Want laparoscopic hyster, but not outpatient

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I had this surgery. I was bound and determined NOT to stay overnight b/c I hate hospitals. I cannot sleep there at all b/c they are always waking you up to take your blood pressure or there is noise. There is no way I can rest there. Well, my gyn surgeon said I would need to stay overnight, but it was up to me in the end.

Surgery went perfectly, but I was not in condition to leave the hospital! I stayed overnight. Did I get any sleep? Not much at all. The most helpful thing was having a bed that would raise up automatically. Your abdominal muscles will be out of commission. Trying to get out of bed will be very hard if you don't have one of those automatic beds.

I went home the next day. I won't sugar coat it... it's definitely going to be rough for the first 24 hrs at home. But, good news -- it's easier than recovery from childbirth b/c you don't have the tearing or pain when urinating on stitches. You will just have no abdominal muscles and you will be surprised how much you use them for simply turning from one side to the other in bed or for sitting up!

I cannot imagine why your insurance wouldn't pay for an overnight. Please ask. I am almost certain they would. This is considered MAJOR surgery. It is for your safety as well as the doctor's protection from malpractice. They need to make sure you aren't hemoraging (?sp), or thowing a clot. If I had left, itwould have been marked "AMA" for Against Medical Advice.

You could go to another surgeon -- I used Northern Va. Pelvic Surgery Associates. Dr. Garg. Good luck! FWIW, I have no regrets and love not having a period EVER.

OP said the surgery was laparoscopic, so I think she would still have her abdominal muscles. I had the surgery last year. Went in at 7 was home by noon. I was uncomfortable but overall fine. Absolutely no bleeding, since they took out the major source of bleeding and stitched everything up. I had gas pains and constipation, but there was nothing they could do in the hospital to alleviate those issues. Check out HysterSister. The absolute best forum for that. You will get all sorts of insight from tons of people who've been through just what you'll be going through.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP you are contesting ....yes, I know it is laprascopic.... that's what I had too! I think I know how it works.

In order to do a lapra hyster, they have to put tools into you somewhere -- and that somewhere is in your abdomen.... through the belly button. Maybe you had a different kind of lapra hyster. When the tools go in and they cut out the uterus, there is going to be trauma to the abdominal muscles. There just is. Anything foreign in the body, any cutting, any moving of muscles is going to create trauma and swelling. I did not say there was a lot of bleeding... in fact, I didn't mention bleeding at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a laproscopic hysterectomy in December and interviewed three surgeons before deciding. They all called it outpatient, but it meant overnight and the term was "outpatient -- extended stay." that means you are not formally admitted, but have a regular room and are intended to stay no longer than 24 hours. However, I was told very clearly that it there were any complications, they would admit me for another day. I was actually amazed that I was able to go home about 24 hours after surgery, but it was really OK. I did not have any complications and it was a very straightforward recovery. I ended up choosing Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and was very pleased with the surgeon, the overall process and level of care, start to finish.

I will ask my doctor to clarify what was meant by outpatient. Maybe there is an option for at least one night in the hospital.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gyne is recommending hysterectomy because there are "too many things going on" with my uterus including lots of little fibroids, abnormally thick lining following an ablation. I look 4 months pregnant. She said laparoscopic surgery and home that night is the way to go. I am terrified at the thought of coming home hours after major surgery. I stayed in the hospital 2 days after laparoscopic gallbladder removal. I also had a two day stay for stomach surgery. My insurance won't pay for an overnight stay unless I do full abdominal surgery. I've had same day gynecological surgery before and it went badly. I took a long time coming out of GA, bled a river, couldn't get the pain under control, and in one case, passed out in the car on the way home. How do I widen my pool of options?

I had one several years ago, and was planned to go home same day but I had a bad reaction to the anethesia and so stayed over ight. If not for the bad reaction, I would have felt fine to go home same day. They aren't going to send you home if there is anything unusual going on, so why not plan to go home same day and if you have any concerns then be a strong self-advocate for another night - in fact, remind your doctor ahead of time of your past issues with surgery and confirm that she'd authorize an overnight if you have any troubles. Not sure if this is what you are intimating but a traditional surgical hyst is so much harder to recover from than a laproscopic, so I would never opt for that given a choice.

[Anonymous]

I'm very likely going to have this same surgery in the near future, and my OB-GYN told me it will require an overnight stay. I guess I could push to go home the same day, but I don't see the point. I have three young kids and while sleeping in a hospital isn't exactly restful, at least no one will be cannonballing onto my bed (and possibly belly) at 7 am the day after surgery.