Hello, it's been awhile since I last wrote. Well, from the title of the post, guess who had surgery?! It has been a roller coaster ride for me for the past couple of weeks. But, I count my blessings that all is good now and I am recovering.
Perhaps I should start from the beginning, when all was idyllic in my world on May 1st. The day started out well, it being a public holiday and I was just chilling at home. However, I started feeling some level of discomfort in my lower abdomen in the evening. The pain was not centred anywhere, and it just felt like my insides were being twisted. I thought sleep and rest could cure me so I tried to sleep. After 2 hours of pain, I got up and tried to walk to my front door, as my friends were coming over. Fortunately or unfortunately, I felt one last major pull/twist in my insides and the pain was so unbearable that I fainted. Fortunately for me, my friends were there for me. When I came to, I was feeling nauseated and puked (grossly) everything I had and according to friends, fainted again.
They took me to the hospital and I was admitted at about midnight. The initial diagnosis was probably either food poisoning or appendicitis. The doctor recommended that I do an ultrasound the following day to confirm. By this time, I was awake and the pain had subsided to a dull aching throb. However, then my chest begun to hurt, but I wasn't sure why.
The next morning, I was wheeled into the ultrasound room and the kind doctor prod away with her thingamajig. It was concluded that I had a ruptured ovarian cyst and was bleeding internally and she said you need surgery "immediately". Bearing in mind I was sent the night before with only my mobile and purse and the clothes I was in, this was quite a rude shock.
However, the presiding doctor informed me of how the procedure will be done, i.e. a Laparoscopic surgery, which is less invasive compared to the normal surgery where they cut you open. Nonetheless, doctor warned that it was still major surgery and I had to be prepared for what happens after.
So basically the procedure was done with 3 keyholes made in my abdomen and gas is pumped inside to allow doctors to have a better view. A laparoscope is inserted for doctors to have an image of what's going on inside. According to my doctor, I had a cyst which ruptured on my right and was causing blood to fill up my uterus. So, the cyst was removed via the same keyhole and the bleeding was also suctioned off via the keyholes. When all that was done, I would be "closed back up". I was under general anesthesia at that time, definitely.
I have never heard of this procedure before. I wasn't shocked or anything, I guess I was numb from the pain and all I wanted was to get over the pain, so I consented to the procedure. The normal me would have insisted on a 2nd opinion and also my laptop, so I could do some of my own research on it! The doctor also confirmed without me asking that I was having chest pains. She said this was because the internal bleeding happening inside was pushing upwards and causing stress on my diaphragms, hence the pain when I talk or laugh. Also, the pain that caused me to faint was probably when the cyst ruptured.
It was also then that I learned that it is common for women to develop cyst but most of them go away on its own. Unfortunately for me, mine ruptured :o So ladies, do not underestimate the importance of routine check-ups with your gynae because you can avoid my situation!
So, I was wheeled into surgery next day at noon, and I woke up about 2 hours later, completely groggy and drifting in and out of sleep. But, I remember the first familiar face I saw was my Brother! <3
Part 2 on what happens post surgery in another post, as I am now getting tired (will get to this tiredness issue in next post too). Good night!
Perhaps I should start from the beginning, when all was idyllic in my world on May 1st. The day started out well, it being a public holiday and I was just chilling at home. However, I started feeling some level of discomfort in my lower abdomen in the evening. The pain was not centred anywhere, and it just felt like my insides were being twisted. I thought sleep and rest could cure me so I tried to sleep. After 2 hours of pain, I got up and tried to walk to my front door, as my friends were coming over. Fortunately or unfortunately, I felt one last major pull/twist in my insides and the pain was so unbearable that I fainted. Fortunately for me, my friends were there for me. When I came to, I was feeling nauseated and puked (grossly) everything I had and according to friends, fainted again.
They took me to the hospital and I was admitted at about midnight. The initial diagnosis was probably either food poisoning or appendicitis. The doctor recommended that I do an ultrasound the following day to confirm. By this time, I was awake and the pain had subsided to a dull aching throb. However, then my chest begun to hurt, but I wasn't sure why.
The next morning, I was wheeled into the ultrasound room and the kind doctor prod away with her thingamajig. It was concluded that I had a ruptured ovarian cyst and was bleeding internally and she said you need surgery "immediately". Bearing in mind I was sent the night before with only my mobile and purse and the clothes I was in, this was quite a rude shock.
However, the presiding doctor informed me of how the procedure will be done, i.e. a Laparoscopic surgery, which is less invasive compared to the normal surgery where they cut you open. Nonetheless, doctor warned that it was still major surgery and I had to be prepared for what happens after.
So basically the procedure was done with 3 keyholes made in my abdomen and gas is pumped inside to allow doctors to have a better view. A laparoscope is inserted for doctors to have an image of what's going on inside. According to my doctor, I had a cyst which ruptured on my right and was causing blood to fill up my uterus. So, the cyst was removed via the same keyhole and the bleeding was also suctioned off via the keyholes. When all that was done, I would be "closed back up". I was under general anesthesia at that time, definitely.
I have never heard of this procedure before. I wasn't shocked or anything, I guess I was numb from the pain and all I wanted was to get over the pain, so I consented to the procedure. The normal me would have insisted on a 2nd opinion and also my laptop, so I could do some of my own research on it! The doctor also confirmed without me asking that I was having chest pains. She said this was because the internal bleeding happening inside was pushing upwards and causing stress on my diaphragms, hence the pain when I talk or laugh. Also, the pain that caused me to faint was probably when the cyst ruptured.
It was also then that I learned that it is common for women to develop cyst but most of them go away on its own. Unfortunately for me, mine ruptured :o So ladies, do not underestimate the importance of routine check-ups with your gynae because you can avoid my situation!
So, I was wheeled into surgery next day at noon, and I woke up about 2 hours later, completely groggy and drifting in and out of sleep. But, I remember the first familiar face I saw was my Brother! <3
Part 2 on what happens post surgery in another post, as I am now getting tired (will get to this tiredness issue in next post too). Good night!
