Jan 22 Post-Myo Update from NYC (Long)

[Guest guest]

This is the first day since my surgery that I've felt inclined to

write.

The surgeon was surprised at the number of fibroids (over 25)

and thus the surgery took longer than he had expected. The

incision still aches a little but looks fine. The other problems

I've

had since the surgery however have left me really drained both

physically and emotionally.

Directly after the surgery I had a bad reaction to the anesthesia

and was vomiting for 3 days and couldn't keep anything down, so

I was fed intravenously. I walked around the day after my surgery

and felt weak but OK. Because there was no room on the gyn

ward I was put onto the oncology ward and had a roommate with

advanced brain cancer who, on the 1st night after my surgery,

decided to come into my side of the room, sit on my bed and play

with my IV. Since I couldn't move and couldn't find the call button

I yelled for the nurse to move this woman back to her side of the

room. I soon discovered that I could tell this woman to leave and

she would do so, but I slept only fitfully until I was moved to the

gyn ward 2 days later.

Once on the gyn ward I started to go downhill, spiking fevers and

having nasty bouts of diarrhea, so I couldn't go home after 3 days

as I had expected. The docs couldn't explain this turn of events

and I was examined relentlessly, took chest x-rays, MRIs, gave

samples, etc. until it was determined that I had contracted C. diff,

an intestinal bug. I was then put into isolation and put on Flagyl.

Up to then I hadn't taken antibiotics for over 10 years. I was

discharged from the hospital 10 days after I entered.

Once home, I was spent most of my time sleeping or walking

around my bedroom on weakened legs. On the 5th day my leg

started hurting more than usual so I called my doctor and made

a follow-up appt. for the next day.

When the doctor examined my leg he immediately called a

nearby vascular surgeon, who did an ultrasound and told me I

had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and would have to be

admitted to the hospital right away. I was terrified, as I know that

these blood clots can break away and travel to the lungs to

cause a fatal pulmonary embolism. I was in the hospital for 4

days.

Since the 2nd hospital discharge last week I have had to give

myself injections of heparin, take coumadin and a tech person

has come to take blood samples and report the results to the

vascular doctor. My blood levels have yet to stabilize into the

recommended therapeutic zone.

This has been some journey! My life is turned upside down. I'm

staying with a friend whose apt, unlike my house, has no stairs.

My 19-yr-old daughter has had to grow up and fend for herself.

My family and friends have been stressed to the max. I've had to

deal with my boss and HR and my insurance company to make

sure everyone's in the loop and knows I need more time to

recover. I know I'm getting better every day but I'm still tired all

the time. I cannot take iron to cope with the anemia because the

blood clotting levels aren't where they should be. I'm glad I have

my family and friends. Today I'm going outside for a short walk,

the first time since January 22. Stay tuned.

[Guest guest]

Oh Kaye, what a battle, you are in my thoughts, get plenty of rest and

hydration, God bless

KayePeaNYC kayepeanyc@...> wrote:This is the first day since my surgery

that I've felt inclined to

write.

The surgeon was surprised at the number of fibroids (over 25)

and thus the surgery took longer than he had expected. The

incision still aches a little but looks fine. The other problems

I've

had since the surgery however have left me really drained both

physically and emotionally.

[Guest guest]

I feel so bad for you- what an ordeal you've been through! Any one of

those would have been hard to handle; all three is a nightmare.

I really hope you've turned a corner now and start to feel better

every day. When you get to that point, just hang on to it and remind

yourself that it will get better! I'm sure you'll feel a lot better,

too, when you're able to treat the anemia. That alone can make you

feel really crappy. Can you load up on iron-rich food?

Hang in there. You really have my sympathy!

-Mindy

> This is the first day since my surgery that I've felt inclined to

> write.

> The surgeon was surprised at the number of fibroids (over 25)

> and thus the surgery took longer than he had expected. The

> incision still aches a little but looks fine. The other problems

> I've

> had since the surgery however have left me really drained both

> physically and emotionally.

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry to hear about your journey. I hope things

get better from here on out.

Best wishes and stay strong

--- KayePeaNYC kayepeanyc@...> wrote:

> This is the first day since my surgery that I've

> felt inclined to

> write.

> The surgeon was surprised at the number of fibroids

> (over 25)

> and thus the surgery took longer than he had

> expected. The

> incision still aches a little but looks fine. The

> other problems

> I've

> had since the surgery however have left me really

> drained both

> physically and emotionally.

[Guest guest]

Dear Kay I understand. Hang in there. The

complications are so draining. I am two months post

myo and still not back to work. I can barely stand

much less walk some days. It is very depressing. I

am tired of being sick and tired.

I keep reminding myself that it took over three years

to get me into this mess so I cannot expect the

symptoms to fade over night

--- KayePeaNYC kayepeanyc@...> wrote:

The other problems I've had since the surgery however have left me really

> drained both physically and emotionally.

> Since the 2nd hospital discharge last week I have

> had to give myself injections of heparin, take coumadin and a

> tech person has come to take blood samples and report the

> results to the vascular doctor. My blood levels have yet to

> stabilize into the recommended therapeutic zone.

>

[Guest guest]

Oh my, I am so sorry about the course of your recovery. If you are

able to get out and take a walk now, I'm sure you will be feeling

better soon.

I would be curious to know what hospital you were in. Were you

satisfied with the care, other than the fact that you contracted the

infection there? I had my myo at NYU medical center on 12/8 and was

quite satisfied with my doc and his team of residents, but felt the

nursing staff was very short-handed (though uniformly warm and

friendly).

My very best wishes for your recovery from here on out.

Sunny

> Once on the gyn ward I started to go downhill, spiking fevers and

> having nasty bouts of diarrhea, so I couldn't go home after 3 days

> as I had expected. The docs couldn't explain this turn of events

> and I was examined relentlessly, took chest x-rays, MRIs, gave

> samples, etc. until it was determined that I had contracted C.

diff, an intestinal bug. I was then put into isolation and put on

Flagyl.

> Up to then I hadn't taken antibiotics for over 10 years. I was

> discharged from the hospital 10 days after I entered.