D&E #1

Tuesday – Pre-procedure appointment with Dr. R and her nurse S. She talked to me about my options and if I understood the diagnosis. Sign paperwork, go over questions. I declined having any genetic testing done on the baby. The Husband left the room and Dr. R inserted laminaria in my cervix to help with dilation and to soften it. This, by far, was the worst experience (physically) of the whole procedure. I was already upset and this made everything worse for me. At one point I felt lightheaded and dizzy after they were inserted. I was given a prescription of oxy to fill if I needed it. I was also given two pills of misoprostol to take the next morning. After this I went upstairs to the lab to have blood drawn, then home. I was told I could go about my daily activities but the cramping was so bad that I couldn’t do much other than lay in bed or on the recliner. I took ibuprofen at one point and vomited about half an hour later, so the The Husband went and had the oxy prescription filled and picked up a heating pad. When he came home I took the oxy and it dulled the pain and cramping, but didn’t make it go away. I was also given an antibiotic that I took the night before the procedure to prevent infection. I could shower but not take a bath, no eating or drinking after midnight. I didn’t sleep very well – although I was taking the oxy it really just dulled the pain and as soon as it wore off I was awake.

Wednesday- Had to be at the hospital by 7AM. Due to the traffic when going in to the city from the south we left at 5:30AM. I took the misoprostol (2 pills of 200 mcg each) by putting them between my cheek and gum at around 6:30AM.  Dr. R asked if her resident could be in the room for the procedure, as it is a teaching hospital, and I said yes. Then they allowed The Husband in to see me before I had the procedure. I was already hooked up to the IV and with the big silly gown on and he said I looked so very small sitting in that big chair with all of that around me. I met with two different people from anesthesiology, the nurse, Dr. R for a few minutes each before going in. Then the husband left and we went in to the procedure room and it all happened rather quickly from there.  I could feel myself slipping when they started the IV drip and S held my hand – I think I said I was scared. Then I was out. The procedure lasted 30 min. if that. The next thing I remember is waking up in a recovery room and The Husband was there. He said I was so sweet when I was still coming out of the sedation – asking if I was okay, over and over, asking what time it was, over and over. Asking him to call my father and tell him I was awake. I vaguely remember some of these things. The nurse in the PACU was an older woman, very outgoing and very kind.  I got some ginger ale and some graham crackers to eat and was discharged at 10:40AM.

After care: Pelvic rest for 2 weeks (no tampons, no douching, no vaginal intercourse). No baths for 1 week, showers okay. Activity as tolerated. Exercise as tolerated, avoid strenuous activity for 1 week. Pain medication due at 3PM (Motrin). No alcohol for 24 hours. Do not drive, make legal decisions or return to work for 24 hours.

I was out of work February 24 and returned March 3 (a week later.)

Date	Service	Billed Amt.	Out of Pocket
2/25/14	Surgery (Dilator Insertion)	125.00	78.03
2/25/14	Office Visit	238.00	57.16
2/25/14	Hospital Services	1,567.00	251.70
2/25/14	Laboratory	61.00	3.37
2/25/14	Immunology	57.00	8.54
2/25/14	Laboratory	27.00	3.75
2/25/14	Hematology	27.00	3.78
2/25/14	Laboratory	27.00	0.00
2/26/14	Anesthesia	700.00	114.91
2/26/14	Surgery	987.00	633.86
2/26/14	Diagnostic Ultrasound	178.00	0.00
2/26/14	Operating Room	1,944.00	332.34
2/26/14	Histology	129.00	23.29
2/26/14	Med/Surgical Supply	33.00	4.89
		6,100.00	1,515.62