What are you still afraid of?

I'm two weeks post-op and almost starting to feel like a human again.

There are still things I'm afraid of, though.

I guess I'll start with what I was not afraid of since it's a shorter list. (Short means one item, in fact.) I was not afraid to drive a short distance. Yesterday I drove to the post office drop off, only 2 miles, with no problem.

Okay, things I'm afraid of:

1. Drinking a soda. I used to drink Diet 7-Up all the time. I still desire them, but am afraid of what it might do to my tummy! I guess that's why they invented Gas-X?

2. Drinking a glass of wine. I've really been wanting one (and am not on HRT or any type of medication), but am afraid it might do something weird to me.

3. Eating anything other than the blandest of foods: fruit, bagels, soup. Don't know what it would do to me.

4. Seeing humans. I still don't want to see too many people, especially a lot of people at once, because I still feel like I look weird.

5. I was afraid to even take my bandaids off (had LAVH) until Day 12 when I *had* to because I was going to my 2 week post-op the next day. I finally took the darn things off.

6. I'm afraid to try on my jeans or other pre-op clothes.

7. I'm afraid of people walking with their dogs -- I'm afraid their dog will jump on my abdomen.

8. I'm afraid of crowds and running children: afraid someone will run into me, bump me in the wrong place, or knock me over.

9. I'm afraid of seatbelts when I'm a passenger (when driving, it didn't bother me at all).

10. I'm afraid of lying on my stomach (haven't even tried).

11. I was afraid of a shower after removing my bandaids. It wasn't so bad, though.

12. I'm still a bit nervous about crossing a street: not sure if I could move fast enough if I needed to.

13. I'm afraid of lycra sweat pants or anything tight.

14. I'm afraid of hot flashes because I haven't experienced them yet.

15. I'm afraid of my strong reaction when I see cute guys on TV (is it too much testosterone, or am I crazy, or both?)

16. I'm afraid I won't be able to find a date the company Christmas party. (Okay, so that might not be related to surgery...)

17. I'm afraid someone will ask me when I'm "due" and that the pooch in my swellybelly has taken up permanent residence.

18. I'm afraid of isolating what's left of my friends by saying, "Look at my belly puncture: can you believe they put a tube with a camera through here?" and then showing them the pelvicfloor.com photos. I just can't understand why my friends don't want to be around me anymore ...

19. I'm afraid of being forgotten and dismayed that the world goes on without me.

20. And speaking of being afraid, I'm afraid of Halloween this year!

Your turn? :dance2:

Karen - I love this post!!!! I am still afraid of several things at 8 weeks post op!! Here goes:
1. Sore muscles when I get them.
2. Eating meat. (Iused to get constipated from meat beacuse of the adhesions to my bowels)
3. Gas
4. Small children who like to jump on laps.
5. Not sleeping - which if you note the time - you see that I'm not sleeping!!
6. Amusement Parks
7. More than one soda a day
8. Not losing weight
9. Still afraid of seatbelts

That wasn't too bad - but it is much shorter now than it was. My list of what I am not afraid of anymore is much longer.

s Wendy

I'm afraid of driving

I'm afraid of stairs

I'm afraid of doing too much, so I do nothing

I'm afraid of doing nothing because I think I need to gradually be doing *something* in order to heal

I'm afraid of hugs

I'm afraid of laying on tummy

I'm afraid of constipation

I'm afraid of peoples opinions of me if I don't heal as fast as they think I should, or if I heal faster than average and they think I should still be doing nothing

I'm afraid the pain will never go away

I'm afraid to even think about sex

I'm afraid to eat gassy foods

I'm afraid to wear any pre-op clothes

I'm afraid of people forgetting about me as the time passes by

I'm scared to death of the effect this is having on my job. I'm the supervisor and already things have gone awry even with a good group of people who are really trying

I'm afraid of cooking or cleaning I want to try but I'm scared to

I'm afraid that even my great husband will get tired of my inactivity and won't understand my limitations as time goes by.

I'm afraid of the hormone jungle.

I'm afraid this list is too long and people will think I'm a wimp...even on this website

Thanks Karen for permission to speak outloud

Love the lists -- think we will make David Letterman's Top TEN?

Okay, things I am afraid of:

1. My 4 year old -- Seems he must announce to everyone within a 10 foot radius, "My Momma has 'itches (stitches). Wanna see?" Although I think he has aptly named them.

2. Any well-meaning person that starts a conversation with "OMG, you had a HYSTERECTOMY! I had one (ten, twenty, thirty) years ago and it has been horrible since then!"

3. People thinking I have had a lobotomy instead of a hysterectomy. Although sometimes I think so also.

4. Super Wal-Mart, refer to #1. Add the fact that the bathrooms are always too far away from wherever I am. Have you ever noticed they seem to move them while you are not looking?

5. Roller coasters -- okay, I have always been afraid of roller coasters, but now I can't use the "Sorry, I might be pregnant" excuse.

6. Soccer - 4 year olds can't aim, and the ball is really HARD!

7. SEX!!! Although, since surgery I seem to have a weird love/hate obsession with the whole idea.

Well, not going to make the top ten, I only have seven. Wonder if I can blame my lack of math skills on surgery?

By the way, on the wine issue? My vote is go for it!

I love this! Here's my list:

1. Pants that aren't three sizes too big for me.

2. My 3 year old daughter who, prior to surgery, used to like to climb all over me regularly.

3. I am also afraid that my husband will get over this before I am.

4. SEX!

5. Going back to work. I feel like my brain is mush.

6. Menopause.

UGH......

Have a good day ladies.

Love,

Karen

I see a lot of similarities it these lists! Guess we continue to have more things in common ...

I'm afraid of:

1. my cats - they like to jump on me

2. my dog - he likes to jump on me

3. my dh - he likes to jump on me ;-)

4. SEX!!! (Though, I am dying to try!)

5. ANYTHING tight around my waist

6. the seatbelt if I get into a car accident

7. gaining weight that I will never lose! UGh!!!

8. anything "prolapse"!

9. lions & tigers & bears, oh my! lol!

Mongie

The thing that excites me most, is at 11 weeks post op, my "afraid" list, is really short. Hallelujah!

1. I am afraid to eat Italian Food, too spicy, gasey (is their such a word?).

2. Afraid to eat meat. I really don't have a craving for it. Strange, I used to love it AND Italian food.

3. Getting tired during the holidays. I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I am a fanatic. I am afraid I will not have as much energy as I need. ON THE FLIP SIDE - I may have even MORE engergy, since all the "bad" stuff is gone.

4. Lost about 15 lbs and a LOT of inches, afraid I won't be able to maintain it.

5. I just started on Estratest, I am afraid I will turn into a man, all hairy, acne, bald, etc.

There that about covers it.

I am happier than ever!

Thanks for the opportunity.
Terri

Okay Karen, you've got us started

1. SEX -we're both afraid

2. Swelly Belly being a permanent part of my anatomy

3. Finding a $100 bill and not being able to bend over to pick it up.

4. DH loosing his patience, compassion and understanding about housework not getting done.

5. SEX - we're still both afraid

6. Hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. So far I've had none.

7. my recliner will break

8. Not being able to get away with saying "ooh" and having kids say "poor mommy" then doing what I ask instead of ignoring me.

9. I'll never look like a super model. This has been on my afraid list forever.

10. SEX - we're still both very afraid




Cathy

My #1 fear is that I'll forget to take my HRT pill and I'll get these horrible hot flashes that everybody keeps talking about.
I keep a few pills in my purse just in case I get stranded and I'm not able to get home to my stash.
I've already had the cat, the dog, and the kid jump on me and it wasn't that bad, so those fears are gone.
The seatbelt does still concern me. I bunch up my coat and put it on my lap before I put my seatbelt on.
Seriously- I do worry that people don't think I'm doing as much as I should be doing, but if the sisters knew what I'd been doing the pillow police would have hauled me away a long time ago.

I have to add mine.....although most of them have been listed.

1. Those pesky pillow police

2. My wardrobe. It looks SO SMALL these days.

3. My belly. I think everyone else's will go down but mine looks very permaent right now at 3 weeks.

4. Crowds. OOoowwww....

5. Walmart

6. My biggest fear is the pain won't go away. Please someone PROMISE me the pain will finally go away.

ALready did the wine,....it was fine. Just one glass in the evening.

ALready did the diet 7-up, promptly followed by Gas-X.

Enjoy!!!

Jodi