Scattered Sundays
Well good news, insurance DID stop with their silliness and approved my ablation! I was able to get it done on Wednesday morning at 10 am. It was a super fast and very simple surgery.
The pre-op nurse got a kick out of these socks that were a gift from a friend. Yes, she made me put the hospital socks on over them, but we still got a giggle out of them for a little bit.
My doctor had me taking a bunch of hormones leading up to the surgery and they had been making me feel ill every morning. I was able to control that with some food and didn’t think much of it.
Since you can’t eat before surgery, I had some nausea all morning from the hormones. I’ve never had anesthesia before, and I know puking is normal when you come out of it. Between the hormones and the other meds, I did have an upset stomach once I woke up.
Being a power-puker thanks to being a very sick pregnant lady, I was able to recognize all the signs and knew down to the minute when I was going to hurl. I gave the nurse plenty of warning and they were able to provide me with some of the barf bags.
I also had some cramping and they gave me a few doses of something in my IV to put an end to that. When we were finally ready to leave, I puked again and the nurse gave me a shot of phenegan (sp?) in the butt to stop the nausea.
Troy and I headed out (the nurse laughed when I called shotgun at the curb) and stopped at a pharmacy by our house to get some meds. Right before Troy left the car I told him I had to puke again…and I did! Seriously, I’m a great puker. Thanks, Jack and Bennett.
The nurse had said the phenegan would make me sleepy and it really did. I crawled into bed when we got home after taking only a few of the meds that were prescribed. I didn’t want to take much yet since my stomach was empty and pain pills on an empty stomach never ends well.
I snoozed for an hour, got up to pee and take some meds, and then snoozed for another hour. The boys were with my inlaws and those lovely people brought us some of our favorite local pizza when they dropped the boys off.
I was leery of eating any that night because I wasn’t about to waste expensive and delicious pizza. 🙂 I had some lovely instant Pho that my sister had brought and a honeycrisp apple. Took my meds like I was supposed to and everything stayed exactly where it was supposed to; in my stomach!
I was still very sleepy and just lounged in bed that evening watching Top Chef. We never watch TV in our room anymore but had ordered a firestick during prime days and that proved to be great timing.
On the day of the surgery, Bennett woke up at 2 am and couldn’t go back to sleep until 3:30 (he does these middle-of-the-night parties 1-2x a week). And when I finally got back to bed, Troy was snoring his butt off and I never got back to sleep.
I told this to the nurse and anesthesiologist as they were wheeling me into the surgery room. Both were parents of young kids, and they promised they’d knock me out for a great snooze. Ha! And they did. I was out like a trout.
When I woke up in recovery, the first two things I said were 1) wow, that was fast. I’m done already? and 2) I need my mask back on because my son is having surgery next Friday and we cannot get him sick. They had a fun giggle about that.
The nurse who stayed and was assigned to me actually knew Troy from when he used to work at a local ambulance company. She was a former ER nurse and had interacted with him for years. She was absolutely wonderful!
The day after surgery I woke up feeling great. Once the pukey feeling passed, I was a whole new person. I tapered off my meds and ate real food and everything stayed down AND there was almost zero pain.
I was prescribed enough pain meds to take every 4 hours for 3 days. All in all, I only ever took 3 doses. My surgery was at 10:30 am on Wednesday, and I took my last pain pill at 2:30 am on Thursday. I totally lucked out!
Overall, I had a very simple time with the whole thing. The cramping I experienced wasn’t even bad in comparison to my normal period cramps. The recovery was a breeze. I am thankful!
I spent Thursday mostly kid-free since my sister graciously took them for the day. I did some work from the couch, took a short snooze, and watched more Top Chef. I’m so far behind on TV and took this opportunity to do a little catching up.
Many readers may not know that for seven years, I worked for a nursing college before quitting to blog full-time. So I have a big soft spot for nurses and the incredibly hard work that they do day in and day out.
I made sure I was uber respectful and thankful to all my care team. Even while puking, I was saying please and thank you to the nurses and CNAs.
When we checked in that morning, I found it hilarious that my surgery was deemed “elective”. Yes, having surgery to stop aggressive bleeding is happening “just because”. I’m sure that will impact how it is reported to insurance and that gears me up for a fight with insurance. Looking forward to that!
My follow-up appointment is in two weeks and from there I’ll know more about the eventual hysterectomy. I know that is a bigger surgery than this one was, but knowing I was in great hands this time makes me more confident that it will be a success.
And I have to say thank you for all the kind words and support through messages and comments. I may be biased, but you all are the best online community out there. Hands down!
And my “in real life” community, I received care packages, cookies, pizza delivery, kid-care, gift cards for movies to keep the boys occupied, and food delivery gift cards. I felt well supported and loved.
Last week, a long-time reader shared a great podcast episode on Adnomeosis (what I am dealing with in my ute) and I wanted to share it with you all. If anything I have talked about has resonated with you, check out this podcast. This woman’s story almost mimics mine.
In the Garden This Week
I was trying to get comfortable in bed on Monday night and the back of my arm was burning. I knew I hadn’t gotten a sunburn that day.
It was only then that I remembered I had been pulling morning glory out of the raspberry bed for hours that morning.
It looked like I fought a box of baby kittens. That morning glory will never give up, but apparently, neither will I. Stupid morning glory; kick rocks.
Other than that, I didn’t do much in the garden this week. I didn’t really have time and decided to take it easy after my surgery. The garden just kept trucking along.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO THIS WEEK
You know I love a celebrity scam because I think they’re absolutely ridiculous. If you do too, check out the podcast, Fed Up. About the show:
When Emily Gellis hears rumors of people suffering horrible side effects from a trendy diet she springs into action. Armed with over a hundred thousand Instagram followers, Emily launches a social media crusade to expose F-Factor and its founder, Tanya Zuckerbrot. It’s the start of a feud that will attract trolls, lawyers, and, eventually, national media all because of fiber. (source)
READER SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Melissa left this five-star review on our Canning Peaches post {Pin this tutorial}:
Followed your recipe to a “T” and they turned out amazing! Thankful for your step-by-step detailed instructions for this newbie canner. thank you for making it super easy for me.
ON SUSTAINABLE COOKS THIS WEEK
Air Fryer Zucchini – Once you taste Air Fryer Zucchini, you’ll never make it any other way! Deliciously tender and perfectly roasted, zucchini in the air fryer is a simple and speedy side dish. {Pin this recipe}
How to Freeze Green Beans – Learn all the tips and tricks for freezing green beans to extend the harvest. Learning how to freeze green beans is a great way to preserve this delicious summer veggie. {Pin this tutorial}
Canning Corn – Learn all about safely Canning Corn in a pressure canner. You’ll love having jars of home-canned corn to extend the taste of summer all year long. {Pin this tutorial}
THE FIVE MOST POPULAR POSTS THIS WEEK
- Canning Peaches – like sunshine in a jar that you can enjoy all year long. {Pin this tutorial}
- Air Fryer Egg Rolls – vegan and vegetarian as written but super customizable! Oh, and did you know you can FREEZE these? {Pin this recipe}
- Garlic Butter Rice – so easy and so comforting! {Pin this recipe}
- Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce – use up all those delicious garden tomatoes in this simple recipe. {Pin this recipe}
- Peach Ice Cream – a cold bowl of summer. Seriously, you’re going to love it! {Pin this tutorial}
MEAL PLAN
Monday:: Troy is making dinner and we’re excited to eat it.
Tuesday:: Takeout to support a local small business and my sanity.
Wednesday:: Pasta and veggies.
Thursday:: Popcorn, leftovers, and movie night. Bennett’s last hurrah meal until his tonsil surgery.
Friday:: TBD because Bennett probably won’t want to eat and Jack has a soccer tournament 90 minutes away. No idea on the schedule yet and he may need to eat there.
Saturday:: TBD because Bennett probably won’t want to eat and Jack has a soccer tournament 90 minutes away.
Sunday:: TBD because Bennett probably won’t want to eat and Jack has a soccer tournament 90 minutes away.
Love those socks! I’m so glad the ablation and recovery went smoothly! Just about everyone I’ve talked to who has had a hysterectomy has said the recovery was really not bad at all, so I am hopeful. The only person who had a horror story to share was my mother-in-law, who I then reminded that it has been over 30 years since she had hers done so I think it’s a little different now!
So glad that your surgery actually happened. You are very fortunate that you were able to find a great gynecologist. I can relate to both pregnancy nausea (lasted six months) and post-op nausea. For my first adult sugergy nearly 30 years ago, the anesthesiologist could not/would not believe that I was an absolute non-drinker (not a drop in my life . . . bad family history/wise choice on my part). When she was finally convinced that I was tee-totaler, she said, “You are going to be really sick.” And I was. I must have thrown up five times during waking up in recovery. Since it was an outpatient surgery, the nurses were supposed to be off at 7 PM and they wanted to go home. At 7:30, I was still throwing up. Finally, at 7:45, after being non-vomitus for 15 minutes, I got the bum’s rush out of the surgery center. I kept saying all the way out to the car that I was going to be sick again. But the nurse could not be deterred from my homeward trek. We got to the car, she handed my husband some lovely little bags, got me in the car, and took off like a jet into the center. Before my husband had gotten into the car, I had already thrown up. When the surgeon called at 11 PM to check on me, I had to excuse myself to go throw up again. Since that time, each anesthesiologist has known my pukey history and has gone to extreme measures to prevent the nausea. I usually only upchuck one time now. Thank goodness for progress!
Best of luck to Bennett (and the entire family) with his surgery. Here’s to a great school year with only one or two absences!
Terry, I’m so sorry you had that experience! Ugh.
After the pre-op questions when I said I never drink or smoke, the nurse said “I’m going to put an anti-nausea patch behind your ear and a little something in the IV”.
I talked with a friend who is a surgical nurse afterward and she said that not being a drinker or smoker are two of four almost guaranteed markers of post operative vomiting. Who knew?!
I am there with you with non-smoker/non-drinker. Wonder what the other two factors are . . .
She told me it is “thin” and “caucausian”. Her words! Not mine.
Glad you came through okay. Since you have another surgery ahead, you might ask for a nausea patch. My sister had a 2x mastectomy in June. When the hospital kicked her out (not literally but too soon and without notifying the surgeons of her nausea), she made it ok on the long drive home but then threw up hard multiple times. The next day, she had emergency surgery because her stitches had torn open and well, other bad stuff. The patch got her through. When she needed emergency surgery AGAIN two weeks later, everybody but everybody was insisting on the patch. It did its job again.
You’re going to laugh when you see this, but…I had the patch on before surgery! AND they put something in my IV in pre-op meant for anti-nausea. I’m just a hot mess, apparently. But now we know and now I know to ask them to shoot me in the butt with phenegan (fenegan?) before I come to.
I’m so sorry your poor sister was so miserable!
Man, that scopoloamine (nausea patch) helped with my post-hysterectomy nausea but it also made my vision so blurry I couldn’t read for days afterward, which sucked. I think I mainly get nausea after surgery when I’m getting wheeled to my room–why can’t they just wheel me there while I’m still out of it? Ugh.
When you’re recovering from your hysterectomy, depending on how they do it–mine was robotic–you may have killer lower back pains from the position they have to put you in during surgery. My nurse put this hot water bottle blanket thing under me, that cycled hot water through, and it was HEAVEN. Ask for heat for your lower back during recovery if that’s the case, and invest in a very good heating pad for at home.
By any chance did your vision get blurry AFTER you took it off? The nurse warned me multiple times to wash my hands very well after taking it off, because if you touch your eyes after touching the patch it will dialate your eyes!
Yesterday, I made sure when I took it off I was already wearing my contacts, AND I took it off in the shower to make sure my hands were extra clean. Even then, I have noticed my vision was blurry yesterday and today. But not while wearing it.
Great tip on the heating pad; thank you! I have one from my pregnancy with Bennett because it was the only thing that helped my lower back.
I remember taking the patch off soon after surgery because my vision was so blurred I couldn’t watch TV even. They put it on before surgery. My vision was blurry for a few days after.
Yaaaaaaaaaaay for your ablation getting done!!! I so hope this long bloody journey of yours has the best possible wrap up. So happy that you’re surrounded by such a loving clan of people.
If you haven’t seen him yet, Dr. Glaucomflecken on youtube (or the tiktok) is hilarious and vicious in his insurance company videos.
Wishing you the best recovery!!
I’ll have to check him out! You’re off of IG, right? Try to track down Dr. Jen Gunter on any social media platform that you’re still on. Her takedowns on people trying to fearmonger over women’s health is pretty epic.
Looked her up, subscribed to her newsletter. Thanks for the recommendation!!!
Enjoy!
I’m glad your surgery went well. I had two ablation surgeries for endometriosis in my 20s. Surgery turned out to be the best part of the ordeal. Good luck with the next steps.
I wouldn’t worry about the surgery being classified as elective. Anything that’s not emergent (think ruptured spleen) is classified as elective. Basically if you have time to schedule a surgery, it’s not considered life-saving measures. My surgery for cancer was also “elective”.
Thanks, I’m feeling super lucky and happy with how things have been going so far.
Good point on the surgery designation! I hadn’t realized that.
So insurance might not cover the surgery? Wt* US health care!
Hope recovery for you goes well. And hopefully Bennett will recover quickly as well.
No, they will cover it. I was just gearing up to get a bill that was higher because it was deemed “elective”. We have outstanding insurance and it is looking like our portion of the bill for the surgery will be at least $1,800. I know of another woman in Texas with insurance who will be paying $2,400 out of pocket and they required her to bring HALF as a down payment on the day of surgery.
Don’t get me started. Grrrrrr!
Glad to hear your surgery went well! I always wake up weepy and sentimental from anesthesia. I even asked a nurse once if she’d hold my hand. Might have something to do with waking up from one surgery, all alone, with the news turned on. It was 9/11/2001.
So excited for Bennett’s surgery! We babysat for a kiddo that had the same surgery and he felt so much better after!
Glad you’re recovering well. Elective my a**!