Eleven Days Ago... - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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Eleven Days Ago...

Eleven Days Ago...

From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List

HysterSisters Articles

Options to Hysterectomy
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Pelvic Floor
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Grief and Loss
Endometriosis
Uterine Fibroids
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

my life changed.
I had a hysterectomy due to fibroids. I look at it as a renewal of soul- a rebirth of myself if you will.
For so, so long I have had pain in pelvic area. I have had pain even when not on my period. For the past six months especially, I have had to put my life on hold due to either suddenly bleeding, or bleeding and being exhausted, grumpy or just not fun to be around. I felt so out of control and carried a package of maxi pads in both vehicles, carried tampons in all the purses I own, even had some stashed in pockets of windbreakers.
I was frustrated, because I would hear so many people say "oh, but you look fine", or the famous "why are you so tired all the time".
But you see, I have heard that for longer than I have dealing with the fibroids as I have fibromyaglia as well. When you have that, you learn to "live with the pain". You hear the same things from friends and family- "but you look ok"...you learn you can usually tune out the ones that don't understand but then there are days that you feel the whole world just doesn't understand you.
11 days ago that all changed.
Although I will deal with fibromyalgia the rest of my life, this part of my life I could change.
Even though I am sore and tired from the healing, I feel better.
Now I also understand why I was feeling the way I was.
The women in my family have all dealth with painful periods and I usually was told to just "deal with it the best way a lday can". That meant, you don't sleep, unless really sick and for God sakes, don't complain.
In talking with my doctor post op I learned quite a few things that may also help some of you, my sisters.

I had more then 6 fibroids, one of which had embedded in a muscle wall (back to that one later) and at least 5 others that had clustered, causing weight to pull down, on everything.
I had developed severe adenomyosis (a glandular derangement of the muscle of the uterus. It’s a common cause of uterine symptoms after the age of 30 and VERY painful)
pretty much adhering to organs and anything else in it's path. The weight of all this and the fibrodis severly bruised the muscle cavity AND cut off alot of the blood supply to right kidney and maybe that is where the sudden onslaught of kidney stones had come from.
SO- it was sooooo much more than "just another painful period". In the end, I have developed anemia too, and that is also part of the reason I was so exhausted when I would bleed.
I am now making sure my daughter understands that painful periods are just not another part of life...get them checked out.
11 days ago, my life changed.
I learned who my friends are, I also learned that family, while can be a blessing, can, at times, just not understand.
I learned that it's more than ok to pamper myself and just to "just say no" and not feel guilty.
I learned that sometimes it's ok not to be everyone's rock and to shut off the phone.
I also learned that it's really time to "let go" as my daughter had moved out of the house and to another state- I have been worrying about her constantly. Time to let her fly!
But most of all, I learned that it's ok to love yourself
it's ok to rock the boat sometimes if need be (the nurses showed me that sometimes you HAVE to rock the boat to get anything done!)
So, for any of you that are down about "losing" something from the surgery. Look at it this way- you have really gained...
You have gained a part of yourself that maybe you never knew existed, or that you have stuffed down to make other people happy.
This is YOUR time.
This is time to grow and evolve and do all the things that you wanted to do, but didn't feel good enough to do.
This is the time for you to say "see, I really wasn't feeling that great".
I also know that I am so very close to God.
After surgery I developed a hemmorage. That fibroid I spoke of earlier, in the muscle? Doc had to cut deep into that muscle and it bled...alot. I lost so much blood, he said it scared him. He waited 20 minutes for that muscle to stop bleeding- it did and he finished the surgery.
Two days later, I fell when I was walking- long story short, my hemoglobin went very low.
I got a transfusion, and afterwards felt like I could climb a building! It felt great!
Meantime, we all prayed that the hemorrage would stop. 24 hours later, I learned it was ok, I clotted. But I wouldn't have done it without the person that donated that blood. (Thank you all donors!)
That 24 hours, I did alot of thinking and that is when I learned most of the above. This "rock" was scared, but I knew God was there holding my hand, I could really feel His presence!
So, even though I have lost my uterus, it gave me a beautiful daughter and gave me my life BACK.

I am sorry this is so long, but I felt it might be able to help some others that are struggling with their feelings.
Every day I learn more...and I have begun to journal again- it's so helpful.
Happy Healing

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don't worry!

Emergency TAH 06-01-2012 My Story

Find A Doctor Near You

Amie Napier, M.D. Medical City Hospital 7777 Forest Lane Suite A331 Dallas TX 75230 9725667760	Arnold Advincula, M.D. Florida Hospital Celebration Health 400 Celebration Place Celebration FL 34747 (407) 303-4573	Bret Lewis, M.D. 5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ste 295 (#2 Location) 11975 Morris Rd., Ste. 310 , Alpharetta, GA 30004 Atlanta GA 30342 404-255-3633
Clifford Rogers, M.D. The Everett Clinic, Dept. of Surgery and Gynecology 1330 Rockefeller Ave, Suite 120 Everett WA 98201 425 339 5424	Quanita Crable, M.D. 8160 Walnut Hill Lane Ste. LL-001 Dallas TX 75231 (469)364-3764	Siobhan Kehoe, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673
David Mainman, M.D. Desert Bloom Obstetrics & Gynecology 6452 E. Carondelet Drive, Suite A Tucson AZ 85710 520-885-5300	Mark Richey, M.D. 1200 Airport Heights Ste 205 Anchorage AK 99508 9072724443	Emily Cunningham, M.D. 1720 Nicholasville Road Suite 702 Lexington KY 40503 859-264-8811

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