so...I have had this blog set up ages ago, but just never got round to actually writing anything here. This is going to be a time-limited blog and will be all about me getting my alien babies evicted.
Alien Babies? Yes....some tumours (good natured, so nothing to panic about) have decided to grow in my womb and they not only make me look like I am pregnant - honestly, I am not THAT fat - but they are also causing all sorts of issues. So the doctor decided it's time they come out, which I am rather glad about, as I am really struggling to find clothes that fit now and I refuse to go to the maternity section. (Vanity will be my killer one day).
What are these things then? They are called Fibroids (or Myome, if you are following me from Germany) and are actually rather common, although not usually quite as large as mine. Fibroids are benign tumours that grow in and on the womb and they are the most common benign tumours found in females over the age of 35 (you didn't really believe me when I said I am 25 yet again at my last birthday?). In most women they cause no problems whatsoever and surprisingly don't even interfere with pregnancy in a lot of cases (in other cases even a small fibroid can be a problem, so don't let yourself get fobbed off by a doctor!). Although I would dread to become pregnant right now (or any other time, really), as I think my belly would just pop, there isn't any room left!!
Thankfully malignant fibroids are extremely uncommon, so I am not really worried. They are still the most common reason for a hysterectomy though, which is sad, as it isn't necessary - I am considering one at the moment, but more of that later. There are plenty of ways to treat, shrink and remove these aliens, the earlier you go and see someone, the better. Once they are as large as mine, options become limited. Funny enough, I thought the size of mine was what would eliminate me from keyhole surgery, but it isn't so. Even on the NHS one can find a specialist that does specialize in large fibroid removal via keyhole. But one of my aliens decided to lie right across 2 of the incision points and cannot be moved out of the way, so I have to get the whole horizontal cut. Thankfully I am now at an age where I shouldn't be wearing any items of clothing any more that would expose myself below the bikini line, so all is well.
I am starting this blog rather late, as I am going for my pre-op tomorrow and I am only 10 days away from my actual OP. On the other hand, I am quite lucky as most of my aliens are stalked and grow on the outside of the womb, so I don't have many symptoms and this would have been a very boring blog about life with fibroids, as it is just normal. OK, I do have some problems:
- the one on top pushes against my stomach and my lungs, causing heartburn and tight breath, no worse though than being pregnant.
- another one is very close to my kidney and if I lie on my back over night, which happens quite frequently, as lying on my tummy is way too uncomfortable, I get very bad water retention and wake up feeling like a water balloon. So I had to stop wearing rings.
- another one (it may be the same one) is very close to my liver and has possibly grown a root into my liver for blood supply. This one can be painful at times and it is also interfering with my liver function, giving me itchy hand and feet and also making me a very cheap date (3 bottles of Becks....pathetic!)
I do have some small ones inside and those ones have recently started playing up, inviting the painters round for weeks on end (8 weeks so far) and leaving me low in Iron, which in turn not only makes me feel dizzy, but also very tired. So it's time someone puts a stop to the endless partying these things seem to do in my womb and get rid of them. I was only going to go for a Myectomy, where they remove the aliens and leave the womb in place. Not that I want any more children, but it's just a psychological thing. It would make me feel rather, dunno...weird. But I have a feeling, now that the big ones have run out of room to grow, the little ones decided to make up the slack and give me problems more usually associated with fibroids, like heavy and lengthy periods, cramps, anaemia, PMT etc, etc. I hope I get to see the surgeon before my OP, so I can discuss with him, if it wouldn't make more sense to whip the lot out and get rid of all spare parts while he is at it (how much do kidneys sell for nowadays?). The recovery period is the same anyway, so I gain nothing by hanging on to something that will never, ever be used again. But it is a big decision. One moment I am feeling like "whip the lot out", next minute I am wanting to just get rid of my aliens and keep everything else where it belongs. 10 more days of pondering ahead of me...
Today I did the necessary shopping. I don't actually own any form of decent night wear and after my OP I will need some very comfortable knickers, that don't rub on my stitches. So, today I had the enviable task to buy flannel nighties and granny knickers. I lead such an exciting life!
Thanks to Primark, they aren't quite flannel nighties and I threw some PJs in as well for good measure and the nana-knickers were only £4 for 8, so I wont feel bad when I burn them in a couple of months! I did manage to snap up a very nice dressing gown at Asda a couple of weeks ago, so I am all set now. Argh...slippers....don't have those....I am really so not prepared for old age. Sigh...I see if I can get away with those thick socks with rubber dots on the bottom. I have some of those. In bright Pink.... But I refuse to drink tea!! Coffee only for me - hope the hospital doesn't rely on cheap instant either. They do have Costa stalls dotted around, so there is hope yet. Honestly, one day old age will hit me over the head and I will not know what to do. Dressing gowns, slippers, nighties, PJs....all very foreign to me. Do I have to buy a pipe before I turn 60? Or will a sufficient number of cats do?
After this rather depressing shopping trip, I did treat myself though. 5 new lipsticks, a fish pedicure and a free back massage with one of those oversized roger rabbit things (very nice actually). Made me feel much, much better. Fish Pedicure is a rather strange experience though. Tickles and they feel like they are humming against the skin. Bizarre, but not unpleasant.
Right, time for me to catch some sleep before I get poked and prodded tomorrow and I am sure they will take loads of blood, so I have to get up early enough to have breakfast as fainting on the London Tube is so not cool (decided to go there by cattle transport, as parking fees are shocking in SW London - £4/hr and they said it may take up to 4 hrs for me to be done)
here are some links, in case you want to find out more:
What are Fibroids, Wikipeda
I am in good hands here, I think
Who is the safest doctor, if you have fibroids
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