Surgery Aftermath

(August 17,2006)

Niel, Caleb and I just left Kaiser at 7 pm tonight for home after being
there since 11:30 a.m. yesterday. I can now remain seated with less
pain. It's a killer when I sit down, stand up, move around, etc. because
the stomach muscles are used. My stomach, lungs, collarbone, and neck
are bruised from the artificial gas used to balloon up my stomach for
the lariscopy camera vision. Breathing is difficult with the
aftereffects of full anesthesia, and the phlegm sitting in my lungs
which will lead to lung infection later this week or next unless I keep
breathing out of this plastic tube with a lever that goes up to the
level of inhalation required- very exhausting and dizzying. My stomach
hurts to the slightest touch, so I steer away from Caleb during his
active phases when possible. I cannot lift more than 10 pounds
(including Caleb at almost 19). And of course, there's the huge stitched
slash across my crotch hairline, with lots of heavy duty tape, won't be
fun removing later. I'm ordered not to lift, work or drive for 6 weeks.
I however will feel better in 2 weeks, I was informed. I need to drink
liquids and soft foods for awhile.

Now as to why all this???
It was a very long process for me, finding out one more bad news after
another, since last Wednesday when I had an appointment to have my IUD
removed, normally a simple procedure of pulling the string out. IUDs are
good for 5 to 10 years, depending on the type. After only 6 months, I
felt it was just too much pain to bear- ocassional stabbing sensations
in my stomach while breastfeeding, sitting, or standing, all at random
times. I've contacted a nurse about this but was told it was normal
because of breastfeeding. On that day, the IUD string couldn't be found,
nor thru ultrasound, until the X-Ray detected the copper "T" in my
pelvis. Surgery was scheduled the following Tues. (yesterday). I went
under anesthesia thinking I'd wake a few hours later with 2 small clean
cuts in my belly and ready to go home as an outpatient. Instead, I'm
told the IUD was found to have been improperly inserted past the uterus
into the intestines, and was complicated to remove so a C-section was
done. I spent the night bedridden at Kaiser for 1 1/2 days. I was
finally released after "passing" the test of sitting up, standing, and
walking- a very difficult feat that usually gave me fainting spells,
nausea and anxiety attacks for most of the day. I've been thinking about
the mistakes made at Kaiser:
1) the dr inserted the IUD into me and THEN gave me a brochure on the
risks involved and that I should take into serious consideration (too
late)
2) dr inserted way too far, pushing it past the uterus into the
intestine (so I technically never got birth control)
3) after insertion, the dr didn't use ultrasound to make sure it looks
right (found that my cousin, an ob/gyn in NY does this for double check
herself)
4) when I reported pains, they told me it was normal pain due to
breastfeeding w IUD (again if I knew that'd happen, wouldn't have chosen
IUD)
5) and now this... With loss of 6 weeks worth of work/income

Well, I'm glad to be alive, and recovering, and still able to bear
children. That's the most important thing. I've received wonderful
support from people all this time. Thanks for keeping me in your
thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Erika