Laparoscopic Total Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy

WARNING:  Discussion of female reproductive organs to follow.

Laparoscopic Total (including cervix) Hysterectomy with Bilateral (both sides) Salpingo-Oophorectomy (removal of ovary and fallopian tube)

Wow!  That’s a mouthful!  For some reason, women are reluctant to talk about these things openly.  We aren’t as open as we could (should) be.  If you know me well, you know that I am an open book.  I may not always “come clean” immediately, but once I do, I don’t hold back.  I think that women need to talk openly about these things to help each other.  Please know that I will talk to any woman who may have to go through this and help her in any way that I can.  The more we know, the better prepared we are.

This is my story.  About 11 months ago I switched to a new gynecologist.  I never liked the one that I had been seeing since we moved here (he didn’t listen to me and only recommended medicinal solutions to my issues that were very expensive – I had the feeling that he would get a kick-back if I filled those prescriptions) so I went searching for someone new because I could no longer live happily with the way my body was.  I wanted a woman “of a certain age” who would understand what I had been going through since menopause (which is an entire other conversation).  From our first meeting, I really liked her and she did a thorough exam.  During my internal exam she found an ovarian cyst (I don’t think that the other doctor would have found it until it became an issue).  The plan was to take a blood test to see if there were any indications of a cancer anywhere in my body (it came back negative) and to come back every 3 months for the first year and, if no changes, every 6 months to keep an eye on it.  All was good until my 9 month check-up.  While the size hadn’t changed, the density had and a new cyst was developing on the other ovary.  The doctor recommended a total hysterectomy with bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy.  As she said, “It’s not like you need any of these any longer.”  Funny lady!!

Surgery was scheduled.  Insurance rejected the surgery instead recommending that the original cyst be removed.  The second one “wasn’t large enough” yet to be removed.  My doctor disagreed with this option and consulted with a doctor at the insurance company and the original plan was approved.

The surgery happened yesterday.  The preparation for this surgery is similar to a colonoscopy.  Yes, THAT prep!

I was warned that I would need a few feminine pads for after surgery.  That took me back to my teenage years.  In my naivete, it didn’t occur to me that I would have a catheter and be intubated.  I understand that they are necessary, but I would have liked a “heads up” so I wouldn’t be so surprised at the pain in peeing and swallowing/drinking afterward. 

I was in pain yesterday – I rated it a 5.  My back hurt as well as inside my pubic abdomen where they had removed everything.  It felt like I’d been used as a punching bag.  My 3 incisions didn’t hurt at all, even though the one in the navel kept bleeding.  When I googled the procedure this morning, it is no wonder that it hurts inside.  Ick!

I catnapped most of yesterday and slept most of the night.  Today, I am in less pain.  I have not taken the pain medication prescribed.  I don’t need it.  When hubby asked my pain level this morning, I answered that it was 1 ½.  Not bad. 

I don’t know what the next few days, weeks, or months will bring but I know that this surgery was the right decision.