It's Just A Routine Surgery....

I had a hysterectomy about 8 years ago. And there was nothing routine about it. I truly needed this operation as I had begun to experience great difficulty at times. But I remember watching my doctor's mouth as she said the words "Routine Surgery" and "Of course, there could be complications with any surgery but puncturing your rectum or infection happens to maybe 1 in 20,000." I was told after the surgery I would be allowed to go home if my temperature was normal and if all bodily elimination functions had returned. After the surgery, I did not feel well. I had a fever of 101 and I could not have a BM, but wouldn't you know it, the nurse said those are just general rules and my doctor felt I could go home. Eight days past and the problems persisted. I consistently kept my doctor informed and the day before I was to go for an in-office checkup, I had a BM and my fever immediately vanished. OH I WAS SO GLAD and at the appointment she assured me that's how it goes sometimes. Well the next day or so (a Friday), I went to bed and for the first time since the surgery I felt great. I was still moving around gingerly but that was to be expected. I slept like a baby that night and when I woke up, I took a nice deep breath but something was terribly wrong. I inhaled the worst smell of my life and as my hands moved to my abdomen my jammies were soaked with a thick fluid. Technically my abdomen had become infected and the incision had burst open. The doctor's office called back and told me to go immediately to the hospital, that she would clean the area and send me back home...not to worry. An angel met me in the parking lot. She was a nurse that had actually experienced the same thing I was going through. She opened the car door and put her nose (I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE SHE DID THIS)...put her nose near my abdomen and took a whiff. She said, "You've got salmonella. She is NOT going to just clean you up and send you home! She's got to operate." I guess the doctor had spoken to her before I got there. Sure enough the area had to be completely opened and another surgery was performed. I was so out of it, I had forgotten what day it was. On Sunday, the doctor entered my room crying. She said, "I'm sorry but you're dying. Your organs are shutting down and unless I can come up with some type of aggressive treatment, you're not going to make it. Your family has got to get here and I am having trouble reaching them." The entire time she was sobbing and trying to explain through her tears, I felt an extreme level of calm and I said, "Please give me a moment to pray." She yelled, "YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO PRAY!" I responded, "I have time to pray if I have time for nothing else." She left the room. After praying I tried several times to reach my family and when I finally got through, they said, "We were at the alter praying for you...It's Sunday ...We are in church." What a blessing it was to hear that. The aggressive treatment took place which started with a blood transfusion. Four or five months later, after daily home care, having a stint to my heart inserted, and having to go through excruciating pain several times a day as the dressing had to be changed in the deep, wide hole that existed, I began to walk again. The doctor said the instruments in the operating room must not have been sterilized during my first surgery causing the infection. TO THIS DAY, I THANK THE LORD FOR BRINGING ME THROUGH THAT SITUATION, FOR ONCE AGAIN, PROTECTING ME. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN HEALED ME. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL!!! And the hole is completely healed to the point one would never even know I had surgery. It was a devastating time for me and my family that I had nightmares about for years. God is Great! I heard Thelma Wells tell a similar story at the Women Of Faith Conference in Cleveland in 2007. I believe these mishaps happen more than doctors are willing to admit. If you are told that you need surgery of any kind, here are my suggestions:
1. Pray about it. Let the Holy Spirit inside you strengthen and guide you.
2. Discuss the pros and cons with your family. It affects them too.
3. Hope for the best but be realistic about the worst.
4. Do your homework. Get a 2nd and even a 3rd opinion if you wish.
5. If you are working, make sure you know what your health care and leave of absence options are.
6. Inform your pastor and prayer group for spiritual support, visitation and other needs you may have like meals or assistance with your children.
7. And definitely inform neighbors because in an emergency, these may be the people closest and able to respond the fastest. (The Bible teaches us to love thy neighbor as thyself...there's are many reasons for that).

Pictured with me are a few of the wonderful Women of Faith: Patsy Clairmont, Thelma Wells and Sheila Walsha. Each of them have quite a story to tell. If you have never attended a WOF Conf. I hope you will in the near future.