Morning Update

Eileen slept fairly well considering all the usual hospital interruptions for vital signs and additional medication doses. It’s 6:30 am and the nurse just removed Eileen’s morphine and IV bag. The IV needle and line still remains. Eileen didn't use much morphine through the night. One of the surgical assistant doctors just came in to examine and check on Eileen. We asked how much of a hysterectomy was done; the doctor said it was complete: Uterus and ovaries. There was also a biodegradable “sling” put in to hold up and retain the other structures which had fallen. Part of the large intestine, bladder, and uterus had herniated through the retaining structures in the pelvic soft tissues. Now, the uterus is removed and the other structures are either “slung” or restrained into their natural position. All the packing and catheter have to remain for 48 hours. The surgeon should be by shortly. By the way, I cleared this descriptive blog post with Eileen before posting it.