LEEP and D & C Procedures

So I finally got the procedure done for my HPV. They did a LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Exision Procedure), basically where they cut away the abnormal cells that are growing on the cervix that could cause cervical cancer. They also went ahead and did a D & C (Dilation and Curettage), where they scrape away the lining of the uterus after a miscarriage to clear away any collected tissue from the previous pregnancy. 

The whole lead up to getting these procedures done was a complete drama fest that had me so upset. I called last week to confirm my appointment for September 7th at 2:45pm for my procedure, and then was rudely informed that my appointment was for September 6th at 2:45pm for my preop consultation and labs with the doctor, and that September 7th was my actual date of surgery. None of this made any sense at all to me because I had already had a consultation with the doctor about the risks and complications and all of that jazz to go along with the surgery. I told the nurse that I really wasn't sure then if I could do the procedures this week because I will already have Labor Day off with no pay, then if I went in for the unnecessary preop consult Tuesday afternoon I would miss a half of day of work with no pay, and then all day Wednesday for the actual surgery with no pay. To which she said well that just isn't our problem and we just need to know if you are going to be here for everything, and we need to know as soon as possible. Oh and the fact that my appointment card said 2:45pm for September 7th was also not her fault or her problem and she didn't know who wrote it that way, but it was wrong! When in fact, she was the one who gave me the appointment card... but of course this was not her fault nor her problem. 

I went and ahead and kept my appointment since I knew how important this was to just hurry and get done and out of the way, especially if we still wanted to try for a baby. So I was a big girl and sucked it up and got all of the time off of work and went to the preop consult which like I said was pointless, and then found out I could have done my labs after work, that they were open until 7pm to do them. I was so not amused by this time. Until I get through my preop interview the hospital and they tell me that I cannot wear any of my jewelry! I was like uhm... it isn't possible for me to just remove my jewelry, but I can replace anything metal with plastic to which I was told no that it wasn't an option because of sterilization. I was literally crying at this point. Any of you know who know me, know that I have quite a few piercings that are still pretty fresh and new. So the thought of just taking out the jewelry and leaving my holes just completely exposed, and that just didn't seem very sterile to me at all. So I called my doctors office to see what his policy was, to which I ended up getting that rude nurse again who yelled at me yet again. I told her that if I couldn't replace my metal jewelry with plastic ones then at this time I didn't feel it worth it to get the surgery done until my piercings were healed all of the way because I didn't feel comfortable being a sterile room with 5 open and new holes. So again she yelled at me saying "yes it is worth it Heather, it is either you do this now and take out all of your jewelry or you get cervical cancer!" I was like woah... don't you think that is my choice to make, whether those odds are worth it to me; she basically told me no, it wasn't my choice, do or die! Quite dramatic. 

Now I am not an idiot, I know my health and safety is not worth a couple of piercings, but I didn't see why waiting an extra couple of weeks for my holes to heal up a little bit more so they weren't totally exposed was such a big deal. So I went and got the lab work done, and the lab tech basically told me they were all idiots and to just go get the plastic retainers and just not say anything. She told me it would bother the surgery as long as my piercings were no where near where the surgery site was. So I did just that, got the retainers, went to my surgery. My new nurse saw them, said nothing, just made sure I had none in my mouth and politely asked if I had any in the surgery site. She said as long as they aren't metal anywhere else, she didn't care and it was no big deal! Well damnit where in the hell was this woman yesterday!? haha

So now I've had the surgery, kept all of my piercings and on the road to recovery! :D Everything with the surgery went well, no complications. The general anesthesia made me a little sick to my stomach and woozy but no big deal, Cody was able to stay home with me to make sure everything was alright and I didn't fall or get sick or anything, and I've got quite a sore throat from the breathing tube, which will make for an interesting day tomorrow at work. But other than that all is well! I go back in for a check up in 6 weeks as long as nothing starts to irritate or get infected! So let's keep our fingers crossed! :D

I'll be back for another update in about 6 weeks! :))))