Wednesday, July 28, 2010

My Pre-Pregnancy TAC Surgery

Finding Abbyloopers gave me hope, information, and the support I needed to make the next step for me not to loose anymore babies. Through Abbyloopers I located Dr. Davis a perinatologist located in New Jersey.

I contacted Dr. Davis to have a phone consultation being that I live in Atlanta. After discussing my history and losses, Dr. Davis and I decided it would be best for me to have my TAC done pre-pregnancy (traditional) being that my cervix start to funnel in my 10Th week of pregnancy.

Traveling alone I wanted to make sure I was prepared. I made sure to have a carry on suite case with wheels for easy maneuver through the airport and in and out of the cab. I made sure to pack with me a pillow for my abdomen area for when I laughed or sneezed. I also packed snacks and lots of them chips, crackers, pretzels, things that were not heavy and would fit with my belongings. When selecting my hotel which had suites with full kitchens and handicap accessiable. It made it much easier that the hotel also offered breakfast and light dinner through the week. So I was able to eat daily without leaving the property. I was able to book two reservations one from 7/7/10 - 7/9/10 and one for when I was discharged from the hospital from 7/11/10 - 7/14/2010.

On 7/7/2010 I traveled to NJ from ATL alone by plane to have the surgery done. I stayed at the Residence Inn Marriott in Cherry Hill New Jersey. My first visit with Dr. Davis at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center was the following day after arriving in NJ. When meeting Dr. Davis for the first time It was like seeing GOD standing before me. I knew he was heaven sent and with the help of GOD they would make sure I will carry my next baby to term. I didn't have many questions to ask Dr. Davis. at pre-op, because I of course educated myself with all of the information and support Abbeyloopers had to offer. I was convinced the TAC was my answer and my cure for IC. Pre-op was simple filling out and signing paper work getting things in order. A sonogram was taken to locate a fibroid I was told I have. There was no fibroid found on the u/s so Dr. D said if there is one once he is inside and it's actually removable without causing any harm to my reproductive organs he would remove it. Everything went extremely well for pre-op. No complaints.

The following day was the big day 7/9/2010, I arrived at the hospital at 5:30am. I was then taken to triage to register and handle my deductible for my health insurance. I was then escorted upstairs to be changed into a gown and have IV started. I then met my nurses and anesthesiologist. Once all was completed Dr. Davis came in to talk to me and we proceeded to the operating room. I was told to count down from 10 backwards and Before I knew it I waking up in recovery. I had no pain and a Morphine Pac to keep the pain under control. It was a very humble experience for me. It was definitely a mini vacation, away from the family for a while. I was so worried about having a incision without having a child and what it would look like, but to my surprise Dr. Davis is amazing, my scar is not visible at all. Dr Davis said my surgery went very well and I have one of the most beautiful uterus he has every seen. He also said that my fibroid was mistaken for my ovary and the fibroid I do have is inbedded into my fallopian tube, if it had been removed it would have damaged my tube and cause me to not be able to have children.

I stayed in the city until 7/14/2010 and returned home. The flight home was horrible being that it was delayed 3hrs, so by time I got home I was in pain for the first time since the surgery. Other than that, the surgery was a success. Having a TAC has given me the confidence and faith I need to help me through my journey to follow. I'm now three weeks into having the surgery and can finally start driving again. I look forward to TTC (trying to conceive) following my first menstrual cycle.

Continue to follow my TAC journey.

2 comments:

Trisha said...

Thank you for sharing your story, and good luck in your TTC process! I just had my TAC about 4 weeks ago. It's an awesome thing.

Reeses said...

Thank you Trisha. Congratulations on being TAC. I know you feel such a relief, such as I when I was TAC'd. Good luck to you as well with TTC. It's definitely a wonderful feeling to know we have a cure for IC.