u/HumbleSandwich10

Last week, I had a regularly scheduled, laproscopic surgery. Unfortunately, I had a complication and had to return to the ER this weekend.

I was admitted for a second, emergency surgery. Before I was brought into the OR, I was introduced to my surgical team.

I was puzzled by the fact that, in my emergency surgery, there was a member of the team who introduced himself as a patient advocate.

He was scrubbed up and went into the procedure with the rest of the team. I'm pretty sure he talked me down as the anesthesia mask did its job.

I didn't have an advanced directive, or any special modesty requests for the team. I can't think of why I would be assigned someone with his job for one surgery but not for another.

I'm perplexed:

* Did I probably have one of those during my first surgery and just forget?

* Did my case get assigned to that team member because it was an emergency surgery, vs pre-scheduled?

* What might that person do in the surgical theater once I was out?

Thanks!

Content warnings: brief mention of body parts by medical names, brief mention of fibroids

I (mid-30s FTM, pre-T, USA) am getting ready to have a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy (hysterectomy with fallopian tubes and cervix removed).

I've been able to get most of the surgery cost covered through insurance. I breezed through the approvals process with my doctor because I have some gnarly fibroids.

I follow r/fibroids, but I feel better asking other guys about this here.

What questions do I need to make sure to ask my provider at my pre-op appointment?

What consent questions should I be prepared for them to ask me? And what's your take on those answers? For example, what if they ask me if a medical student can operate on me? What do y'all think?

Here's my working list of questions to ask them:

1. What's your surgical protocol for my specific fibroids? Will the fibroids be morcellated, or removed intact through an extraction site (like the vaginal cuff)? If morcellation is discussed, ask about safety protocols.

2. Who will be performing the surgery? Will you be the primary surgeon throughout the entire procedure?

3. What type of anesthesia will be used? Will I have a nerve block (like a TAP block) for post-op pain management?

4. What are my specific restrictions on lifting, bending, and physical activity? For how long?

5. What type of post-op follow-up schedule do you follow?

6. What specific symptoms should prompt me to call the office immediately?

7. What should be my threshold for going straight to the emergency room?

8. How is your office structured for after-hours or weekend urgent questions?

Content warnings: brief mention of body parts by medical names, brief mention of fibroids

I (mid-30s FTM, pre-T, USA) am getting ready to have a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy (hysterectomy with fallopian tubes and cervix removed).

I've been able to get most of the surgery cost covered through insurance. I breezed through the approvals process with my doctor because I have some gnarly fibroids.

I follow r/fibroids, but I feel better asking other guys about this here.

What questions do I need to make sure to ask my provider at my pre-op appointment?

What consent questions should I be prepared for them to ask me? And what's your take on those answers? For example, what if they ask me if a medical student can operate on me? What do y'all think?

Here's my working list of questions to ask them:

1. What's your surgical protocol for my specific fibroids? Will the fibroids be morcellated, or removed intact through an extraction site (like the vaginal cuff)? If morcellation is discussed, ask about safety protocols.

2. Who will be performing the surgery? Will you be the primary surgeon throughout the entire procedure?

3. What type of anesthesia will be used? Will I have a nerve block (like a TAP block) for post-op pain management?

4. What are my specific restrictions on lifting, bending, and physical activity? For how long?

5. What type of post-op follow-up schedule do you follow?

6. What specific symptoms should prompt me to call the office immediately?

7. What should be my threshold for going straight to the emergency room?

8. How is your office structured for after-hours or weekend urgent questions?

I have about 1 week remaining to prepare for my hysterectomy.

I (single, child-free) would like to make sure I have as much done as possible around the house before I cannot lift anything substantial for 6 weeks.

Here's what I'm covering so far:

* Stock up on pet food & non-perishable groceries

* Wash all laundry

* Freezer prep meals

* Renew all prescriptions & pick up at pharmacy

* Declutter doom piles

* Check out paperbacks from local library

Can you think of any other household tasks that were hard for you to do during your recovery that I might be able to get ahead on with my remaining time?

tysm!

Have you pursued a formal diagnosis for adult autism in Colorado, USA?

Did you work with any terrible or terrific providers?

Please let me know in the comments if you know about anyone to avoid OR anyone to prioritize seeking a diagnosis with first.

I'm AFAB and high-masking with low support needs. Extra points if you can point me toward providers with experience in those presentations.

Last summer, I planned my first solo backpacking trip.

I'm familiar with the region. I had a map and compass, and knew how to use them. I brought gear that I've used a hundred times before.

When I was hiking in the woods by myself, I had to fight anxiety the whole way there. I sang songs; I yapped out loud to myself; I encouraged myself with all the nice things I'd see and the dinner I'd planned.

I got to a stand of trees that had fallen lightly across the trail. I was about a mile away from my campsite. But looking at them, my anxiety spiked. I lost my nerve because I got stuck in my head about losing the trail and not being able to navigate back to my car.

I arrived home before dark in tears.

I have the skills. I have the gear. I even take other people camping in the back country, keep them safe, and show them the ropes.

But when I'm in my own head? I wash out.

How do I improve my mental game to be able to solo camp?

As a kid, I used to watch PBS children's programming. This song was either on PBS or a very similar, related public TV channel for children, probably between 1995-1998, but could have gone until 2000.

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It was a children's rap about how to look at and understand art. The lines that I remember go like this:

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"What was happenin' / before and after? / Was there cryin' / or was there laughter?"

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There was a pretty silly, dramatic record scratch sound effect after that.

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I think it might have played as a fake ad break in between episodes of Wishbone or Zaboomafoo.

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Any ideas??

I was recently diagnosed with one 14x10x12cm large fibroid located on the anterior side of my uterus (OBGYN didn't say its classification).

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In addition to the expected bloating and swollen belly, I've been experiencing persistent pain. It's worse than menstrual cramping, and sometimes similar to sharp, intense gas pain. But, I'm not gassy. I would describe it as both knife-like stabbing and a throbbing, persistent pain.

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I took about 1200mg of ibuprofen today to try to manage it. That settled the pain down to a dull background roar. Tonight, as the drugs were wearing off, it became so pronounced that I genuinely had a hard time walking 2-3 blocks home. (I run 2.5 miles every morning, and I walk frequently throughout my day and week. This is very unusual for me, and indicative of the pain I'm in.)

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What I'm reading about fibroids is that pain is usually related to your menstrual cycle or to penatrative sex. Has that been true, in your experience?

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How do I know when I should be concerned about fibroid pain, versus when I should just knuckle down and toughen up?

Hey Denver,

I moved here a couple of weeks ago, and I'm looking for some platonic, queer friends.

A little about me:

- Queer AF

- 36, AFAB, single

- Live in Cheesman Park

- 2 cats, no kids

- Deep camp counselor energy

- Earnest and sincere

- Travel a lot for work, so I appreciate people who add plans to calendars weeks to months out and follow through

Things I'd love to check out:

- Day hikes

- Morning bike rides around Cheesman or Wash Park (I have a car bike rack & an extra bike)

- Planning backpacking trips and actually going on them

- Visiting national parks

- Outdoor swimming & hot springs

- BYO food picnics

- D&D and other TTRPGs

- Farmers' markets

- Avalanche, Rockies, and Banana Ball games

- Chill happy hours

No MAGA.

I don't have dogs or kids, but I love hanging out with folks who do. I'd be overjoyed to auntie yours up.

I don't do 420. (I've tried plenty; sadly, it all makes me feel like crap.) I'll hang with you if you do, though.

If you're also looking for more friends, especially:

- fellow queer folks,

- outdoorsy people,

- kind weirdos,

- demisexual kinksters,

- sports fans, or

- anyone who enjoys a badass adventure, a bougie hot spring, and a low-key coffee or cocktail hang,

Then I'd love to hear from you.