Hysto- Surgery day- 4/6/10 recap

I wanted to post yesterday but was a little tired. Today I am more awake and aler so I figured now would be a good time to blog about my experience before I start forgetting all the details.

I was scheduled to Arrive at 8AM but my wife being herself (habitually late) we arrived at 8:10AM luckily it wasn't an issue. I signed in letting them know my name and surgeon's name. At 9:15AM a nurse called me in took my vitals checked to make sure I didnt eat or drink after midnight, made sure I knew what surgery I was having, checked to make sure I stopped taking aspirin and all that. They called down to the OR area to see if I should start getting dressed. They said not yet so I went back out to the waiting area.

10:30AM another nurse came to get me and told me I could change. They put your clothes in these fancy duffle bags which you get to keep. They took me upstairs to the OR holding area where another nurse cross checked when I ate and all of that. This nurse when it came to what surgery I was having she looked at the paper then looked at me then looked at the paper. Then she said in a whisper "I hope this is okay to ask you but do you have female parts?" I said, I nodded. I guess she sensed I was uncomfortable and replied, "I'm sorry, but look on the bright side after today they will be gone!" I smiled when she said that. She said the case before me it taking longer than expected but as soon as they finish up the surgeon will come see me and then I should be all set to go. I was sitting in chairs and the nurse offered me a blanket but I refused. She offered me a bed so I could lay down, but I refused. She kept trying to make me comfortable which I appreciated but I just wanted to go in and get rid off all these parts!

Around 11:30am my surgeon came in she stated that her previous case was longer than expected. (It's funny she said this because I know her previous case is another transguy I know in for the same surgery). She went over the surgery again stating what she was going to do, what was coming out (which was everything). She asked if I had any questions which I stated that I didn't. She also told me that eventhough the patient can be done outpatient and the plan is for me to go home after surgery depending on how things go in the OR and how I feel if they think it is better for me to stay the night then I will. I told her that was fine.
She said since it was in the OR so long she was going to grab something to eat and stretch while they cleaned the OR and then see me in about an hour. She apologized for the delay.

The anesthesiologist came to see me and asked the same questions the first 2 nurses asked me. I saw my chart and saw that there is a line for each person to initial after they ask these questions so it wasnt that they lacked communication but their way of making sure everything is in order. I answered her questions told her about my allergies and she said she would be right back to do my IV. She tried to do my IV in the OR holding area but my veins are bad and especially after not drinking anything for hours they were hard to find. She said she didn't want to poke around in my arm so she will wait til we are in the OR and do it there since there is way more lighting.

Around 12:40pm a nurse came to get me from the holding area. She had to sign me out of OR holding and escort me to the OR. We passed the surgeon who smiled and said "This is it!" I got on the table, my IV was put in. They told me to take deep breaths then the next thing I remember is being moved from one bed to the next. I woke up in the Recovery room. I was in and out but Around 5:08pm I was more alert. I told the Recovery room nurse I had to pee and she said I will have that sensation because of the catheter being out but she will give me the bed pan so I can try. I tried but couldn't pee. The nurse moved it so I wouldn't hurt my back. I could only open one eye at time. I asked the nurse if I could go home today or if I had to stay. She said I was cleared to go home as long as I didn't have too much pain. I told her honestly I have no pain. I touched my stomach to make sure they did the right incision. I felt a round patch on both sides of my abdomen which I later realized was surgical glue to seal the incisions. I told her again no pain just really need to pee. She told me wait to wake up a little bit more and if I had an "accident" she wouldn't hold it against me. I asked when I could leave and she said if I continue to do well then about 6:30pm. I asked if my wife was spoken to she said yes the surgeon spoke to her. I asked for something to drink which she brought me and I downed. She asked if I wanted juice this time and I said yes. She encouraged me to drink it slowly since some people get nauseous after anesthesia. I downed the juice. I told her I really have to pee now. She made me sit up slowly then she took my blood pressure which was fine. As I got off the bed I saw all this plus and purple stuff on the sheets she said it was dye they use during surgery. She informed me that I will pee bluish-green for the next 24 hours probably. I went to the bathroom and peed slowly but surely. When I was done I felt like I could run a marathon. The little bit of discomfort I had was gone but I still took it easy since I was a little high on the Anesthesia and didn't want to over do it. When I came out the bathroom I saw the guy I knew who had surgery before me. I was surprised he was still there. He said that he had to stay the night. I told him I was going home. We wished each other well and the nurse took me to chairs so that I could start getting ready to go home. She went over my discharge instructions. They prescribed me percocet and told me that I could use motrin once the pain wasn't so bad. They didn't prescribe me an antibiotic since I had no "open" wounds. I was happy about this.

The gave me more apple juice, ginger ale for my stomach and some Matzo crackers. I laughed at the matzo crackers and she said it's all we have. I told her it was fine because I love matzo crackers I just found it funny for some reason. She checked my pain level which was really none, She checked if I was feeling nauseous which I didn't. She called my wife to come up and meet me so that I could go home. My wife can to the Recovery area a few minutes later and when she saw me she got teary eyed. I said "Baby, why are you crying? I'm the one they cut open!" The nurse and my wife laughed. The nurse took my wife and I to a room so I could get changed. My wife offered to help me but I told her I was fine. I told her look at my belly. She said she couldnt see anything but some sticky looking stuff in my abdominal hair. She kept saying "so where is the cut? where are the bandages?" I told her there really wasn't any cut just 4 holes. She kept asking if I was okay and I kept assuring her I was fine. I went and peed again to alleviate the discomfort in my abdomen which peeing did help. We went downstairs where my friend was waiting with my daughter to drive us home. There was a Thai restaurant next to the car so my wife got me some food. We were on our way.

Eventhough my eyes felt heavy I was able to give my friend directions to get me home safely since my wife is bad with directions. Once I was home still no pain just discomfort which always went away after I peed. I peed a lot! I ate, drank gatorade and just relaxed. My eyes felt heavy so I just took 2 motrin and went to bed. I didn't feel I needed percocet. I slept fine but had to get up to pee every time I felt that discomfort. The getting in and out of bed made me feel a little sore. I feel great.

I also wanted to add that from the time I arrived at the hospital for surgery 'til the time that I left everyone was very respectful calling me he, him, sir and Mister even when they knew what I was there for. This made me feel amazing. They were consistant even when I was high on the anesthesia and not as alert as I could have been.

I survived surgery day!