My First Surgery Experience

Hi everyone! Hope you're all doing well.

It's been 3 days since I "checked out" from the hospital and I want to share with you my experience. I'd have to warn you though that this could be lengthy and graphic so beware ;)

So like I mentioned in my previous post, I was instructed to take a laxative the night before to "release" everything in preparation for the surgery. I was supposed to mix the 45ml of laxative to 800ml of water so I started drinking it at around 7 in the evening. Hours had passed and nothing was coming out. I was tossing and turning in bed the whole night anxious about the surgery and what the effect would be if I didn't pass motion but morning came and still... nothing.

22  Feb, 7:15AM

As instructed, I went straight to the Day Surgery Centre of NUH. First order of business of course is finalizing who/how the bill be settled. After that, my husband and I were lead into this "prepping room". 

There were huge comfy chairs divided with curtains. After a few SOP, the nurse gave me instructions to change into my very glamorous hospital gown and wrapped my armswag on me. She then said that my surgery would be around 10AM and asked me to wait for the nurse to fetch me with the wheelchair.

As we were waiting, I tried to distract myself and not think of what's about to happen. I kept joking with my husband and kept fiddling with my phone but as the time gets nearer and nearer, my heart kept beating faster and faster. The room, which was initially full of patients, was slowly becoming empty. Nurses with wheel chair and/or operating bed were coming in and out and picking them up one by one. I know my turn will be coming soon. Tears fell involuntarily. I WAS SCARED. Luckily my husband was with me to comfort me and make me laugh. 

 9:45AM

And then, there he was. I saw a guy nurse pushing a wheelchair heading towards where we were seated. I knew that one was for me. After confirming that he was taking the correct patient, he assisted me onto the wheel chair and asked my husband to follow him as he pushed me on our way to the next building. 

That wheelchair ride was unforgettable.

I couldn't look straight ahead. I couldn't dare look at those cold, shiny, silver hospital beds or see people in pain. My head was bowed down and my hands  were clinched together all throughout. I was praying. I was asking Him for strength and courage to overcome this. 

We then slowed down as we reach the visitor's lounge and the nurse explained to my husband where he could wait for me. He gave him a code so my husband can monitor on the LCD screen where my location is and took his phone number so they could call him once I'm ready to come out.

Just few steps away from the visitor's lounge was the Operating Theatre. I was lead to the reception area and was asked to wait. A nurse came and strapped something on my right foot which I believe is something like a tracking device. This would help my husband in tracking my location within the hospital. Two Filipino doctors approached me and asked if I was already informed by my doctor about the study that they are currently conducting. I said yes but it was not thoroughly explained to me and I haven't agreed to do it yet so she then proceeded on explaining.

In a standard ovarian cystectomy, they would either use diathermy (burning) or suturing (stitching) to stop the bleeding after removing the cyst however, according to them, these damages the ovarian follicles and hence damages the ovarian reserve (or the eggs in short). What they wanted to do now is to use Surgiflo on me and be part of the study proving that it is effective and a much safer way to stop bleeding in a surgery like mine. Surgiflo, in a sense, is like a clear plaster or band aid that they will apply topically on the ovarian tissue to stop the bleeding and it will melt away after about a week or so. 

Although I know that there will be risks involved, I decided to go ahead and agree to be part of it for the sake of my eggs (lol!). The doctors assured me that in case Surgiflo fails, they will do suturing instead. I felt like I was in good hands so I gave them my consent. 

Shortly after, the anesthesiologist came and asked me SOP questions. He explained to me what will happen inside and that I might experience sore throat after from the breathing tube that they will putting inside my mouth. He then told me to wait for the nurse to pick me up and bring me to the operating room then he left. Tears started flowing again and this time, my husband was not by my side to comfort me. At that point, I just wanted to be be under the anesthesia already so I could sleep and be worry-free.

After a few minutes, a nurse came and led me to the operating room. THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. I wanted to back out but I know it's too late so I sucked it up and just followed instructions. They asked me to lie down and when I did, they did not waste a fraction of a second. In an instant, there were four medical staffs around me. On my left was the anesthesiologist inserting the IV on my hand and on my right, one is taking my BP and another was hooking me up to the machine to monitor my vital signs. Another staff strapping something on my legs for blood circulation and then strapped me on the bed after that. I looked all around the big white room and there were no less than 10 people inside.

As I stare at the big white lights above me (which I thought I would only see in the movies), I felt the anesthesia taking its effect slowly. They put a mask on me and asked me to try to open my eyes as long as I can. I felt my body becoming heavier and heavier. It seems like I was slowly sinking in the operating bed. In less than a minute, I was knocked out.

Next thing I know, somebody was tapping me very hard on my right shoulder saying "Melanie, we're done! We're done!" Then I felt very cold and started shivering so they put two blankets on me. As they pushed me out through the door, I saw a hazy vision of my husband which gave me a sense of comfort in a way. After I was settled in my ward, first thing I remember is my husband kissing me on my forehead. I was thankful that it was over and that I was safe.

It was a 3-hour long wait according to my husband and when we reach the ward, visiting hours {12nn-2pm} was almost over so he had to leave me once again and wait somewhere outside until he's allowed to come back at 5pm. I thought I could take advantage of that time and continue sleeping but with the nurses regularly taking my blood pressure and body temperature, I couldn't get a decent hour of sleep without being interrupted. In one of the nurse's rounds, she came in and saw her draining something from the side of my bed then she uttered "you pee a lot". I was like "huh?" she repeated it again and I was shocked to learn that I have a catheter on. It was only then that I realized that have a tube inserted down there and it was not the most comfortable feeling.

Finally my husband came back to see me at exactly 5 o'clock and at this point I was really, really hungry. I have been asking all the nurses who came in and checked up on me when can I eat and drink and they said they are still waiting for doctor's orders. By 7pm, a tray of food was finally delivered to my room and I was smiling from ear to ear. Not the best dinner I've had but it was satisfying enough for my growling stomach.

23 Feb, 8AM

My OB, Dr. Anupriya, came down and checked up on me. She looked at my wounds and told me that the surgery went well. They were able to take out the cyst successfully and she said there were actually 2 cysts joined together and it was full of hair when they opened it up {I know! Eeeew!}.

Upper left: the cyst they removed

Lower right: the foam-like substance is the Surgiflo

I was relieved to know that Surgiflo worked out fine and that I can go home that same day. She put me on hospital leave until the 2nd of March and I am scheduled to see her for a follow-up check up on the 4th of March.

As of this writing, I can still feel a bit of pain on my abdomen area as they made four incisions (1 on my belly button, 2 at side and 1 below the belly button). I experienced a bit of bleeding until yesterday so I had to wear a pad. The doctor said that is normal as long as I don't secrete a lot of blood to the point that I have to change my pad every hour. I stopped taking the pain reliever as I don't want to be too dependent on it and I try to move around to keep a healthy blood circulation.

I am ecstatic that this whole ordeal is over and I am ready to face the next chapter of our lives and I'm hoping it's going to be positive all the way :) 

To all those who prayed for me and wished me well either on facebook, instagram, or via text message, THANK YOU!

To those who visited me, THANK YOU so much for taking your time to see me. It meant a lot to me.

And to those of you reading this entry, THANK YOU for your patience ;)


Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
- Jeremiah 17:14

PS.

The hospital bill amounted to a whopping $4,504.64. This will be settled by my employer, whether fully or partially, that I will have to find out on a later date.