May 3rd 2012 TAH W/BSO

In February I had been feeling awful, moreso than usual. I went for my regular doc appointment for my diabetes check up and blood work. Well the tests came back I was a 6 for hemoglobin. Into the hospital I went for a transfusion. I told them last summer I started having periods twice a month, then skipped two months then bled two months, so they thought they found the culprit for the anemia.
I also mentioned this huge gut I had acquired the past 2 yrs over my belly button. Being there, I did not think anything of it being female related but rather a hernia.
Long story short, got sent to Gyno, had an elevated CA125 for cancer antigens, found a mass that was 20 cm (ended up when out was actually 22 cm), cysts, fibroids etc.
Got sent to a Gyno/Oncologist at UAMS who scheduled total hyst with possible radical hysterectomy once in there.
After surgery she said she was 90% sure it was NOT cancer.
11 day follow up proved her right!
Now during this time I was having a little more difficult time healing. I would see others doing better than I. I chalked it up to me needing to "man up" and went on. I had a lot of pain. I went days without sleep. I couldn't sit up, couldn't lay down, couldn't hardly walk.
At 11 days I went in to have my staples removed, I literally popped open in the middle all the way down to the bottom, the next staple did the same. There was so much fluid built up no wonder I had been in misery!! So now I have to have gauze packed and removed twice a day in this huge "Hole" that used to be my stomach.
Last week my 2 precious grandsons came to see me. One was sneezing and coughing but otherwise ok. This late in the year I thought it was his allergies. Plus, I usually never catch their colds or "bugs" well 3 days later I am coughing and sneezing so hard I thought I had burst every stitch inside me.
Being the holiday weekend I had to tough it out and try OTC. I was also very low on pain pills as I hadn't needed them so hadn't refilled. Well my husband called my surgeon Tuesday and they called in pain pills. I am sleeping good now on Nyquil and the cold is diminishing so I am starting to finally feel better.
My recovery time has been lengthened, but I do not work so it's just more of an inconvenience than anything. I hate missing so much of summer. It could be July or August before my surgical dehiscence "seals up".

I have been so fortunate in other areas. Though I have nothing left in me for hormone help I am one of those that have no surgical menopause as of yet. My doc said if not by now then I may never or will have little trouble. I am so glad as I do not want to take estrogen.

I have slept very well the past 2 nights (thanks Nyquil) and it has definitely made a difference. I am still battling "side effects" from surgery and pain pills. The notorious bathroom saga I am sure all of us have dealt with, but other than that and a sore tummy, I feel pretty good today.