday morning. And bored. When your not loopy from anesthesia, hospitals are boring places to stay in. I read the books I brought (“What Einstein Told His Cook”- good stuff), but except for the new Venture Brothers, nothing good on TV. The nurses encouraged me to walk on the floor. And after a while I did; not just because it made me feel better to be moving around but also out of sheer boredom and restlessness. God bless all of you W’s out there who have stayed in the hospital more and longer than I did. My intestines finally started to move late Saturday night and on Sunday morning I was hungry. I was also irritated with myself because of my gluttony of eating four pieces of pizza on Thursday night. For every act of input there is a corresponding act of output LOL. I thought I would need the extra food to get me though the period of not eating. Not true. I am coming to my only real disappointment of my stay in the hospital: the food. Just. Incredibly. Awful. I didn’t have great expectations, but this really was *bad*. I think that the reason I am venting about it was because I have eaten in their cafeteria as an visitor/outpatient and when I have, the food was actually *good*. Even tatter tot casserole. So it is not like they don’t know how to cook back there. The cafeteria workers who brought me by tray were all nice though. I didn’t say anything about anything to them except “thank you”.



(edited by tricia on 1.11.09 0154)


tricia @@@:)
tricia
Chipolata








Since: 5.11.05

Since last post: 874 days
Last activity: 2 days
#20 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.00
Monday and beyond:
Husband had a dentist appointment at 900AM. So I didn’t get home until about 1100AM. The IV was removed that morning and I had time for one last walk around the floor and a bad breakfast. I tried to sneak into the ob delivery wing in the hopes of seeing a cute baby, but the rooms I could get to were all empty. I guess I shouldn’t have done that. They keep the babies under lock and key nowadays because of the crazy people who might try to steal a baby.

Also, before I left I got a prescription for Percocet from my gynecologist filled. Even before I left the hospital, I noticed how I wasn’t cursed with a lot of pain but was just really sore. I took the pills home and tried them. I don’t like them. They make me way too sleepy and constipated. But I don’t think that they do very much for my pain. But now what to do with the leftovers? I can’t just throw them away; they are a controlled substance. Can’t give them away. And no they are not for sale LOL.

I took a nice short shower at home and washed my hair. Again, I am very happy that I cut my hair off. I absolutely can’t imagine having all of that hair all over the place and in the way. Then I had to lie down for a couple days after I got home LOL. No air horn or cowbell, but I had everything I needed on our main floor/upstairs. Husband is taking good care of me; he also told me of how everything looked when it got sent to the lab. He even took digital photos of my removed parts; I got to see them already. I am still kicking myself; how did I let something grow that large inside of me and not notice it for so long? Damn! (I don’t know if I could/should post my photos or not. CRZ, if you are reading this, what are your thoughts?)

I am not supposed to do heavy exercise for a while. But I know I need to keep moving. If I don’t and lie like around like a lazy lump I stiffen up. I own a Wii Fit Plus and it helps me to keep moving and not get too bored with the exercising. I was taking naps in the day earlier in the week after I just got home. Our cats are dicks because they were ignoring me and not coming when called to keep me company when I was laying around and napping. Jerks! LOL I know I expect too much from them. Expecting a cat to not act like a cat is like asking a brick to not act like a brick.

I think that I won’t have any well meaning well-wishers. Husband called my family for me on Friday night to give them a progress report. I called a couple of days ago and my sister said that my mom doesn’t talk about coming over anymore. That is very good; it would had been a huge hassle for them to come and awkward for me to host them. I don’t think we will have any other family members attempt to come over. But I am already feeling so very much better now so I think that I will be a lot better by Thanksgiving and fit to travel if need be.

I am sorry this has been so long! Thank you for your time. This is therapeutic for me to write about; it is the most interesting thing that has happened in a long time to me. It is also the final nail the coffin of my fertility so I am sorting though some issues in my own head. Thanks again for reading.





tricia @@@:)
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No, absolutely not. You are not expected to have read every post in the entire history of the board. :-) As I was looking back at that though, it was interesting to see that a number of those women haven't been around for a while.
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