Having major surgery Nov 3 - please send thoughts of healing @ 12:30 PM EST!

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  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,483 Member
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    Hooray and congratulations. Glad you are up to posting.

    Not sure of the time zone difference but I had thoughts of you at around 10 am west coast time.

    Thanks for your update.

    Cheers, h.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 9,981 Member
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    Congratulations! I'm so happy for you.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 32,195 Member
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    Wonderful news: So glad to hear it!

    I hope this will put you on a path to feeling better overall, once healed.

    Let the smooth and speedy healing begin!
  • BartBVanBockstaele
    BartBVanBockstaele Posts: 623 Member
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    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I've spent 15 years trying to get to menopause without having a hysterectomy due to my very large uterine fibroids, but I am almost 56 and there is no sign of menopause yet. (The decreased levels of estrogen would shrink the fibroids.) I am a veteran and get my health care through the VA. I've no complaints with them for regular medical issues, but over the years have found them sorely lacking when it comes to female-specific issues.

    After 2 or 3 denials, I was granted a Community Care referral to Mass General Hospital in Boston. Last March, my fibroid specialist at MGH expressed confidence that she could "bridge" me to menopause with a 6 month course of Lupron, an anti estrogen. Unfortunately, instead of the fibroids shrinking 50%, my uterus instead grew 4 cm, which technically brings me up to a 9 month pregnancy uterus, although my alien baby bump is visually more like 4 months. That growth and the crazy bleeding which should not have occurred at all while on Lupron alarmed her, and she referred me to a GYN oncologist. There is no pre-surgery test for the type of cancer I might have.

    Despite fighting a hysterectomy all this time, I have now accepted that it is medically necessary.

    Because my uterus is so large, nothing minimally invasive is possible, and this will be an abdominal hysterectomy with a vertical incision starting above my belly button, as the largest fibroid lives between my belly button and my diaphragm.

    Interestingly, my uterus has gone back down 4 cm since my brother, who has been verbally abusive to me and my partner since April, moved out 4 days ago.

    I'm reading Peggy Huddleston's "Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques" and finding it very helpful.

    Please send thoughts of healing Nov 3 @ 12:30 PM EST! I'm an atheist, but prayers are welcome too :blush:
    Best wishes from another atheist.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,344 Member
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    Yayy! Great news, and now just focus on getting better. Rest, recovery and eat when you can.
  • BarbaraHelen2013
    BarbaraHelen2013 Posts: 1,940 Member
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    kshama2001 wrote: »
    @BarbaraHelen2013 Thanks for the epidural recommendation! They did suggest it, and it sounded like they were expecting pushback, but I did not give them any. As long as I am not moving, I am in essentially no pain. Shifting position isn’t that bad.

    The worst part was the first half hour in recovery. My throat was sore from the tube that had been in it, the catheter was bothering me then, I was thirsty, cranky, and bored. I think perhaps original pain meds had worn off and new ones had not yet kicked in.

    @kshama2001 - Happy to have given you the chance to think about it ahead of time making you more receptive to the suggestion when it was put to you. I wish someone had done that for me! 😂

    So pleased that you’re up to posting to let us know how you’re feeling. I agree that the sore throat is the worst bit when you first wake! Just brutal!

    Know that you’ll feel better every day moving forward and I’m absolutely sure you’ll look back on the surgery as the best thing you ever did for your health and well-being, especially since you’ve been suffering for many years with all the insidious effects of living with large fibroids!

    I continue to wish you a swift and uncomplicated recovery.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
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    Yay! Glad you're doing well.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 33,970 Member
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    Yay! You're a RockStar!

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 32,195 Member
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    kshama2001 wrote: »
    The catheter came out four hours ago and I have just peed for the first time on my own in 49 hours!

    Yay for progress! Wishing you excellent continuing positive momentum!
  • californiagirl1969
    californiagirl1969 Posts: 50 Member
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    Glad everything worked out for you and that you're on the mend. Thanks for sharing some of ladies go through so much, Including me and it's good to know our options and how it works out for others. Best of care 🙂
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 9,981 Member
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    kshama2001 wrote: »
    On the negative side, my old roommate was discharged and my new roommate has two noisy young adult children and has the TV on. There are no other available rooms. I am relocating to the chapel. Glad I am well enough to do that. Oh, and I am dressed for the first time since Thursday.

    Chapels are for everybody, even atheists ;)

    I'm glad your recovery is going so well.

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