Ba ha ha

Sorry for the regurgitation of info. I have no memory of typing the entry "Ouch, ouch, ouch." 

Day 5

I actually feel human enough to write a blog post today. 

Wednesday was my surgery. Apparently it went really well. "Textbook" in fact. Dr. S said I needed the surgery. My uterus had become twisted 90 degrees to the right and the fibroid was calcified so it was like a head of cauliflower protruding into my abdomen. The fibroid was bigger and deeper than she expected so she chose to leave a sliver of it in, rather than completely cut it out because she didn't want to remove a large section of my uterus wall, leaving scarring and compromising my fertility and ability to carry. I will have to wait a year to concieve and have a c-section if we chose to have another baby. 

Apparently, besides the fibroid my reproductive system, bowels and bladder looked beautiful. This surprised me, as I was under the assumption that I had Endometrosis based on my genetic history and my menstral symptoms. Maybe things will improve on that front now.

Dr. S went with a vertical incision. It goes from my belly button to my girly bits and is stapled shut. Apparently, I also have ten cms of sutures on my uterus.

I don't really remember day 1. I was on a PAS system for pain management and had a binder on. 

In the morning, they took off my binder, removed my PAS and my catheter and encouraged me to walk several times a day. I was also given a breathing apparatus and told to breath in it ten times every hour I was awake to reexpand my lungs. 

The pain was manageable, as long as I didn't move. They gave me Tyenol and Advil every 6 hours. This surprised me. I thought I'd  get some good stuff. I guess the rational is that most of the pain involved in my surgery is aggravated by gas and your codienes and opiates and the like make that worse. 

I am still taking an extra strength Advil ad Tyebol every four I six hours and getting up regularly for walks. 

Life is uncomfortable. I will write more about my post-operative experience later as typing this has made me tired and gave me a headache. 

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

Surgery went well yesterday. Textbook apparently. 

Dr. S said I needed to have the surgery desperately as the fibroid had my uteruses twisted to the right and was calcifying. The fibroid was the size of a babies head but textured like a head of cauliflower. For the sake of my fertility, they left 2% of the stalk of the fibroid in. As she she didn't want cut too deep

Into the inside wall of my uterus. She says my future pregnancy, if I have one, will be well monitored and they can't see it being a problem. Because they had to make a 10 cm diagonal cut in my uterus, I will have to have a c-section. 

I also have a 12 cm vertical cut down my abdomen. It hurts. I have been pretty tough and didn't take much of the pain meds last night. I was pretty out of it and slept on and off most of the night. Today, I have been awake. They took out my IV and catheter and I have take a couple of walks and am being encouraged to go pee by myself. 

It burns! The gas pain is also ridiculous. 

I am looking forward to feeling better!

Getting Closer

Wednesday is the day. I am terrified.
I am so scared I am going to come out of this surgery in worse condition than I went in.

Currently, besides some leg swelling and a heavy, and I mean, "should I go to the ER?" heavy period, I am fine.

The list of risks when you google "Myomectomy" is quite long but I have to keep ensuring myself that they are rare. I hope everything will be fine. I watch too many medical dramas.

My biggest concern is that I am going to end up infertile, but I keep telling myself, I am all ready infertile if I keep this fibroid in. Yes, it is possible that I could conceive and carry a pregnancy with it in but the risk of complication is high and I would likely end up with an even bigger fibroid and another miscarriage if I were to try to get pregnant with it in. Dr. S, thinks I could try. Dr. C says, no way. The fibroid is too big and pushing everything too far to the right. I trust Dr. C more. She actually took the time to read the MRI report, which I am not confident Dr. S did. Which is another matter, but people say Dr. S is an excellent surgeon, she just has a poor bedside manner and rushes her pre-op appointment prep.Not sure how I feel about that but I suppose it is better to have a good surgeon with a poor bedside manner, than a shoddy surgeon with a good bedside manner, right?

Anyhoo, I should go mark. I don't want to but it is my last evening to do so. I was at school until 6:15 preparing for a supply teacher. I think everything is good to go but the marking.

Feb. 19th

My surgery is scheduled for Feb. 19th.

I am terrified. Mostly because I watch too many medical dramas. I am trying to remind myself that people have surgery every day and turn out just fine.

I really hope everything goes well. Best case scenario, the fibroid will be removed with minimal cutting so I can have a vaginal birth if I get blessed with a second child, though I can deal with a C-section if the case may be.

I am kind of scared I am going to wake up without a uterus. Though, if it turns out I am infertile, I'd rather not have periods.

Ugh.

I am also not sure how I am going to manage recovery. I am not a sit back and heal type person. I am a push myself until I collapse from exhaustion type A person. It will be interesting. I plan on stocking the freezer with ready made casseroles and crock-pot delicacies this weekend.

To calm my doubts, my cycle this month confirms my need for surgery. Even though my periods aren't particularly painful, my legs have swollen all up and my bleeding has been horrendous! I filled my diva cup and a super pad every hour this morning. I considered going to the ER but they wouldn't have done anything for me. I know what the problem is and it is hopefully getting fixed next week. It was still a rough teaching day as it was incredibly distracting.

I am looking forward to being healed and well.