Pre-op on Friday, Surgery Scheduled for Monday

[ColdSweat]

Hey guys (gals)... for those of you who didn't know, I've been suffering with endometriosis pains for the last 10, excruciating days... so after seeing my gynecologist for the 2nd time in 10 days, he finally decided to schedule me a surgery. It's Monday morning, and my pre-op is this Friday. They're making two incisions below my navel, and one on my pubic line, and going up with a camera through that. I believe he told me it's a "laposcropy" (I can't spell it, I dissapoint myself, a writer who can't spell), an exploratorive/diagnostic surgery where they will find out what stage the endo is in, and what they can do, and if they can, they fix it right there on the table while I'm out, so they don't have to open me up twice. I'll be under heavy, unconcious sedation. Just thought I should update you guys...

On the upside. I think I found a way to go to meetings .



EDIT: Oh, and, sorry I've not been on a lot lately, been resting and with my boyfriend, he rubs my back and my tummy :p haha. And also... gonna pop over to the Pain Management forum when I can, my gyno upped my dosage of Hydro/Lortab (I don't know how they filled it this time) to 5/500MG, 2 every 4 hours, and it's really starting to bother me that I'm enjoying that feeling/craving more. I haven't abused in 10 days today and I'm quite proud of myself, don't wanna mess that up. I'm thinking of getting my sobriety date tatt'd on my wrist, around the AA/NA symbol. So I can say to myself, "well. If I screw it up now, I got the tatt for nothing, and those don't come off."

[Lily]

There is a gal I know who just had the same thing done Monday (last monday) She is feeling a lot better, and was a couple of days later.

I pray your surgery goes well!

There is a guy I know who had the NA emblem tatooed on his arm and when he relapsed he said he had to look at it every time he shot up. yikes! he's back though!

Just make sure you are prepared for ppl to ask what the date represents. If you are okay with that, then that could be okay for you.

blessings, Sheila

[ColdSweat]

Originally Posted by Lily

There is a gal I know who just had the same thing done Monday (last monday) She is feeling a lot better, and was a couple of days later.

I pray your surgery goes well!

There is a guy I know who had the NA emblem tatooed on his arm and when he relapsed he said he had to look at it every time he shot up. yikes! he's back though!

Just make sure you are prepared for ppl to ask what the date represents. If you are okay with that, then that could be okay for you.

blessings, Sheila

Thank you for the good hope vibes on my surgery

Yes... thats precisely why I want to do it, so I look at it, and I'll know I'll feel like a failure if I take that drink, do that drug.

I would be so prepared to tell anyone what it meant. It would make me feel like a little bit of a stronger person. Y'know?

[serenityqueen]

Don't sweat it ColdSweat!

Sorry, I had to say that. lol Seriously, I had 9 laperoscopies before my hysterectomy for endometriosis and in all honesty, it's a very simple procedure. I know, anytime someone has surgery it's scary as hell but I wanted to share with you how common this procedure is anymore and the recovery time is relatively short.(Now, don't let the boyfriend read this, let him wait on you hand and foot!) The incisions are so small that most times they don't even require stitches and to be honest, they just feel like something is pinching your skin for a few days. I'm being completely honest here. Just wear something loose fitting to the hospital, maybe sweats, and you shouldn't have any trouble at all.

The "best" thing about this surgery is that the endometriosis can usually be removed with a laser during the procedure. Years ago, a big, horizontal incision had to be made in order to go on, look around and remove any misplaced endometrial tissue.

The first day, expect to be groggy from the anesthesia and possibly a little nauscous. Just rest for a few days afterwards. On the third day after surgery, the "gas" that is introduced into the one incision to basically hold the skin up so the scope can be moved around will cause some discomfort when it's trying to escape from under your skin. Just do some light walking around the house and it will go away. You'll just feel a little pressure around your shoulder blades, that's it.

Please be careful with the pain pills. In all honesty, I have a little over 3 years clean and sober from my drug of choice, which was opiates and although I have a few chronic pain conditions, I refuse to take even one pill for the pain. I am so afraid that if I take one pill, that "feeling" will overcome me and I'll be right back out there using.

I'll keep you in my thoughts and Prayers and if you have any questions about the surgery, feel free to PM me.

God Bless,
Judy

[ColdSweat]

Oh my God! Thank you so much Judy. That just put a huge smile on my face and you made me feel completely relaxed! Thank you so much! ((HUGS!))

And about the pain medication. I respect and admire you so for not touching the pills. I don't know if I'm that strong, heh. But my mother is hanging onto them for me, and only gives them to me when I REALLY, honestly need them. I have not abused in 10 days.

[indigo]

Be thinking of you hon.

[Lenina]

(((((ColdSweat))))))

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts. I had a lapro-thingy (I can't spell it either) some time ago for ovarian cysts. Truly, it wasn't horrible. I was very sore for about two weeks, like I'd done a hundred sit-up crunches. The incision at the pubic line took three stitches. I don't recall any stitches to the navel.

Just keep your good sober friends around, make sure your doctor knows and understands your addiction concerns. And know you have lots of support and love from here at SR!

Love,

Lenina

[tanyapmc]

I have had quite a few laporoscopies for endo. they really aren't very bad. Sometime you will have some pain under your rib cage and shoulder blades from the air they put into your tummy. It will pass. I ended up having a hysterectomy but that was a LONG time ago and they know alot more about it now. I have had to take pain meds in sobriety. It was very hard. When I had my breast lump surgery I took 4 vicodin over 2 days. I had my husband lock them up. Hang in there and keep us posted.

[CarolD]

....Prayers for a beneficial outcome from your surgery.

[ColdSweat]

Lenina, thank you for the kind words and support . Lots of support and love out to all you guys as well <3.

tanyapmc, pain meds in sobriety is EXTREMELY difficult. I popped over to Pain Management on here the other day to get some insight in on this situation. 2 5/500 mg Hydros every 2 hours? I hate doing that, but I'm crying on the floor when I don't. It's a vicious circle. Ergg.

CarolD, thanks hon

Love to you all for kind words, warmth, and support<3