Reassurance

Surgery in two days. Here are pains:
-heavy/bloated feeling
-nausea but different from flu
-sharp piercing pain
-back pain like strained muscle but worse and acute
-cramps like contractions but different more dull
-cannot eat as much at times (i.e bite of apple fills me up like Turkey Day dinner)
-migraines
-restless leg syndrome
-insomnia
-clots: bleeding at cycle with a break in cycle for a day and then starts just as strong
-intercourse; more like not-an-option (& I do like sex! but OUCH!!!!!)
-urinating feels blocked
-bowels hurt unless leafy diet only
-after cycle I have what acts like a UTI but there is no burning or other pain
-very tired, very tired, very tired! but all the time except for maybe if I drink 3-4 Red Bulls

these can occurr at any given moment. No set timeframe.

Please respond so I can see the normalcy; as well as calm my anxiety. I am alone for the weekend so all I have is HysterSisters and I am so thankful!

Kathy - may God's Blessings be bountiful and miracles shine on you. You have helped so many. I pray for His blessings upon you. Let them be many and neverending.

Hi Kathy, you are in the right place for sympathy, understanding or just a good old . It sounds like your quality of life should greatly improve one you have had your surgery and have gone through the healing process. I had a lot of the same symptoms that you have and I must say after 7 weeks I feel like a new woman! I still get tired and need my power naps every so often, but I am back to my normal schedule for the most part.

Monday is your big day to visit the "castle" and you can take this weekend to "pamper the princess". Why not do something fun, see a movie, get a pedicure, etc. You will be home for a while after the surgery and it will be VERY important for you to follow your surgeons instructions to aid your healing.

Dear forchrist,

You are at the really scary time and I can say that the waiting, especially as close to surgery as you are is the hardest part.

I speak from experience....I had terrible pain with my periods. All kinds of GI problems, even lost control of my bowels in the car once during a menstrual cramp. I could not eat anything like salads during my period, or it would cause severe cramping.

And yes, the week after my period was over, I was SO fatigued I could hardly put one foot in front of another.

This all seems like a bad dream now and although the recovery seemed to take forever, I am so glad that is all over with.

The pain following surgery, I felt, was minimal-and paled in comparison to the cramps I had every month.
Once the morphine pump was removed, I took only Motrin every 8 hours for pain, minus the demerol shot prior to my drain being pulled. My surgery was more extensive than most and I had a large midline incision and lost alot of blood during surgery-thus the JP drain that most do not even have. I had an excellent surgeon and I think it makes all the difference.

First day post-op I got up and walked as much as I could. I was very anemic due to the blood loss and a litte lightheaded. I also drank as much juice and water as I could stand.

I also thought that you would be interested in knowing that I attended a healing service @ church the night before-we only have these twice a year-and it happened to fall on the Sunday night before my surgery. It is a very quiet service and anyone who wishes, goes up and gets annointed and blessed. I cannot help but think, it made a tremendous difference in my recovery.

I also ate very lightly the day before and drank alot of water.
I took a low dose anxiety medication to sleep at night the week before my surgery.

The worst part for me was the fatigue and the moodiness. It has taken me 14 months to really totally bounce back. I have been sick with a cold this week and prior to this, was feeling absolutely wonderful. I do not miss those days of horrible periods one bit and you won't either.

I will send up a prayer for you on Monday morning. If you have any further questions, feel free to private email me.

I also send a big

Sweetpea