topic Re: My Surgery is done in Wellness

My Surgery is done

viva923 — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 20:19:45 GMT

hello all

I. had my surgery yesterday for installation of a pacemaker for bladder/colon. the surgery was about an hour or so. The twilight sleep was unreal to say the least. i was fully awake but could not move a muscle,I could hear everything going on,just could not scream,talk,yell all i could do was lay motionless. the installation of the electrodes for pacemaker had to be precise (that may be why I had to be totally motionless),a florascope had to be used to make sure the electrodes were put on the correct sacral nerve (i was told there are 4 nerves in sacral area one is for the bladder/colon) i guess that is a simple explanation. i was laying fully on my stomach, whole back side exposed,feet were off the end of the table up jacked up on a gel pad (looked like one of the cement abutments in parking lots for cars), i did stop breathing several times, had to jerked awake to make sure i was still alive. it was a scary twilight sleep for me.

I was given a cell phone type instrument to either turn up or turn down the stimulation on my bladder/colon area. the device was set at 7, that was to high for me, so over yesterday/afternoon-evening i played with the numbers. I went from 7-6-5-4 , I did kind of get frightened for a bit because before the device was implanted i was using the bathroom every hour to 2 hours 24-7 days a week. could not control anything, i have a 10 year supply of always pads in my shed, going thru those like no end, changing every time i used the bathroom, could not stop the flow.

I have had 2 bladder lifts since 1983, i have taken so many pills most did not help or I got super high blood pressure which to this day i have not been able to get rid of because of one of the pills i took.

my back is sore, have to sit down gently. can't do much lifting nothing over 5 pounds for 2 weeks, no back showers, you can take a shower but don't get back wet. I had my husband cut a garbage bag down, duct tape it over the incisions (I do have 2 incisions on my back -1 on right where the electrodes are and 1 on left). Why I have an incision on the left that I do not know. If the doctor told me after the surgery I can not remember what he said (I was semi out of it).

this is just a trial run, if the device works like it should it will be a keeper and a permanent pacemaker will be implanted under the skin on the 23rd of August.

Would I do it over, yes I would, anything to get relief. After many many many years of running to the bathrooms where I was up all night long hour after hour after hour, I just could not handle it any longer.

Sure hope it keeps getting better, So far SO GOOD.

that is my story

Re: My Surgery is done

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 20:23:14 GMT

@viva923 Wow! That was some surgery, I have never heard of anything like that before.

I find the explanation interesting as I have a friend that has a bladder issue and is running to the bathroom all day and all night long. I wonder if this would be an option for her?

Glad things went well for you and the twilight sounds a tad scary...take care and hopefully this was successful and you can have a permanent device implanted.

Re: My Surgery is done

4kitties — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 20:30:30 GMT

@viva923

I am happy your surgery was a success. Bet that "twilight sleep" was scary!

I hope you will have complete healing and your pacemaker will be everything you need to relieve your bladder issues.🙏🙏

Re: My Surgery is done

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 20:33:05 GMT

@viva923 @Thank you for sharing your experience.

I've NEVER believed it when people say "over-sharing"...or whatever people say about sharing experiences with each other.

It was so kind of you to take the time to explain what you went through.

I think if someone else here is experiencing similar symptoms, it might help them.

I think you are amazing for undergoing this procedure.

I recently was telling my youngest daughter that once you get old(er) the things you have to have done to your body is ALL elective..but not really.

Again, thanks for taking the time to teach us we don't have to live with something that can become serious and difficult to live with.

Re: My Surgery is done

GenXmuse — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 20:47:14 GMT

Thank you so much for the update. I'm so glad you're on the other side of surgery and can get some relief from such a life altering problem. Hugs to you and for all you've been through. 💚

Re: My Surgery is done

SXMGirl — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 21:16:03 GMT

@viva923 I have never heard of this, but I hope that you have a successful recovery.

Re: My Surgery is done

Kachina624 — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 21:23:39 GMT

@viva923 Best of luck for a favorable outcome. It sounds as though you've earned it.

Re: My Surgery is done

tsavorite — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 21:24:45 GMT

@viva923 I will be praying that this is a total success for you on your long journey to finding relief and quality of life! Bless you for sharing.

Re: My Surgery is done

MOMMAVik — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 21:53:02 GMT

@viva923, I wish you all the best in recovering from this procedure & that it becomes very helpful to controlling your issues. You are also so very kind to share the details & your reactions so that others may benefit if needing this procedure too.

Take extra good care of yourself & may each day find you getting better! ❤️🌺🌈

Re: My Surgery is done

grandma r — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 22:48:07 GMT

@viva923. I hope your bladder starts behaving itself!! I do understand.

Sounds like your procedure went well, all things considered. These issues are horrible to deal with and I pray you will have relief.

Re: My Surgery is done

jlkz — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 23:54:21 GMT

@viva923

WOW ! You have endured so much ! May the procedure bring you a wonderful quality of life !

Thank you for bringing hope to those who need it for themselves or their dear ones.

Re: My Surgery is done

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 00:06:19 GMT

Prayers for a complete recovery !

Re: My Surgery is done

viva923 — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 00:40:19 GMT

MomToDogs,

i had to find a doctor that did this type of surgery.

URO-GYN doctor does this type of surg only,that is what my GYN doctor said when my adventure began. there are only 6 in my state. That is what I was told, if this is true that I don't know.

My GYN doctor told me about the URO-GYN doctors at our hospital and that i should see one of them for all the leaking I was having. this whole adventure began in June 4,2021. I have a great doctor,he questioned me on what exactly I wanted and fortunately since i was the same health care system as the hospital i was at, my URO-GYN doctor had at his fingertips all the surgeries i have had over the many years, all my meds/all my doctors i have had over the years, so he could see all that on his computer screen.he saw all my lifts and such and all the pills i have been on for my leakage over the years and such. he really questioned me about why i wanted this type of surgery.

I hope your friend can find a good doctor that will listen to her and understand all the problems she is having and needing relief from.

Re: My Surgery is done

River Song — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 00:42:39 GMT

@viva923 ,

To protect your incisions in the shower, search on Amazon for "shower shields". These are plastic covers with adhesive on all four sides to protect an incision from getting wet. Easier to use than taping on a plastic bag! My late husband used these all the time to cover his PICC line (used for chemo).

Good luck with your procedure and hope it gives you relief to live a normal life!

Re: My Surgery is done

drizzellla — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 01:38:46 GMT

@viva923

Thank you for sharing. I never heard of a pacemaker for bladder/colon. Glad that your Doctor did.

Hope the pacemaker helps.

I also had an operation in twilight sleep. It was a weird experience. I heard the Doctor and nurses talking during the procedure but it seemed like my brain was disconnected. I remember how thrilled I was when I heard the Doctor say my nose was perfect.

But as you said you can hear but not speak.

Take it easy and heal. Hopefully you will have the results that you wanted.

Re: My Surgery is done

Lucky Charm — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 02:39:54 GMT

@viva923 I'm so happy for you that it's going well! I didn't realize it was for your colon also. It helps that issue, too? I thought you only had bladder issues.

It is amazing what they can do now! Simply amazing.

Re: My Surgery is done

Jessa9 — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 02:42:21 GMT

Prayers for your complete recovery

Re: My Surgery is done

hatetoiron — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 20:35:52 GMT

Glad your surgery went well. Hope your recovery time will be short.

Just reading your post my blood pressure went up!!!! lol

That's pretty scary hearing everything going on and not being able to

respond at all. I'm surprised they didn't totally put you under.

Well at least it's all over and now you'lll be feeling so much better.

Re: My Surgery is done

Duckncover — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 02:38:22 GMT

I am so sorry you have been dealing with this issue for so long! Sounds like you have a very possible fix for it. Prayers you have a complete recovery from the surgery itself and the pacemaker does the trick. Never knew they used pacemakers anywhere but the heart. Good to know! I hope you can get as much rest as possible now.