Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:18:06 -0500
From: beth.montelongo@gmail.com
Subject: Update

Hi everyone! Well it's Sunday about 5:09 and I have been home for 24 hours now. I had my surgery on Thursday morning, around 7:30. It started pretty much on time, but went a little longer than originally planned, about 3 hours, as they ran into a few things they didn't anticipate.
Basically the outcome was that I had to have both of my fallopian tubes removed completely. I went in for one and possibly an ovary, but came out with 2 tubes removed and no ovaries removed. So it's good and bad news. Overall, the surgery went fine, I am fine and they completed the task. The bad news is that since they took out both tubes, there is no chance of conceiving a child " naturally." We will have to use invitro-fertilization to have kids.
The doctor said that both of my ovaries looked good and so does my uterus and has no reason to think that IVF will not be successful for us. Both of my tubes were completed non-workable, they were fluid filled and matted shut at the ends, and there was no chance of anything ever getting through them.
So again, good news and bad news. I am happy that the surgery is over and we can move on. I am happy that my " bad" tubes are now removed from my body, but I'm sad and disappointed that me and billy will not be able to have a child in the natural way that we wanted. I am trying to be hopeful though and look on the positive side of things and see that we still have a chance to have kids, it will just be with IVF, which is certainly not the end of the world.
It is taking me a bit longer to accept that though..but it will come in time.
My mom came down on Wednesday and left this morning and she was such a huge help, I was very thankful to have her for a few days. My dad also came down and was here, and Billy and his family were of course here and supportive as always.
I have a lot of support with us and for us and I am very thankful for that.
This week we have to work on insurance stuff, there is a chance that one of our insurance companies covers IVF, and if so, we have to make some changes ASAP. IVF is very expensive and any insurance coverage we can get we will def. need.
So, as always, please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers, I think we will need them over the next couple of months.
I am recovering, in some pain, but overall, doing Ok. I'm moving slow and Billy is helping me and waiting on me, so I'll be taking advantage of that as much as I can. He is a great guy and I feel lucky to have in my life. We will get through this hurdle as a couple and what is meant to be will be.
I look forward to hearing from everyone! I might not be as quick as normal as it hurts sitting here at the computer, but that should pass soon. Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Love ya'll,
Beth

ate: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 13:56:41 -0500
Subject: Surgery tomorrow
Hi everyone! Well, tomorrow is the day of my surgery and I just wanted to check in and say hello beforehand. I am at home now, my mom is here, and I have just started drinking this lovely bowel cleanser. I think I am in store for some fun times tonight, lol...
Anyway, the surgery is tomorrow at 7:30 am. Billy will have my cell phone and then I will have it afterwards, after I'm in a room and everything. If anyone wants to call or come by, that is certainly fine, I love visitors!!!
My cell number is 904-885-6788.
I'll write once I'm home and settled in a bit, probably Saturday sometime!
Please send prayers and good thoughts our way!
Love ya'll,
Beth

Surgery begins

Date: Oct 12, 2007 7:31 AM
Subject: News
To:

Well, some of you know and some of you don't, but I have had to have 2 pelvic ultrasounds now in the last month or so, to check some things out and get to the root of some issues. Well it looks like I have fluid built up in my left fallopian tube, it's called " hydro salynx" ( not sure how to spell it). It is just that, fluid, but it's bad fluid you don't want in that cavity at all, it can cause miscarriages, so of course if someone wants to have children, you don't want that fluid in there. Sooo, the only way to treat it is to have surgery and have the tube completely removed, so that is what I'll be doing.

There is also a 2nd "something" going on, there is a complex structure showing up on the ultrasound, which is either beside, in or on my left ovary...they are not sure what it is, they are pretty sure it's fluid filled, but they don't know for sure, and they won't until they get in there and actually see for themselves what is going on. So there is a slight chance they will have to remove my left ovary, or part of it, or nothing about the ovary at all...I won't know that until I wake up.

This is the type of surgery where they will cut, no laproscopy involved, so there'll be about 4 weeks or so of recovery. I haven't scheduled it yet, all of this just happened yesterday, I didn't leave the doctor until 5:30. But hopefully, in the next couple of weeks I'll have it, and I'll keep you posted.

The doctor said that this doesn't lessen the chances of being able to get pregnant, it just means I'll only have eggs coming down from one side....and it will happen every month. She said people get pregnant with only one tube and/or ovary all the time, so that made me feel better about things. Apparently, my mom only has one tube and ovary too ( i just found that out last night ), and she had all 3 of us, so I guess that's a good sign. The thing is though - the fluid will cause miscarriages, so you need to get the tube removed before you get pregnant, and since I'd like to be pregnant soon, I need to do it now. So that's what I will do.

So, please just say a little prayer and send some good thoughts our way. Billy is slightly nervous I think, but that is understandable. After my ordeal with my gallbladder, I feel like I'm a pro with being in the hospital, so I'm not nervous about the actual surgery at all, I just want them to do what they need to and make sure the other side and everything else is Ok, so we are still able to try to have children. So again, just keep us in your thoughts, and I will keep you updated on everything.

Love ya'll!

-Beth