Drink 64oz of Water and Hold It! (post 29)

As I prepare for my next surgery I have to undergo another battery of tests. I had to do another chest XRay, another EKG, and bunch of blood work, a physical, and then a PELVIC ultrasound. Any women who is pregnant undergoes ultrasound. It is so exciting because you get to see your little life growing inside of you. There is a purpose and it is clear and communicated and obvious.

A pelvic ultrasound for the surgery I am having is to get a closer look at the ovaries that I must have removed due to the BRCA2 gene mutation. It is the EXACT opposite purpose than the one that shows life. The instructions are to drink 32 ounces of water one hour prior to the visit and hold it. I guess it helps get a clearer visual field as your full bladder pushes the uterus up so they can see the ovaries. Up until the day before the exam I thought I had to drink 64 ounces of water which I equated to 8 sodas. Now I don't drink soda, as I gave it up for lent several years ago, but I am familiar with the fullness of one soda on your bladder. There was no way I was going to fit the equivalent of 8. As it turns out it was only 4 sodas worth of water I needed to drink. So I set out to prepare by drinking a bunch of water everyday.

The day of the test I was shoving water in the way I was instructed. I arrived for my test already needing to pee. They told me to be there 15 minutes early and called me in 15 minutes late. I really had to use the bathroom. The procedure was like a maternity ultrasound where the tech pushes on your stomach to see what they can see. When your pregnant they push on your uterus full of baby to get a picture. When you are screening they push on your empty uterus which ultimately means they are pushing on your full bladder. Oh my goodness! I said nothing but my face must have because the tech asked me if I was alright. That could not have been over fast enough. I thought I was done. The tech led me to the restroom and told me to come back when I was finished. When I got back to the room it got real, fast. This is when you disrobe from the waist down and they introduce you to the ginormous white wand. Oh yeah that thing isn't shy and quite frankly it should offer to buy you dinner first. That part of the exam took longer and it was equally uncomfortable. My guess that that approach gives a closer look at the ovaries.

Today I am just waiting for my surgery date. Finishing up last things at work, prepping my team for my absence and nesting at home. I almost instructed my family not to wear anything for the next 6 days because I wouldn't have time to wash it. My family is nesting also. My husband is fixing things that are obscure and odd to me. I am talking myself into not asking him why. This is his process not mine. My kids are asking me why I have to have more blood work, and why another surgery. They want to know who will take care of them when I go to the hospital and how long I will be gone. This whole BRCA2 thing has taken a toll on them too. I may never know how much until much later in their lives. In the meantime I will fight as hard as I can to come home as quickly as I can where I can rest and my boys can see me. I am hopeful that this is the last surgery or hospitalization I need.