After the Knife

I survived!  Not that I really doubted or that Jesse did either, but I also feel like the not-so-norm happens in my life from time to time, so I didn't want to be that rare cause of death :)

Anyway, this was my first surgical experience, beside have wisdom teeth taken out, and so far was pretty positive. It apparently only took about 40 or so minutes.  All the nurses and help were so nice. I like my doctor and heard he is the top in the states for surgery on ovaries, utuerus, etc with the conditions I was dealing with.

And as typical, I hang on to humor to get me through challenging situations, so Jesse and I cut up, no pun intended, all the way up until I had to be wheeled off to surgery.  And as that, I don't remember a thing after being wheeled into the surgical room, and my next memories are when I was waking up.  I remember after my wisdom teeth were taken out and the 3 gum surgeries I had when they gave me 'goofy gas', that I didn't like waking up and so it takes me a while to come out of the sleep.  And that was today; it sounded like her voice was getting a bit fearful, but I finally came to.  and of course, quipped one liners off whenever they came to mind...I'm sure they weren't expecting a comedy skit when I woke up....my last one I remember was with the girl wheeling me outside; I was SLOWLY changing my clothes and coughing, b/c of the throat tube, and she came in the bath to check on me...I was clothed then, but she and the nurse working with me wanted to make sure I was ok, and so I had also managed to get my hair fixed and the nurse said, "ah, you look nice", and I replied, "yes, don't hate me because I'm beautiful"....the nurse laughed b/c she had already heard my earlier comments, but the young helper hadn't so she stood there unsure to laugh or not....I was drugged but it was still funny.

Anyway, I'm alright; don't feel like talking too much; my calves are SORE from the pressure leg cuffs, and there's a bit of soreness in my gut.  Additionally, my shoulder is starting to hurt which is a sign that the gas they pump in me to make my gut cavity open up more so they can work, is rising up through my body.  So, they all said for me to walk when I'm starting to recover from the anethesia...which we did tonight.  

So, I'm off to bed again and hope that I don't have any extra pain tonight.  They were surprised at how healthy I was...I don't take any meds, no health issues, no other surgeries beside the dental work....so I think the good health the Lord blessed me with has really been a blessing for this.  But....we'll see what tomorrow brings...it may be a whole new story!

Night Before the Knife

Today went by quickly and here  I sit at 11:30 p.m.  a few hours before I go to the hospital for an out-patient laparoscopic procedure which we hope will solve our infertility issues.  Sugar Cube is lounging on the couch with us and sitting right next to me.  Jesse has fallen asleep (he'll need his rest to take care of me :) ), and I'm blogging with the clear mind that I have right now, and watching old movies.  I hope to catch up on reading and blogging while I rest over these next few days post-surgery.  

From Wikipedia:

Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery (MIS), bandaid surgery, keyhole surgery is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5-1.5cm) as compared to larger incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery includes operations within the abdominal or pelvic cavities, whereas keyhole surgery performed on the thoracic or chest cavity is called thoracoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery belong to the broader field of endoscopy.

The key element in laparoscopic surgery is the use of a laparoscope. There are two types: 1)a telescopic rod lens system, that is usually connected to a video camera (single chip or three chip) or a digital laparoscope where the charge-coupled device is placed at the end of the laparoscope, eliminating the rod lens system.^[1] Also attached is a fiber optic cable system connected to a 'cold' light source (halogen or xenon), to illuminate the operative field, inserted through a 5 mm or 10 mm cannula or trocar to view the operative field. The abdomen is usually insufflatedwith carbon dioxide gas to create a working and viewing space. The abdomen is essentially blown up like a balloon (insufflated), elevating the abdominal wall above the internal organs like a dome. The gas used is CO₂, which is common to the human body and can be absorbed by tissue and removed by the respiratory system. It is also non-flammable, which is important because electrosurgical devices are commonly used in laparoscopic procedures.

From WebMD:Laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis

Laparoscopy is the most common procedure used to diagnose and remove mild to moderate endometriosis. Instead of using a large abdominal incision, the surgeon inserts a lighted viewing instrument called a laparoscope through a small incision. If the surgeon needs better access, he or she makes one or two more small incisions for inserting other surgical instruments.

If your doctor recommends a laparoscopy, it will be to:

• View the internal organs to look for signs of endometriosis and other possible problems. This is the only way that endometriosis can be diagnosed with certainty. But a "no endometriosis" diagnosis is never certain-growths (implants) can be tiny or hidden from the surgeon's view.
• Remove any visible endometriosis implants and scar tissue that may be causing pain or infertility. If an endometriosis cyst is found growing on an ovary (endometrioma), it is likely to be removed.

Laparoscopy procedure

You will be advised not to eat or drink for at least 8 hours before a laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is usually done under general anesthesia, although you can remain awake if you have local or spinal anesthetic. A gynecologist or surgeon performs the procedure.

For a laparoscopy, the abdomen is inflated with gas (carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide). The gas, which is injected with a needle, pushes the abdominal wall away from the organs so that the surgeon can see them clearly. The surgeon then inserts a laparoscope through a small incision and examines the internal organs. Additional incisions may be used to insert instruments to move internal organs and structures for better viewing. The procedure usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.

If endometriosis or scar tissue needs to be removed, your surgeon will use one of various techniques, including cutting and removing tissue (excision) or destroying it with a laser beam or electric current (electrocautery).

After the procedure, the surgeon closes the abdominal incisions with a few stitches. Usually there is little or no scarring.

What To Expect After Surgery

Laparoscopy is usually done at an outpatient facility. Sometimes a surgery requires a hospital stay of 1 day. You will likely be able to return to your normal activities in 1 week, maybe longer.

Why It Is Done

Laparoscopy is used to examine the pelvic organs and to remove implants and scar tissue. This procedure is usually reserved for checking and treating:

• Severe endometriosis and scar tissue that is thought to be interfering with internal organs, such as the bowel or bladder.
• Endometriosis pain that has continued or returned after hormone therapy.
• Severe endometriosis pain (some women and their doctors choose to skip medicine treatment).
• An endometriosis cyst on an ovary (endometrioma).
• Endometriosis as a possible cause of infertility. The surgeon usually removes any visible implants and scar tissue. This may improve fertility.

When laparoscopy may not be needed

Directly viewing the pelvic organs is the only way to confirm whether you have endometriosis. But this is not always needed. For suspected endometriosis, hormone therapy is often prescribed.

How Well It Works

Pain relief

As with hormone therapy, surgery relieves endometriosis pain for most women, but it does not guarantee long-lasting results.

• Between 70% and 100% of women report pain relief in the first months after surgery.¹
• About 45% of women have symptoms return within the first year after surgery.²This number increases over time.¹

Some studies suggest that using hormone therapy after surgery can make the pain-free period longer by preventing the growth of new or returning endometriosis.³

Infertility

If infertility is your primary concern, your doctor will probably use laparoscopy to look for and remove signs of endometriosis.

• Research has not firmly proven that removing mild endometriosis improves fertility.⁴
• For moderate to severe endometriosis, surgery will improve your chances of pregnancy.⁵
• In some severe cases, a fertility specialist will recommend skipping surgical removal and using in vitro fertilization.

Overall, pregnancy rates are highest in the 6 to 18 months after surgery.⁶

After laparoscopy, your next steps depend on how severe your endometriosis is and your age. If you are older than 35, egg quality declines and miscarriage risk increases with each passing year. In that case, your doctor may recommend infertility treatment, such as fertility drugs, insemination, or in vitro fertilization. If you are younger, consider trying to conceive without infertility treatment.

Endometrioma

There are various ways of surgically treating an endometrioma, including draining it, cutting out part of it, or removing it completely (cystectomy). Any of these treatments brings pain relief for most women, but not all. But cystectomy is most likely to relieve pain for a longer time, prevent an endometrioma from growing back, and prevent the need for another surgery.¹

Risks

Complications from the surgery are rare but include:

• Pelvic infection.
• Uncontrolled bleeding that results in the need for a larger abdominal incision (laparotomy) to stop the bleeding.
• Scar tissue (adhesion) formation after surgery.
• Damage to the bowel, bladder, or ureters (the small tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder).

What To Think About

The benefits of laparoscopic surgery compared with open abdominal surgery include less tissue trauma and scarring and smaller incisions along with being able to have an outpatient procedure or a shorter hospital stay and a shorter recovery time.

The skill of the surgeon is critical when surgery is used to treat endometriosis that is causing infertility. The use of a laparoscope, lasers, and some of the operative procedures require additional training for a surgeon. Doctors report varying pregnancy rates after endometriosis surgery.

Surgeons disagree about reconstruction of fallopian tubes that have been affected by endometriosis.¹

In vitro fertilization (IVF), an assisted reproductive technology, is an alternative to surgery to correct infertility caused by endometriosis.

Animals in our backyard

Road Runner

Bat

While in Korea, we didn't see many animals....with the exception of feral cats and pet and stray dogs running around.  The few bird species I saw were a bit mundane and typically fell in the category of pigeon or crow.  We saw black bear, tigers, and giraffes, but that was in the zoo.  Even when we went up hiking in the beautiful Seoraksan National Park, we only saw a beautiful green frog species, some butterflies, and cute little chipmunks.  I guess the devastation of the Korean War on this small peninsula still continues.   So, when we returned to the States, I was so happy to see various animal species in our travels to TN and IL for family visits and then across the US to our latest home in Tucson.  And I completely forgot how Tucson is just abuzz with all kinds of birds and lizards and such in a vast array of color and design.  Since arriving in February, we've managed to see all of the desert creatures that live here...of course, we saw some, like the Mountain Lion, in the Desert Sonoran Museum; but we still have managed to see javalena, coyotes, road runners, snakes, scorpions, black widows, and many different birds and lizards in the home we were renting and the one we're now in.  So, I'll share the photos and video of some of the animals we saw either in our backyard or at the Sonoran Desert Museum.

French family visit in May

Over the Memorial Day weekend we had my side of the family, The Frenches, over to celebrate our dual wedding anniversaries...mine and Jesse's and my brother's and his wife's....so, we had my brother's family and my parents.  Quite a fun time!   Mainly, we stayed close to home because of the twins, Micah and Elise, but we did manage to venture out and see the Sonora Desert Museum, drive by the Pima Air and Space Museum, go to church, eat out once, have friends over from church for a cook-out, and play around the house and backyard.  At the time, Levi is 3 years and the twins are 20 months...the rest of us are old .... ha ha!  Matthew & Mandy and Jesse & I went out on the town for our double-wedding anniversaries...we went to a VERY cheesy mystery dinner, but we had a very fun time anyway.

we drove through the East Saguaro National Park

Fun videos:

Sugar Cube's Toilet Training

In rebuilding my blog, I'm not sure why I'm starting out with the subject of toilet training our cat, except that I have a video to post and want to show family and friends. It is actually quite incredible that one can train a cat to jump up on the toilet to do their business, and as you'll see in this video, we 'regular-folks' are in the middle of doing such said work.  Sugar Cube is our little furry delight in this family; our only 'child' at this point in our marriage.  She has it so good in life and knows it!   We're also in the middle of a weight-loss program with her, so she's got much change going on with her life now.  Anyway, Sugar Cube, aka "Sugie" "Sugar" "Cubie" "The Cube" "Sugs" "Cube", has been a little blessing in our life and I just adore this pretty little cat and appreciate that she is also a smart cat which has taken this training a little longer than desired due to the battling of the wills between her and I!   This video is actually one that I caught her in the act, much to her embarrassment, and if I can find other video or photos of this process I'll add them as well.  Well, again, this wasn't the way I was going to kick off my re-constructed blog (re-constructed b/c my sweet hubbie, Jesse/Porta, accidentally deleted when trying to post another blog-site in our account),  but welcome back to our blog and a window to our life!!

Porta, Steph, and the Cube