LOVELY surgery details!

[theOceanicSix]

I just wrote this in my blog and decided to paste it here for anyone who's having or thinking of having a laparoscopy or hysteroscopy soon.
I made it!!

Oh my goodness, where to start. I got home about 7 hours ago and was going to wait til tomorrow to post details but I feel pretty good and just feel like letting it all out!

Um, hopefully this won't scare anyone, because my experience really wasn't all THAT bad, but a) I so easily get anxiety that things always seem worse than they are, and b) it was bad enough that I don't want to ever do it again!

It started last night. I had a bowel prep the night prior to surgery and had to drink an entire 10oz bottle of Colon Blow - oops, I mean Magnesium Hell - WHOOPS, I mean Magnesium Citrate. I had heard horror stories of the taste but trust me, the taste was the LEAST bad part of the experience. It just kinda tasted like a cherry soda, but a bit saltier. Anyway, waited an hour or so and nothing happened. I had eaten light that day so I was hoping that meant I would only have to go a few times and be done. NOPE. Nice try, MK! I finally started going at around 7:30 and I DID NOT STOP until 2am! No #%$*$ joke! At first it wasn't bad and actually felt kinda relieving (obviously). But a few hours later when my butt was burning and I was pooing blood, hmmm...yeah, yeah I guess that would be when I started wanting to cut my butt off. It hurt so bad, worse than any pain in my life, and that is not an exaggeration. But I do love how I'm going into details about my rectum on a public blog. hahah! Thank goodness for anonymity!
I didn't know who to call about my misery (hospital center was closed and by then it was midnight), so I conferred with one of my goodest friends who I always go to with my "doctor questions". She recommended Lanolin (a breast cream for nursing mothers, of all things) and it saved my life! My darling husband went out to Wal-Mart at 1AM in a snowstorm to get it and I had never been more thankful for him. I slathered that stuff on my bung and relief finally came. Trust me, I thanked God many a time that night!
By the way, I don't think this happens to everyone (or anyone at all except me, lol), BUTT I seem to have a sensitive area there. Diarrhea is not my friend.
There was, however, a bonus: I lost 4 pounds in one night! Seriously!

So this is pleasant so far, right!

With the worst out of the way, I finally got to sleep at around 2:30AM (thank you again, Lord) and woke up about 8:30Am. My pre-op at my doc's was at 10, so I had to distract myself for an hour and a half, which sucked. Oh well. After a night of rectal pain and bleeding, an hour and a half of anxiety felt like a birthday party.
My wonderful doctor (who, as you may remember, I'm practically in love with because she's so amazing) went over procedure details with me and hubs. I asked a few questions, she made me more anxious (not purposely) by explaining a few unlikely situations like a septum and removing a fallopian tube, then we left for the hospital.

My favorite part of the day was right here. I still had half an hour to check in at the hospital, but there's a Tim Horton's cafe there and my husby decided to get an egg and bacon biscuit, a chocolate chip muffin, milk, and a hot chocolate. I got to watch him eat his delicious food while I scowled with bitterness. haha Gotta love men!

11AM they started prepping me and I was tearing up because the nerves were REALLY hitting at this point. Once you see all those hospital beds...*gulp*. I changed and they hooked me up to an IV, at which point I immediately asked for happy drugs. Woo! I love those things!
Various doctors came in to talk and ask questions. Scary questions, I might add. "Have you had rashes, soreness, allergies...?" Well yeah, who DOESN'T get those things! What does this mean, I'm going to die from the anesthesia because I have an itchy bump or two on my leg?? Crikey, ratchet up the anxiety levels why don't you.
No but they were actually all very nice, so I was happy. Nothing calms me more than friendly, caring nurses and doctors....who give me happy drugs. : - D
My R.E. came in finally and went over once again what would happen and in which order (hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, dye through tubes) and that was that. They wheeled me into the O.R. and I barely even remember getting on to the operating table. So weird when that happens.
I woke up approximately 4 seconds later (in anesthesia-induced-sleep time) with various nurses calling my name. I was like "shut up, I'm trying to sleep, my goodness!" It was actually kind of rough waking up. I really really wanted to keep sleeping. Plus I was just so disoriented and...in an unpleasant mood. LOL
I finally came to and arghhhhhh, the pain sucked! It wasn't anything intolerable (I've had worse cramps a few times) but worse than the cramping was the vaginal burning from the catheter! So I now hate Magnesium Citrate, my bung, and catheters. Got that?
It was annoying too, because there was this chipper older woman to the left of me behind the curtain, just out of surgery as well and talking about how good she felt and how WONDERFUL things went. "Well aren't you all daisies and sunshine!" I was thinking. Ok, so I was jealous. The docs gave me a few pain drugs but they didn't work too much. Finally after the Percocet pills they gave me about 20 minutes later, I started feeling like a human being again. I lay in my recovery room for about half an hour sipping on THE BEST grape juice and eating the tastiest pretzels of my life. What is it about juice and crackers after surgery that tastes like I'm eating a small slice of heaven?

The doctor gave hubs the details of my surgery and here they are: one cyst removed (I KNEW I had one, I just knew it. The little beast has been hurting since this summer!), stage 2 endo, and tubes wide open. I was so happy! She also did a pap smear since I have vaginismus and have the hardest time with speculums. Knocked out for a pap smear, what could be better?! ; - )
She gave me pictures of the surgery but my husband can't remember what they're of (very helpful : - P), so who knows what they are. I just know one is of the cyst before removal and it's disgusting. It looks like extremely globby blood. Another is of some endo before and after cauterization. I think one is of my pretty cervix, and the other 9? Well, I'll just use my imagination I guess.

Oh yeah, my husband also is certain that my doctor didn't mention anything about fibroids or polyps but I may actually call her tomorrow just to double check since I'm curious.

I got home at around 4, I think. I got myself comfy on the couch and watched TV while dozing in and out of sleep. The reason I couldn't stay asleep for awhile was because the Percocet had made me extremely nauseous. Everytime I'd fall asleep, two minutes later I'd wake up and need to breathe deeply to avoid puking. I don't mind throwing up usually but I knew it would hurt my incisions to strain my stomach, so nooooo thanks! The nausea passed after an hour or two and I was finally able to sleep for two hours. Woke up and had a little bit of chicken noodle soup and bread (and Coke and water and Ginger Ale and apple juice. Yeah, I was thirsty. ). Since then I've just been relaxing. I feel pretty good. Have only taken 2 ibuprofen since about 5pm and don't really need much more. My incisions are a bit painful but I'm moving around slowly, so it's not bad. And the shoulder pain from the CO2 from anesthesia sucked, but my heating pad was WONDERFUL for that!

Hubby and I can have sex about 1 week from today, though I will probably wait a few days longer to be absolutely certain my cervix is closed and I won't get an infection. I go for my post-op in two weeks and will then talk to my doc about what to do next. We may do at least one cycle without any meds of any sort just to see what happens. But if I don't ovulate or my LP is short, or my progesterone is low, I MAY do Clomid a few times again. I really really want to maximize our chances these first 6 months after the surgery.

I think that's about it! Congrats if you made it this far into my novel!
The bowel prep and immediate recovery from surgery sucked bad, but overall I am SO happy to have this weight lifted from my shoulders and know what's going on in me. I can't wait to TTC again!

If anyone's having one of these procedures done soon and has any questions, please feel free to ask ANYthing! And I'm sorry if I've scared you at all. ; - )

And thank you everyone SO MUCH for your kind words and good lucks in my last post!

[Mrs.Sala090909]

Hope your butt feels better soon and I don't think I ever want anything like that done EVER!

[Eumie]

Hey Oceanic!

I'm sorry for all the pain, but yay for the results! Have you called and asked about fibroids and polyps yet? I would assume that she would have said something and one of you would have remembered if she had, but it's always good to ask.

Good luck!

[greyt00]

I am going to read the full post later (just got up and I think we're going to breakfast), but one quick question -- did you know you had endo? Any inkling? Had it been detected by sonohysterogram? Sometimes I wonder if I have endo that is interfering with implantation and no one has picked up on it yet.

Thanks for posting so much detail. I'm saving this link in case I do a lap -- I can use it for reference! Honestly it doesn't scare me -- fear of the unknown is worse than fear of the known.

I'm sorry that your rear hurt so bad, but I'm glad you made it through OK. Rest up and get ready for some TTC!

[redsoxfan]

Thank you for sharing your experience. The magnesium citrate stuff is pretty bad, I've taken it before so I know how it is. I hope that you are back to feeling 100% in no time, and I"m glad that they were able to take care of the few things they found. Take care!

[baby2010]

Yay, Oceanic! I knew you'd make it through with flying colors

I'm glad they didn't have me do that colon cleansing thing before my lap. That sounds like the worst part of your experience.

I don't remember if you O'd on your next rounds of clomid (after your m/c)??

If so, I think that's a good idea to get back on it. If you do, you might want to do something to help with cm b/c clomid really dries you up. I'm taking evening primrose oil but have taken mucinex in the past. Also, I'm going to try this pre-seed a lot of ladies have talked about.

Best wishes!!

[greyt00]

OK I read the whole thing this time. How long was it from knocking you out to waking up? I didn't know you'd have to get a catheter. Ick. I really hate the idea of that, but now I know it will happen sooner or later -- either for a lap or for delivering a baby.

[tcrock02]

ty for your post- i love your humor and candidness. i was actually cracking up so hard i was crying. i have been there- thanks God for drugs....
i wish you tons of baby dust on ttc- get well soon

[duramater]

Whew, Ocean, I'm glad it went so well! I mean, certain side effects aside, at least you found out everything you wanted to know.

Go make a baby!

[theOceanicSix]

Hope your butt feels better soon and I don't think I ever want anything like that done EVER!

Thanks! I don't want to do it ever again BUT...if I get pregnant, I'm sure I'll feel differently.

Hey Oceanic!

I'm sorry for all the pain, but yay for the results! Have you called and asked about fibroids and polyps yet? I would assume that she would have said something and one of you would have remembered if she had, but it's always good to ask.

Good luck!

I called the doctor's office today to ask about the polyps/fibroids but the receptionist who I spoke with said no information can be given out until my post-op (which is on Jan 8th). I think my doctor would have said something to my hubby after the surgery too, though.

did you know you had endo? Any inkling? Had it been detected by sonohysterogram? Sometimes I wonder if I have endo that is interfering with implantation and no one has picked up on it yet.

Thanks for posting so much detail. I'm saving this link in case I do a lap -- I can use it for reference! Honestly it doesn't scare me -- fear of the unknown is worse than fear of the known.

I'm sorry that your rear hurt so bad, but I'm glad you made it through OK. Rest up and get ready for some TTC!

Not really! My only suspicion was from the fact that, as a kid, my periods were really really painful. They only started feeling better once I got married and went on the pill. And even since I got off the pill a few years ago, the pain hasn't been intolerable like it was all those years ago. I never had a sonohystero done.
I agree, fear of the unknown is definitely worse than anything. It's such a GIGANTIC relief having this done and having some answers.

Thank you for sharing your experience. The magnesium citrate stuff is pretty bad, I've taken it before so I know how it is. I hope that you are back to feeling 100% in no time, and I"m glad that they were able to take care of the few things they found. Take care!

Oh my gosh, NEVER AGAIN. I swear to you that stuff not only expelled my waste, but also half my organs!
Thanks for the good thoughts!

Yay, Oceanic! I knew you'd make it through with flying colors

I'm glad they didn't have me do that colon cleansing thing before my lap. That sounds like the worst part of your experience.

I don't remember if you O'd on your next rounds of clomid (after your m/c)??

If so, I think that's a good idea to get back on it. If you do, you might want to do something to help with cm b/c clomid really dries you up. I'm taking evening primrose oil but have taken mucinex in the past. Also, I'm going to try this pre-seed a lot of ladies have talked about.

Best wishes!!

You're so lucky you didn't have a colon blow! I'm jealous. And yes, I ovulated on Clomid after my miscarriage. I also ovulated the very first month after my m/c on my own! I'm very excited to see what happens!
I would definitely try the PreSeed if I were you. That stuff is magnificent.

OK I read the whole thing this time. How long was it from knocking you out to waking up? I didn't know you'd have to get a catheter. Ick. I really hate the idea of that, but now I know it will happen sooner or later -- either for a lap or for delivering a baby.

Hmm, I don't know exactly because I was so out of it but I think about 2 hours.
Yeah, the catheter sucked but honestly? It only burned for a short while afterward and I've been absolutely fine since. No pain when I pee at all. And, obviously, I was knocked out when it went it and came out, so at least I didn't have to know about it while it was happening!

ty for your post- i love your humor and candidness. i was actually cracking up so hard i was crying. i have been there- thanks God for drugs....
i wish you tons of baby dust on ttc- get well soon

Thanks and you're welcome! I love hospital drugs!

Whew, Ocean, I'm glad it went so well! I mean, certain side effects aside, at least you found out everything you wanted to know.

Go make a baby!

Thanks dura! I can't WAIT to make a baby! I had to be on birth control for 2.5 weeks before the surgery, which KILLED my sex drive. Now that I'm off it, bring it on!

[greyt00]

Not really! My only suspicion was from the fact that, as a kid, my periods were really really painful. They only started feeling better once I got married and went on the pill. And even since I got off the pill a few years ago, the pain hasn't been intolerable like it was all those years ago. I never had a sonohystero done.

Hmmm... I'm a little worried now. I had really painful periods in my very late teens and early 20s. It's the reason I first went on the pill, and I tried 4 before I found something that did any good. My cramps since coming off the pill haven't been very bad at all, but I do have this weird pain that only happens during my period. It's a shooting pain that goes up my rear. It lasts for maybe 20 seconds at a time at most. I have no idea what it is. But I had the sonohysterogram and everything looked good. I hate to go through the lap for nothing but I don't think I will ever feel at ease until I do. Thanks for answering my question, though.

[theOceanicSix]

Wow, our situations sound similar. Can you just give it a few months more of trying before deciding on a lap though?

[greyt00]

Wow, our situations sound similar. Can you just give it a few months more of trying before deciding on a lap though?

I'll give it one more month for sure -- my final try with Clomid +IUI. If the cysts don't go away this month and I have to go on BCP, I will insist on lap at the same time so I don't waste the cycle. My 32nd birthday in March is freaking me out, too. I feel like I need to do lap before then, so I can say I've had all the tests/procedures I could possibly need. I should have 2 more cycles after my current one (which will probably be crappy) before my birthday -- 1 Clomid and I hope 1 Femara (I'll have to beg). Next step would be injects and I HAVE to do lap before that, if I do it at all (seeing if I ovulate this month will play a part in this decision too). Injectible cycle would cost me around $2500 whereas monitored Clomid +IUI is $1000.

Does a lap tell you if your tubes are open? I still haven't had HSG (I tried but it was a disaster). Now I don't trust anyone but my RE to do it, and he doesn't do it (it has to be at a hospital, not his office, and he never offered). My RE said my tubes are open based on the hystero, but according to what he told me about the procedure itself, it doesn't seem to be as good of a tool for that as HSG.

[ccyling]

Wow - glad it went well. I HATED the colon prep too! It was ok at first but then I was like really, there's NOTHING left inside of me. Just FYI, you might need to take a mild laxative after the lap. TMI but it took me about 4 days after the lap to have a BM I finally took a mild one and well...I haven't given birth yet but it a way I felt like I did!

[enigma80]

yay Ocean... glad it went so well!