Recovery sometimes sucks!

Before my surgery I had a visit with my Dr. This was to go over everything I needed to know and to ask questions I wanted to ask. JUST TO WARN YOU.. I MAY BE PERSONAL..hah. But I want to make sure if someone out there is considering a hysterectomy, maybe this would be good info.

I got the standard surgery procedure rules, No food or drink the night before was basically the only thing I had to do for prep.  He explained the process of having to cut 6 small incisions through out my stomach. Four in the main belly and 2 down lower (that was for the bladder repair). He was also using a robot called the Di Vinci. He confirmed he was taking out my Uterus and leaving my ovaries. He also was putting a sling (not the mesh you see on tv) in for my bladder. He was also doing some Vaginal repair which I think is what they normally do when they do the sling and he would shape it more like it was before child baring.   He told me Scott could wait in a room with a TV that would tell him when I was up in recovery and then he could come in.  He also had to tell me that all surgeries could be at risk for complications, even death. He said recovery time was 6 weeks. But no fun stuff with hubby until 8 weeks (poor Scott) and I would spot bleed for the next several weeks too. I was not allowed to lift more than 10 lbs for 6 weeks. I would be down for the first 2 weeks meaning lots of rest, no straining, take it easy!  The next 4 weeks after that I will be extremely fatigue and still had to take it easy but could go back to some normal activities.  If I got a cold with a cough before surgery then I would have to reschedule.  They don't want you coughing much because its hard on the stomach and could do more harm then good. If I got a cough after I'd have to go in and try to be treated the best I can to keep it in control. I would also get some pain meds before I went home from the hospital and I was to take stool softeners too help not get constipation. Ha!

So question I had for him..I did some research online about hysterectomies. The big one that most people I think would want to know was how their sex life would be after. I read lots of things saying no more Big O's. And painful sex.  So of course one of my questions was, "What about sex life afterwards"  My Dr said, "If you liked it before the surgery then you should like it after, in fact most people like it better. And you will still have your big O's."  Yay.  That was the only question I did ask because I felt like he went pretty in detail on what will happen before and after.

So I got to the hospital at 6:45 A.M. where I checked in. Just a few minutes later they took me back to this small room where I got into a gown and they hooked me up to an IV, gave me some pain meds and asked me a few questions. Then the Dr came in and asked how I was doing and to make sure I was still up for the surgery. I then met with the Anesthesiologist where he told me his process of making it quick lol. He told me he was going to be in the room the whole time to make sure I would stay asleep and no problems were happening.
Then they rolled me back. Scott went into the waiting room. As I was being rolled back the dr's were awaiting my arrival. The doctor held my hand and told me I would be OK and he would take great care of me. The anesthesiologist told me the meds would sting a little but that's about it. And yes it did sting a little. And that is about all I remember.

It took them a little longer to wake me up. but I do remember a nurse calling my name. And I did see Scott standing there. I was pretty out of it. I didn't feel nauseous but I remember saying I hurt. I can barely remember pain though.. haha. They gave me pain meds. When I was finally wide awake the Dr came in to tell me how great the surgery went.  And I spent the night there. The staff of the hospital wasn't the best. Actually I really liked the day nurse, but the night nurse.. eh so so.  I hardly ate a thing the whole time I was there. NO Appetite at all.  Right before I left the hospital I had to pee. If I didn't pee, then they would keep a catheter in for a few days.. eek.. I sure was doing my best to pee!! It took me probably 4 times of trying but hallelujah I peed!  OOoooh I also got a free facial from a salon that apparently was in the hospital..so that was nice.

. Well I think I will start with home arrival on the next entry.  But first a note about my wonderful Dr.

So I have been to quite a few OB/GYN's and I honestly have to say this is the BEST Dr I've ever found!!!! He spends so much time in the office with you and makes sure you don't have anything else going on you want to talk about. He goes into detail about everything so you understand everything. He came to see me right before the surgery to see how I was doing and then met me in the room where I was to go night night.  He even held my hand and told me he promised me he would be careful and give me the best care ever as I was going night night.  When I woke up, he was there telling me how wonderful the operation went and so forth. He came in to see me right before I checked out of the hospital to make sure I was ready and to see if I needed anything.  He called me the day after I got home to make sure things were o.k. When I had a set back and had to go to his office to get checked out, he called me the next day to see if I was still throwing up.  He just seems so caring and honestly wants to make sure I was Ok. I've never had a Dr. make you feel like he really was there to help. 

I shall continue later.. its sleep time!

Moi~

Screaming Hault!

As you can see, I have not posted for awhile. I have still been pretty good with my eating healthy but some other heath issues came about and a tough decision was made.

5 weeks or so ago I went to see my 'woman' Dr. whom wasn't a woman at all. (p.s. I am on some good meds right now so if I don't make sense, I do apologize) Over the past 2 years or so I've been experiencing some abnormal monthly events. And when I approached my doctor about them, he gave me some options that could help. A hysterectomy was the biggest option I had. I will just tell you my problems because these drugs make me not care.. haha. My periods have consisted of 9 days long. Now if you're a woman something like this might feel like an eternity.  Also clots the size of golf balls did come about. Changing pads and other instruments were every couple of hours. So my frustration with this was high. My Dr did do some tests to make sure cancer was not occurring and he told me he could do other tests like Fibroids but the option of a hysterectomy would be there regardless of fibroids or not so we did as few tests possible.
Once I made the decision to have a hysterectomy any other tests were useless anyways.

There are several ways a hysterectomy is done and a couple of options pertaining hormones or no hormones. I think people get confused on hysterectomies and is one reason people are scared of them.
The main factor with most women on getting one is child baring. Of course you can not have any more kids after having one. This wasn't a main factor for me since I already knew I wasn't able to have anymore kids that way anyways.
The next thing is the hormones and the ovaries. Now unless there is a reason to remove the ovaries (due to cancer) most doctors wont remove them. This is the big factor on your hormones. If the ovaries are left, then you will not need hormone replacements and your body will continue moving forward like normal....well almost normal. You will go through Menopause a little sooner then normal (maybe 5 years earlier) and from what I've been told it will be a little lighter.
The biggest highlight for me is..... *drum roll*........ NO MORE PERIODS! EVER!  Of course with my problems I had, this is the main motivation I had for getting my hysterectomy done.

So I did tons of research online before I made my final decision. And I found some pretty scary things. I discussed them with my doctor and was surprised that several scary information I found was actually not true. So before you get all hyped up on scary things, please confirm them with an expert lol.

The down time on my procedure is what will make it hard. I also had a bladder repair due to bladder issues, which will be the bigger of the two things when it comes to recovery. It's already frustrating me not being able to clean the way I clean and have to let others do it. So I will have to learn some major patience, and like soon!

So obviously my weight loss journey might not turn out like I wanted it to (yet). I am still able to do the nutrition part, but as far as the work out part, it will be on hold for a little bit. I am restricted to just walking for now. I cant even vacuum or sweep for 6 weeks :( Lets see how that goes lol.

I'm going to try to log my recovery experience though. And my next entry will be on what has been happening so far. But that will have to wait for another day soon.

Off to sleep I go.

Moi