(no subject)

[austin_tycho]

How long will the surgery take?
Anywhere from 45 minutes to three hours, but the average is two hours.

What all will be removed? Uterus, ovaries, tubes, cervix, appendix? How will you remove these organs? Through abdominal incision? Through vagina? With help of laparoscope?
This is a laparoscopic procedure, so there will be a couple of small incisions around my belly button unless something goes horribly wrong or something unexpected is found, in which case I'd get the standard bikini incision. We're hoping that doesn't happen. The only thing planned for eviction at this point is the uterus and any adhesions. His prediction is that the remains of my endometrial lining has burrowed into the muscle of the uterus and that's what's causing the problems, but if something else pops up it could go too. Again, hoping that's not an issue. They used to remove the appendix back when it was harder to catch appendicitis before it got really bad, but at this point there's a greater chance I could have issues with an appendectomy than I could with appendicitis, so it makes more sense to leave it in if it's not bothering me.

How long will I be in hospital? Can I get a private room?
Crap, I forgot to ask about the private room. He said I can leave as early as the next day if I feel okay, but I will have to stay at least one night. If the recovery is slow, it could be the full 2 days or even longer. He said a lot of people feel okay to go home the next day.

How long will I be on bed rest?
I will probably be okay to walk as soon as I get home.

How long will I be off from work?
He said I should request six weeks. He said most people who have this done feel okay to go back at least part-time by 2-3 weeks, and full time by 4-5 weeks.

Will a pathology report be done of all organs removed?
Absolutely.

How long for results of path report to come in?
5 to 7 days.

Since I'm taking BC pills (Levora), do I stop taking them prior to surgery? How about Saint John’s Wort?
I need to stop the SJW about a week to ten days before, since it can fudge up the blood work. I should go ahead and take the Pill up to the day of surgery. With all the bleeding it may not be doing much, but it may also be keeping me from bleeding worse, so this close may as well keep taking it.

What meds will I be on for pain in the hospital and when I am home? Can I get Phenergan or some similar drug to prevent nausea before I wake up? Do I have to have Versed? Will I have an epidural?
I'll have a chance to discuss this in detail with the anaesthesiologist, and he encouraged me to tell them at the pre-op and at the day of surgery about the nausea so they can give me the 'anti-nausea cocktail'. They tend to use less Versed for this procedure, so it should probably be okay to skip this entirely. But they'll do general, no epidural (which slows recovery time), and give me a pain pump with my preference of morphine or Demerol (I have no idea which is better) while I'm in the hospital. Then I'll get more Vicodin or Darvocet to combine with Advil or Motrin when I get home.

Will you use a bladder tack? What is a bladder tack? (If you have incontinence, this is the time to bring it up as this is the best time for bladder and/or rectum repair) How about cauterizing the top of the cervix?
Unless I'm having complete incontinence (which I'm not, just the very occasional stress incontinence when I sneeze really hard) it would possibly cause a lot more problems that it would solve to get a bladder tack. Since the cervix is staying in, there's a lot less chance of bladder issues after this surgery. And if it becomes a problem later, it's a quick outpatient procedure to fix. He always cauterizes the top of the cervix, so less than 1% of people have monthly bleeding after the surgery, and usually it's a quarter-sized amount one day a month if that much. And that can also be fixed in an outpatient procedure if necessary.

Will you use a tummy binder on me? Will I need one?
No need; those are only for major abdominal incisions. There will be abdominal swelling but it should go away on its own in 4-5 weeks.

Since I am keeping ovaries, how will I know if my ovaries are going to work post-op? If I experience hot flashes, how long will I endure meno symptoms before the ovaries kick back in?
He's never known for the ovaries to fail because of the surgery, though some women have them fail several months after but since this surgery is often done on women near menopause, it's not certain that the surgery is the cause. 95% of the blood supply to the ovaries is not affected by this procedure, nor are the ovary ligaments.

Will I need any prep before surgery? (enema, stool softener, etc.)
Naw. I should make sure I'm not constipated beforehand but can just drink prune juice or whatever beforehand to fix it.

When can I have what kinds of sex?
Nothing that involves sticking anything in the vagina for 2-3 weeks. Anything else is okay after 2 days.

When can I drive? Go swimming and hot tubbing?
No driving until that Sunday (5 days after). No swimming, hot tubbing or even tub baths for 2-3 weeks since water could get in the vagina; showers are fine after 2 days.

Are there any restrictions to lifting? How about stairs?
Don't lift anything heavier than 15 pounds for 2 weeks, then I can lift whatever I want. Stairs should be okay as soon as I get home.

Comments

[contentlove.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing all this. I'm concerned about you, and it is comforting/helpful to understand what you're going to go through. And, with flying colors, uh, little pain and quick healing, I might add!

[austingoddess.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're going to be OK. 3 weeks of cunnilingus for you - doctor's orders!