RIP Ovaries, Tubes and Uterus

Just like at a funeral, when one says goodbye to a loved one or something they hold dear, memories begin to flood back into the mind of the good times shared and sometimes, the not-so-good times. It's 4:05 a.m. and we will be leaving for the hospital in 50 minutes to take out my girlie-hood.

Good riddance.

Have we ever had good times? I mean, my first period arrived near about the time my family and I were going to a Chicago Cubs game. I was in the master bathroom on Perry Court in Sycamore, Illinois and started screaming when I saw blood. I pretty much thought I was dying right then and there. My mother came rushing in, promptly sized-up the situation and alerted me that I had just come into womanhood and this was my period.

So on we went to Chicago; me all crampy and grouchy and not liking the feeling that I was continuously going in my underwear. Ick. Other memories remind me of thrashing back and forth on the green carpet in my bedroom in excruciating pain (I'm a bit of a drama queen). Advil hadn't come out yet, so the only thing to give was aspirin, which we know makes a period even heavier. I recall complaining to my grandmother about how much pain I was in during periods and she softly gave me the Lutheran answer about Adam and Eve and that damn apple.

Damn that apple all to hell, that's all I have to say.

But I think my most vivid period memory occurred in high school at Worlds of Fun, an amusement park in Kansas City. I had my period and I wore a little white sundress because back in the late 1980's, sundresses were all the rage. I was wearing pads because tampons frightened me to no end. My friends and I had just gotten off a water ride and we were walking to our next destination. As their stride quickened in anticipation of the next thrill, I felt my pad slowly dislodge from my underwear and start to creep down my legs. What does one do in that situation when there are people everywhere? Stop and adjust? Keep walking and hope for the best? I did the latter and the best never happened. No, what happened was that my very used pad came flying out from underneath my dress and landed on the pavement.

Then what does one do? Bend over and pick it up and apologize to all who witnessed such horror? Or, keep walking and act as if nothing ever happened. I did the latter and as quickly as I could find a bathroom, ran in and stood for what seemed like hours, lest anyone should recognize me in line at the next ride.

So, you see, having a hysterectomy is a good thing, really. I never cried in regards to this surgery. Even though I know the reason behind the need, I am still secretly celebrating as they rip out the girls who made my life a living hell once a month, sometimes more when you factor in PMS.

This morning at 7:45 a.m., my girls will breathe their last breath and will be removed for all of eternity. They're headed to pathology where they will be sliced thin looking for cancer cells. I will be enjoying the blissfulness of general anesthesia, where Advil is never required.

Amens

I hit a few detours today which meant all of my Christmas shopping took place at Macy's.

Amen.

Then I went to Sentimental Journey Antiques in Olathe, instead, and found exactly what I needed at a great price.

Amen.

I drove by Crate and Barrel and saw that they weren't busy, so I ran in and purchased a gift card.

Amen.

And finally, I hit Super Wal-Mart and this was my thought as I was wheeling a cartload of stuff to the Element:

This is the last time my ovaries will be shopping at Wal-Mart.

And, in unison, I heard them sing, Amen.

Lists

Today is Tuesday already? Really, where is the time going? I'm filling each day with chores, duties, doctor's visits, chit-chats and a bit of fun thrown in on the side. :) That's always necessary, right? While I have a good bit of Christmas shopping done, I have two gift cards to purchase and a few presents to pick up for my husband and then I'll be officially done. Nothing like being a last-minute lolly-gagger.

But I'm down to the nitty-gritty of list-making. Today on the agenda:

Grocery Store
_____________

Needed:
Rotisserie chicken
Cans of soup
Boost

Exciting, eh?

CVS Pharmacy
_____________

Meds, of course. What's a week without picking up a prescription?

Kohl's, Super-Target and Macy's
_______________________________

Can't comment. The other half reads my blog. **wink. . . wink**

The fun part? I'm going to Mission Antique Mall to look for something to hold the bountiful amount of medicine bottles which have collected on the bathroom sink counter and is taking over our lives.

http://www.missionroadantiquemall.com/default.aspx/MenuItemID/104/MenuGroup/Home.htm



Then, back home to finish wrapping gifts:



Yesterday was a full day that started out at my doctor's office for the pre-op visit. The surgery will involve using the Da Vinci Robot System:

http://www.davincisurgery.com/gynecology/gynecology-procedures/hysterectomy/

All said, my doctor mentioned that the actual hysterectomy time is 30 minutes, but the actual surgical suite time is around 3 hours. There will be 2 hours pre-op and approximately 2 hours recovery room time before I'm rolled up to my room. I feel bad for my husband having to sit all that time by himself as he can't see me until I get to my room. That's a long time to wait.

My surgery is at 7:45 a.m., which is a good, because it will start on time. I'll be getting a phone call tomorrow from the scheduling desk to let me know what time to arrive, but my doctor guessed 5:30 a.m. I like early because then I don't stew and worry. When I had my gall bladder taken out October 16, I was first on the list then, too. That was only day surgery and I was home by noon.

At 2 we arrived to KU Medical Center for the pre-anesthesia appointment which took approximately 2 hours. Everyone was so kind and I feel very sure that I'm in good hands. They had to take more blood and it took 2 sticks this time. My veins have really had it and are not cooperating. . . . . Thursday will be a long day if this keeps up.

So everything is ready for surgery, I just need to finish the few things on my list at home and by tomorrow night, I should be able to relax in the recliner and immerse myself in a library book, which I decided to renew after all. :) Everything will be just fine, I know it.

Monday To-Do's

Tomorrow is a big day which is a precursor to a big week.

At 9:45, I have a pre-op appointment with my doctor/gyn/surgeon. I will be alerting her to the possible systemic mastocytosis diagnosis and then will listen to her instructions for surgery and additional information about the procedure. At 2, Richard and I will be at KU Medical Center for the pre-anesthesiology appointment. This is the first of its kind I have ever attended, so I have no idea what to expect. I'll update my list of medications and bring along my pharmacist-husband and away we'll go.

Thursday is my hysterectomy, though I won't know what time surgery will be until Wednesday when the scheduling desk will let me know. I'm all sorts of feelings wrapped up in one. I know pathology reports take time to come back, so initially my worry is how systemic mastocytosis will affect surgery and of course, how I will handle going into surgical menopause.

There are so many unknowns.

But what is known, I have my to-do list firmly under control. When I found out I was having surgery over a month ago, I compiled a list of things I wanted to accomplish and I'm nearly done. Tomorrow will be a day where I slip the last of the cards and gifts in the mail, where I finish packaging up the clothing donation for the Epilepsy Foundation Drive for a Wednesday pick-up. I will drop off library books that were only partially read because of nerves and other activities. I hope to finish up the last bit of Christmas shopping for my husband on Tuesday, wrap Tuesday night and then have all day Wednesday to tie up loose ends before surgery Thursday.

This has been a long time coming; August 27 was my first attack, though all summer long I knew I wasn't feeling right. Is this related to the ovarian cancer scare? Is this related to systemic mastocytosis? What will they find?

So many questions. Answers will come soon enough.