Finis

My D&C went quite well, all things considered. I haven't even needed my new supply of pain meds. New Doc said there was "quite a bit" of placenta left, so it was good that I had the procedure done. The hospital was pleasant enough and the nurses couldn't have been nicer. My sense was that they had been clued in to my story -- in fact, the nurse who wheeled me out of the building told me that she too waited to get married and have kids until after her career was established, then she and her husband had trouble conceiving but finally had a little boy. And then she got breast cancer. Ouch.

New Doc had prescribed an anti-nausea patch for me to use before the procedure so that I wouldn't have to deal with my usual post-anesthesia pukiness. It worked great. I was starving because they make you fast before the procedure, and I was able to eat an entire Su*bway sandwich when I got home without any problem. I also asked New Doc about antibiotics. She apparently had them put some in my IV, which seemed like a clever idea.

The Mister particularly liked the pager they gave him, which resembled a very large purple cookie and flashed like a disco ball when the nurses sent him text messages. The pre-op area was a holding pen divided by curtains that were all open to the nurse's station. At one point they closed my curtain while the guy across from me had something horrible done to his feet. Ew. And the woman in the cell next to me, who was there for a hysterectomy, was telling anyone who came near her that her daughter in Kentucky was at that very instant in labor and howling for an epidural. Between all of this entertainment and the photo in Star magazine of a very fat Matt Damon, the waiting time just flew. (Oh yes, and Angelina and Brad are supposedly going to adopt kids from Myanmar and Zimbabwe. I'm not sure whether to be impressed or roll my eyes!)

Before they took me in for the procedure, New Doc talked with me about my pamphlet idea. She had clearly been talking to Old Doc and had done some research on her own. She agreed that the materials they currently use tend to vary by doctor and do not address the kind of situation I had. She asked me a lot of questions about what I would like to see in a pamphlet, what kind of information would be helpful, what confusion exists about the various options, etc. She told me that this is not the first request of this sort that they have had. She is going to draft something up and use me as her patient advisor on the project, if that would be okay? Of course! We shook on the deal.

"If you knew then what you know now, would you do it the same way?" she asked. Yes, I would. Except for the part about turning Sammy over to the clueless lab folks. That I would have done differently. And if I knew then what I know now, I would have had the pain and anti-nausea meds up front so that the Mister wouldn't have been at the pharmacy when I started bleeding. But miscarrying at home, while messy and unpleasant, was the right thing for me to do.

The Mister suspects, and I agree, that the pamphlet idea is getting attention now primarily because the patient currently kicking up a fuss and dropping oh-so-subtle hints about malpractice is a lawyer. My mom says it's also probably because I remain quite articulate in my arguments even while raging through tears. Whatever it is, I'm glad that is going to get done. I'll keep you posted as things progress.

For now, I'm going to enjoy my doctor-imposed 4-day weekend and go back to napping on the couch. I'm on the 5th Harry Potter book -- he's really gotten me through the bad times this summer. I mean, I'm dealing with some nasty stuff, but if I had to choose between this stuff and battling Voldemort ... well, it would be a tough call.

Comments

[luna]

glad you're home on the couch. I agree that you must be very persuasive and effective, and of course the lawyer thing helps too. I'm just glad they're giving you the attention you deserve. I like your new doc, and the pager sounds pretty cool too.

[Rebecca]

I really hope that this ends your bleeding...I'm glad you have the weekend to relax. I saw that picture of Matt Damon...what's that all about? Anyway, feel better and enjoy your pain meds!

[Aegina]

New Doc sounds like a breath of much-needed fresh air. Glad the pamphlet project is getting such a positive response. Enjoy your weekend Potter-ing...I will admit to a childlike disappointment in seeing the saga end and am actually considering re-reading them (maybe I'll just wait until R's old enough for me to read them out loud to her and preserve my respectability...)

[Mrs.X]

I'm glad things went well - although I was out before the notion of a D&C came up so I was surprised to see that in my Google Reader! Way to keep up, Mrs. X!

And, the new doctor does indeed sound fabulous. I think you will have a great collaboration on your pamphlet.

[wishing4one]

Glad you are home now and resting...wishing u a quick recovery girl. The pamphlet with your input will be brilliant! Thinking of u....xoxoxoxo

[Ashley L.]

So very glad that you are home and enjoying (if that's the right word) 4 days of rest and recovery. I'm also glad you are comfortable. Take delight in your books and whatever else you feel like doing/having. Don't deny yourself anything. You deserve so much more. Thinking of you.

[Shinejil]

I hope you've had a relaxing recovery. The only thing that truly distracts me is fantasy or science fiction. Somehow, battling evil or roaming the outer reaches of space are strangely reassuring. It must be the stories: In a time when all our narratives break down, only Harry Potter or Tolkien or things like that have the storylines to sustain us...

Anyway, wishing you rest, comfort, and love!

[noswimmers]

I'm glad it went well, but so sorry you had to deal with it in the first place.

Rest up & enjoy your book!