Week 4 - Day 1

Oh wow, it is already week 4 now. That went rather quick. My brain is slowly coming round to watching endless TV and I am rather getting used to it.

I am still feeling fine. I actually feel ready to take on the world and that can be rather dangerous at this time. I have to watch that I am not overdoing things, especially when it comes to lifting and moving things. The scar is healing great and I cannot feel the internal stitching, but could easily do damage, so I have to force myself to take things easy. And it's driving me nuts!!

I found a brilliant link where the whole healing process is explained:
How the Body heals after a Hysterectomy

And I also found a link which explains why waiting for 6 weeks to do any duvet shuffling is so important:
Old Wives Tales
Why you really, really have to wait at least 6 weeks

The last link was rather scary and does show, that there is a LOT of healing going on in areas of the body that may not have much sensation and is therefore easy to forget. Will definitely wait for the all clear from the Doctor and for the stitches to dissolve. (Considering how stiff the stitching wire is, it may be a good idea anyway, as we don't want to impale some rather delicate areas...).

Other than that, not much has happened. Just after my last blog entry my daughter and me had an attack of the giggles. You know the kind of laugh-attack where you just can't stop and every time you look at the other person you start again? Was good fun at the time, but my muscles and my tummy were very sore for a couple of days after that and I was really worried I actually did some damage. Seems to have calmed down again now. I guess the internal stitching just got sore from the strain. But it just isn't fair that one isn't even allowed a proper laugh while healing.....even sneezing hurts less now....Not like me to not laugh at least once a day?

I am bored beyond belief. But I will have a busy weekend, as I desperately need to complete my Xmas shopping. Last posting day to my parents is Monday, so I will have to spend the weekend shopping in Croydon...oh bliss....I hope it's not going to be too busy, as I am still scared of people bumping into me and I am not 100% sure how I am going to handle the shopping bags, as I am still not allowed to carry things round with me.

Take care and I will update again next week.

Week 3 - Day 1

Hello
I am still here, still recovering. Pain is now gone, apart from light internal bruising, but no more need for pain killers. I didn't take any for the last 3 days now and all is well. I feel more comfortable this way, because at least I have a better feeling of when I am overdoing it. I am back on light housework and walking just fine. But I still get a sleep attack in the afternoon. Body still healing and needing the extra hours. Especially, as my hormones are still a bit messed up and I have the odd night of insomnia and nightsweats. Oh the joys of getting older!!

I am really starting to go stir crazy now with sitting around at home. Daytime TV is driving me bonkers and I am ready to strangle Jeremy Kyle and please, everyone move to the country, but don't waffle on on TV about it. Sigh....Even my favourite TV shows now bore me to death. I don't think I have watched this much TV since I have been a teenager and my brain is turning to mush.

Still not able to sleep on my side, so I am still waking up with back ache every morning, but otherwise, moving around is getting much easier now. And I wake up in the morning with a near flat tummy!! It doesn't last long, swelling comes back within 15 minutes of getting up and having a shower, but at least I can see where things are going in the future. Still work needed to get a proper flat tummy and lose some weight, but I have to wait until I get the 6-week-all-clear.... and then I can start light exercise. Going back to swimming me thinks....

Sneeze attacks still scare me. But coughing is getting easier and the cold is nearly gone.

Not much else to tell - running out of things to say to people after being cooped up for so long. Time to hit the road next week and get out of the house.

Week 2 - Day 10

Felt a bit sorry for myself yesterday, so didn't post. More and more nerves on my tummy are repairing themselves and feeling is coming back bit by bit, which means it can be ticklish sometimes, painful other times. Yesterday was a painful day. So I didn't do my walk and was snoozing on and off on the sofa. Saturday daytime TV is definitely worse than weekday daytime TV.

Gave myself a kick in the bum today though, had a shower and went for a walk and now I am feeling so much better. Trouble is, the less I move and more bored I am the less I feel like moving, so it ends up in a vicious circle. I probably should start taking the iron tablets from hospital, but they are very strong, and the last thing I need at the moment is constipation. Just the thought of it makes my tummy muscles recoil in fear! I can feel my tummy muscles knitting themselves back together as well. They twitch on and off during the day, which is a very weird feeling!! Like being attached to a low level electrode!

OK, off for the day. Will potter about a bit and see what I can do, that doesn't involve lifting, bending, standing or stretching.....

Week 2 - Day 8

One more post

Day8.
I can see i am going to have a whine and whinge day. I am bored of watching TV. I cant lie on my side and lying on my back is giving me excruciating back pain. Sitting puts strain on my pelvic floor and my scar, standing with back pain is impossible. I cant stand seeing my front room anymore ( in my head, i have redecorated 4 times now).
I am still taking pain killers, not because of my tummy. My back is killing me!! I cant roll over to my side. It hurts too much, not tried lying on my tummy, too scared.
Have done some washing this morning. Naughty maybe, but i am going stir crazy. And it was better than making bath bombs...
Sigh....sorry...needed to let off steam. My friends dont understand, they think lying around doing nothing is bliss. I can say, the novelty has worn off and together with my extra energy i now have, its torture!!

Week 1

Sorry, for the lack of updates, but I only just managed to sit down on the PC. Sitting is still a bit uncomfortable, walking, standing and lying down is fine though.
Here are my updates from the first week:

Day 1. 
Day nurse just removed catheder and all the other pipes and cables. And i am sitting up, having breakfast! And my first coffee in ages. Standing and walking actually feels fine. Sitting is a bit painful.


Day 2. 
Just woken up. I didnt take codeine last night and i am surprised how little pain there is this morning. Mainly my bladder and some wind, but thats it. The scar is more uncomfortable than painful. Been up and went to the toilet. Coughing still hurts a lot, but the cough isnt shifting. Not getting better or worse. Looking forward to a lazy day.


Day3. 
Home-day!! Not too good this morning though. I woke up this morning lying on my side. My body must have finally over ruled my brain. Had my first deep sleep, but i was i agony when i woke up. The outside scar seems fine, but not sure if this has done any damage to the inside. I hope not. 
Also feeling is coming back to parts of my tummy that have been comfortably numb for a couple of days. Both together and i feel worse today than on day 1 and so not ready to go home. :-(

Actually i am better now. Wind got trapped by lying on my side. Lol. I panicked for nothing. But feeling is returning to my scar, so i feel it more. 

Head of department wants to see me before i go, so it will be a long wait. He is operating at the moment. I am going to meet the famous Dr Manyonda! Quite exited. 

Also, the bruising will be at its peak today, so i just have to grin and bear it. I am sure a number 2 is on its way...

 I am ok now and would rather go home. My daughter is there to help, friends and neighbours as well. Just need to figure out the stairs yet. Toilet is upstairs, fridge, kettle, tv and outside world is downstairs. Complicated.

Doctor just came to see me, all is well and normal. He thinks i should take more painkillers, but i am trying to avoid the codeine because its constipating. Will take one before i leave though. Speed bumps, yikes!

 I am home!!! I am home!! Doing a happy dance, at least in my head. Stairs are no problem. Managed them just fine, so i will be spending my days on the sofa watching tv, yay. I am glad to be home!!!

Day4. 
First day at home. Cat greeted me this morning by jumping on my belly while i was still in bed. OUCH! Thankfully he didnt stand on the scar, just the top of my belly. But something in there is seriously bruised. 
I am really tired today, not sleepy, just wanting to lie down a lot. So i am on the sofa, catching up on all the stuff thats taped on V+. 
My scar is itching like crazy. I know that means its healing, but....aaargh!!!
Had a very lazy day. Not good and something i was dreading after release from hospital. Didnt walk anywhere today, apart from the sofa to the kitchen/bathroom and back. A friend came round and after she left, i was tired and slept for ages. Now its dark and cold. Not sure if its worth going. 

I have noticed my mood taking a nose dive with the sleep and lack of walking. Not good, so will kick myself into gear tomorrow.


Day5. 
Had my first BM. Gosh that was scary! But it was easy in the end. just dont strain, even if it is tempting. 
Had more friends visiting, so didnt do a walk in the morning, but was a good girl and did my evening walk. 5 mins up the road and back. It caused a hot flush and i was dripping with sweat when i got back. Obviously my ovaries are still sulking. Nightsweats are getting better though, i guess they are bruised and just not 100% at the moment. 
Feeling is returning to my lower tummy and scar. It TICKLES!!!!! Aaargh!!! Pain is easy to control. I am still on the full dose of painkillers but might drop the late night one. I dont really need it while i sleep. Will give it a try tonight and see how it goes. I do need the first one in the morning though. Not for my tummy, for my back! Permanently sleeping on my back and unable to turn is killing it!! I wake up with excruciating lower back pain. I cant wait to be able to sleep on my side again.


Day6 
and i have been a good girl, 2 walks today. 20mins in the morning - where i promptly stepped into some dog poo - and 10 mins in the evening. My back is hurting a bit as it is straightening out now and the muscles are just not used to it anymore and also as my tummy muscles are also not there at the moment. Cant wait to be able to swim again. 
Tomorrow is staple removal day. I am happy, as they keep catching in my clothes and its making them sore. But also worried it will hurt. 
I have cut back on the painkillers. There is no point for the 11pm dose anymore, as i sleep fine. So down to 3 times 2 paracetamol and 1 ibuprufen. Going to see if i can cut out another lot of paracetamol tomorrow. I dont trust the stuff, especially as the fibroid had affected my liver. I am sure 1 ibuprufen is enough in the evening. 


Day7.
My staples came out today. Ouchie! It really hurt. It felt like she was cutting through my skin. Not all of them, but most of the scar is still numb, so couldnt say. Part of the scar hasnt fused yet, so the nurse put steri strips on. I asked her how i am going to have a shower, she was surprised i was showering already. "In my day there was no shower for 10 days". Sigh. She gave me a waterproof plaster over it. Exactly what the hospital didnt like. They said sweat is bad on the wound. But i dont really have a choice, if i dont want my scar to split.
The walk to the GP and back knocked me out. I fell asleep after. But i am in less pain now. The scar no longer feels sore either. I wonder if i was allergic to the staples, since they are out, the itching has stopped. And although i was very sore straight after, i am ok now, just very unsure how much i can or should move. It feels like a bit of a set back. I didnt want to do my evening walk either. :-(

Last day... 6 hrs to go

So, I have been and seen my friends, had a last minute shopping spree, cleaned the kitchen, packed the suitcase, drank the drink the hospital said I have to drink and now it is time to say good-bye and head off to bed, otherwise I wont wake up in the morning. I am hoping to be able to sleep, although I wouldn't bet on it.

I did have a Lavender Bath which helped to calm my nerves and I am just sipping a camomile tea, before I have to be nil-by-mouth in 30 mins time (actually, I am allowed water and was told to drink lots, so I am well hydrated). How on earth will I start the day without coffee??? Glad my ex is driving, I wouldn't trust myself in London traffic without my usual 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning. But no coffee????? And they expect me to arrive at the hospital in one piece, awake and somewhat concious??? They obviously don't know me....

Anyways, I decided to post some before pictures....it took quite a bit of courage to put these up, as I feel really ashamed of my belly, even though it is 90% fibroid (the rest of it is too much chocolate cheesecake). It is rather shocking. But when I sit here in pain in a couple of days and wonder why I put myself through this, it will serve as a reminder. This time next year I will fit back into my favourite party dress (and maybe I will be a millionaire as well.... :-) )

Nite nite folks - I will post the next update when I am back from hospital, Sunday or Monday

Last day... 27hrs to go

It is gone midnight, so I am officially on my last day of freedom now. I am dog tired, but can't sleep.

The countdown has now started. I am not 100% sure at what time my operation will be, but I have to be at the hospital at 7am and I am second on the list. This means, I will leave the house at 5:30am tomorrow. My daughter's dad is taking me, which I am glad about. At least I don't have to pretend to be chirpy. I can sit through the whole journey chew my nails and say nothing and he wont be offended. I don't think he will stay with me at the hospital, although I didn't ask. I am just glad I don't have to catch public transport again.

I feel like I should go to bed, but my mind is too full of stuff and I wont be able to sleep. I started sleeping on the couch again, as the TV is downstairs, but I don't want to get into that habit again. It's difficult to get out of. Once I get used to falling asleep to the TV, it takes me weeks to be able to fall asleep without it. The sofa gives me backache as well.

So, I am sitting here talking rubbish instead....