Mono-Ovary
So, I had been trying to get this cyst removed from my right ovary. during this break from school. It was discovered on an MRI during all that diagnostic stuff last year. Since the anesthesia program ramps up and I won’t get much of a chance to come home during the next two years, I knew it had to be now or never.
My worry was that it would start to tortion the ovary, and its blood supply, and I’d be in New York, and needing to have it out emergently…doubled over in pain and opened up wide for exploratory surgery, fearing an appendix rupture or something…and missing school, and having to make the whole year up again…and extra debt…oh the mind reels.
So, my Doc’s office called and said “can you come in today for pre-op and have the surgery tomorrow a.m. at seven?” What could I say but yes?
Before I knew it was at the hospital, getting admitted, having everyone trying to get an IV on me and failing (my arm looks all purple and only just now can I wiggle the fingers on my right hand for how bruised up it was. The anesthesiologist finally got it, though he was embarrased at how unelegant it was (bled everywhere.)
My gynecologist was awesome—he was at the foot of the bed when the anesthesiologist came to do the pre-op interview and told him he was in trouble. I just answered the anesthesiologist’s questions as he asked them, and then Dr. Rittenhouse stopped him and said, “I need to stop you and tell you why you’re in trouble…she’s an anesthesia resident at Columbia” and the anesthesiologist’s response was “so?”
He turned out to be quite good, told me he’d give me Midazolam and glycopyrrolate pre op and I said “oh…glyco pre-op?..huh…” and he said it was standard at that hospital. “I thought you give it with the neostigmine at the end,” and he said—“yeah, usually.” I also found out that we, in California, don’t really use Nitrous oxide where they’re teaching us a lot of that in NYC.
As I was being induced my doc had his hand on my shoulder, which I found oddly reassuring…I’m hoping now I didn’t say something ebarrassing like how hot he is—he really is gorgeous, like a young Richard Gere or Gerard Butler…The last bit of awarness I had was that the OR nurse asked the anesthesiologist if he wanted a baer hugger blanket and he said “I don’t see why you wouldn’t…why wouldn’t you use one?…what’s the question?” and I knew I was in good hands.
I was torn because she’s a fellow nurse, and he’s an MD talking down to her, but I was pleased that he was anesthesia and looking out for me. The perception I had of MDs being less patient-oriented and being more pathology oriented was debunked.
I woke up in PACU feeling like I had been kicked by a horse. I found out they found more than one cyst, and that they had discussed it for over 10 minutes what they should do, and finally, my Doc, figuring he knew me well enough over these last dozen years or so decided to take the whole ovary but leave me the left one, which was fine…since taking both would put me in premature menopause.
I can’t say I wasn’t a little sad to have lost an ovary—I wasn”t ready to wake up and hear that, but it could have been worse. I’m glad to have that overwith and now just recovery to get through. I’ve been on the couch for three days, playing the guitar, and goofing off, not much else. I still can’t cough or sneeze, or even clear my throat very well…it’s amazing how much you use your abominal muscles without knowing it!
Incisions—I have one in the belly button, and my belly button is stretched out to double it’s normal size…hoping that goes back to normal! and one incision on the right hip bone, and one just suprapubic, which will be covered once my hair grows back…ah, the OR gets crazy with the shaving, don’t they? So besides a small scar on my hip, it shouldn’t be too noticeable.
Of course, it feels like a hundred years before I’ll be able to do any real yoga, or run on a treadmill…still, at least now I don’t have to worry about doubling over in pain during residency and having to have surgery emergently in New York.
Thanks for all the well-wishes and support :)
Hope you guys are having a wonderful holiday season!
