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ok, several have asked, so here's the story on the surgery.
I have a cystocele tear, kind of like a hernia in the bladder wall
and lets the bladder pop out from time to time. Quite an annoyance
but it can be a common thing for women, sometimes caused in
childbirth, sometimes from heavy lifting and sometimes just from
old age. Doctor thinks for me it was most likely from heavy lifting.
Don't know what makes me think I'm the incredible hulk when it
comes to getting something done. Doctor gave me a months
supply of the bladder pills and a referrel to see the specialist to
set up the surgery. I go monday afternoon and hopefully she'll
give me the prescription for the bladder pills as I didn't get one
from the regular doc, just the freebies. The pills work well but
doesn't fix the tear. Anyway, reg doc is also wanting me to get
my colonoscopy done too, as I've put it off and put off and
never had one. (routine, life thing we have to do)
Anyway, back to the surgery, doc says its only a week recuperation
and I won't miss much time from work but if I can get the necessary
stuff done, (routine things they do in prep for surgery) hopefully I
can schedule it over winter break and not loose any time from work.
Thats my goal. Besides I know after the surgery there will be some
bills show up in the mail for the portions insurance doesn't pay.
Trying to keep all my little ducks in a row
When I was driving that lift bus every morning, the bumps in
the road were horrible on the hernia. I could feel it pinch the
bladder.
Then daughter tells me she is having surgery on her shoulder that
she broke over a year ago (it never healed right) and its scheduled
over Thanksgiving. I figure she will need me just a little bit when
that happens.
So, looking forward to mondays appt to see what the gyno has to
add to the situation.

Thank you Ava for the update... I have wondered when and if you were going to have the surgery... that is not a long recovery maybe the specialist will have a different time frame do not be surprised if that happens... driving bus is an extra strain on your body... I had a hernia repair several years ago and I had enough sick time built up to cover it all... over 6 weeks and had some left over... do you have sick time where you work?
Kathleen

we do have sick time and I've got two months built up. The only downside of using it
is that I only get paid 6 hours a day when I do use it as compared to my 7 and a half
hour real day. We do get cheated that way, which is why I want to try and get it done
during winter break where we don't get paid at all.

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It's always something, isn't it? At least the recovery is not bad.
Everything will be just fine.

PS: Bladder pops "out"? Where? Just curious...

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Mitch, the way I understand it, the cystocele wall is the wall between the bladder
and the vagina so when it pops through that wall its actually poking into the
vagina. I think I have that right, and that was the way it was explained to me.
You can google it, your good at that, come on get with it

Hoping for news you can work with on Monday..... The thought of bouncing buses and pain.. not a good combination....

Thanks for sharing about your upcoming surgery. Let us know what the ob/gyn has to relate. I'm sorry life has come at you sideways, Ava. You know we are all here to cheer you on. Hugs!

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What is a cystocele?

A cystocele occurs when the wall between a woman’s bladder and her vagina weakens and allows the bladder to droop into the vagina. This condition may cause discomfort and problems with emptying the bladder.

A bladder that has dropped from its normal position may cause two kinds of problems—unwanted urine leakage and incomplete emptying of the bladder. In some women, a fallen bladder stretches the opening into the urethra, causing urine leakage when the woman coughs, sneezes, laughs, or moves in any way that puts pressure on the bladder.

A cystocele is mild—grade 1—when the bladder droops only a short way into the vagina. With a more severe—grade 2—cystocele, the bladder sinks far enough to reach the opening of the vagina. The most advanced—grade 3—cystocele occurs when the bladder bulges out through the opening of the vagina.

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Ava, I'll be looking to hear what the gyn dr says. And hoping only the best for you.

Mitch, thanks for getting the details.

I hope that this works out on your timeframe. I can only imagine that the rough ride of a bus makes it at times uncomfortable. I hope that you have an easy time of it and that you don't lose time for work.

Oh yes Ava I only got paid for 4 hours and my regular runs were 7 hours a day... but it did help a lot to have the time built up... best to you... and thanks Mitch that helped me to understand the situation...
Kathleen

Hugs (((Ava))). You are such a trooper. Thanks for letting us know.

Keep your chin up. Hope you can do it on your time frame. (((((hugs to you))))

I'm sending hugs your way, Ava. Thank you for sharing this with us, you know we're all here for you and will be there in spirit, because we all care so much. I've heard this is quite common, if it's what I'm thinking, they make some type of sling that holds your bladder in place. If that's still the way they do it, there's so much new things that they can do now and much less healing time now days. Hopefully they'll be able to schedule it over the holidays and you'll be recovered and in much less pain when you go back to work. Keep us posted!

Ava, best of luck with the surgery and (((((HUGS))))) Linda