Recovering

I'm Alive!!

It has taken me a few days to get up the strength to write this post. This is going to be long so if you don't have time to read the details....here is the short version "I am recovering nicely"! Now here's the story....

We got to the hospital at 9am and only had to wait about 5 minutes to get into a room. I had to give a urine sample to make sure I wasn't pregnant and then put on the paper gown. I started to get nervous because I have never been at a hospital as the patient.

Awaiting surgery

My OB/GYN was the first person who came to talk to us. I hadn't had the chance to talk to her about the specifics prior to the surgery so I thought she was just going to explain the laparoscopy. Instead she went over the possible options to remove the cyst.

• Laparoscopic - If it is a "simple/functional" cyst that is filled with fluid she would just remove the fluid. Best case scenario!
• Laparotomy - If it is a dermoid (complex) cyst she will have to make a 3-4 inch cut at the bikini line and cut the cyst off the ovary. Dermoid cysts contain certain material that can be harmful to the body so they have to take the ovary out of the body, remove the cyst and put the ovary back in. This type of surgery requires an overnight stay...not thrilled about this!!

Then she dropped the BOMB...

• Laparotomy - Same as above BUT I might have to have my ovary removed if the dermoid cyst has grown into the ovary!!! I started to cry at the thought of having one more obstacle in our way to try and get pregnant. She doubts this would happen but had to warn me. Worst case scenerio!!

I hate the unknown, so the fact that I was going into surgery not knowing what the outcome would be really scared me. Part of me was glad that I didn't know this information ahead of time because I would have googled myself into a panic.

So the nurse came in and started the IV in my hand. The litocaine she used to numb my hand hurt worse than when she inserted the IV needle...I cried (again)!! I am such a wimp because I have never had to deal with any of this medical stuff before. Then more doctors and nurses came in and out and asked questions. Finally at 10:30am the anastegeologist came in and gave me an array of sedatives to relax me before they put me out. One of them burned so bad as it went through my veins that I cried (again)..that's three times so far if you are counting!! I kissed my DH and off I went to to surgery.

I woke up in recovery and the first thing I asked was "Do I still have my ovary?" ........YES!!!! DH soon arrived and gave me the details of what happened during surgery. I was thrilled that I still had both ovaries but I found out that it was a dermoid cyst and she had to give me the laparotomy. I have 4 inch incision along my bikini line, and a few stitches in my belly button.

Might be too much info but....here is a side view of the 2 incisions

I was taken up to a regular room about an hour after being in the recovery room. I expressed that I didn't want to spend the night in the hospital. Apparently my OB told my DH that she would let me go home that day if I was ready. Normally she puts in a cathader after doing that kind of surgery but she knew I would be pissed...LOL. I wanted to do whatever I could to get out of the hospital so I ate some crackers, drank some water, and got out of bed. I was finally given the OK to leave around 4pm. I got up to get in the wheelchair and almost passed out so they laid me back down on the bed put a cold towel around my neck and made me wait a bit longer...DRAMA QUEEN!!!

Since coming home I've been camping out on the couch. DH has been such a great caregiver. He took off the whole week so he could pamper me!

The first couple days were rough. I was in pain, I couldn't sleep, and the gas that they put in my abdomen during surgery really hurt my stomach and right shoulder. I have been watching lots of Christmas movies (make me happy). On Friday I was getting SO bored (I am the kind of person that needs to keep busy) that DH took me to a local mall and pushed me around in a wheelchair....what a guy!! It was so nice to get off of that couch.

I am 4 days post surgery and I feel so much better. I am getting around alot better...no more wheelchair..LOL!! I am wearing a waist wrap that hernia patients wear...it makes it so much easier to walk around.

I have to take it easy for 2 weeks until my post-op appointment with my OB...that's going to be hard. Thanks for all your sweet comments and for reading this really long post.