**Warning: This is a detailed post about surgery there will be some graphic vocabulary, surgical vocabulary, and names of body parts and organs. If you are uncomfortable with this kind of language please refrain from reading. This is meant to be an informational and personal account of this surgery procedure.**
I added it to this blog because it is important to know everything that happens and gets tested before you actually embark on your TTC journey.
On April 16th I had surgery. I had a hysteroscopy polypectomy with Myosure. If you read my last post about my sonohysterogram experience, then you don't want to miss this one! It's been an interesting month, that's for sure! I spent the better part of two weeks after the results were given to me just moping around. Then I started freaking out. It wasn't fun at all, and the more I thought about it the more I freaked out. By Easter, I was a hot mess. My dad always comes down for the holidays and since he and my mom had gone through ten years of infertility, he wanted to know more. So I drew him this picture:
And yes it was definitely frame worthy, bunny and all! I wrote it in Italian so he could understand. I translated it so that you all would be able to understand what I wrote. Now what makes this situation funnier is that I uploaded this image to a group I'm in. We're a bunch of TTC'ers who support each other, cheer each other, (Yes we make up cheers to catch the egg and all!), and we cry with each other. We're all virtual besties! I'm not the best artist in the world and my girls just went to town and teased me! It was funny and fun! Through the teasing we decided to name the polyp. His name is Phil the Alien polyp. So for the following two weeks the polyp was being called Phil. I was able to laugh and even though I was worried, I was at peace.
I decided that I wasn't going to use Dr. Google very much during this waiting period. The women in my family are prone to all sorts of issues with our reproductive organs, and I refused to get myself upset over it. I knew that my doctor was going to send the polyp to pathology, as is customary. I WAS NOT going to worry about it. I just wanted it out of me so that I can move along my journey to have a baby. To be honest, what scared me the most was knowing that I was going to be asleep. Anesthesia scared me the most!
What Is A Hysteroscopy Polypectomy With MyoSure?
Here's a brief description of what Myosure is directly from the source:
The MyoSure procedure is a new and innovative treatment that enables incision-less, fast removal of submucosal fibroids and polyps as well as providing effective relief of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). MyoSure is an ideal treatment option for women of all ages seeking to preserve uterine form and function.
Through out that website it explains the entire procedure. The information on this site actually put me at ease the day before the surgery. I am going to explain the whole procedure though.
A hysteroscopy is a way for your doctor to look at the lining of your uterus. He or she uses a thin viewing tool called a hysteroscope. The tip of the hysteroscope is put into your vagina and gently moved through the cervix into the uterus. The hysteroscope has a light and camera hooked to it so your doctor can see the lining (endometrium) on a video screen.
Using MySure ensures that there is no extra bleeding, minimal infection if an infection occurs, and no scarring of on the endometrium. Now keep in mind, just like in any other procedure there are risks. We'll get into that shortly.
Preparing for Surgery:
The day before your surgery the only special instructions you should follow are those of your doctors. The most common instructions are to:
Eat a light meal
DO NOT eat anything after midnight if the surgery is in the morning.
If Surgery is in the afternoon do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours prior to your surgery time.
This ensure that you do no aspirate while under anesthesia.
Day of Surgery:
Your doctor may want to meet with you a couple of hours before your scheduled surgery time. Mine did, and I'm glad, she was able to explain everything to me all over again, and go over any questions I had. Then you will go and check in with the surgical receptionist. If you weren't asked to bring in your FMU (First Morning Urine), they will ask you for a urine sample once the nurse takes you back.
You will then meet with the RN, he/she will do the following:
Take your temperature
Take your blood pressure
Ask about your medical history
Ask about your family's medical history
Repeatedly ask you why you are there.
Probably ask you to remember three words: Mine were Table, Penny, Chair. (This is to ensure that you are mentally stable, and they will ask you the same three words after surgery.)
Then you will be asked to change into a hospital gown.
Finally they will let your family back to your prep room to visit with you before you go for surgery.
After you have interviewed with the RN you will interview with your Anesthesiologist. She/He will do the following:
Repeatedly ask you why you are there
Ask if you've ever had surgery before and what your reactions to the medication was.
Explain to you how the Anesthesia is going to work.
Insert your IV.
Ask you again why you are there.
When all of that is done, a few minutes before your surgery time, your doctor will come to greet you. It's just a basic meet and greet and to check on you. You will then be wheeled into the operating room.
In the Operating Room:
There the nurses and assistants will help you move from your bed unto the operating table. The anesthesiologist will place a blood pressure cuff around an arm, and place EKG electrodes on you to continuously monitor your blood pressure and heart rate and rhythm throughout the surgery. An antibiotic will also be given via IV to minimize and avoid infection, during and after surgery. At this time the anesthesiologist will then give you a medication through your I.V. that will make you very sleepy and you will then drift off to sleep.
During Surgery: (Warning a litte graphic)
Once you are asleep under anesthesia, your legs will be placed in stirrups and the vaginal area will be cleansed with an iodine containing solution. A speculum will be placed into the vagina and the cervix is held with a clamp to stabilize it. Smooth tipped metal rods of incrementally increasing size are inserted into the cervix, dilating the cervix to allow placement of the main device, a special type of hysteroscope called a resectoscope. Using the optical part of the resectoscope, the entire lining of the uterus can be inspected. When fleshy polyps or fibroids are seen, they are removed with a wire electrode (MyoSure) that can cut and remove the tissue. Once the entire uterus is cleared of fibroids or polyps and bleeding is controlled the procedure is complete. Instruments are removed and you will be transferred to the recovery room. This procedure usually takes about 45 minutes to accomplish.
After Surgery:
Following the procedure you will be taken to the recovery room where you will remain for about 1 – 1 ½ hours. When you are discharged, you may still feel groggy. The effects of the anesthesia will wear off in about 24 hours. The post-operative course following this procedure is variable, but in general you can expect to be fully recovered within 2-3 days. It may take longer if the procedure was complicated.
Some Simple Instructions to Follow After Surgery:
Do not to any vigorous activity for 24-48 hours after the procedure.
Take the pain medication given to you at discharge as prescribed.
The medication is normally Motrin or Vicodin.
Bleeding will last for about 4-5 days and should be light to moderate bleeding (i.e your regular period.)
If bleeding is heavier than your normal period or lasts longer than 5 days, call your doctor immediately.
Should you get a fever that is over 100.4 degrees, or you are experiencing increasing abdominal or pelvic pain, call your doctor immediately.
Additional instructions may be given to you by your doctor.
The day after you are home, you should call your doctor to set up a follow up appointment. They are usually set to be between 1 and 3 weeks after your procedure. Please be sure to follow all of your doctor's instructions. You want to be as healthy as possible to get that uterus ready for a baby!
Hysteroscopy Risks:
Please keep in mind that the Hysteroscopy is a safe procedure. However, there is a small risk of problems. The uterus or cervix can be punctured by the hysteroscope, bleeding may occur, or excess fluid may build up in your system. In rare cases, hysteroscopy can cause life-threatening problems. Just make sure to ask any questions you may have. Also make sure to follow all of your doctor's instructions!
My Personal Account:
I asked all the proper questions, I even memorized the three words given to me to remember! I followed all of the instructions my doctor gave me before and after the surgery. Yet, I still ended up with a slight infection. It's wasn't serious, but still scary. I was given some antibiotics and within days I was better again. These are things that can happen with any procedure. Of course as luck would have it, it happened to me!
Here's me in the super oversized hospital gown they had me in:
I wasn't allowed to wear lipstick or make up, so please excuse the "morning look". I was already hooked up to the IV and minutes away from being wheeled into the operating room. I had a great team working on me, and I felt very comfortable that day. I did make the head nurse laugh a few times, she just seemed so serious! Besides the small infection, everything else went just as described above. I was also given birth control pills to take prior to surgery. This was to ensure that I wouldn't be pregnant on surgery day. Again, with my luck, it probably would have happened!
My Follow Up Appointment:
On my follow up appointment I received a clean bill of health! I also received the green light to do Clomid on my next cycle! She's starting me on the highest dose she sees fit, 200mg! At first I didn't doubt this or question it. After four years of TTC someone is finally going to help me get pregnant. Then I did what I didn't do with this procedure, and I consulted with Dr. Google. In big bold letters I see, "Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome." I called the doctor's office, spoke and with the nurse. She explained that the doctor chose this dose, because this is what she thinks will work for me. She also assured me that they will be keeping a close eye on me, and put me on strict orders to stay away from Dr. Google. Right now I am anxiously waiting the arrival of Aunt Flo. Gosh! I never thought I'd say that! Stay tuned for more informational posts about other procedures, and the rest of my journey!
I wasn't allowed to wear lipstick or make up, so please excuse the "morning look". I was already hooked up to the IV and minutes away from being wheeled into the operating room. I had a great team working on me, and I felt very comfortable that day. I did make the head nurse laugh a few times, she just seemed so serious! Besides the small infection, everything else went just as described above. I was also given birth control pills to take prior to surgery. This was to ensure that I wouldn't be pregnant on surgery day. Again, with my luck, it probably would have happened!
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