Choosing the UFE over the hysterectomy was the right thing to do. I did so well following the surgery that I was released from the hospital on Thursday night -- one day sooner than expected.
The pain and nausea were pretty much manageable through Friday morning... until about one hour after I visited my primary care doctor to check for infection (none so far).
Then the last trace of morphine coursing through my body must have been eliminated, because I was in agony and had to reach for the vicodin the doctors prescribed.
The drug must have worn off around 3:40 a.m. Saturday morning, because I woke up in pain. I was a big baby the rest of the day, only leaving my bed to use the bathroom. I swallowed another tablet and slept as much as I could because then it didn't hurt.
I continued taking it easy yesterday, although I did make my husband drive me to Ralph's to do some grocery shopping (because just giving him a list doesn't really work that well). I think I made him a little nuts by forcing him to move at a snail's pace with the cart, while I shuffled down the aisles looking for the items we need to get through the week.
I made him put the groceries away while I parked myself in front of our new living room television (which I insist on calling the "Big Ass TV". He installed the previous weekend, insisting he was doing it for ME, anticipating my recovery from surgery).
I am sad to say that the high point of my weekend was finally "making number two" after days of trying (and switching to a diet of raisin bran and Activia).
But... it's Monday, and I'm operating on nothing but Motrin. I drove my daughter to school and I'm presently sitting in my usual spot at my local Starbucks, drinking a latte... as if this entire episode never happened.
I would not be saying that if I'd had my uterus removed. I'd likely still be in bed and complaining about pain, and I would have to depend on others to drive my daughter to and from school.
It remains to be seen if the surgery did the trick, shrinking the fibroids, elevating my iron levels and giving me new energy. But for now, I'm really happy I went this route.
By the way -- As some friends advised me to have the thing done at a different hospital, I thought I should mention this: I could not be happier with the staff at Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills. I was treated really well by everyone, from the admissions people to my radiologist to the nurses who took care of me.
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