Aaah, the joys of surgery...And some answers

Today was my pre-op appointment with Dr. Bellantoni. He confirmed two things: Lumpy hasn't disappeared and my heart is still beating. Okay, it sounds kind of strange now that I'm typing it, but it was a good way of putting me at ease....it made me laugh when he listened to my chest and actually announced that my heart was still beating.

And I found out about all the uncomfortable things that will happen between now and my operation. First, he swabbed my nose for Mersa (is that spelled right?) while I was in his office. Next: more blood work tomorrow. Then: Shave from belly button to pubic bone about five days before surgery.

And finally, the 24 hours leading up to the big event ought to be tons of fun: Liquids only beginning at lunchtime; nothing, including water, after midnight; an enema at 4:00 p.m. and one at 8:00 p.m.; and a special soap called Hibiclens to wash with in the morning before heading to the hospital. As I told the doctor, boy am I glad I don't have to do this every day!

Luckily, no x-ray or EKG is required. He said to tell everyone it's because I'm too good looking to need that.

But that really it's because I'm too young.

He also answered some questions. So for anyone who's curious and likes more details, here are some answers:

• The operation will probably take about an hour, as long as they don't find any surprises.
• The plan is to remove the cyst, almost definately the ovary, and possibly the tube.
• They are going to do a horizontal bikini line cut on the exterior and a vertical cut on the interior. This will heal better than a vertical cut all the way through plus it will look nicer.
• It will require a drain that will probably be in for a couple days.
• I should plan on being in the hospital for two nights, but it might be only one.
• The anesthesiologist will most likely be a CRNA, but the supervisor is an MD and will be nearby in case he/she needs to take over.
• He can't say what the cause of this is until they are able to see it and test it. Then he may be able to answer that question.
• He said that to put a name to it right now, he would call it a benign neoplasm. (Neoplasm means "new growth.") His best guess without seeing and testing it is that it's a mucinous cystadenoma.
• He is happy to take a picture of it for me, as long as I remind him that morning.
• They will probably close it up with staples.
• They will probably give me a dilaudid drip for pain afterwards.
• He has had some patients who are back to normal after two weeks and some who are still in pain after ten weeks.
• During the operation, they will be able to send some of the tissue to be frozen and looked at under a microscope to help confirm their findings that it's non-cancerous.
• Further testing will be done on it, but the results take several days to get back.