Sarojini
02-09-2007, 09:18 AM
I have now had my trial stim in for one week, and today I went in to see my doctor for the post-op visit.
It was a very simple visit; my doc came in and could tell by the look on my face that it was working (maybe because I was grinning at him like a Cheshire cat? ;) ). We went over my voiding diaries that I've been keeping (three days before the trial and three days afterwards) and he noted for himself that I have had a 50% decrease in frequency and about a 30-50% increase in void volume, depending on the day. He was thrilled with my progress and said that of course, we would definitely go on to the permanent implant, which is scheduled for next Friday the 16th -- one week from today.
He then discussed the procedure for the permanent implant and pointed to the place on my behind where he is intending to place the permanent generator. He explained again that this is the Interstim II, which is much smaller than the first generation ones -- about the size of a casino chip, he says. He then said I could have either deep sedation or full general anesthesia, but encouraged me to consider the deep sedation, as about 80% of his patients choose that option and do well. I said I would be willing to do that -- and my doctor said I was welcome to change my mind on the day of the surgery if that is what I wanted. He also noted that (1) the anesthesiologist might prefer to do it general, and (2) if a certain pair of nurse anesthetists were working, HE HIMSELF would change my orders to general anesthesia, because he said that those two were terrible at maintaining a deep enough state of sedation. At least he is honest!! LOL :lmao:
I said I didn't mind either method, as I trust him to make the final call that day.
Then, he took off the surgical dressings that had been on since last Friday and examined my incision sites. He was pleased at how well they are healing, and two were so nicely closed that he actually replaced the covering over them with large Band-Aids. He also re-covered and taped down my "plug" -- the percutaneous exit site, or where the wire comes out of my skin, turns into a cord, and heads to the generator box -- so that I would not pull it, break it, twist it, or shock myself. I am still not allowed to get the area wet, since that wire is still poking out. The last thing I need is to electrocute myself right when I'm FINALLY seeing the light at the end of the frequency tunnel!
I almost jumped for joy when I found I could keep the generator box until next Friday's surgery -- I had heard that sometimes it is taken away, and I was TERRIFIED I'd have to go back to peeing every 10 minutes for a week. My doc laughed when I said that and said, "Did you really think I could be that mean and twisted -- to give you a little taste and then take it away?"
AND, just a little note to Claudia (who has my same doc) -- there is no co-pay for post op visits, so that's one less thing to pay for ;)
Finally, after the permanent implant, I am to take at least two weeks off from work to allow healing to take place and to minimize the risk of infection in the "pocket" he creates for the implant. No heavy lifting and all those nice post-pelvic surgery rules....
So, my annoying boss and co-workers are just going to have to deal with life without me for a while -- not that it will be too hard for them since I don't really exist to them anyway. Even if my boss attempts to guilt me into going back in, it isn't going to happen this time. I am not about to get an expensive surgery and then ruin it by ignoring doctor's orders. I am also not going to cave into him anymore, because the more I cave, the more he thinks he owns me and the more I lose myself. If you read "Day Six" in my series of posts, you'll not be surprised to learn that I plan to spend that time off in bed, looking for new jobs on the Internet and emailing contacts in the field when I feel up to it.
Hubby has suggested taking a few days BEFORE surgery off as well to get my own "nesting" things done... I know he will do things for me around the house, but you know, I need to stock up on books and chick magazines to read... LOL. Plus, I like some things done a certain way, so I'm going to go ahead and do them my way so they're all perfect before I go in to have the Bionic Butt installed next week!
It was a very simple visit; my doc came in and could tell by the look on my face that it was working (maybe because I was grinning at him like a Cheshire cat? ;) ). We went over my voiding diaries that I've been keeping (three days before the trial and three days afterwards) and he noted for himself that I have had a 50% decrease in frequency and about a 30-50% increase in void volume, depending on the day. He was thrilled with my progress and said that of course, we would definitely go on to the permanent implant, which is scheduled for next Friday the 16th -- one week from today.
He then discussed the procedure for the permanent implant and pointed to the place on my behind where he is intending to place the permanent generator. He explained again that this is the Interstim II, which is much smaller than the first generation ones -- about the size of a casino chip, he says. He then said I could have either deep sedation or full general anesthesia, but encouraged me to consider the deep sedation, as about 80% of his patients choose that option and do well. I said I would be willing to do that -- and my doctor said I was welcome to change my mind on the day of the surgery if that is what I wanted. He also noted that (1) the anesthesiologist might prefer to do it general, and (2) if a certain pair of nurse anesthetists were working, HE HIMSELF would change my orders to general anesthesia, because he said that those two were terrible at maintaining a deep enough state of sedation. At least he is honest!! LOL :lmao:
I said I didn't mind either method, as I trust him to make the final call that day.
Then, he took off the surgical dressings that had been on since last Friday and examined my incision sites. He was pleased at how well they are healing, and two were so nicely closed that he actually replaced the covering over them with large Band-Aids. He also re-covered and taped down my "plug" -- the percutaneous exit site, or where the wire comes out of my skin, turns into a cord, and heads to the generator box -- so that I would not pull it, break it, twist it, or shock myself. I am still not allowed to get the area wet, since that wire is still poking out. The last thing I need is to electrocute myself right when I'm FINALLY seeing the light at the end of the frequency tunnel!
I almost jumped for joy when I found I could keep the generator box until next Friday's surgery -- I had heard that sometimes it is taken away, and I was TERRIFIED I'd have to go back to peeing every 10 minutes for a week. My doc laughed when I said that and said, "Did you really think I could be that mean and twisted -- to give you a little taste and then take it away?"
AND, just a little note to Claudia (who has my same doc) -- there is no co-pay for post op visits, so that's one less thing to pay for ;)
Finally, after the permanent implant, I am to take at least two weeks off from work to allow healing to take place and to minimize the risk of infection in the "pocket" he creates for the implant. No heavy lifting and all those nice post-pelvic surgery rules....
So, my annoying boss and co-workers are just going to have to deal with life without me for a while -- not that it will be too hard for them since I don't really exist to them anyway. Even if my boss attempts to guilt me into going back in, it isn't going to happen this time. I am not about to get an expensive surgery and then ruin it by ignoring doctor's orders. I am also not going to cave into him anymore, because the more I cave, the more he thinks he owns me and the more I lose myself. If you read "Day Six" in my series of posts, you'll not be surprised to learn that I plan to spend that time off in bed, looking for new jobs on the Internet and emailing contacts in the field when I feel up to it.
Hubby has suggested taking a few days BEFORE surgery off as well to get my own "nesting" things done... I know he will do things for me around the house, but you know, I need to stock up on books and chick magazines to read... LOL. Plus, I like some things done a certain way, so I'm going to go ahead and do them my way so they're all perfect before I go in to have the Bionic Butt installed next week!