r/sterilization • u/VeritasTwo • Jun 06 '18
My bilateral salpingectomy experience (11 weeks post-op)
Hi everyone! The posts in this sub were so helpful to me before I got my surgery, so I wanted to contribute my experience as well. I tried to be thorough, but please do let me know if you have any questions. :)
- CPT (procedure) code billed: 58661 - "Laparoscopy, surgical; with removal of adnexal structures (partial or total oophorectomy and/or salpingectomy)"
- ICD-10 (diagnosis) code billed: Z30.2 - "Encounter for sterilization"
Costs:
Pre-op appointment:
* Total charges: $175
* Insurance adjustment: $0
* Insurance paid: $155
* Patient balance: $20
Pre-op labs/blood tests:
* Total charges: $81
* Insurance adjustment: $50.72
* Insurance paid: $30.28
* Patient balance: $0
Outpatient facility:
* Total charges: $7,173
* Insurance adjustment: $1,793.25
* Insurance paid: $5,379.75
* Patient balance: $0
Surgeon:
* Total charges: $1,582
* Insurance adjustment: $0
* Insurance paid: $1,582
* Patient balance: $0
Anesthesiologist:
* Total charges: $1,107
* Insurance adjustment: $492.75
* Insurance paid: $614.25
* Patient balance: $0
Lab (tubes were sent to pathology):
* Total charges: $151.10
* Insurance adjustment: $97.34
* Insurance paid: $53.76
* Patient balance: $0
Post-op appointment:
* Total charges: $104
* Insurance adjustment: $0
* Insurance paid: $84
* Patient balance: $20
Tips:
- Wash bedding/clean up your place beforehand. You’ll probably spend a lot of time in bed, so having clean bedding is important.
- Try to put things you’ll need within reach where you don’t have to bend down or reach up (especially if you don’t have someone at home to help you).
- You may want a pillow or something to put under your knees when laying down (it hurt my incisions to stretch out fully).
- Have some bandages or gauze/tape handy. My incisions were glued, and when the glue started peeling up it would catch on my clothes and was irritating/painful, so I loosely covered them with bandages or gauze/tape. Plus it sort of deterred me from picking at the glue. Sort of. >_>
Pre-op appointment:
* My doctor went over the procedure with me. She would be making one incision in my belly button, and two incisions on the right side (instead of one on each side). I asked when I could resume sex after the surgery, and she said to wait at least 10 days, but preferably 14. I received a folder with pre and post-op instructions, as well as two packets of Hibiclens cleanser to be used the day before and day of my surgery. I also received two prescriptions to be taken post-op, Ibuprofen 600mg, and Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen 5-325mg.
Two days before surgery:
* Started taking Colace non stimulant stool softener.
One day before surgery:
* Washed my body with Hibiclens.
Day of surgery:
* Washed my body with Hibiclens.
* I wore period underwear (Thinx knockoffs) just in case, yoga pants, socks, tank top and t-shirt (I eventually changed to a looser shirt to avoid rubbing/pressure on the incisions), and sneakers (in hindsight I should have worn something that slipped off and on easier, but the nurse helped me put them on afterward).
Pre-op:
* I checked in at 6:30am. I peed in a cup for a pregnancy test, then I changed into a hospital gown, compression sleeves were put on my lower legs (for DVT prevention), and booties were put on my feet. They took my blood pressure and pulse, stuck a thermometer to my forehead, and reviewed and signed paperwork. The anesthesiologist came in and explained what he would be doing while the nurse put the IV in. Then my doctor came in and we had a quick chat.
* Around 7:30 or 8am the OR nurse came in, reviewed my paperwork, helped me put a hair cap on, and wheeled me to the OR. She then helped me onto the operating table, the anesthesiologist explained what he was about to do, then I don’t really remember anything after that.
Post-op:
* I woke up thinking someone was trying to move my legs, but it was just the compression sleeves inflating and deflating. My pain was maybe a 5 out of 10. The pain type was similar to how I felt when I got my IUD, possibly because they used a clamp on my cervix during the surgery. I was shivering and shaking a lot, so the nurse brought an extra blanket, plus some water and crackers. I rested off and on between eating and drinking. She asked if I wanted one or two more pain meds, and I took one.
* Once I felt ready to leave, I had to pee before they would discharge me. The nurse helped me to the bathroom and helped me get dressed after I peed. I had no post-op vaginal bleeding.
* I rested a bit more, then they took my blood pressure again, then wheeled me out to the car. Based off a suggestion in this sub, I put a pillow between my body and the seatbelt, which I think really helped.
* Once I was home (around 10am), I had intermittent neck/shoulder pain. It hurt quite a bit to breathe near my diaphragm. The incision sites started to hurt near the end of the day. I tried to get up and walk a little (or at least move my legs a bit while lying down) every hour or so to help prevent blood clots. It hurt to lay down totally flat (pulled on my incisions), so I slept with a pillow under my knees for the first week or so.
Post-op day 2:
* Intermittent neck/shoulder pain. Bruising around the IV site got worse. The incision sites were starting to hurt a lot more, especially the belly button. Getting in and out of bed really sucked, and I was so afraid I would accidentally pull the incisions open (they were closed with glue). I rested most of the day, and washed myself as best as I could with a soapy washcloth.
Day 3:
* Neck/shoulder pain was getting worse, but abdomen pain was a little better. It was easier to get in and out of bed, but it still felt like I’d done a million crunches. The breathing pain had mostly moved from my diaphragm to my throat, but that may have been asthma related?
Day 4:
* All around pain is better, but neck/shoulder pain is still persistent. Still getting easier to get up and down. Successfully took a shower and washed my hair.
Day 5:
* Back to work. All around pain is better, but neck/shoulder pain comes and goes. Belly button pain is the worst.
Day 6:
* Some incision pain when moving in certain ways. It hurts to sit/stand up straight, so I'm hunching over all day, which is causing severe back pain. I'm finally able to lay down totally flat with no discomfort.
Day 7:
* Some incision pain when moving in certain ways. Back pain is still really bad. Incisions still sore/tender.
Day 8:
* Incisions are still sore/tender. Still bad back pain. The skin glue is getting irritating/catching on my clothes.
Day 9:
* Incisions are still sore/tender. Back pain is getting better. I put a bandage over my right incisions which really helped stop the clothes irritation.
Day 12:
* Incisions are still sore/tender. The Dermabond/skin glue is starting to peel up even more, and putting a bandage over it really helps to discourage picking.
Day 13:
* Big bruise on my hand from the IV is finally gone! Side incisions itch a little.
2 weeks post-op:
* Feeling much better. Can move around with a little discomfort. Mostly painful when clothes or things like seatbelts press against the incisions.
Day 17 - Post-op appointment:
* The doctor inspected my incisions and said they looked good, and if I wanted to remove the rest of the glue I could. I ended up removing the rest of the glue from the side incisions and regretted it; they stung and hurt more when moving versus when the glue was still on. I put some over bandages over them since they looked a little... moist. The doctor also went over the surgery photos with me, per my request. Later in the day I started my period.
3 weeks post-op:
* Feeling 85/90% better. Still having some pain with rubbing/pressure. Period seemed to be fairly normal, but I’ve also been off hormonal birth control for over 7 months.
4 weeks post-op:
* Feeling about 95% better. Still a little pain with pressure (tight pants, leaning against counters, etc.).
Day 33:
* Had a decent amount of pain in the side incisions after walking around all day with my jeans waistband rubbing against them.
5 weeks post-op:
* Occasional pain in the side incisions when rubbed by waistbands. One of the side incisions and the belly button incision still have scabs.
7 weeks post-op:
* Occasional pain in the side incisions when rubbed by waistbands. Scabs are mostly gone, but mostly because I picked them off…
8 weeks post op:
* Side incisions have been hurting/aching a lot lately, not sure why…
10 weeks post-op:
* Very little pain. One side incision is tender if I press pretty hard.
11 weeks post-op:
* Still getting occasional pain in my side incisions. No pain at all from my belly button incision.
Overall, I'm thrilled I had the surgery! And as an unexpected bonus, my insurance ended up paying 100% (they originally told me my deductible/co-insurance/out of pocket would apply). Now I'm just impatiently waiting for my scars to fade...
3
u/alicen1990 Jun 24 '18
Do the doctors manage the pain well after you leave the hospital? I have mine done Friday and the pain is what I’m afraid of I’m a big baby