Surgery over!

[opie74]

Sherrie,

I had the hysterectomy with A&P repair on Monday!  I chose to use my regular OBGYN.  He did decide to use the mesh.  He chose his partner with the most mesh experience to assist him.  The representative from the manufacutrer was also present.  Anyway, things are improving.  I was releaced form the hospital on Thursday.  My doc insisted in keeping me there as long as he wanted the catheter to stay in place.  I did not mention how nervious I was about going home with it.  He simply said tha he knew my boys and didn ot trust me going home with it! (all that anxiety for nothing!)

I was told not to pick up the 15lb baby for 4 weeks.  He did tell me that she could sit on my legs, but not on my belly until week 3.  I am living on naproxin every 8 hours to control swelling.  I have had a total of 5 lortab in the last 3 days.  Sitting upright is still a challenge, but improving.  The stitch closest to the front is killing me. :-)  Nausia is a problem as well as lack of appetite.  When I take the lortab, I want to eat, but then feel queezy.  Bread is staying down so I started eating bagels.

Thanks for all of your support last month!
Ann

[sherrieP]

That's GREAT!

[opie74]

I am suposed to go back in 2 months.  If the stitch is still there, he said that he would cut it in his office.  Things are good!

[sherrieP]

Oh Ann I'm so happy to hear that! Things will continue to improve over the next months as well as your body levels. Let me know what the dr says about the adh/stitch after your appt.
:)

[opie74]

So, My 3 week appointment is tomorrow.  The adhesion/stitch or whatever that is is still htere, but it has moved way over to the left and is no longer causing pain.  As a matter of fact sex is better than it has been since the first baby was born!  

[sherrieP]

I have to wonder how often that happens, in my case we didn't even know I had enterocele, the plan was for recto and cysto repair. Once inside they found a huge enterocele-probably part of the reason for my acid reflux issues!

That's cool that you have great sensation post surgery and it should continue to improve as time goes on because nerve endings take a long time to heal. I'm glad you went forward too kiddo!

[opie74]

So, the perineium release (sp?) went fine.  As for the internal adhesion,  he wants to give it 3 weeks.  He is thinking that it might actually be an internal stich that will disolve.  If not, they may have to use more than the local pain killer to take care of it.  The bright side, I do still have ALOT feeling in there!  I was worried that things would be less sensative.  That is definately NOT the case.  

He was explaining that the bladder was worse than he thought when he got in there during the surgery.  The Urogyn did not realize that it was that bad either ( as I took his report to my regular doc).  After all that we discussed today, I am happy that I did not put it off any longer!

[sherrieP]

Glad to hear things are shifting forward! Also glad that since you've had this done b/4 you know what to expect to it isn't scary for you, that "unknown" factor can be yikes. Keep me in the loop hon!

[opie74]

The second try was better.  At the appointment on Monday, he said that the spot was much better, but still not quite healed.  I am going in on Thursday.  There is a small adheasion inside (hince the M-shap feeling) that he is going to carterize appart.  also just as after my delivery reapir, he is going to slightely increase the opening.  Scar tissue just does not streach. This is a simple procedure done in the office with a local.  I am not nervous because he had to do it after my first baby.  I will keep you posted,and we are not going to try penetrating sex again for a few more weeks!

[sherrieP]

Sorry I didn't see this post hon, just caught it today. It may take a while for sex to be comfortable, I didn't try it for 3 months and then went approached it gently. Typically women are told to not engage in sex for 6 weeks with less aggressive surgeries, for up to 3 months in situations like mine where there was much repaired. Make sure to use positions where you can control the depth of insertion (do not try to get on top). If it is too uncomfortable at this point, try having him rub his penis on your external tissues without insertion at all, he will still be stimulated by having those external lips somwhat wrapped around his penis and it won't be so uncomfortable for you. This is a major repair, it takes time to heal and you want it to heal properly for long term benefit.  Hang in there hon!
Sher

[opie74]

Update...
I went in for my 4 week exam.  He said that one apot was not quite healed.  He told me to wait 1 week and have sex.  Well, it was aweful.  Vagina feels short and the spot must have been near the top.  Is feels like the vault is M-shaped.  I thought it would be more of an n-shape.  Anyway, my 6 week visit is tomorrow; we are suposed to try again tonight.  I am affraid that it is going to hurt again.  I am worried that I did hte wrong thing.  I hope that it gets better.  :-(

[sherrieP]

Eating much fruit? I found fruit fiber seemed to help much better than grain fiber (including apple juice). Yep those first couple of weeks are pretty rough. I don't think I shaved for a month! (Gorilla time, ha!)

[opie74]

I got a chuckle whn I realoized that nothing serious was wrong.  I had beed worried that I had done something that I should not have :-)

I am taking two doses of Miralax and two doses of other stool softnener every day, but i am still struggeling.  I guess that it will get better.  

Today in the shower, I egan to hurt and it was almost impossible to shave.  better now!

Ann

[sherrieP]

Oh hon,hearing you had gas pain does not make me chuckle at all! If gas pain gets out of control again, put a half teaspoon of  baking soda in about half cup of water and chug it down-it should help relieve it. I truly understand the IBS issues, have been plagued myself for more years than I care to say.Tricky thing is you need icing for surgery swelling but a heating pad would help more for bloating gas pain. What to do?????

Bland foods for a bit longer until you pass the 2 week point. Hope things get and stay level!
Sher

[opie74]

So tonight I am in agony from GAS!!!  I guess?  Things have been imporving well, until today.  I have IBS and have always had a problem with boating.  The pain from the preasure became almost unbarable tonight.  Several phaysime and Lortab later, I think that I will live.... :-)    I wonder what I ate that caused this?  I know that certain kinds of bran will do the gas thing, but I don't think that I ate any of that stuff.  (Love Raisain Bran, CANT eat it!)   Just thought that i would send you a chuckle!

Ann

[sherrieP]

Hi Ann, so glad the procedure is behind you and things are going well! Make sure to get the bread in your tummy prior to meds, may help a bit with nausea. I'm so glad they kept you in the hospital until cath came out, eliminated that scenario for you. Having a rep from the mesh company at the surgery as well as the dr most experienced with mesh placement should go a long way to this being a great repair! Give me a shout when you are a ways further into the heal curve with an update and have a great Mother's Day!
Sher