I am definitely feeling the love from you all *sniff* ! What a warm fuzzy feeling I got when I got all those PMs and emails.
My computer died on Easter, and I am the computer guru in the house. Not a good idea to replace a hard drive while post-operatively taking narcotics. That meant I had to wait until my DH "got around to it" and was willing to listen to my drugged-out instructions. I got it back last night.
TA DA, I'm back!
Sorry, y'all! Should have had my sister pop in and update you. But at least now I know how much you care
Surgery was the day after Easter, so one week ago yesterday. Went to Seattle for surgery because that's where the oncologists are. Picked up my BFF on the way, and she, my DH, and DD all got to spend the night in the hotel room with me while I 'Prepped" for surgery.
That's love, I tell you!
Check in was at noon, with scheduled surgery about 2pm. They used the DaVinci robot to do a laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy. I got to keep my ovaries, doc said the cancer doesn't spread to them, and I've got a few years yet before menopause. What makes the surgery radical is the removal of the ligaments that support the uterus, and removal of all the pelvic lymph nodes. Surgery was 4 hours long, resecting the ligaments is tricky work because the ureters run through them into the bladder. I didn't get out of recovery until 10:30 that night because they couldn't get my hear rate under 130. I didn't lose a lot of blood, so they couldn't figure out what it was- I could have told them- the had me on my head for most of the surgery! The positioning calls for trendellenberg, which means I was tilted about 30 degrees with my head in the down position.
I stayed overnight and went home Tuesday evening. They kept telling me they wanted to make sure I could keep down 2 meals. I kept telling them I could keep anything down! Anesthesia doesn't affect me that way, fortunately. I had to go home with a catheter, Dr said he cut several of the nerves that go to the bladder, and it would be a while before all the sensation came back and I'd be able to pee normally.
Sunday night this week (2 nights ago) I started having TERRIBLE bladder spasms and started to urinate around the catheter. As a nurse, this tells me either my bladder is fully awake, or my catheter is plugged, or both. I called the Dr on call, and she agreed with me. She said I could go to the ER and have them assess it. I work at that ER, so, I assessed it myself at home.
I decided to pull it and then wait and see if I get the urge to pee. That catheter was DEFINITELY plugged. I was able to pee a sufficient amount within two hours, WITH the urge to pee. I monitored the situation all night, urinating at least every 4 hours, waking up each time with the urge to urinate.
Yesterday morning I called my local GYN doctor, the one that did the colposcopy and diagnosed the cancer. I arranged to come in and have them test my urine and scan my bladder to see how much urine is left in there after I pee. I called the Oncologist in Seattle and gave them a heads' up on what I'd done. I thought I was saving them some work and being totally logical regarding the handling of the catheter issue, but my doctor (the oncologist) was apparently ticked that I took the catheter out- oops
The bladder scan showed I was completely empty, by the way, so my bladder IS getting adequate nerve stimulus. Guess I'll have to listen to him vent tomorrow when I go for the post op appointment.
Maybe he hasn't had a nurse for a patient in a while. We can be pretty trying!
Tomorrow I get the pathology reports regarding the extra tissues they removed, praying they don't find any cancer in it- that would mean radiation.
Pain is pretty well under control, I have all sorts of drugs to manage it, and I was given only 2 activity restrictions from the doctor- don't drive, and don't put anything in my vagina (duh). Other than that he said I can do what I want. Like I want to do much of anything. The nerves on my stomach and thighs were pretty well dead when I woke up from surgery, the feeling is coming back slowly, but it's a really weird sensation to say the least. My abdomen is swollen, so I've been using an abdominal binder when I leave the house, just for some added support. Not too bad movement wise, hard to put my shoes on still
One of my husband's friends from work brought over what she called food for a week- it should last us at least 2!
She made a meatloaf, brought a rotisserie chicken, several microwave dinners for me while DH is at work, lots of frozen veggies in those micro steam pouches, and other goodies. It was amazing to see all that food!
I was so glad not to have to worry about cooking for awhile.
Still sleeping a lot, guess that's normal. If I take enough drugs that I can move and do stuff. then I am too sleepy to move and do stuff! Coming around slowly, though.
Again. thank you ALL for the love
, sorry I couldn't get on sooner! Now you are stuck with a HUGE post, HAHA!
Erin
