[Adalaide]

I have an appointment tomorrow that I scheduled quite a while ago with the intent of discussing a surgery with my doctor that could be considered elective. Although I think I could get my insurance to pay for it. The doctor I am seeing is my gyno and the reason I am considering surgery is because I have suffered with endometriosis since I was a teenager. It's been more than 20 years now and my husband and I discussed having surgery for it as soon as we had good insurance, which is now. What we didn't plan was getting a CRPS diagnosis at the same time.

This may be a little much info for some, but it's relevant. My mom didn't start menopause until her mid-50's. That gives me another 20 years of this crap until I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not looking for the bandaid surgery either, where all my symptoms can come back. This crap lays me up in bed for a day or two a month. I just want a doctor to take my stupid, useless uterus out. Boom! Done!

I had laproscopic knee surgery on my right knee (my left leg is my bad leg) and it didn't spread to my right leg. I'm wondering how terrible an idea it is to go ahead with the surgery if my insurance will pay. If I do it, it has to be this year because I'm already going to hit my out of pocket max for the year, and I so want this nightmare to end. Is there anything I can do to if going ahead with my plan to help prevent spread? Or is this just the worst idea ever and I should scrap it?

[HeidiB]

I dont think it's a stupid idea to have the surgery @ all. if it's going to help you in the long run then why not..it seems as tho you have weighed out your options & it is a very painful thing to deal w/on top of RSD/CRPS so if your able to handle the surgery I say go for it take care of the things your able to take care of why deal w/more issues if you dont have to? I would if I were you to be honest w/you & I'm sure after you heal from it you'll feel better & not having the endometirosis put u down in bed anymore will be a nice relief for you I'm sure. I wish you all the best hun, no matter what you decide I wish u well. I hope you get it all worked out let me know & keep us posted

A 2000 US paper stated pre-emptive analgesics can prevent spreads during operations. I have read posts stating for amputation it needs to be a continuous full sympathetic nerve block from 48hrs pre-op to 48 post. I would therefore insist on one from 24 pre to 24 post.
Only paediatric needles should be used

Hospital protocol

http://www.rsds.org/Resources/hospital_protocol.html

[Adalaide]

Thanks! I knew there was info out there like that and I knew I had seen it but my memory is like swiss cheese that a mouse has gotten into. Hopefully after I see my new doctor next week we can start something (I don't know what) that will help. At least my husband very patiently puts up with it, and we have a sense of humor about it together.

It's very much like you say Heidi, one more pain on top of the rest is just too much. The thought of 20 more years of this is enough to make me batty. Full steam ahead with ditching my obnoxious girl parts. Woohoo!

[moosey2me]

boy what a hard thing to go through.I would go for it too..you might feel better..everyone here say take vitamins before surgery..do some more research..my memory sucks..I wish you the best..take care

[Hana]

Originally Posted by Kevscar

A 2000 US paper stated pre-emptive analgesics can prevent spreads during operations. I have read posts stating for amputation it needs to be a continuous full sympathetic nerve block from 48hrs pre-op to 48 post. I would therefore insist on one from 24 pre to 24 post.
Only paediatric needles should be used

Hospital protocol

http://www.rsds.org/Resources/hospital_protocol.html

Yes. I also had miserable!!endometriosis, ovarian cysts and had a hysterectomy. It was so so bad, maybe worse than the CRPS pain I already had. As Kevscar says, I had nerve blocks afterwards to prevent spread and it worked. That was 15 years ago... so far so good!!! Yep. Don't regret that pain being gone. I'd do it again.

Praying for the best,

Hana

[fbodgrl]

Originally Posted by moosey2me

boy what a hard thing to go through.I would go for it too..you might feel better..everyone here say take vitamins before surgery..do some more research..my memory sucks..I wish you the best..take care

My memory is horrible also. I think it is vitamin C.

[AZ-Di]

I'll echo wHAT Kev & hana said about nerve blocks before &/or after only
because that's what my P.M. Dr. said IF I had any surgery.
Best of wishes & let us know how it goes.

[Adalaide]

I wonder now if part of what helped prevent spread was how my surgery was handled on my knee. While I didn't have any sort of block or anything, they did inject me with morphine straight into my knee during the surgery for the pain. I walked out happy as a lark. Still amuses me.

I'm quite pleased right now. I'll get a call this week to confirm if they can fit me into the surgeon's schedule on the 27th. As soon as I get that call I can go to the hospital and talk to the staff there and work things out with them for extra details I didn't work out with the surgeon. He only has to worry about OR stuff. The hospital staff has to worry about every other moment. (Plus I have to handle the nightmare that is hospital + celiac + additional food intolerances. Basically, I can literally not eat there.)

But with all the hassle, I'm very thrilled that one of my nightmares is about to be over. Thank you all for piping in and helping out.