3 weeks post op today

Things are looking up for me and my recovery...but I'm hesitant to put that out there.

I had a cystogram on July 5th.  My bladder was filled to capacity with contrast and then x-rays were performed.  No signs of leaking were visible, what a relief!

My doctor's words of advice to me were "You are sealed, you're not healed" so I've spent the last couple weeks laying on the couch, doing very very little.  I still have an 8lb weight limit. Which means I can't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk.  This limitation was especially frustrating when my "4 gallon" 2 year old got strep throat and just wanted to be cuddled and carried every where.  Thank goodness daddy was able to take the day off work and take care of him.

The incision is healing up nicely.  While I'm still not thrilled about the "x marks the spot" pattern of scars I have going on now, I'm glad to see this looks like it will be a very small scar.

Pain is pretty minimal at this point.  If I'm up moving around for more than about 30 minutes I start to feel sore.  And I get pretty tired after about 2 hours of activity.  But it's all manageable with rest, ice and occasionally half a vicodin.

My next check up is in a couple weeks, and hopefully I'll be cleared to go back to work at that point.

Recovery

Well surgery is done. My Dr. says it went as well as possible.
I am home from the hospital now and trying very very hard to take it easy.
Today I'm having bladder spasms which are not being controlled with Vesicare. I've got some Toviaz to try tomorrow and if that doesn't work they are mentioning something called a "belladonna/opium suppository"

Last time I checked, no one told me anything about poop-hole-narcotics being part of recovery this time around.

Although, to be fair, up until today I didn't know poop-hole-narcotics were part of anything, ever.

In case you're curious this is what 4 days post-op looks like:

Surgery Tomorrow

Scheduled for surgery @ 2:45 to repair the fistula. Unbelievably nervous today. This anxiety stuff is manageable most days, but right now I feel like my esophagus us chewing it's way down my throat to meet my small intestine.

Surgery is Scheduled

2:45 Wednesday the 27th I'm going under the knife for a fistula repair.

I am feeling really nervous about this surgery. And a TON of anxiety about our finances...we have no savings, and I'm really not sure what we are going to do for the six weeks I'm recovering.

I am confident that we will make it thought this tough period. And I can see us happy on the other side of this.

So for now I guess we will just keep calm and carry on.

No it hasnt

Back to the dr today. Had the catheter removed and will be scheduled for another surgery by Monday.

Feeling relieved to have a definite plan in place.

Scared of another surgery.

2-4 days in patient...6 weeks out of work. No lifting for 3 months!

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

The leaking has stopped!

Not an official statement from my doctor.
Just an observation.

Fingers crossed it stays this way!

Bladder Spasms

My son burned his hand on the coffee maker a couple days ago. I had no choice but to take both kids to a Dr appointment and have him checked out. After loading and unloading 2 kids and a stroller my bladder freaked. And started spasming in a way that resembles menstrual cramping.

I called my Dr and asked what to do yesterday and he put me on ANOTHER medication to calm the spasms. I like my doctor an trust his decisions but today I am feeling frustrated by the necessity to add another medication to my daily regiment.

I am 30 years old! That's quite young by most standards. And every day I take:
Zantac for heartburn
Losartan for blood pressure control and Kidney Maintenance
Vitamin D3 to boost a deficiency
Citalopram to help control my anxiety issues
Levaquin - an antibiotic to try and prevent kidney infection while stuck with re catheter. This one is KILLING my somach.
Lorazepam - aka Adivan. I had a major
Spike in stress an anxiety levels after the fistula opened and needed extra assistance controling my anxiety.

And yesterday I added Vesicare to control bladder spasms.



Still feeling run down today. Maybe its the meds. More likely it's my mental state.

Stressed about money.

Tired of my body failing me.

Tired of the strain this is putting on my family and my husband.

We are ready for some good luck around here! Any positive thoughts you can send our way are greatly appreciated!

Catheter

Yep. I get to choose from wearing a catheter for a month to see if the fistula heals on its own, or scheduling surgery now.

I guess i am going for a second opinion before deciding anything...

Well at least before changing my mind. I am already wearing the damn catheter.

If there was ever a day that deserved a mint Oreo blizzard I am thinking this is it...

F is for Fistula

After a little investigation last night I discovered where my leak was actually coming from. And it's not where I initially thought.

I called my doctor and told her I thought I was leaking urine from my vagina. She got me in first thing this morning for an exam. She said she could see the urine leaking into my vagina. She also said "what the fuck" a couple times...which, I am pretty sure, is an actual medical term.

Now I am scheduled to see a urologist this afternoon.

It sounds like I have another surgery in my near future.

The real bitch about this whole mess is that our insurance renews on 6-1-2012 and I have already hit my deductible after the last surgery.

So I guess I am hoping to have surgery tomorrow.

Yikes.

Introdution and Incontinence

Married 30 year old mother of 2 seeks emotional support for continuing medical issues.

Diagnosed with Polycistic Kidney Disease and secondary hypertension at 23.  Began medication to control blood pressure.

Struggling with anxiety and mental health issues after having 2nd child 15 months after 1st. 

Fast forward to 29 years and 8 months...

Dec 2011 - began taking Celexa.
Experienced my 1st migraine.  AskANurse sent me to ER for symptoms mimicking stroke.  After normal results from CT scan I was sent home with diagnosis of "just a headache".

Began experiencing angioedema (deep tissue swelling of my lips probably related to medication used to control my blood pressure). 

Many trips to urgent care for alternating facial swelling and migraines. Received injections of benadryl for swelling and adivan for migraines.

Spent a full weekend in the hospital to receive aggressive "DHE Protocol" treatment for migraines.

Dysfunctional bleeding, and severe menstrual pain lead to hysterectomy performed 4-18-2012.
I wasn't a candidate for laproscopic or vaginal surgery after 2 C-sections.  So had an abdominal hysterectomy.  Recovery was difficult. 4 days in the hospital.  1 entire day dedicated to trying to pee since my bladder refused to cooperate after the catheter was initially removed.  My Dr. perscribed valium which initially helped me void, but the effect was temporary.  Ended up with an overfull, spasming bladder. This was THE.MOST. horrific pain of my entire life.  And I once took a metal pipe to the face which resulted in exposed nerves in broken teeth.
Straight cathether was used to drain it and try again with no luck.  Late in the evening a foley catheter was put in place for overnight.  After threats of being sent home with a catheter things started working again.


At 5 weeks and 3 days post operation I woke up unable to control my bladder.  Out of nowhere.  This of course is the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.  Walking around peeing my pants isn't necessrily and emergency, but it is HORRIBLY EMBARRASSING.  In the 10 minutes it took to get to walgreens and back with some diaper-like protection I soaked through a panty liner, my unerwear and my jeans!  My Dr. suspects UTI so she has prescribed an antibiotic and I will see her in the office this week. 

I am hoping this is just an infection.  But I am already afraid it's not that simple.  I feel as though I may be leaking urine from my vagina.  And after consulting Dr. Google I am terrified I have some sort of fistula. 

I am finding myself so incredibly frustrated with my body and things going wrong!

Hoping to get in to the Dr. ASAP tomorrow and see whats next.  OY!