myomectomy: my story

My story/journal: 

8.7 x 5.7 x 5.7 cm outside of uterus (submucosal) and  2.2 x 1.8 x 1.9 interior cm (subserosal). Scheduled surgery for July 5, 2017.

Day #1: 0900 Arrived to hospital for outpatient. 1000: check in, IV started. 1330: versed then propofol given for anesthesia, intubated, and foley placed. Hysteroscopic myomectomy, single incision mini laparoscopic myomectomy, and sarcoplexy (to help with rectocele, was supposed to include rectocele repair). 1800: Surgery complete, into PACU and extubated (tube removed from lungs) and foley removed while I was sedated. 2130: woke up in pain! Morphine was working. Dilaudid given and improved pain. 2330: shaking uncontrollably (due to anesthesia), Demerol helps with this and it also helped my pain more than morphine. Up to chair, abdominal binder was placed (THIS IS A MUST!!! bring one incase they don't do this as part of their protocol). Walked to bathroom. Mild nausea hoovering. Urinated (order was that I had to urinate twice) and preparing for discharge. 

Day #2 0030: HORRIBLE DAY and NIGHT made it home in PAIN across upper abdomen, both shoulders and neck! 0400: woke up and went to restroom. Was unable to get back into lying position because of the pain. I walked around the house. Prescription for hydrocodone 5 mg every 4 hours and Ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours was like WATER! No help! The carbon dioxide they fill belly with is commonly trapped under diaphragm which irritates the nerve in the diaphragm which is denervates into the chest, shoulders, and neck; so I felt excrutiating pain in all of these places (no lower abdominal pain). Pain was so intense I could not speak in complete sentences, I was doubled over into fetal position, and unable to lay on my side. I had to gesture a lot rather thank talking because speaking and breathing expands the diaphragm pushing down on the trapped carbon dioxide (which is NOT inside the bowel, but in the peritoneal cavity on the OUTSIDE of the bowel). So, gas-X or alike meds are worthless. My fiance massaged my neck and shoulders OFTEN! The movement even with massaging would hurt so he applied pressure over the painful sites which helped ease the pain. I used a heating pack over my abdomen and shoulders. Taking a hot shower (I sat on the floor of the shower), the binder, and fetal position was my only comfort! Also noticed that while urinating the pain would increase but then would slightly decrease after suggesting that a full bladder was creating pressure against the gas as well. I increased my hydrocodone to 10 mg every 6 hours and MAXIMUM relief was for an hour enough to get up and walk for short periods! 1100: Pain was so intense I couldn't even cry! I called my physican's office, RN called me back, told me it was gas nothing they could do. I would have to walk to get rid of it! BS!!! I demanded to speak to my Dr. He returned the call finally 5 hours later! 1600: Explained the serious pain I was experiencing, that 10 mg hydrocodone and ibuprofen was worthless. I requested toradol rather than ibuprofen and he gave me valium 5 mg twice daily. This did seem to help allow the diaphragm and my musicles to relax. I was able to sleep with valium, toradol, and hydrocodone. Was able to eat throughout day (bananas, peaches, grits, toast, oatmeal, potatoe soup, water, warm peppermint tea). I probably got 3 hours of restless sleep due to the pain. My fiance said even when sleeping I moaned and could not get comfortable. This day and day #3 early on was the worse days! 

Day #3: Walked off and on all day to rid the carbon dioxide trapped under diaphragm. In and out of shower with the pain. Still very uncomfortable off and on, but better than prior day. Instead of taking the valium twice a day I halfed the pill and took it every 6 hours along with the hydrocodone 10 mg and toradol in between. I got more sleep today but made sure I was up walking intermittently. Better today, but still bad. Valium was lifesaver to help me relax and sleep finally. 

Day #4: Took matters into my own hands and took a pill that I already had from the past. Tramadol ER (extended release) 200 mg and this was HEAVEN sent! I think ALL people undergoing fibroid removal should have this instead of Tylenol 3 or Hydrocodone. Hydrocodone can have a tendency to constipate you which is not good after this procedure. The extended release is great because you don't have to take medications all day long. This maintained my pain level all day with NO extra medication. I did take Ibuprofen twice just to decrease the swelling. Today has been the best so far. Minimum acceptable pain today. Ate well. Waiting to go to restroom. I am swollen all through abdomen and down to my thighs, but has decreased today. I keep my binder on except during shower. Hot showers feel great. Waliking up and down the stairs has been relatively easy today with the extended release Tramadol. I have not needed any more Valium. I only needed it for a day and a half on day 2. EVERYone in my opinion needs to be on an it after this procedure. 

Day #5: it's 0047: Yes, it's just after midnight. I've been able to stay up all day. I am hoping my days will be better and better. They put a dressing over my navel that has remained nice and covered tightly. There is brusing and I am still swollen. I look pregnant. But, again, I know it will go away and is decreasing with time.

Prepare. Make suggestions to your physician's when you aren't getting the pain relief that you need. They won't help you if you don't ask. Make sure they know your pain is NOT intestinal pain, but carbon dioxide pain if you feel it in the shoulders, neck, and across upper abdomen that is unbearable and takes your breath away. Ask he/she to prescribe Valium for 48 hours and maybe the Tramadol ER (that way you wont' have to be taking the pills off and on all day)!! 

Good luck ladies! You WILL make it throuh!!! 

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