Having surgery in a few days...very scared!

Janissi1, I think we all have some "angst" about surgery.  I didn't even think of waking up in surgery until my twin brought it up with the anestheiologist the morning of surgery.  ha!  Seriously, you just need to tell them this is your concern.  They need to know you have this worry and they will watch you.  

If you have never had surgery, and I never had before my complete hysterectomy, it is scary.  Take a breath.  Call the doctor's office and ask if you will have a chance to talk to the anestheiologist the day of your operation.

NoTimeForCancer said:

My surgery was just over 5

My surgery was just over 5 years ago.  I had the DaVinci and my gyn onc took a ton of lymph nodes.  Surgery went well, but I would recommend asking how many lymph nodes they take - if they take them and ask about what you need to watch for lymphedemia.  

It was when I noticed some swelling in my leg that I went in and was tested for a blood clot (negative - it was a sonogram) and determined I had lymphedemia.  I had a physical therapist who specialized in treating cancer patients with this who also fitted me for a compressioin garment for my lower left leg.  It is not a big deal, just wish I had known what to look for going in.  I have a few older garments I have decorated with permanent marker - hey - they don't make stuff for legs. 

The anestheiologist was very understanding and assured me he would watch it.  I was ok with it all.  I hope it gave my sister some peace of mind.   

Dear Janissi

You’ve already talked to some of our friends here who “have had a hysterectomy and lived to tell about it!”  So I’ll chime in as well.  Now while I don’t know the specific reason for your upcoming surgery, I know it is not usually an “elective”.   That’s the reason we are here--to try to help others by sharing our experience.  We know that fear of the unknown is a battle one has to fight.  It’s bad enough understanding as much as we do, much less conjuring up in our mind and worrying about things that may never be.  Yes there are all kinds of questions, like how many of these procedures has my doctor performed?  What is his/her track record?  I do hope I’ve made the right choice of surgeons.   How long will it be before I feel normal again? 

When I had my hysterectomy, my doctor gave me a little book of questions and answers.  I specifically remember one.  It was, “Will it make me lose my mind?”  The answer:  “Not unless you were going to anyway!”  And I did have the advice of my mother who had previously had a hysterectomy.  She said, “Loretta, you’d better take care of yourself after this surgery.  I’ve seen women hop right back up and act like it was nothing, and they were back in the hospital within the same year!”  Well, I can believe that knowing how “big” the abdominal operation was years ago.  So Janissi, I hope you are having a “laparoscopic hysterectomy.” 

            It’s often been said, “One picture is worth a thousand words.”  Well, I’m guilty of writing a thousand words and throwing in a picture for good measure.  And so, below my name, there are some web links relative to hysterectomies.  If you can’t “get up the nerve” to watch them now, perhaps after the surgery you will be able to see just how a laparoscopic procedure is performed.  You didn’t tell us what type of hysterectomy you were going to be having, but the videos are of a laparoscopic hysterectomy.  Maybe you can get someone to “watch it with you.”  “To watch or not watch—that is the question.”  That’s up to you. 

Personally, I do not follow the “HysterSisters.com” site.  However, I understand it is a group of women who specifically talk about their hysterectomy experiences, past, present and future.  It looks like a place where one could ask any question of those who post there, and someone would provide an answer.  Here we “cover the waterfront”, but that site seems dedicated specifically to the hysterectomy experience.  http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/mycheckpoint.php

I do wish that there had been a laparoscopic procedure when I had my partial hysterectomy 42 years ago!    So here are some video links that anyone would benefit by watching.  Now that is, if you don’t get a queasy feeling when you see surgeries in progress.  I’ve been looking at different procedures on the web ever since my husband had his totally laparoscopic procedure for Esophageal Cancer back in 2003.    Now admittedly, when I first keyed in one to watch, it wasn’t long before I said, “Ooohhh I don’t think I can watch this!”    In the beginning, when he was first diagnosed, I didn’t even know about Esophageal Cancer, didn’t know how to spell Esophageal, and I certainly wasn’t prepared to watch an Esophagectomy in progress.  Now I can watch and marvel at how God has gifted different people to perform medical miracles.    As usual, many doctors are only trained to perform the "abdominal" type of hysterectomy because they have not updated their skills.  Nevertheless while he or she are totally capable and qualified at the surgery, they are NOT the ones who have to RECUPERATE from a more invasive procedure.  So if I were just beginning to look for a qualified surgeon, one who is an expert at performing the totally laparoscopic hysterectomy would be my choice.

So tell yourself, “This operation is for my benefit, so I’m gonna’ pull up my big girl panties and go for it!”  Believe me this laparoscopic procedure is much to be desired over my surgery many long years ago.  It took me about 6 weeks to regain enough strength to return to normal.  I only wish that I had had a complete hysterectomy, which would have included the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well as the Uterus.  But that’s hindsight.  So while I don’t know your exact reason for this procedure ,  I know that if it were not necessary, you would not be having it done.  Needless to say, all who have read your letter can identify with your anxiety and I, for one, will say a prayer for you and your medical team. 

Hoping everything “comes out all right” …..

Loretta

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Here are a few informative videos to allay your fears (hopefully).

1.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i2LCUJJYcM

Published on Apr 8, 2013 - This is a professionally done video that featured me and my patient. It shows HD video as well as specific techniques for the TLH and cuff closure.   Enjoy

 Totally laparoscopic procedure for a hysterectomy – thru the navel – This is a short video of only 10 minutes.  Obviously Dr. Kondrup is teaching students.

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2.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5T5DQI12mUd

“Live robotic hysterectomy surgery –

UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids Published on Aug 7, 2012

This is a live robotic hysterectomy surgery video from St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dr. Jerry Rozeboom performed the surgery and Dr. Jon Rippentrop and Ashley Hinson from KCRG-TV9 provided comments. St. Luke's is Iowa's Robotic Leader, performing more robotic surgeries than any other Iowa hospital. It is a Robotic Epicenter.”

3.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdjjkK4lZk0

Hysterectomy Types - HysterSisters Ask the Doctor - Published on Feb 15, 2014

4.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vSZNp18MmM

Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy Surgery - HysterSisters Ask the Doctor:

Published on Dec 10, 2013 - Dr. Lori Warren, OBGYN from Louisville, Ky, answers questions from HysterSisters about minimally invasive surgery (MIS) choices for hysterectomy.

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 5.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlExrG8k4uw

Published on Dec 27, 2013

Dr. Joseph Valenti, OBGYN surgeon from Denton, Texas, answers questions about recovering from hysterectomy including: What do I do about sluggish bowels after surgery? What do I do about my post-hysterectomy insomnia? Should I douche following hysterectomy? My incisions hurt - is this normal? When can I go back to work?

Janissi1 said:

Very comforting to know

Abrub, thank you for your reply. It's encouraging to know you made it through and that you are doing well (wow, walking several miles 3 weeks after surgery is amazing).  I've made it known to my doctor what my concerns are (I tend to be a worrier ) and she told me I will have an opportunity to meet with the anesthesiologist. I will then express my concerns with her/him.

Awakening to find out you had cancer must've been unbelievable!

I was very pleased that one of the anesthesiologists I had (for one of my multitude of surgeries) really took into consideration my fears - including that of vomitting after surgery.  On talking with me, he revised his "standard" protocol to address my concerns and what he now knew about me.  Most doctors want to listen - by listening to what YOU say, they get the best outcomes.

And yes, my hysterectomy was full open, tho I had  a bikini line incision.  My subsequent abdominal surgeries had incisions from above the navel to the pubic bone.  Recovery isn't fun, it isn't easy, but we do it.

And another thing that they don't often mention.  Don't be shocked to discover when they weigh you after surgery that you've gained between 5-10 pounds (or more.)  I thought that their scales had to be crazy, but no one bothers to tell you that at the end of surgery, they fill your abdomen with sterile fluid (often with antibiotics in it) to protect your innards (ideally minimize them scarring together) and avoid infection.  That fluid takes time (as in a couple of weeks) to resorb.  So suddenly, you find you've gained an enormous amount of weight, and no one bothered to mention that would happen.  (I just had to reassure another friend who worked for years to lose 70 pounds; had to have an abdominal surgery, and awoke to find she'd gained 15 back!  It was all temporary, but she was extremely distressed until I told her about the fluid infused.)

Take care.  You have lots of people thinking about you.

Alice