Surgery delayed, having a hard time

Aderyn
Aderyn Member Posts: 18
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
Just got a call that my surgery is being delayed 10 days because the DaVinci unit will not be available until then. This after my gyn/onc specifically said he did not know for certain that he would even do the surgery robotically. I had just gotten myself to the point where I was fairly calm -- "It will be what it will be" -- and now I've slid all the way back down the hill. Have to rearrange everything I had in place (after care, dog boarding, time off work, you name it). Weekend before a holiday, worst possible time to be in the hospital. Right now I feel like stress will get me before anything else does.

Comments

  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #2
    My surgery date was delayed TWICE, so I feel your pain.
    When I had my hysterectomy/debulking back in 2008, there was only 1 gynecologic oncologist at the major teaching hospital where I went for my surgery. Twice I was fully ready to go, only to have a last-minute phone call that the gyne-onc had to do emergency surgery for another hospitalized woman that was life or death. So, of course, I accepted the delays. It's frustrating, but it does give you a little more time to prepare yourself. You want to go into this with a couple weeks of a high-fiber diet, fully hydrated by drinking lots of water, well -rested.

    It may be easier if you can start thinking of this cancer journey as a marathon instead of a sprint. You need to be pro-active, but you cannot allow every bump in the road to throw you. (((((hugs))))).
  • MarieA
    MarieA Member Posts: 18
    #3
    delayed
    Aderyn,
    I am sorry to hear they delayed surgery. Did you have your pre op delayed, also? What is the idiom about things going wrong? My doctor(primary care) sent me a letter expressing his willingness to be there for me, he started it with "If you had didn't have bad luck you would have no luck at all." I did not think it funny, but reflecting on the last three years, a stroke, pacemaker, and a broken pelvis, and one year feeling great and now cancer, I do have to laugh. Laughter makes the soul better, so try to laugh. Life throws some pretty good punches, we just need to throw them back.
    By the way, you have an amazing voice to your writing. While you wait you should start a journal. I think your words might help a lot of people. MarieA
  • Aderyn
    Aderyn Member Posts: 18
    #4
    MarieA said:

    delayed
    Aderyn,
    I am sorry to hear they delayed surgery. Did you have your pre op delayed, also? What is the idiom about things going wrong? My doctor(primary care) sent me a letter expressing his willingness to be there for me, he started it with "If you had didn't have bad luck you would have no luck at all." I did not think it funny, but reflecting on the last three years, a stroke, pacemaker, and a broken pelvis, and one year feeling great and now cancer, I do have to laugh. Laughter makes the soul better, so try to laugh. Life throws some pretty good punches, we just need to throw them back.
    By the way, you have an amazing voice to your writing. While you wait you should start a journal. I think your words might help a lot of people. MarieA

    Thanks
    Thanks, MarieA. You actually inspired me to start a blog. I do find writing therapeutic, so it couldn't hurt. I sure appreciate the support.

    I finished all my preop stuff on Monday, but when I was scheduling it, they insisted it must be within two weeks of surgery, which it now will not be, so I don't know if I will need to repeat some things or not.
  • Aderyn
    Aderyn Member Posts: 18
    #5
    lindaprocopio said:

    My surgery date was delayed TWICE, so I feel your pain.
    When I had my hysterectomy/debulking back in 2008, there was only 1 gynecologic oncologist at the major teaching hospital where I went for my surgery. Twice I was fully ready to go, only to have a last-minute phone call that the gyne-onc had to do emergency surgery for another hospitalized woman that was life or death. So, of course, I accepted the delays. It's frustrating, but it does give you a little more time to prepare yourself. You want to go into this with a couple weeks of a high-fiber diet, fully hydrated by drinking lots of water, well -rested.

    It may be easier if you can start thinking of this cancer journey as a marathon instead of a sprint. You need to be pro-active, but you cannot allow every bump in the road to throw you. (((((hugs))))).

    Marathon
    Thanks for helping me gain a little perspective, Linda. I like the marathon vs. sprint analogy.
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #6
    Aderyn said:

    Thanks
    Thanks, MarieA. You actually inspired me to start a blog. I do find writing therapeutic, so it couldn't hurt. I sure appreciate the support.

    I finished all my preop stuff on Monday, but when I was scheduling it, they insisted it must be within two weeks of surgery, which it now will not be, so I don't know if I will need to repeat some things or not.

    Me, too
    One of the reasons I waited so long for my surgery was because the robot was in demand. The other reason was my gyn/onc's schedule. I could have had open surgery sooner, but only 1 week sooner. I chose to wait. I'd been waiting for several weeks already - what was one more? I probably would have fallen apart if it had been delayed. You know you'll get through this wait (what other choice do you have afterall?),but I also know it will be emotional. I never experienced so much dread as I did last year - waiting for surgeries, chemo, radiation, etc. Nothin' pleasant to look forward to, but wanting it all behind me. The wait and unknown is really the worst I think.

    Hope you can relax a bit and get some more ducks in order before this new date.

    Suzanne
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #7
    Aderyn, sorry about the delay
    I had the DaVinci surgery, and it sure sounds much nicer than having the open hysterectomy. Less pain, shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery after the surgery. So I would recommend waiting for the unit to be available.

    I know the waiting is hard. I delayed my surgery for a week. It was the end of the year that I was scheduled. I opted to wait until the first of the year, in case they could not do the DaVinci and had to an open hysterectomy, which would have been a much longer hospital stay. I did that for insurance purposes and did not want to meet two deductibles.

    Good luck rearranging and passing the time. In peace and caring.
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #8
    Aderyn:
    I know how you feel.
    Aderyn:

    I know how you feel. I was ready for surgery. My hospital was three hours away, we rearranged our work schedules. My sister-in-law came from out of town to watch my three children, and then the night before my surgery and AFTER I had already been on a liquid diet for the day and after I had taken the PREP work, I received a call that my surgery would have to be delayed. It was delayed a whole month. I was quite upset but when I found out that my surgeon was hospitalized, I settled down and waited the month. It turned out fine.

    My best to you,

    Kathy
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #9
    Kaleena said:

    Aderyn:
    I know how you feel.
    Aderyn:

    I know how you feel. I was ready for surgery. My hospital was three hours away, we rearranged our work schedules. My sister-in-law came from out of town to watch my three children, and then the night before my surgery and AFTER I had already been on a liquid diet for the day and after I had taken the PREP work, I received a call that my surgery would have to be delayed. It was delayed a whole month. I was quite upset but when I found out that my surgeon was hospitalized, I settled down and waited the month. It turned out fine.

    My best to you,

    Kathy

    Just another comment
    When I got my diagnosis from my gynecologist, I was also in the midst of testing for breast cancer and waiting to have a biopsy in a few days. I asked my gyn if we could wait and talk after all the facts were in. Her comment was "Yes. It's important, but not urgent". Over the past year, I've learned that those words are very true and while some cancers definitely can be fast growing, that enough information was known about mine to tell the docs that it was unlikely that waiting would make any difference in my outcome. I trust (now) that if there is something urgent going on, they will act quickly. As it turned out, I waited 2 1/2 months after my diagnosis until my hysterectomy. Of course, in my cancerhead, I was worried that surgery would be done just one day after those cells decided to enter my lymph system and plop themselves in another organ! And I suppose that could happen, but probably not.

    We are often our own worst enemies. It would be like the pot calling the kettle black to tell you not to fret about the wait, but I hope you can find enough distractions to avoid it becoming a fulltime activity.

    Suzanne
  • Aderyn
    Aderyn Member Posts: 18
    #10
    Double Whammy said:

    Just another comment
    When I got my diagnosis from my gynecologist, I was also in the midst of testing for breast cancer and waiting to have a biopsy in a few days. I asked my gyn if we could wait and talk after all the facts were in. Her comment was "Yes. It's important, but not urgent". Over the past year, I've learned that those words are very true and while some cancers definitely can be fast growing, that enough information was known about mine to tell the docs that it was unlikely that waiting would make any difference in my outcome. I trust (now) that if there is something urgent going on, they will act quickly. As it turned out, I waited 2 1/2 months after my diagnosis until my hysterectomy. Of course, in my cancerhead, I was worried that surgery would be done just one day after those cells decided to enter my lymph system and plop themselves in another organ! And I suppose that could happen, but probably not.

    We are often our own worst enemies. It would be like the pot calling the kettle black to tell you not to fret about the wait, but I hope you can find enough distractions to avoid it becoming a fulltime activity.

    Suzanne

    I almost have to laugh
    You SO hit the nail on the head about worrying that the surgery will be done just one day too late. I know this battle is not really won or lost by one day, but you're right, sometimes my mind runs away with me and it feels like that. I think I am having classic new diagnosis anxiety, feeling as if everything will be fixed if I can just get this procedure NOW, when I know logically this is something I will follow up on and fight against for the rest of my life. I am trying hard to accept my new normal, but wow...hard.
  • MarieA
    MarieA Member Posts: 18
    #11
    Aderyn said:

    I almost have to laugh
    You SO hit the nail on the head about worrying that the surgery will be done just one day too late. I know this battle is not really won or lost by one day, but you're right, sometimes my mind runs away with me and it feels like that. I think I am having classic new diagnosis anxiety, feeling as if everything will be fixed if I can just get this procedure NOW, when I know logically this is something I will follow up on and fight against for the rest of my life. I am trying hard to accept my new normal, but wow...hard.

    Hopeful all went well
    I've been thinking about you, and hope your on the road to recovery. Sending positive thoughts.

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