skip to main |
skip to sidebar
:Day 1: Prepping for surgery
I hav
e/get to do a Bowel Prep all day. I was initially going to go into work but after my last consulation the nurse strongly suggested that I was home and had ultimate access to the toilet. I wonder what that means?
I am on a liquid diet today. It's pretty difficult. You would think that I would be able to handle it since I have grown up fasting each first Sunday of the month. But it's just different. Fasting involves a purpose. This is just torture. It's like saying, "Sure, you can have all things clear, but that normal food over there? You just get to look at it. Just stare. There you go. Do that all day."
My breakfast this morning was a popsicle and 7-up. Around noon I had to drink Magnesium Citrate. The label assured me it had a pleasing lemony flavor. Sure, if you like to drink fizzy, salty lemonade with a horrible aftertaste. Then you would love it. I get to drink the second tonight...for dinner. Yum.
And to end the day on a good note. I get administer an enema to myself. Never had an enema before. Very weird. Won't disclose details.
My surgery is scheduled tomorrow morning at 7:30A. Brad and I have to be at St. Joseph's hospital at 5:30 tomorrow morning.
My second injection was warmly received 09/23/2008. The hot flashes seem to come more frequently which I am totally psyched about.
I also had an hour long appointment where the surgery itself was explained in great detail. It is still up in the air of whether the surgery will turn out to be a simple laparoscopy or a laparotomy. Recovery time differs...extremely. So, I am hoping for the former. For one reason, I'm not wasting all my vacation time with the latter. And second, I'm not for having my lady parts exposed in the latter as well. Keep it all nice and safe and warm will be fine with me.
I am getting a little anxious regarding the surgery. I know that this surgery will be a lot more extensive than my original (July 2007) so I am preparing myself for a little more recovery.
Speaking of preparation...I get to do a bowel prep the day before the surgery. Liquid diet. The reason is if the bowel is empty during surgery there is less likely of a chance that they will puncture the bowel since they are going to be around that area. The instructions explain in great detail all of the stuff I get to drink. We'll see how it goes.
Surgery makes me nervous. Well, let me rephrase: The medical industry as a whole makes me nervous. Maybe it's because I watch too many of those medical disaster shows where everything seems to go wrong. But, I have to remind myself it's a simple, simple laparoscopy. I've had it before, I'll recover just fine. A week later I'll be good to go.
This bout of anxiety is probably because Dr. G went over all possible worst case scenarios. Instead of a laparoscopy it could be a laparotomy (an actual incision - exposing my innerds) therefore the recovery can extend for 3-4 weeks. There might be complications from the surgery including bleeding and clotting, but she assured me it was very rare.
The surgery will not only include the laparoscopy/laparotomy but also a hysteroscopy. This will allow the removal of my uterine polyp. Once removed it will be tested for cancer. If found malignant I will need to have a hysterectomy. I am wondering if the testing of the polyp will be done while I am in surgery since if malignancy is detected they can take out what they need to? It makes sense. This may be something that I will need to follow up with my Pre-Op Appointment.
Dr. G then examined me again with another ultrasound to look at the cysts, mainly congregated on the left ovary and said something shocking, "Another thing we may have to do is completely remove the ovary on the left side. The cyst may be too involved in the ovary and by attempting to remove the cyst it may damage the ovary affecting egg quanity and quality. Would you allow me permission to do that if it was necessary?"
I was overcome. Of course, if it was necessary and the best option then I would agree with the removal. But it's so scary thinking of being a one-ovaried lady. Stupid endometriosis.
I received my first injection of Lupron 08/19/2008. Nothing fantastic to report just a regular shot in my regularly large buttock. By the way, hate pulling my pants down in front of little cute nurses/doctor's aids who are half my size in height and weight. I'm sure my albino cheek is not a pleasing sight. To get through it I keep telling myself, "I hope they've seen worse. I hope they've seen worse." In my head of couse.
The nurse who consulted me regarding the Lupron injection was kind enough to go over the list of side effects as I explained in an earlier post. However, it did provide consolation that the effects really don't bother you until the 3rd or 4th injection. I may get there, we'll have to wait and see.
I am also taking 1200mg a day of Vitamin C with Vitamin D to help with absorption. I already have difficulty swallowing pills so it's almost nearly impossible for me to remember unless the pills are out in the open somewhere. Seriously, the pills remind me of The Princess Bride. Remember the part where Wesley has all the life sucked out of him? In order to bring him back, Inigo and Fezzik take him to an old wizard man who coats the acorn-size pill in chocolate to help ease it down. Maybe that could help. Chocolate...mmmm.
I was overlapping BC with the Lupron and stopped the BC 09/02/08 and guess who came to visit shortly thereafter? Overall, this flow hasn't been too bad. I wish all my monthly cycles were this light. But the bloating has been killer. I was out Monday (09/08/08) because I was doubled over in pain. It's a weird sensation. It's not like indigestion. It's like a balloon has been placed in my intestines and has been blown up. Pressure. Lots of pressure.
Second injection scheduled: 09/23/2008
e/get to do a Bowel Prep all day. I was initially going to go into work but after my last consulation the nurse strongly suggested that I was home and had ultimate access to the toilet. I wonder what that means?
