My Not So Simple Surgery

Thursday, March 3: I was admitted to the hospital for my Robotic Assisted Total Hysterectomy. My husband and I arrived there 6 minutes late! I was brought to the back and all of the preparations were made. We had all of our last minute questions answered by my surgeon and then the anesthesiologist gave me some versaid and I do not recall anything after this until I woke in recovery. As soon as I came too, I began to sob ~ not from pain, but from the knowledge that it was over. My precious uterus was gone and would forever be. My nurses were wonderful and held my hand, wiped my tears, and one even wept with me. The rest of the day was spent trying to stay on top of the pain.

Friday, March 4: This morning, we were finally "on top of" the pain. I tried to transition to oral pain meds, but I simply could not do that with adequate pain control. I was also still requiring oxygen to keep my blood saturation in the 90's and my pulse was in the mid 120's. The doctors thought that I might have a blood clot in my lungs, so they ordered a chest ct. It came back fine, but I earned another night in the hospital. . .

Saturday, March 5: Aside from trying to get my pulse down and my o2 sats up, the day was rather uneventful until the evening when I began to run a fever. . . So, night #3 was earned. . .

Sunday, March 6: The fever went away as fast as it came today, but the shortness of breath, dizziness, and pulse were much worse today then they were in days prior. The doc ordered some mid day labs where it revealed that I was in desperate need of a blood transfusion. To say that I was scared is not accurate. People came in and left. Blood was drawn. IV's were placed. Wires were attached. My vitals were checked every 15 minutes for the next 7 hours. It was a total blur of activity. . .

Monday, March 7: The doctors were thinking that I might have developed a large hematoma in my abdomen because there was one side that was significantly larger then the other. It was also very hard to the touch. So, after drinking a quart of contrast, I was sent down to CT where it showed a "pool of fluid." We are watching it to see if further action needs to be taken. I have also been very nauseous today and the doctors are worried that if I begin to vomit, that I will throw off my fluid balance again and we will be back where we began. So, night #5 was earned. . .

Tuesday, March 8: This was the most uneventful day yet. I had no field trips to other departments or visits from sub specialists. Mid afternoon, the doctors came in and we had a little chat. They were on edge about letting me go home. I pushed, they pulled. Finally, we redrew labs and after looking at them, we decided that I could go home as long as I follow very strict rules to rest, stay in bed, and to take it easy. . . So, around, 5:30pm, I was wheeled outside and brought home!

I was worried about complications and pain prior to the surgery, but never in my wildest dreams, did I imagine complications to this extent. I did not anticipate 6 days inpatient. I did not anticipate multiple ct scans or EKGs. I did not anticipate a blood transfusion. I did not anticipate the emotional impact that these complications would have. . .

Praise God that this is all behind me. Praise God that I am back home with my family. Praise God for all of those that kept all of us close in prayer this past week.