Upcoming surgery and getting nervous

[painterlady13]

Hi Ladies, I posted a question back in May about the possibility of ovca, I was dx as having a ovarian mass 8.5 cm x 6.6 cm,  the same day I was to start treatment for Hep C (that will last 48 weeks), and that was stopped till this was addressed.  I guess I have 2 questions.... Is everyone as scared as I seem to be getting ready for surgery? I guess part of it is that after the surgery I will be alone for the next 3 or 4 days as the hosp is 4hrs away from home in Pittsburgh.  My mom is at my stepsister's wedding in south Africa and can't be here, and while my roommate will be there for surg she will have to go back to work also.  But just the wondering and stuff going thru my mind has gotten me even more worried about this.
Second is Just want confirmation that someone else thinks maybe I did right.  My PCP is more worried about the Hep-C and thinks I shouldn't even be having the surg.  Now I have done enough searching on my own to know that my hep C can wait I am at the begining stages of the disease even though I prob have had this for 25 years.  Stage 1.  Not bad at all for a very slow moving disease.  My liver specialist, GYN and the GYN Oncologist have all said I needed this to come out.  Gyn/Onc set it all up and ordered tests to be done one of which was a c-scope, PCP wouldn't order it said it wasn't necessary and he didn't know whyu I even needed the surg. Got my GYN to order it. just went last week to do final pretesting before surg to PCP again and he kept telling me he was right and I would see that after surg....

[painterlady13]

Hi cindi,
Wow thank you that would be great.  I will be listed as Nicholette Anderson.  Don't know what time surg is won't know till the night before between 3 and 5 and by then we will be at the hotel across the street. The surg scheduler said that they usually want you there at 10:30 or so so I am expecting it to be a noon surg or there abouts.   so either after your appt or thurs or Fri as everyone will have gone back up north on weds nite, and I won't see anyone but nurses till sunday but it doesn't matter anytime is great.  I am 45 and a mother of 2 grown boys that are also back in my home state of CA.

[confused Lex]

You Ladies are sooo wonderful ..Thuney ..you have me sitting here crying ..
I know first hand how sad it makes you feel to wake up alone and scared ..
I've had 31 operationa and only had a visitor 3 times out of all of that ..
This time is different thank God ..I have a friend who will be taking care of my son and will come with him to see me every day after work ..
But ..I have to tell you ..Thuney ..you going to sit with painter lady is one of the most sweetest kindess things I've heard on here or in a very long time

God Bless you Lady ..
God Bless you both

PS: I hope you both find a great frienship out of this ..
Big Hugs to you both ..
Lex

[Thuney]

Nicki,

i re-read the posts and found your surgery date is Wed, the 21st.  Do you know what time?

I have an appt that day at 3:45, but I can be there in the a.m. whith you if you like--and I would be thrilled to visit with you afterwards!!

My name is Cindi.  I am 48--mother of one--and am very good at waiting on people and making them comfortable.

[Thuney]

I am 25 minutes from Pittsburgh--and I would be more than willing to come and sit with you, visit you, and do whatever you need.  Just say the word.

What is your surgery date?

[livertrans]

Anna marie, I know what you mean.  I was raised by a mother that absolutely did not want us to cry in public.  Even though as an adult I realize there are times it is ok I still have problems with it.   My hubby says that I have a public persona and a private one.  This is so true.  I know I will have a hard time keeping it together when it is time for me to go into surgery.  I don't have to go in until the morning here in Canada-Ontario either.  In a lot of ways I think that is better.  I won't sleep no matter where I am but at least I will be more comfortable in my own bed.  Having worked in a hospital for years I really chomp at the bit to get out the minute I am feeling better.  Stay times have shortened a lot here and in most cases that is good.  They are sending heart bypass patients home after 5 days now.  That creates problems because a lot of them end up in emerg with problems because they came home too soon.  It is hard to find a good balance I guess.  I know my mother-in-law was out in  8 days(19 years ago) and stayed with us for two weeks after that.  She was still pretty tired and sore.  My son is not coming with us in the morning.  4:30 am!  He thinks that is bed time for him if he is not working or going to school.

[Anna-maria74]

I gather from all the posts that in the states you all go in the day of the op? Here in the UK we go in the day before (for laparotomy anyway), I dont know whether thats better or not - know what I mean. On the plus side I will already be in the hospital for bowel prep and no doubt they will give me something to help me sleep. On the down side I will have a horrible night of waiting away from this forum and my family in a strange bed - and I will expode in a public loo (how humiliating).

I am scared too, very scared. I put on a great bravado most of the time but the truth is I cant even bring myself to go buy nightwear. The thought of packing my bag and kissing my son goodbye makes me feel really sick. I dont even want to take pictures of my family because I wont want to look at them. Im bloody crying now silly bi*** pull yaself together Anna

[livertrans]

Like Linda F said listen to your specialists.  I have liver problems and have been on a waiting list for 3 years( not Hep C).  An ovarian cyst was found on one of my regular Ultrasounds and they put off taking it out for as long as they can.  My surgery is Monday morning.  You have every right to be scared.  I think I am functioning by just thinking about today.  I know by the time I leave for the hospital, in the morning, I will  be in mini panic mode.  I hope all goes well for you and good luck.

[nic2006]

Oops, sorry I guess I misunderstood.  You are in Pa right?

[in the same boat]

Sorry about that, I misunderstood. Well I hope your surgery goes well. Sounds like your getting it done in Pennsylvania & I know they have good hospitals there. My father went to Thomas Jefferson Hospital there & they cured him of his advanced colon cancer. If he did not go there I don't think he would have been as successful. As far as being lonely in the hospital, I'm sure you'll do fine as the nurses are always checking on you. They'll keep taking your vital signs, blood pressure, wake you up twice in the middle of night(lol), You'll probably be glad when they leave you alone so you can sleep. Believe me once the surgery is over, it's downhill from the there as the worst part is over.

[nic2006]

I could not help but read your post and leave my prayers with you.  By the way, what part of Ca are you in.  I live in San Diego.

[painterlady13]

Linda - My surgery is this wednesday the 21st a week from yours I will say a prayer for you when you have your surg... I found a couple books I haven't read yet and some mags so I will take those with me.  

In the same boat - I guess I didn't make myself clear  not enough room for full explainations.  I live 4 hours away from the hospital that I will be having surgery at and will be there in the hosp for 4 or 5 days.  I don't know anyone in that town or even near it and my roommate has to return to our town to work...
someone has to bring in an income for a while. This time it is her turn, wHen she had back probs I did it. thank god for her or I would have to drive myself too lol
I just don't like the idea of being in the hosp by myself with no one to come see me and feeling all alone I have always had family around but I now live 2,000 miles from hometown in CA My mom would have flown out to be with me and has said she would just as soon as she returned but right now even she is out of the country.  Just not a great time for this kind of surgery but  then again when is....

[in the same boat]

Painterlady- You say your going to be alone 3-4 days after surgery. I work for an insurance company & I know the criteria they go by. After major surgery the doctor cannot discharge you to home without someone picking you up & leave you at home alone if it is unsafe.  If you stress this to the surgeon, they might be able to put you in the nursing home wing of the hospital because they probably will not be able to keep you in the "inpatient" section of the hospital if it's not medically necessary. If the hospital does NOT have a nursing home section in the hospital it can be arranged to go in a regular Nursing Home just for a few days, week(s) until you recover. The outside nursing home may not be very pleasant but at least you'll be safe. These options the insurance should approve & pay for. As far as a visiting nurse to stay with you at home all day or overnight I doubt the insurance will pay for because most insurance carriers do not pay for "custodial care"(which is helping you to toilet,shower,etc), They are agencies that have this private service that you can pay yourself but they are expensive & may be an hourly rate of approx $13-$15 an hr.  BUT you could arrange some Home Health Care that the insurance will pay for but this will consist of a visting nurse to come once a day or every few days to clean & check your incision, take your blood pressure & take your temperature to make sure you are not developing a fever as this would mean infection.

[painterlady13]

I am Nicki Anderson as I am sure they won't register me as Painterlady13 Darn it all... :) lol I can just see someone going up to the front desk asking for painterlady LOL thanks for the chuckle.  I do believe I needed that.

[painterlady13]

I didn't think about throwing in Mags, Great Idea.  I will be at Magee women's hospital I looked up specialists in Pittsbergh since GYN said he was sending me there and although he wasn't sending me to magee I requested it as I have heard great things about it.  So far I am very impressed.  My Doc (GYN?ONC specialist) is wonderful and when I had the C-scope that doc said to tell him about the adhesions.  I called and left a mess that he might want to just note it so he was prepared and 45 mins later Doc was calling me back to let me know that he already had that planned as I did tell him I had a history of them, I think he was just calling to relieve my mind... at least that was what it felt like.

[painterlady13]

this is Laperotomy, he is cutting straight down from navel as to be sure to get it all and to remove lymph nodes if necessary also they found more adhesions so will have another surgon there to assist.  I will be in hosp 3-5 days in a town I know no- one in.  and won;t have anyone I can even call as it will all be Long distance.  Might take Cell phone so after a day or so I can walk outside and call home... Only thing I can think of as they always have you turn off cells in hosp....

[painterlady13]

I did call my Ins company and get another Dr. as of the first of July... I just feel he is not looking out for what is best for me. regardless of what he may think 3 specialists in the field have all said I needed surgery.  At this point I even feel that even if it is not cancer (keeping fingers crossed) that I know for a fact that cysts have a tendancy to burst which lets out the toxins inside of them. if this was to happen while I was on treatment for the hep -c it would be like ten times worse because of the meds you have to take. The meds lower your red blood cells and give you anemia, lower your immune system and tons of other sides.  So why he would not want me to have this makes absolutely no sense.  On top of that we have a hepatologist in our town (which I did not know till looking for another doctor) and he didn't refer me to him and said that once I was on treatment he would be managing it.  Liver specialist said NO WAY!!!  he didn't know what he would be looking for in blood tests or how to make changes... Sorry this is so long But I felt the need to explain as I think this is a (Stupid) control issue and that no one has the right other than ME to control how my healthcare is being managed.... Am I over reacting or would you do the same?