jdsun

I am 2 weeks post surgery and wanted to share my experience for others who are being faced with this surgery.

I had a laparscopic assisted hysterectomy where they removed my uterus and cervix. I also had a anterior and posterior prolapse repair, a bladder sling, and vaginal reconstruction. It was quite an ordeal!

I woke up from surgery in PAIN, PAIN, PAIN. They had quite a time trying to control my pain, but that is from other issues. I am a chronic pain patient and take daily narcotic medications. I have a tolerance built up, so they had a very hard time controlling my pain. I was given a morphine pump and it took several hours to get my pain to a manageable level. The next day I was told to try and walk some. After taking about 30 steps, the pain was so intense I had to go lie down. It then took another 4 hours to get the pain under control. They had to call my pain mangement doctor and also brought in the hospitals pain specialist to assist me. They were VERY attentive and worked very hard to get my pain under control.

The surgery itself went ok, expect for one problem....my vaginal wall was so prolapsed onto my bladder, that when the doctor went to correct the prolapse he punctured my bladder. I am not 100% sure if it was his error or just par for the course for this type of surgery. EIther way, it doesn't really matter at this point. Because of this, I had to wear a catheter for 10 days.

I ended up staying that the hospital for an extra night (2 nights total) due to my pain levels. I was then sent home with the catheter. I had a nurse come to my home a few times to check on the catheter. It actually wasn't all that horrible. Just more of a nusance.

The catheter was removed last Wednesday (10 days post surgery). The nurse came back a few hours later to measure how my bladder was emptying, and it was doing well, so they kept the catheter out!

The biggest thing I had to overcome was the constipation from the surgery. I was so backed-up that it took several attempts and a visit to my GI doctor to get things moving. I am still facing some issues with that, but we are working on it. My advice to anyone having this surgery...make sure you clean yourself out BEFORE surgery and take daily stool softeners!

It is 2 weeks and 1 day post surgery. I am feeling ok. I am still very soar from the repair work and still somwhat crampy from the hysterectomy. But I am getting a little better with each passing day. I started driving yesterday and it felt great to get out of the house!

Well, that's about all I can think of. I hope my story helps someone out there.

Jdsun