5 New Scars Later...

Well it has been a little over two weeks since my surgery and I'm beginning to become more and more mobile each day. While definitely not my first surgery, it was my first robotic procedure. The healing has definitely been different from my open surgeries. My abdomen is much more swollen this time around, which surprised me. Maybe from being pumped full of all that air? Not really sure. My scarring is definitely better though... just 5 small incisions. I joke with David that they look like shark teeth :)

Had some set backs/ complications after surgery. The procedure was on a Monday and I ended up going home on Thursday, though apparently most people would have gone home on Tuesday (I'm special). But I was actually throwing up on Tuesday. The nausea was the one big difference of this surgery vs my other ones. When I did go home I was incredibly nauseous and as soon as I got to my house the vomiting started all over again. But this time it didn't stop. Close to once an hour for the next 24 hrs I was visiting the bathroom. And I hadn't eaten anything since Sunday night. Come Saturday morning it was so bad that I ended up returning to the hospital. The IV fluids helped tremendously and eventually we figured out that this was all being caused by my nausea medicine (ironic huh?). They had put me on Reglan to help my nausea and apparently that medicine tends to cause intestinal paralysis (NOT something I need to be taking since I already have so many intestinal issues). So basically my digestive system stopped working, causing everything to come back up. I'll spare you further details.

So I stayed in the hospital until Tuesday morning. Once home I threw up one more time but then I was able to start eating some. I have been progressing ever since and each day is better and better. I go to the doctor in the morning for a check up and to get the pathology report. We are pretty confident that the mass was benign... the doctor believes it's just Endometriosis (not a great diagnosis, but better than cancer). He moved my ovaries away from my anastamosis site so that nothing on them will effect my remaining colon in the future (this time whatever it was, was wrapped around my intestines). But overall the surgery went well... glad it's over though :)

We had a great Christmas! We bought a house, David got a job after a VERY long time of looking, and we were able to spend lots of time with family. I should also mention what an awesome husband David was while I was sick... never did I ever think that a man would take such good care of me to the point that I could tell my mom I was comfortable with her not staying at the hospital. He waited on me hand and foot, wiped my face as I threw up, and constantly told me I looked beautiful even though I hadn't showered in days and looked like a hot mess. I couldn't ask for a better man. So blessed to have him.

One Week till Surgery

So the timehas come... surgery is just a little over a week away. While this is my 5th surgery it is going to be very different from the others. Up until now, each one has been an "emergency", but this one I actually scheduled and I have had time to prepare for it. I've located all of my girly DVDs, acquired new books to pass the time, and printed out some articles to read for school. Still working on laundry and organizing my clothes and such. Also doing a meal plan for post-surgery so that I don't run straight to junky fast food or other bad "treats". One positive of having operations (and trust me, it is vital to look for positives) is that each one brings a new wave of weight loss, and since I have been trying so hard lately to lose weight and to little avail, I don't plan to gain it all back post-surgery by shoving cheeseburgers down my throat. At least I say that now...

I've had people ask me if I'm scared. That's a hard question to answer. I guess I'm supposed to be scared... that would be normal. But oddly I don't really feel scared. A little nervous. And maybe dreading it a little simply for the pain factor and having to spend my Christmas break in bed basically. But I'm not scared of what might happen or what they might find. If something is there, then I hope they do find it. It is what it is. That is all I can say. We can't spend our lives in fear or constantly worrying. And I have enough normal things in my life to worry about (i.e. finances, school, job, etc). I don't need any more than normal.

I'm ready for it to come and go. I think the waiting is the worst part. I hate that I've had to wait so long to do it... well partly had to, partly avoiding it. I've been trying to wait it out for 2 years, hoping I wouldn't have to have it removed (it being whatever it is on my ovary). Then, in September when I found out I had to do it, I then had to wait for the school semester to be out, making December 12 the first day I was able to schedule it. So that is D-day. Appreciate any and all prayers. I know God will take care of me :)

So here is my reading list (not that I will read ALL of them... these are just my choices)... if you have any books or movies to suggest, send the comments my way! It would be super helpful!

1. Professor and the Madman by: Simon Winchester

2. Crazy River by: Richard Grant

3. Sailing Alone Around the World by: Joshua Slocum

4. The Charlemagne Pursuit by: Steve Berry

5. Around Ireland with a Fridge by: Tony Hawks

6. The Professor by: Charlotte Bronte

7. The Emperor of All Maladies by: Siddhartha Mukherjee (appropriate huh? lol)

8. Around the World in Eighty Days by: Jules Verne

9. Getting Stoned with Savages by: J. Maarten Troost

10. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by: Barbara Kingsolver