Surgery

I need surgery.  Not a minor surgery, but MAJOR surgery.  I've already had two major surgeries when I had my 2 C-sections back in the '80s.  But compared to having a hysterectomy, the C-sections were a piece of cake.

First off, I'm not required to be in the hospital a week or the night before the surgery.  I find that hard to believe.  I thought that being a juvenile onset diabetic, they'd expect me to be admitted at least the day before the surgery to make sure they had my blood sugars under control, like they did when I was going to have my children.   Mind you, when I left the hospital the first time, now this was right after I went to the U of MI Women's Hospital, later called by me the funny farm, my blood sugars were worse than when I entered.  They did a worse job of taking care of me than I could.

But, they no longer do this.  Nope, instead I'm to call a number and leave my name and phone number between 7-11am.  Then someone returns my call and tells me when I'm suppose to be there.  Now the killer is, you're suppose to be at the hospital 2 hours before your surgery.  And you're suppose to take a shower the night before and the day of the surgery.  AND it's about a 40 minute drive to the funny farm from where I live.  So if it's a 7am surgery... well you get the point.

I'll also be under for 3 hours.  Yep 3 hours.  The reason for this is because one of the blood tests I had done came up a little high, 35 is normal and mine was 53.  So my doctor sent me to the funny farm because a high reading can mean cancer.  He assured me that 53 generally doesn't mean cancer, but the hospital in my city won't do a hysterectomy on a woman when there is a slight chance of cancer, thus him sending me to the funny farm.  Even the doctor at the funny farm, doesn't think there's too big of a chance of cancer.  Because with this test, if you have fibroids, which I do- the reason for the hysterectomy and are in menopause I am- the results can be slightly elevated, which mine is.  But because there is a slight chance of cancer, by law, oh the lovely government, has to take out the ovaries, send them to pathology and make sure there's no cancer in them.  All the while I'm in lala land.  After they've discovered no cancer, she can then remove the rest.  If there is cancer, then she has to remove more items to ensure all cancer is gone.

Then I'll be in the hospital 2-5 days after the surgery.  I can't remember all the things I have to do to get out.  One is pass gas, the other is eat solid food- I'm put on a clear liquid diet first, but neither me or my husband can remember what the third thing is.  It could be that my blood sugar levels are okay, I have used the toilet, or that I can walk with no problems.  We just can't remember.

And they want to give me a blood thinner to inject into myself for a period of time.  Hells bells.  I already inject myself with insulin 3-4 times a day.  Plus I check my blood sugar 3-5 times a day.  I don't, I repeat I DON'T want another injection.  No I don't want anyone else to give me a shot.

The only good thing about this is I can bring my own food with because of all my food allergies menopause has caused.  The only problem is nobody seems to know how I'm suppose to do this.  My husband thinks I should bring everything in a thermos.  The nurse I spoke with said to talk with the admitting staff since I wont' be eating right away.  Yeah but I will be having liquids sometime afterwards and I cannot have hospital stuff due to my problems.

So I guess we'll be bringing some of the clear liquid food with.  But I'm not sure how long they'll keep me on a clear liquid diet.  Then will I be put on a full liquid diet, or a soft diet?  I don't know what it'll be so I don't know what type of food to bring with.  I also don't know if there is a refrigerator for me to use, as well as a microwave.  I just don't know.  I mean it kind of sucks that I have to bring my own food with, but I'm not taking any chances that I'll suffer the reactions I do, especially after being cup up my belly.  One of my food reactions is my stomach will expand IE bloat very much.  I don't want THAT to happen.