Thursday, October 18, 2012

My myomectomy experience: Getting Ready


Today is the first day that I feel like my brain is able to focus enough in order to write.

Thanks for all the text messages, emails, phone calls, etc. I tried to keep up with them but, I have not been able to get back to everyone. Please forgive me. I am thankful to each of you that have reach out to me, said a prayer for me or even just thought about me. The first few days post-op are rough and I think I underestimated it all.

I was tempted to make this a short and sweet post, but as someone that has recently gone through this (actually I'm still going though this), I thought it might help another woman finding herself in a similar circumstance, should she happen to find her way to these series of blog posts. Let's start the day before surgery.

My doctor instructed me to have a big breakfast the day before surgery and at 2pm, I was to drink magnesium citrate, which is a saline laxative. The pharmacist at Walgreens suggested that I drink the lemon flavored one, since the cherry and grape flavor contained a dye that Doctors find annoying. It took me 20 mins to finish the small bottle. About 5 hours later, the effects took place. On the morning of the surgery, the solution was still working and I thought "Lord, please don't let me crap myself on the operating table."

The day of the surgery, I was not nervous at all. I spent most of the night washing, deep conditioning and putting mini twists into my hair because I knew there was no way I would be able to do my hair for the next few weeks. I finished my last twist a little after 4am and then I painted my nails. It might sound weird but, I wanted to come out of surgery, looking as close to my normal self as possible. Once you have IVs hooked up to you, a catheter inside you, and you're sitting in your own blood and urine, you'll understand why you might want to do a little something to remind yourself that all your dignity isn't gone just yet, but I'll get to more of that a bit later.

Pre-op at the hospital was quite standard. The staff at Yale Medical Center was very nice to me. I walked into the OR with a bunch of people wearing facial masks as they busied themselves prepping. The anesthesiologist asked if I felt woozy yet. I looked up and thought, "Wow, it's just like in the movies. Everything is alllll swiiiirlyyyyy". The next thing I remember is someone telling me, that everything went fine. They pushed my bed into the elevator, throughout the hallways and eventually into my recovery room. I breathed a sigh of relief and thought to myself, "I know'd dey is a Gawd" (in my Color Purple / Sofia voice) when I noticed, I had a private room.

to be continued...

11 comments :

  1. So very glad to hear things went, and are continuing to go, well. :) Be blessed.

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    1. Thanks so much Sis. I'm slowly getting back to my normal self.

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    2. Candid Ann, thanks so much for sharing especially in a funny way. I discovered I had fibroids on the 2ndJan 2015 and know deep down I'm going to have the abdominal myomectomy procedure. Each time I look at blogs and videos I feel less scared so thanks! Glad you're better ��

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  2. As someone who has been done the fibroid road, my unsolicited piece of advice is continue listening to your body. Even if you think you feel better, which compared to how you felt immediately post-op may be awesome, remember you are still healing and internal healing takes time. Can't wait for that post where you're doing cartwheels because you feel so darn good. Ha! I still have days when I can't believe they're gone and won't be coming back.

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    1. You are totally right. Today I thought I was feeling a lot better and ended up dizzy and out of breath during my already extremely slow daily walk. Everyday gets better even if I'm slow as a turtle right now.

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  3. I'm writing to send you even more good vibes to go with the ones you already have. Stay health and safe. Recuperaton takes time. I'm extremely happy for you that things went well. Stay blessed!

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    1. Thank you Didi. I really appreciate it. Everyday is getting a little better. I'm going to take this time to do a lot of reading and writing since I can't do much else, LOL.

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  4. Hello Candid Ann,
    I found you on YT (I am a subscriber) and when you made the vlog about your fibroids journey, I watched it and laughed at your antics but was glad you were recovering well. At that time I had been diagnosed with fibroids but they were not big, so my Gyn decided to monitor them. Unfortunately, last year they were big enough to cause concern and discomfort for me so I started researching various options (embolization vs surgery) and come this year when I went for my yearly check up, she said they were too big and that I need to have surgery ASAP. She was quite detached and told me that I need to have kids like today otherwise I would most likely not conceive in the future due to my age, and that she had met a lot of people from my country (I am Kenyan) who have the same issue and we believe "too much" in God to provide children after age of 35 and that was just not realistic. Sh also pushed for a hysterectomy, a lot! Well right there I knew our relationship was done and I went on to Google reviews to get the best Gyn out there (ATL). I found one and he said the same thing but did not belittle my beliefs or pressure me, just factually told me what had to be done.
    I have a 20cm fibroid and a few tiny ones and he said that it's close to 4-5 month preggers (it was not fun having random people at work audaciously ask me if I was pregnant! The nerve of some people gah!!!) Also being bloated most of the time, feeling pressure to urinate and other fibroid-related issues have just driven me to the edge.
    So Myomectomy here I come. I am due to go for my pre-op on 10/06/14 and have the laparoscopic surgery on 10/10/14. I assume this is not the same one you had, but I guess I will have the same experience as you in most instances.
    I just wanted to thank you so much for extensively detailing what one should anticipate and truly living up to your name of being candid, Candid Ann. I look forward to healing and getting back my flat tummy, oh how I miss it!!!
    God bless you:-)

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    1. Wow, thanks so much for sharing your story with me. It crazy to me how so many doctors are so quick to just recommend a hysterectomy. Granted, I know there are cases when that the only option, but that's not the case with every person. I hope everything goes well for you and that you have a speedy recovery.

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