Hi everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't logged on here in a while. In mid-July, my surgery date got moved from 8/8 to 8/29 and I hadn't signed in here to change the date on my profile.
Anyhoo, the jitters are setting in a little bit. My surgeon is PLEASED with the Lupron injections. I took a shot in May, then June (had a light menstrual cycle), then July (2 weeks late and wipe-and-go spotting at most), and then my 4th and final shot was 8/10. I've had hot flashes, sweating clamminess, and VERY occasional mood swings. I've also had some photosensitivity (my skin would turn a little browner in some blotchy spots). But my surgeon says I've shrunk from a 20-week uterus (!!!) to a 14-week size. Yay!! And on iron therapy, the severe anemia is GONE for the first time in 23 years. So we have a green light.
Got my blood work done 8/10 and all looks great. Got my EKG last week (they want to check my heart) and I got my chest x-ray today (report is already done and sent to my surgeon - I LOVE my imaging center). Last week we pre-paid our hospital bill at a massive discount (NO HEALTH INSURANCE--yikes--but it IS doable!! And almost preferable, considering I got to choose my surgeon and his assistant and my hospital. No in-network BS to worry about - my surgeon and I are working as a team without any middlemen.)
We got our wills done (finally) and I named my Power of Attorney and the person that makes my medical decisions if I become incapacitated and all that. My post-op at-home caretaker is a best friend of 20 years, coming 1200 miles to stay with me for 2 weeks. I love her and am FOREVER indebted to her
This last weekend I went and got loose men's flanel PJ bottoms and women's yoga pants and new, much-larger underwear so I can go to the hospital in something that isn't stained from previous heavy monthlies LOL.
So, tomorrow is the pre-op and surgery is a week from tomorrow. The roller-coaster is hitting - the fear of pain, catheters, healing, weight gain, intubation, anesthesia reactions, gluten exposures (I'm a Celiac with cross-allergies to dairy, eggs, and soy).
And I'm self-employed with my husband, so I'm trying to wrap things up at my side of the clinic and he's preparing to take everything over for a while. All my clients are prepared to meet with him instead during my absence. I just hope everything goes well.
Jitters starting ALREADY!! This is going to be one heck of a week.