I got this book for a dollar at a local estate sale. It was the last day, and they just wanted stuff gone. I found it intriguing before I knew that someone in this family was related to Shirley Temple. The estate sale lady told me that. Just wanted to share it somewhere it might be appreciated 🧡
Hi Ya'll!
I very much appreciated the "My Experience" posts as I was prepping for surgery so I thought I would add mine here to hopefully help others.
I am a 36F who lives in Southern California. My OBGYN is Dr. Minal Mehta who I found on the list of sterilization friendly doctors on the r/childfree sub.
I was VERY nervous about having surgery even though I have had other surgeries in my lifetime. I am emetephobic with a strong sensitivity to opiate pain killers, and a mild/moderate sensitivity to general anesthesia. I also had this irrational fear that they were gonna find cancer inside me (spoiler alert: that did not happen lol) so I am just an anxious personal all around lol.
I had the chance to speak to my whole surgical team which was so reassuring and eased my nerves so much. I explained my fears and sensitivities to my anesthesiologist and he actually listened. He experiences severe motion sickness himself so he understood. They gave me a Scopolamine patch, Zofran in my IV, and also adjusted my anesthesia (he used less gas and more IV meds to reduce the changes of nausea). I woke up feeling great (other than extremely drowsy and a bit high from the drugs lol). They also gave me Versed before they wheeled me back and boy is that drug amazing at making you chill out lol. I also have a TAP Block in my abs so I was very numb and unable to contract my abdominals for like 24 hrs. I also asked the nurse who was prepping me to allow my husband in the recovery room. She made a note in my chart, and he was right there when I woke up.
The first 3 days were the most uncomfortable. I wouldn't even say painful. It mostly felt like very sore abs. The incision sites only stung if I moved weird and pulled on them, and I didn't have any uterine cramping (I was also on on my period so any cramps I had were very normal for me). I took Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen alternating. Never needed the Norcos I was prescribed. My least favorite part was the gas pain. I felt insanely bloated and my shoulders hurt. Heat on my shoulders, walking, gentle stretching, and Gasx were lifesavers. I am still getting left shoulder pain off and on, but it is getting better every day. I ate small meals and stayed away from any carbonated drinks or foods that would make me gassy during this time.
At my post-op appointment a week later my doctor removed the Dermabond because I had an allergic reaction. This was the only complication I had. The reaction has caused my incisions to take longer to heal, but they are so small it really doesn't matter. I also seemed to react slightly to the Chlorhexadine sterilizing prep they put on my belly pre surgery. I had no clue I would be allergic to these things, but now I know lol. I can only lift 10-15 lbs for 2 weeks after the procedure, and I was cleared for sex at one week (but we waited til the 10 day mark cause I was still nervous about the inside wounds). I was very nervous about sex, but it did not hurt at all (we made a point to take it easy and not go too crazy for the first time post-op lol).
Bonus info: Ask your surgeon for photos! Mine offered to give me mine, and they are so cool (if you like medical stuff that is lol). She explained each photo to me, and that she even found a tiny uterine fibroid that she removed for me as well.
Today I feel so good. Physically and mentally. I did not expect it to feel as good as it does to know I am 100% sterile and unable get pregnant. The weight off my shoulders is immense. I have a cried a few times at the relief lol. Please reach out and ask me anything!!!! I am an open book.