Wednesday I had surgery scheduled to have the IVC filter removed that was in place to prevent any bloodclots from going to my lungs and potentially killing me. We showed up at Frederick Memorial pretty early and waited the 2 hours for surgery. I was prepped as usual with IV, pregnancy test, hospital gown etc.
I have to say, that out of this year of experiences I’ve had to go through, and up until now the Sleep Study being the worst, this surgery has topped the charts at the most ridiculous experience of them all. And not because of anything inparticular, just the entire experience and my feelings afterwards.
They wheeled me on the hospital bed into the surgery room, and it was the same gentlemen that put in the filter through my jugular. This time though, in order to take it out they had to go through my groin area. Being overweight, this is traumatic in itself. When you have men sanitizing and shaving an area that is a source of much emotional turmoil because of your weight, it makes the entire ordeal extremely emotional. I was very embarrassed, I was very upset, I might have even been traumatized some I don’t know. Even just typing this out makes me tear up because I really didn’t like the experience at all. After the procedure was done they had to hold the bandage on the artery in my thigh for a good 15 minutes. So again I have a strange man feeling around while I’m entirely exposed and there’s nothing I can do about it. There was another issue that I just can’t bring myself to talk about here, but it was the worst part and something I will never forget.
As for the surgery, they found a blood clot in the filter. This is very upsetting. I am now on blood thinners for the next 6 months and the surgeon ordered a catscan. He, of course, did not tell me what the catscan was for nor the results of it. Hopefully I will find out on Monday.
When getting the catscan, because I had the artery cut in my leg, I was unable to sit up or move for several hours so I had to be lifted into the catscan. That was also not a comfortable experience. Even the “unable to move for several hours” part was painful.
This is the first time I felt like my body let me down. Like I wasn’t superwoman who didn’t need to be on medications and who was in good health. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. At least this is something I might be able to beat. If I can dissolve the blood clot over the next 6 months and no more show up, then the only downfall is I now have to keep the filter in permanently.
I’m not depressed about the clot, more pissed off than anything. I should have beaten this filter.
So I’m physically limited for a few days. No baths for 10 days, I couldn’t shower for two which sucked for Thanksgiving. No heavy lifting, avoid stairs as much as possible, no deep knee bends, etc. I’ll be glad when all this is over so I can focus on eating healthier and exercise.