My Health Saga-- Part 2

When I last left off with part 1 I was ready for my outpatient procedure.

On the day of my D&C I was a bit nervous, anxious, and even slightly excited.  I truly hoped that this procedure would make all the difference in how I was feeling.

The pain was getting so bad that the night before my procedure I actually had shooting pains in my pelvis every time I rolled over.

We had never been to this particular hospital before and we allowed plenty of time for us to get there in case we got lost but we found it without any problems.  We sat in the car for a bit an watched the sunrise.  We went in around 7 and with the pre-op instructions they have given me over the phone we found where we needed to go without any problems.

Everyone was so nice.  We were shown right to a little alcove where they had a gown waiting for me and a cupboard to store all my clothes.  They had difficulty getting an IV in; they always do as apparently I have small veins or something.  The second nurse that was called over to help noticed I was shaking a bit and hooked up my blanket to a heater that blew warm air all over me.

Once I was warmed she was able to get the IV in and they started me on some fluids.  Each person that came over started with all the same questions and I think we signed about 3 or 4 different forms.  We met with the Doctor and his assistant, the anesthesiologist and her assistant, a few nurses, etc.  Turns out I was the last surgery scheduled for the OR I was going into that day so we had a bit of a wait.

I don't remember much of anything from 11 or so on.  They came to wheel me into the OR and gave me a small dose of something to make me groggy before ever even moving me.  By the time we arrived at the OR I just had an impression of lights and lots of people.  I vaguely remember them asking me to move from my bed to the other gurney and someone whispering something about relaxing in my ears, picturing something calming, and that was it.

My next memory is having the sensation of moving and drawing my cold arms back under the blankets.  I still had a throbbing pain a few inches to the left of my right pelvis and I know I put my hand there pressing down.  I know there was someone there and they probably said something but I slipped back into sleep.

I woke off and on for what turns out was at least an hour.  I remember seeing the anesthesiologist check up on me and make sure I wasn't having any nausea.  They finally decided I was awake enough to wheel me back to the area were I had started my day and they went to get my husband.  He's the one who told me the doctor had found him just over an hour ago to tell him the surgery went real well and I should be awake in 20 minutes... I laughed and reminded my husband that while I have no real problems with anesthesia I do have a hard time shaking off the sleepiness afterwards.  I could have easily fallen back to sleep but made myself sit up and try to wake up so we could get going home.

They gave me a few glasses of cranberry juice to drink and while I still felt a bit funny I decided to get dressed anyway once they told me I could.  They used a wheelchair and brought me right to the car when I was ready to head home.

I spent the rest of the day sleeping off the meds.  I knew I was going to have cramping and some light bleeding for up to a week or even two after the surgery but as the weeks wore on there was one pretty constant pain that never seemed to go away.

Google became my best friend as I Googled symptoms I wasn't anticipating and found time and time again what I was feeling was normal.  The only side effects I had to watch for were fever or heavy bleeding.  Thankfully I recovered just fine and even felt well enough to enjoy going to my mom's Christmas eve and my in-laws on Christmas day.

I slept when I needed to and it was a frustrating two weeks until I was cleared for all normal activities.  I was warned that while the polyp he removed was a good sized polyp and while he does think this should alleviate my symptoms;  it might not and we won't know for sure until a month or two goes by.

Unfortunately, I don't think the story ends here as I have continued to have pain off and on for the entire month of January.

My period wasn't any lighter this month then before the surgery either and that combined with the pain prompted me to call the doctor.  He had a cancelation that very morning so I hopped in the car and headed over.  After listening, asking questions, and doing an exam, he suggested we try using birth control pills to regulate my periods but did tell me this was a last ditch effort before surgery for a hysterectomy.

I'll check back with him in three months and we'll take it from there.