Ooph b9, LE OK

Wanted to see how cryptic I could make my subject title...

Had a "prophylactic" bilateral salpino-oophorectomy a week before Thanksgiving (good way to have my sister volunteer to host the family dinner again this year!) Was not on this site much during early autumn as I was busy researching my risk of ovarian cancer due to a rare genetic mutation found only in those with roots in a particular area of northern Europe.

Decided I could not be comfortable with the uncertainty of surveillance so had laparoscopic surgery at our local teaching hospital and went home the same afternoon. Quite pleased with the attitude of all the staff I encountered toward lymphedema. On the phone the day before, the anesthesiology resident, who was already familiar with my history, inquired about the previous operations and said my affected side would be off limits for IVs and blood pressure and that they would use my foot if needed.

I wrote NO BP in black Sharpie on an old compression sleeve and wore it into the OR, offering my left arm for the lab draw and needle placement. One nurse noticed and asked, half serious, if I didn't trust them. Replied that I knew mistakes can happen and I wasn't taking any chances. Woke up with it and my gauntlet still there and the cuff opposite. They also put a pink tag on my ID band as an LE warning.

Felt like I won at bingo when my pathology results came back benign. B - 9, get it? The only complication I'm having is missing my warm water pool exercise because the doctor wants my three small incisions to heal longer before soaking them in chlorine. In addition, I decided to avoid using my FlexiTouch pump for a while since it uses an upper leg/abdominal piece that wraps around and squeezes to clear nodes in the groin area. I did not want to disturb the stitches when they were brand new. Because I spent quite a bit of time during recovery reclining and could elevate extremities, there was no increase in swelling.

I encourage those of you thinking about elective procedures to be vocal about your condition and take appropriate steps to protect your limbs. Hang on to a couple stretched out garments in case you have opportunity to employ them in a situation like this.