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| Caring & Competence Trump the Fear
of Hysterectomy |
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Caring & Competence Trump The Fear Of
Hysterectomy:
For several years I'd been battling
severe and recurring pelvic infections. The episodes of
illness caused by these infections were lengthy and
debilitating and had left a large mass of scar tissue near my
right ovary. Added to this, fibroid tumors were creating a
worrisome bulge in my lower abdomen. With all this going on,
it wasn't much of a surprise when Dr. Levy told me that I
would need a hysterectomy.
Still, I flushed with fear
when Dr. Levy spoke the "H" word. Worries and fears rose up
from my stomach, creating a hot rush of anxiety that turned my
face and ears red. What about all the stories I'd heard? Women
who became depressed, women who reported decreased sex drive,
women who'd said they lost their ability to orgasm! Gasp! I
had decisions to make and I had to find out the
truth!
Dr. Levy supported me in my quest for
information. I dove into the medical journals, copied articles
and wrote down questions for her to answer. Together we went
through these articles, discussing options and eliminating
many of my fears. It was wonderfully reassuring to have Dr.
Levy encourage me to find out as much as I could, and
participate in the decision process. I left my pre-op
appointment knowing that I'd done my homework and certain that
I'd made the right decisions.
I still had more
preparations to complete before the surgery. I ordered the
guided imagery tape that Dr. Levy recommended, and listened to
it the week before the surgery. It helped me practice a calm
and confident attitude to take with me to the hospital. I told
Dr. Levy of my concerns about depression and she encouraged me
to get a mental health care provider lined up and standing in
the ready. I picked up my prescriptions which included a patch
to help with nausea and sleeping pills in case I couldn't get
to sleep the night or two before the surgery. Dr. Levy had
provided me with a whole kit to help me prepare for the
upcoming event.
When I actually arrived at St. Francis
Community Hospital the day of the surgery, I had little of the
usual pre-op anxiety that I had experienced with other
surgeries. The staff provided an extremely caring environment.
The anesthesiologist slipped the IV in my arm before I
realized it, and joked that I was going to be his date for the
next few hours. I felt as though I couldn't be in better hands
as I drifted off to sleep as they wheeled me down the hall to
the operating room.
When I woke up, Dr. Levy stopped by
to tell me everything had gone well. It was incredibly
reassuring to see her standing there, even through the haze of
the anesthesia. I felt her hand on my shoulder, saw her
familiar smile, and knew from here on out it was only a matter
of getting better.
And I got better in a hurry. On the
second day, I was getting up and down with relative ease. By
day four, I took a shower and made lunch. By the fifth day, I
was over the hump, padding around the house in my fuzzy
slippers, doing small tasks and on my way to wellness.
Throughout this whole first week, Dr. Levy's nurse called me
every day to make sure I was doing well.
I had to admit
to myself, Dr. Levy, and everyone else that helped me through
this experience that the reality was so much easier that what
I had anticipated. In greatest part this was because of the
excellent care and attention that Dr. Levy gave me. All the
little extras, like the guided imagery tape, nausea patch and
post operative aids made this experience so much more
comfortable than it could have been. I am certain that I
recovered quickly because I was resting comfortably, and my
mind was free of worries and concerns.
One postscript
to this story: my fears about decreased sexual function and
lost sensitivity were only fears. Several weeks post surgery,
I find that sensations during orgasm are the same or maybe
even a little better than before. I'm looking forward to
continuing a great sexual relationship with my partner and to
great health in the future. A giant thanks to Dr. Levy for
restoring the health that I have too often taken for
granted.
If you are faced with the prospect of
hysterectomy and would like to hear more about my experience,
I would be glad to share it with you. I hope that by sharing
my experience I might be able to help relieve some of the
fears and concerns that accompany this event for other women,
and in some small way, pass along the care and concern that
I've received from Dr. Levy and staff. You may contact me at
michelle_devoe@yahoo.com | |
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