My myomectomy experience: Going home

I've heard of other women having a morphine drip, but Yale Medical Center, they did not give me one. I white knuckled it until it was time to take the catheter out, then I caved in. Here's what happened...

Between 6 - 8 am I tried to get some sleep but I felt a weird feeling, as if my bladder was full. Strange since the catheter was in place, right?! I tried to sleep but that all too familiar feeling that happens right before the pee-pee dance takes place was getting stronger. I raised the back of my bed up and decided to investigate. I pushed the button to call the nurse. In my raspy voice, I told her that the catheter was as full. She said o.k but no one ever came. The pressure in my bladder was getting painful so decided to figure out what was going on myself.

The square portion of the container was full but the bag portion was empty. The tube contained fluid, so I manipulated the tube so that everything went into the container. As soon as I emptied the tube, more fluid was in it again. I drained it again. It filled again. It took a couple of minutes before I realize that my bladder was filling the hose up just as fast I as was able to empty it. The stupid thing was not draining properly. Shortly after I was able to drain the contents of my bladder, the nurse shows up ready to remove the catheter. Go figure.

Before she pulled the hose out of my bladder, she disconnected it from the bag. She filled my bladder up with a saline solution that made me want to urinate immediately. I had not yet left my bed, but I had to make it to the bathroom asap. Crouched over and on my tippy toes, she helped me onto the toilet. I was relieved to make it but the pain from my stomach, my back and my expanded bladder was too much. I needed drugs.

The nurse gave me a Percocet and added something that sound like the word "turtle" to my IV line. That was the first medication I received after my surgery. I asked her to please change my bed cloth again. I was still bleeding a bit, but the damn catheter was the real culprit this time. I was able to sleep a few more hours until a fellow doctor came by with the picture of my fibroids that I requested.

I wanted to see the damn things. Apparently, they were bigger and more plentiful than expected. I had a total of 7 fibroids removed. The ruler along the side is a 15 cm / 6 inch ruler. If you care to see my fibroids feel free to have a look.

Once the blessed drugs kicked in, I was able to walk. I ate breakfast, took a shower and prepared to go home. As my husband helped me get my things together, I wondered... What the hell I'm I going to do when these drugs wear off?

to be continued...