I had my post-op follow-up with my gynecologist on Tuesday. Everything was pretty much what hubs told me after the procedure. She found one small spot of endometriosis and removed it. Despite being small, it was actually quite complex to remove because it went so deep into the tissue. She also drained two ovarian cysts and removed three fibroids. The fluid that came out of the cysts was clear so they are not endometriosis related. The pathology on everything came back as not malignant (which wasn't a worry, but it's nice to know). Everything that was found and removed was on the right side, which was where the majority of my pain has been for a really long time. My incisions are mostly healed and are looking great, and everything on the inside, while still a bit tender, is healing as it is supposed to.
And I wore jeans tonight, without discomfort, for the first time since before the procedure. I only wore them for an hour or so, but I think that my self-esteem needed it.
I already had my first period after the surgery and there weren't any noticeable differences, but both my doctor and I agreed that it started so close to the surgery that it might not have been the best period to judge if the surgery is going to help the pain at all. What I do know is that for the first time in I don't even know how long, I haven't had any spotting or cramping after sex, and I'm not going to lie, I hope it continues.
The "treatment plan" going forward is to call her if there are any changes or pain that concern me and to have my IUD replaced when it's time (in 2020). Otherwise she doesn't need to see me again until my annual in September. So now I just need my lady parts to make it nine months without acting up.
I'm still getting really tired pretty quickly, but I'm not sure if this is that my work life is pretty crazy right now, or that I'm still healing, or both. I'm doing ok with normal day to day lifting, but I'm taking it easy with the heavier stuff. Hubs is still carrying all of the dirty laundry downstairs and then back upstairs when I have it done and making sure the garbage gets to the curb and such. I'm looking forward to getting back to exercising, but I think I'll give that a few more weeks to give the muscles in my abdomen more opportunity to heal. Right now I'm making sure I stretch every day and do a few yoga type things that I know. I'm trying really hard to not overdo it, which is hard, but necessary.
Honestly, I feel validated that she found something that could potentially explain the pain, that it's not all in my head. And pissed that she's the first gynecologist in over 20 years of talking about my terrible periods and pain that listened for long enough to actually investigate.
Oh, and I apparently metabolize anesthesia pretty quickly.
Yes it's annoying for sure that no gynecologist until now thought to investigate further! I hope that you'll continue to recover well, I would say feeling tired after the surgery is normal and it'll probably take you a few weeks to get back to normal. Hopefully your next period will be a lot less painful and great that your love life will also improve now ;) Wishing you all the best
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's nothing, or perhaps it is, but all but one gynecologist prior to this one were men. What I think it amounts to is that general complaints of pelvic pain and women's pain in general (but particularly in the lady parts area) isn't taken seriously. Fingers crossed for both the periods and the love life! :)
DeleteNice to hear that they actually found something, if only for you to say ”I told you so” at your appointment, but so frustrating that it took so many years to address….
ReplyDeleteWoohoo, there’s nothing like a getting into a pair of your favourite jeans to improve your morale.
Yeah, keep taking it easy, you’ll know when you can start to up the tempo again….
They say it takes 2 months to form a new habit….. Just sayin’…hubby and the washing/garbage…give yourself a good few more weeks at least to fully recover!
Haha. Right. There are some changes of habits that I've been working with hubs on for nearly 10 years. Though at least now I think he's more mindful of everything that I do and how spoiled he is. :)
DeleteAm happy to hear you are recovering and that you are seeing some improvement. May you continue to see more as you heal. It always takes longer than expected (especially with abdominal surgeries), but you are getting there.
ReplyDeleteAnd adding to the growling about your past doctor's not addressing your pain. It's an ongoing issue with women's health and it truly needs to stop.
It does need to stop. I understand that any diagnostic procedure that is technically surgery isn't something to be taken lightly, but still, it seems like that much complaining wouldn't go unnoticed.
DeleteI really am getting there. Honestly, it's been within the past few days where I've realized that I actually feel pretty good.
Oh my goodness, my jaw dropped when I read about everything your doctor found. I'm glad it wasn't anything MORE seriously, but really, no wonder you were feeling so awful! And to think it took 20 YEARS for someone to take your complaints seriously enough to investigate... grrrrr.... I think you have every reason to feel both validated and supremely pissed off. (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loribeth! I'm trying to be thankful for the doctor that did listen as opposed to all of the doctors that didn't, but I'm failing miserably. Even though the amount of endometriosis that they found is highly unlikely to have caused my infertility, it still makes me wonder that had it been addressed earlier, if the outcome would have been different. But that line of thought isn't healthy.
DeleteI am glad that you could wear your jeans, if only for one hour. Yippie :-)!
ReplyDeleteOn getting tired easily: this could also come from anesthesia (combined with the healing process). Those drugs are powerful and shouldn't be underestimated.
Of course it wasn't all in your head (even though I had been wondering about my own head, too, before I had surgery). This probably happens to more women on this earth than we will ever know... Your treatment plan sounds good, though!
I even wore them for about four hours yesterday! I had to unbutton them when I sat down, but they were otherwise quite comfortable.
DeleteIt's silly, but I was honestly worried that they wouldn't find anything and that the surgery was all for naught.
I am so glad that the healing is continuing, and that you got to wear your jeans if only for an hour. How wonderful to have a doctor listen to you and investigate your pain seriously and not relegate it to your subconscious. It must be so validating...not that you want endometriosis or fibroids or cysts, but that there was a REASON for all the pain and trouble. I'm glad you're on the mend and taking it easy so your battered abdomen can heal up nicely! Good for your husband, taking on the heavy lifting so you can continue to heal.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jess! It was so validating, not only to be heard (finally), but also because of the compassion and empathy that my doctor showed me.
DeleteTake care of yourself, and continue to take it easy. My surgeon after my hysterectomy says he can always tell which of his patients don't follow his instructions to look after themselves and overdo their activity. They pay for it with slower recovery. So listen to your body, and if you're tiring easily, then get rest, and make hubby continue to help you out as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteYes, also disgusted at the medical community for not validating you for so long. But glad you've been listened to and hopefully it is all going to improve from here. Sending gentle hugs.
I suppose that surgeons would be able to tell, even if the patient stretched the truth. I've definitely been taking it easy, which isn't in my nature. :)
DeleteWow! What an update. I''vet been mostly offline the past month so just now catching up. Glad you're feeling better and yeah for your doctor recognizing and "hearing" your concerns. Wish there more like her...
ReplyDelete