$18,222.81 GULP

Post Op Week 3 is here!

I received the bill for my surgery. Now I had to laugh when I saw a few of the costs. Here are what they charged:
Medical Surgical GYN Room Semi private 1268.00
Pharmacy General 281.22
IV Solutions 87.00
Med surg supply devices 779.00
Non Sterile Supplies 1272.00
Sterile Supplies 41.00
Other Implants 2113.00
Lab Clinical General 47.57
Lab Chemistry 269.59
Lab Immunology 173.21
Lab Hematology 93.92
Lab Urology 41.47
Lab Anatomical 120.77
Operating Room General 9828.00
Anesthesia General 259.99
Drugs Detail Code 812.72
Recovery Room General 734.35

Now, (I'm joking here...kind of) do you find it kind of ironic when you look at the costs of the "sterile" vs "nonsterile" supplies? Hello! I'd much rather have the sterile supplies used on me during surgery!! (snickering) Also, I think I was jipped! I surely never received the "Implants" that I had envisioned!! :) Anyways, I found the costs of this medical procedure somewhat shocking. But then again...That's Health Care in the U.S.

Today I had an appointment with the GYN. We chatted briefly about how I have felt. He gave me the 3rd degree, in a nice way, and gently reminded me that I was not even remotely close to being "healed" yet. He did an exam, which didn't hurt at all. He said the sutures were intact, they were just beginning to lose their color which told him that it appears that even though I'm three weeks post op, I'm healed only to the two week mark. He said that tells him that I'm overdoing it and not taking it as easy as I need to. I told him that I really didn't feel as though I was overdoing it, just very tired and sore at times. He was quick to remind me that my body is doing some massive healing and that I can let it heal now (without pushing it) or prolong the healing process (if I push it).

I did get a copy of the pathology report, operative report and the labs that were done prior to the surgery. They were all very interesting to read over. I found out my TSH levels have continued to rise, yet continue to remain "within normal range." They were 4.40 prior to surgery. I asked him about it as I fought with my previous primary physician about it when I took information in regarding the new range of 0.3-3.0 that the AACE recommends. He agreed with me and said that if someone wanted to lose weight, a level of .20-2.0 is recommended. He started me on Synthroid 25mcg. Hopefully this will help out with several symptoms I have.

The Findings on the Operative Report were: "A boggy, 6 to 8 weeks' size uterus with mid posterior fundal bulge and left bulge on uterine body. Normal tubes and ovaries, moderate enterocele, no active endometriosis. Significant scarring from the bladder to the anterior uterus, consistent with previous cesearean section."

Postoperative Diagnoses:
1. Left Lower quadrant pelvic pain
2. Dysmenorrhea, persistent
3. Stress urinary incontinence
4. Menorrhagia
5. Rule out adenomyosis
6. Rule out adenomyoma
7. Moderate enterocele

I did find that I also had an additional procedure that I was not told about. It was actually discovered during the surgery and then repaired. So, apparently, I was given a little "vah-jah-jah--lift-n-makeover". Yes, that's a name I just made up. Unfortuantely, I was struck with a moderate Enterocele (small bowel prolapse)! (Yippee...NOT) The op report mentions "Curved zeppelins were placed across the posterior lip in a V fashion, and the enterocele and redundant vaginal tissue were excised and then closed...." So, yeah....wow! (and ouch).

Here are a few details for those who find medicine interesting.
http://www.uterinefibroids.com/rhi_prolapse.htm
"Weaknesses in the vagina and the support ligaments holding the bladder, rectum and uterus in place can cause the descent, or dropping, of an organ into the vagina. This condition is called prolapse and can be quite an uncomfortable situation.

The constant feeling that something is falling down and out the vagina (indeed it is!) can be quite painful and result in low back pain as well as dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse). Prolapse is a common after-effect of hysterectomy, typically occurring 5-10 years after the procedure, but is mainly considered to be one result of childbirth. During childbirth, as with hysterectomy, the pelvic structural ligaments are sometimes damaged creating a weakness in pelvic structural support. This in turn, and over time, leads to prolapse.

There are two types of prolapse: uterine prolapse and vaginal prolapse. Uterine prolapse refers to the uterus dropping down into the vagina. It typically drops in stages until, at some point in time, it actually appears at the entrance to the vagina. Vaginal prolapse refers to the dropping of other organs into the vagina and each one of these organs has their own name for this occurrence."

I am now going to finish getting ready for our BBQ tonight. I hope you're all having a wonderful July 3rd. Stay Safe!!

Until Next Time...