So, I took one week to get my office in order, headed to Boston for a week of vacation. Pam drove all 14 hours each way. I got to ride my bike once before the snow came. Great time visiting with Aunt Mary Ann, who had turned the corner and was finally up and about after her November surgery. Brenda is busy with her little angels. Great news for the littlest cousin, who had good results from her latest test. Watched basketball, ate Pam's great cooking, and socialized.
I was thrilled to meet with two FORCE members, who were very helpful and supportive, giving me advice about my surgeries.
Returned in time to have an early Easter dinner with friends in Auburn Hills. Unfortunately Pam's mom was not feeling well enough to attend.
Bowel prep Sunday. No problem. No fun.
Had to get up by 5 AM to get tot he hospital on time.
The entire hospital stay was interesting, efficient.
I am a lightweight when it comes to sedation and anesthesia. I remember nothing after the nurse came in to wheel me in to the operating room. A few seconds of recollection in the recovery room when first waking up. Hurt all over. Felt like I had delivered a baby. Then pain meds and nothing. Another minute in the recovery room, and nausea meds and then in the room for a few minutes, and then sleep. Frustrating to be told that I could go home the same day, after the doc had told me he would keep me overnight. Finally awake by 5 PM. Craving cola, and drank too much. Got to the bathroom, got lightheaded. Vomited a little then nausea med and sleep again. Woke by 9 PM and felt fine. Rested and was able to log on to chat with the FORCE folks at 10 PM. Slept a little and then awake at 2 AM for my heparin shot, and eyedrops. ( I apparently scratched my cornea as soon as I woke from anesthesia. Better by the next day with antibiotic ointment)
Then both my room mate and I were up for a few hours.
Morning rounds, breakfast, 1/2 pain pill, walk around the ward, feeling fine. Nice talk with the doc and then home. Feeling well enough to walk in to get my prescription filled and to surprise Dara and Kelly.
Then resting in the recliner the rest of Tuesday, all of Weds (by myself) and all of Thursday. Eating well, no pain. Sleeping pretty well.
Friday, ready to straighten the house, a little, and the flowers started arriving. Grandma, Madelyn and Gary visited. Able to sit up straight for 3 hours that day.
Saturday. Trip to James birthday party.
Showing posts with label DaVinci. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DaVinci. Show all posts
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday 3/23 post No longer waiting, now nervous.
Gyn Onc visit went well on Weds. Dr. F. does not like the idea of supracervical lap hyst. Does not like the idea of morselization in the abdomen of the uterus, even though it should not contain any cancer. Does recommend a DaVinci robotic total laparoscopic hyst with bso(bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), if I want my uterus out. He is supportive of my feeling that it leaves more options open for HRT, or tamixifen etc. if needed later.
This procedure uses the new DaVinci machine to provide better visualization of the abdomen, and does the procedure through the abdomen, then 'delivers' the uterus, ovaries, tubes through the vagina. (I am assuming possible transvag morselization if vag too small and uterus too large )
He says 23 hour observation in hospital then home and off work for 10 days, (but not 100% then) Sounds good to me. He is compassionate, kind, willing to disagree with me and explain why.
Went to therapist appt on Thurs. Praised for trying to take good care of myself.
Then got the call with OR date. April 9th. Lousy date , as it is the first day back after spring break. But the surgeon's time and the DaVinci machines are tightly scheduled. Might be mid or end of April otherwise. I am too superstitious and too nervous about that 10% risk of ovca (ovarian CA)already being present to pass up a surgical date.
Trying to praise myself for making 2 good, hard decisions about risk reduction surgeries. Trying to let myself off the hook for other things such as contradictory religious beliefs, etc.
Trying to let the good surgeon who I trust keep track of which surgery is right for me.
Hopefully the breast surgeon will make that as easy as Dr. F.
Warm enough for a good bike ride. Enjoying the emergence of spring.
Margaret, with a lot of work to do, but really wanting a nap
____________________________________________
There is controversy about whether to do a hysterectomy with the oophorectomy for risk reduction in BRCA. There is a slight risk of fallopian tube cancer at the attachment to the uterus. The surgery is more intensive with a harder recovery time and more risk of complications. The absence of uterus, allows estrogen only hormone therapy. The absence of uterus means no risk of uterine cancer from tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.
The DaVinci total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy, is a new procedure, with reports of less recovery time. Risk with a new procedure is the "learning curve" meaning that it takes a doc a certain number of times to do a procedure before s/he is as proficient at it as s/he should be to minimize risks. One person on the FORCE site quoted 50 cases, for a laparoscopic procedure.
This procedure uses the new DaVinci machine to provide better visualization of the abdomen, and does the procedure through the abdomen, then 'delivers' the uterus, ovaries, tubes through the vagina. (I am assuming possible transvag morselization if vag too small and uterus too large )
He says 23 hour observation in hospital then home and off work for 10 days, (but not 100% then) Sounds good to me. He is compassionate, kind, willing to disagree with me and explain why.
Went to therapist appt on Thurs. Praised for trying to take good care of myself.
Then got the call with OR date. April 9th. Lousy date , as it is the first day back after spring break. But the surgeon's time and the DaVinci machines are tightly scheduled. Might be mid or end of April otherwise. I am too superstitious and too nervous about that 10% risk of ovca (ovarian CA)already being present to pass up a surgical date.
Trying to praise myself for making 2 good, hard decisions about risk reduction surgeries. Trying to let myself off the hook for other things such as contradictory religious beliefs, etc.
Trying to let the good surgeon who I trust keep track of which surgery is right for me.
Hopefully the breast surgeon will make that as easy as Dr. F.
Warm enough for a good bike ride. Enjoying the emergence of spring.
Margaret, with a lot of work to do, but really wanting a nap
____________________________________________
There is controversy about whether to do a hysterectomy with the oophorectomy for risk reduction in BRCA. There is a slight risk of fallopian tube cancer at the attachment to the uterus. The surgery is more intensive with a harder recovery time and more risk of complications. The absence of uterus, allows estrogen only hormone therapy. The absence of uterus means no risk of uterine cancer from tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.
The DaVinci total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy, is a new procedure, with reports of less recovery time. Risk with a new procedure is the "learning curve" meaning that it takes a doc a certain number of times to do a procedure before s/he is as proficient at it as s/he should be to minimize risks. One person on the FORCE site quoted 50 cases, for a laparoscopic procedure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)