(no subject)

[dsrmousey]

Surgery often looks like murder if you judge it halfway through.

My first major surgery was an emergency C-section with my daughter. I had a partial placental abruption and actually had gotten to 8cm, but soon after I started hemorrhaging and they lost my child's heartbeat, so I was whisked away and knocked out before I could say boo.

When I woke up, the first thing I asked for was to see my child. My husband was in the room and he brought her to me. She was beautiful. Curly hair, ten fingers and toes, and the cutest toothless smile!

My husband later told me I had looked like a meat market. Seems they pile all your intestines on top of your chest, then they pull out the uterus, slice it, and remove the baby. They told my husband if the baby had been a boy he probably wouldn't have lived. Girls seem to be stronger and survive.

My next baby I went V-bac, or vaginal. They weren't happy with my decision yet I made it. I wasn't going home to a three year old and have to explain all the time why I couldn't pick her up.

My son did get stuck last minute. I had the obstetrician literally yell at me "That if you don't push this baby out in the next ten contractions, you're getting another C-section! ."

Then I had a nurse tell me to open my eyes and breathe with her before I push. I spit a profanity at her, told her to get away before I punched her, closed my eyes and pushed with the next contraction, and so it went for seven more until I felt myself being sliced for an episiotomy, and on my next contraction I pushed and my son slid out and my heart swelled to another size.

My next surgery was a humdinger. Having a hysterectomy is not for the weak. Usually they do it laparoscopically, in my case, nothing is that easy. They had found some "abnormal and cancerous cells" and the docs wanted to look around and make sure the cells were contained to just the uterus. The doctors did remove my ovaries and some gnarly looking endometriosis but things did seem to be contained to the uterus. Pap smears are important ladies!

And now to my last surgery, which was the most life threatening, because they replaced my Aortic arch which had a 5.5mm aneurysm in it, along with the Aortic valve that was leaking so much blood the doctors were surprised my brain was being supplied with enough oxygen. (My husband would tell you my brain wasn't ever getting enough oxygen, after all I married him.)

I'm sure when I was on the table it did look like someone had murdered me! Cracked chest open and pulled back sternum, and enough clamps to set off any major magnets in the area! I survived that one, but while they were rummaging around in there they found another, smaller aneurysm. So we need to do surgery on that one too, this time through the groin. Thank goodness!!! I don't think I can do this surgery again.

By far this is the hardest thing I've done. However I am quite grateful to the team who took care of me, they bought me more time with my family and that's what counts. Recovery is slow and rough but I'm getting there, after all I'm 58 and this is a grueling surgery to come back from, but I'll do it for my grandsons. And they're worth it!

Comments

[favoritebean_writes]

These procedures... you are so resilient! They all sound so frightening. I was awake for my emergency cesarean, and to this day, I don't know why they didn't put me under. Glad you're here with us, and were willing to share your story.

[adoptedwriter]

My mom went thru that surgery in the year 2000 at age 70. Might be genetic the doctors said, so my brother who is biological should be getting tested.
They found my mom's aneurysm while scanning for gall stones.

[roina_arwen]

You’re quite the fighter! I’m glad to hear the next surgery won’t be the open heart variety. My mom passed from a brain aneurysm that burst before they could operate on it, back in the early 1970’s. Hugs!

[drippedonpaper]

Man, I'm so sorry. Recovery from surgery (IMHO) often takes more than the 6 weeks drs. often mention.

I'm so glad your daughter made it!

I had 3 c-sections and a hysterectomy that left the ovaries. For my hysterectomy, they had to go through the c-section scar, so it was a similar recovery, plus I've had 9 other surgeries, but none as major at your aortic issues. Man! I am so, so glad you are ok.

Good luck as you wait for the aneurysm surgery. Waiting can be so hard :(

You'll make it. You always win! How old are your grandsons? :)

[banana_galaxy]

Wow, all those experiences sound pretty rough! The only surgeries I've had were for my wisdom teeth and getting rid of some excess bone in my femur. Nothing quite as taxing as your experiences.

[erulissedances]

I agree with you, hysterectomies aren't light-weight. My uterus was folded in half, causing me so much pain I was non-functional and bled every 2-3 weeks for 10-14 days at a time. When my OB doctor suggested a hysterectomy I said "Hallelujah!" because I had been in such pain for such a long time. Laparoscopy showed lots of things wrong - so many that a full lateral incision and three days in the hospital were the recommendation of my doctor, and frankly, I would have walked through a wall of fire to leave the pain behind me. I've always considered those three days in mid-2000 to be the start of a new life. *hugs*

- Erulisse (one L)

[dsrmousey]

I was sort of sad to have mine, it made me feel less than, but the c word also scared the life out of me,,.so, hello C-section. Peace~~~Desiree

[dsrmousey]

I'm like the energizer bunny, I take a licking and keep on ticking! Peace~~~Desiree

[dsrmousey]

Thank you for your kind words.9 surgeries? I left out three minor but dang 9?
I, have two. One who is twelve, he's Autistic but verbal and a joy. The other is 22 months, who thinks he's verbal most of the time, but sometimes he speaks a whole sentence or the correct word. He is also a happy boy. Peace~~~Desiree

[banana_galaxy]

LOL. The imagery of that.

[dsrmousey]

Oh! Am sorry Roina. You basically grew up motherless like me then. I hope you at least have memories of her. As for being a fighter, I think it's more like I endure. But thank you. Peace~~~Desiree

[dsrmousey]

Omg,.same here!. Mine was found while.doing a cat scan for gall stones. Peace~~~Desiree

[dsrmousey]

It was the perfect prompt! Peace~~~Desiree

[roina_arwen]

Yeah, I was 4 when she died, and dad never remarried. I have a few memories and some photos. Not much but better than nothing. Hugs!

[ofearthandstars]

Oh, wow - I'm so glad you made it through your most recent surgery. I find aneurysms terrifying, so am very glad that yours was detected and corrected. I hope the next surgery is less invasive and a huge success!

[dsrmousey]

Thank, I've been assured that this next aneurysm they can take care of by going through the grroin. I can't see the docs cracking me like a crab aagain! Peace~~~Desiree

[dadi]

whew... you have gone through some tough stuff! Glad you survived it!

[marlawentmad]

You're so strong! I've talked to too many mothers with subpar birth experiences. I am sorry you had to go through all of that, but am glad you recovered with your babies.

[mollywheezy]

You've been through so much!!! I hope you recover well and fully now. *HUGS*

Your husband sounds like mine, lol. ;)

[dsrmousey]

Thank you! Peace~~~Desiree

[dsrmousey]

Thank you so much. I'm rust an angry girl who likes to prove docs wrong. Oh he's autistic, let me show you why he isn't. Kind of women. And we got Nick to talking, and he's a wonderful son, just as my daughter is a wonderful girl.
Peace~~~Desiree

[alycewilson]

They were prepping the O.R. to do a C-section on me when I had KFP, but like you, I worried about not being able to care for him properly as I recovered from surgery. They had to use suction to remove him, but he was perfectly healthy. And I, ironically, had to spend three weeks on bed rest, recovering from my extensive episiotiomy!