Life @ The Dahlhouse: 8 Week Hysterectomy Recovery

I can hardly believe it has been 8 weeks since my hysterectomy!  Most days go by and I do not think about the fact that I recently had surgery.  It seems like long ago already.  For the most part, recovering from the hysterectomy has been easy.  Again, the part I found most difficult was not being able to pick up Matthew.  I think we both did pretty well with the restrictions.  Although, towards the end of the recovery, we were feeling fairly crabby that I couldn't pick him up.  He would look at me, hold up his arms, and cry, "mama up, pease mama up."  Break.my.heart!  I would gently remind him and show him my "owies" (my 5 small scars from the incisions).  He seemed to understand, although not happy.  At 6 weeks, I had another follow up visit with Dr. Saner.  Thankfully, I had my restrictions lifted, and I was able to pick him up!  It was a good day for us both.

A hysterectomy typically has a 6 week recovery time frame.  During my recovery, life continued on, albeit slowly.  We enjoyed an outing to 7-11 for our free Slurpee's.  I watched my 13 year old daughter grow up a little bit more, and take on more responsibility (especially for Man Cub).

As each week came and went during the recovery, I was able to do a little bit more, and accomplish additional tasks.  I remember taking the kids to the Olive Garden (pictured above) solo around week 3.  I have to say how nice it was to get out of the house and feel "normal".

When I was staying overnight in the hospital, after the hysterectomy was over, I remember telling my sweet nurse how hungry I was.  I had been a on bland diet for two days prior to surgery and everything sounded so good.  I remember telling her in my loopy state, "I want Olive Garden with a side of Chipotle."  She laughed and gave me graham crackers.  Haha.

Summer has been slow, and yet I feel we enjoyed ourselves and didn't miss out on too much.  The 4th of July was the only event I look back on and wish that we could have celebrated.  But I was in no shape to do anything.  Those first two week post hysterectomy are the toughest.  I felt I had been run over.  Dr. Saner said I would be tired...and she was correct!

We watched a lot of cars and life go by from our bedroom window.  He would sit for long periods of time right where you see him above.   He would watch outside, and then every once in awhile exclaiming "white truck," or, "red car" and I would laugh.  I watched him from my bed where I would be laying.  We figured it out.  We also have watched a lot of TV, and I have not felt the slightest bit of guilt at all.  I gave myself permission to let them watch TV, and even embraced this time in our lives by ordering the biggest DISH cable package I could for two months.

At 4 weeks post op, Grace and I went to the Phantom of the Opera.  I felt really good.  I was tired by the end of the night; however, I enjoyed myself very much and was thrilled to share this experience with her.

We made many trips to the library during my recovery.  Each kiddo spent time ready books, even the littlest.  They each joined the summer reading program and have earned prizes for their reading accomplishments.

I survived 4H Clark County Fair at 6 weeks post op, with only one breakdown.  Haha.  I was very tired when the fair was over, and left early a couple of days, but felt no need to apologize because I was doing what was right for me.  (Another post coming on the fair experience soon).

We've played a lot of Legos, and let a lot of rooms go untidied for longer than I would have liked typically.  But, I had one opportunity to heal correctly and I took care of me and let messy rooms go for a bit.

We visited the fair as a family before our 4H events began.

We took a lot of silly pictures...

I tried to stay in each moment, knowing that all too quickly time goes by.

This last weekend we took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate them!  They have been troopers through the surgery and recovery.  They have each helped me in so many different ways, and we wanted to do one last fun thing before school began.  I think I might have had as much fun as them!

Finally, the two of us, went to the movies and ate popcorn and nachos for dinner.  Celebrating a new season, a new chapter and us.  I think one of the biggest surprises I have found in this recovery is that I really don't feel different.  I guess I thought I would be aware of what was missing.  The only things that are missing is the incredible pain and bloating I had all the time, and horrible awful periods...which I DONT MISS!!!  I still feel like me.  I still feel like a woman, I don't feel less...if anything I feel like more...so much more.

Life @ The Dahlhouse: Recovery from a Hysterectomy

I made it to the other side of the surgery.  It is a good feeling.  A relief.  Finally, after six months of waiting the surgery has taken place, and I am on the path to recovery.  It will be a long, slow recovery.  Six weeks to be exact.  I want nothing more than to take the time, be slow, don't rush things, and let my body heal the way it needs too.  I have given myself permission to do nothing (which if you know me is uncharacteristic).  I have given myself permission to say no, nap and watch a ton of TV.  I am listening to my body...knowing what I am ready for and what I am not ready for.  I am taking care of me.

The surgery was a success.  Tuesday, June 26 started very early. In many ways the time and hospital reminded me of when I had my C-sections, however, there was enough difference to not make me think too much of that fact.  We checked in at short stay surgery and waited to be called back.  Once back in my pre-op room (221), I got to change into a hospital gown, socks and take a pregnancy test.  I chuckled to myself when the nurse announced it was "negative".  Oh good I thought.  Haha.

Because I was having robotic surgery, and they weren't certain which side they would be doing the procedure on, I was lucky enough to get two IVs.  One on each hand.  The nurse actually did a really good job and was successful the first time on each side.  I was asked a bazillion questions.  I met with two different anesthesiologists.  Dr. Jang and Dr. Lail.  They work in teams, however, Dr. Lail was the main anesthesiologist.  He was very funny and made me feel comfortable.  He answered questions and promised to keep me asleep and comfortable the entire time.  Due to my anxiety, he offered a medication to make me feel very relaxed on the way to the OR, and I gladly accepted.  Dr. Saner came and said hello and asked me if I had any last questions.  After that, things moved quickly.  The OR nurse came, Dr. Lail was there, and the moment he inserted the meds into the IV, I was very relaxed.  I told Mark good bye and they wheeled me down the hall.  I remember entering the OR, seeing Dr. Saner, and moving over to the operating table.  They put a mask over my nose and mouth and that was it.  I then woke up hours later in the recovery room.

My surgery ended up taking longer than anticipated.  It took awhile to get the robot set up and ready and then there were a few unexpected findings during the surgery.  One was that my bladder was adhered to my uterus with scar tissue from my previous csections.  Dr. Saner needed to remove the adhesions.  Then my uterus gave them trouble with them actually removing it.  I have a very small pelvis and that presented an issue.  They were finally able to remove it but it took extra time.  My surgery began at 7:30am and I remember seeing the clock in the recovery room and it said 11:30am.  Everything went well though, and I woke up fine.  I was very groggy the rest of the day, but no nausea (which I was very thankful for).

I was wheeled up to the fifth floor and stayed in room 509.  I don't really remember how I got there...haha.  Mark was waiting, as was the nurse.  All of the nurses I had were very kind, nice and helpful.  They really cared about helping me, how I felt, and making sure I was comfortable.  I was up and walking around by 5pm.  I had to leave the catheter in over night due to the messing with my bladder due to the adhesions.  But it really didn't bother me too much.  Dr. Saner came in an sat down to talk to me about 6:15pm.  She told me all about the surgery and answered some more questions.  She said she would be back tomorrow morning to discharge me.  A wonderful friend who works at Legacy came to visit me in the evening.  I was so happy so see her.  Around 10:30 I settled in for the night. Mark went home to be with the kids around 5pm.  It was very quiet.  I was going to ask for a sleeping pill; however, I fell asleep and slept till 5am.  The nurses left me alone, which was nice (or if they came in, I didn't know...LOL).  Mark arrived with Bella around 10:30 am and we left the hospital around 1pm.  I was very happy to have very normal blood pressures while I was in the hospital.  That was a win for me.

My mom watched the kiddos during the surgery day and for the next two days after I was home.   I was very appreciative.  The kids had a great time with her.  Meals have been arriving from family and friends and boy I am I grateful to not have to think about what to cook.  I am so, so thankful.

So now...it is a day by day process.  I feel a little better each day.  I have 5 incisions from the robot.  They are very small.  I have some internal stitches and my bladder still feels a little off, but each day it is better.  We are taking things very slow over here at the Dahlhouse and it's ok.  In a life that rushes by and moves at a fast pace, it is a good contrast to just be.  

Life @ The Dahlhouse: I'm Having a Hysterectomy

Tomorrow, I will bravely walk into the hospital and check in to have a hysterectomy.  At only 39 years old, I am young to be having this procedure.  However, the pain and bleeding have made my life very difficult for the last several years.  I realize that the decision to have a hysterectomy is a long and serious one.  We have weighed the pros and cons, and both Mark and I feel this is the best decision for me and our family.  I wanted to share my story, my why, the process, and the recovery.  I think many times, hard decisions are difficult to share for many different reasons.  But I want to bring a voice, a story, and face of someone who went through the process of deciding, had the hysterectomy and recovered well.  I have benefited from learning about other's experiences with having a hysterectomy, and if one woman is encouraged or learns something from me and my experience, I am glad to share and to say "me too."  *If you are squeamish about reading about uteruses, bleeding, periods and medical terminology, then this post might not be for you.  Just a friendly warning.  :) 

I learned last November, after a series of tests and ultrasounds, that I have condition called, adenomyosis.  Basically it means I have endometriosis inside my uterus.  Fabulous.  Well...that explained a lot of things...the pain, bleeding, spotting, and more pain.  When I think back when I first noticed all of the symptoms, a year ago comes to mind.  However, after spending more time thinking, I realized that I began experiences changes to my cycles shortly after I had Bella.  As the years passed, after having Bella in 2010, my periods began to become increasingly heavier, and full of clots.  I worried, excessively if I was going to hemorrhage or need to go to the ER.  And just before I reached the point of actually going to the ER, they would lighten up and I would be good for another month.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I would worry for the next cycle...would it be bad?  Would I need help?  It has been a debilitating way to live.  

Just when I had accepted that we were going to be a family of 5, two pink lines appeared on a pregnancy test.  Matthew came into our lives and I can't imagine life without him.  12 months of no periods was amazing!  And then my periods returned.  And.it.was.awful!  For the first time in my life, I was planning what days I needed to stay home and close to a bathroom.  With a husband that travels for work, it was very difficult and scary at times to be home alone during "that time of the month."  I chalked my awful cycles up to "getting older," and tried my best to press on.  The pain at times was excruciating.

When Matthew was 7 months old, we took a family trip to Disneyland.  One of my very favorite places ever.  I ended up starting my period on the third day, and now most of my memories of the trip revolve around all of the bathrooms I used, and how much pain I was in.  I really feel like I need a do-over for that trip.  Thankfully, the Happiest Place On Earth has ALOT of bathrooms.  The picture above is me and Grace.  This was our third day into the trip.  I am trying to have a good time, but I remember thinking how awful I was feeling, and wanting to lay down.  

Last July, we took a family trip to Bend, Oregon.  During the trip I began having more symptoms of adenomyosis (only I didn't know I had that at the time).  The spotting during my cycle overshadowed the trip, and I was worried about what was wrong with me.  It was this trip that made me realize I was going to have to get to the bottom of what was going on.

In the fall, we took our kids to Great Wolf Lodge.  Only I couldn't get in the water, due to another horrible period.  I remember the pain was so great (even on meds) I wanted to come home.  I put on brave face for my kids.  I don't want to let things like this win.  I must have made 10 trips to the bathroom that night we were away from home.  I barely slept.  After this trip, I made an appointment to see my gynecologist in November.

Even as I type this now, my uterus is aching and cramping.  I am so thankful to Dr. Saner who listened to me, and what was going on, ordered tests and got to the bottom of it.  There is only one cure for adenomyosis and that is a hysterectomy.  There were other things I could have tried, other methods of attempting to lighten the periods and pain, but the truth is that the condition will not get better...it will only get worse with time.  Since we are finished having babies, a hysterectomy was agreed upon.  Since last November, I have been planning for a hysterectomy.  I will need a certain amount of help.  Honestly, the only thing that I am worried about is not being able to lift my baby for 6 very long weeks.  How do you explain that to you toddler?  I hope he still wants mommy when this is all done.  I've been working on training him and Grace.  She has began to put him in his car seat, change is diaper more often and help more with Matthew's day-to-day care.  It has been excruciating at times to relinquish these tasks, but I know I am doing it for the well being of my recovery.

Tomorrow, I will be having a laparoscopic robotic assisted hysterectomy.  I will keep my ovaries and everything else goes.  This will help maintain steady hormones throughout my body and not need to go through menopause at 39.  My emotions have been up and down these past couple of weeks.  There is a sense of relief that comes with knowing the pain and bleeding will be coming to end.  There is also a bitter sweetness of saying good-bye to my uterus.  My uterus and I haven't had the best relationship.  A rollercoaster relationship at best.  It has failed me three times, and it has borne my two sweet babies.  It has carried both life and death.  It has caused immense pain and also the greatest joys.  Tomorrow my uterus will no longer be apart of my life, and I will begin a new chapter without it.  And I have chosen to embrace this new chapter of my life and look forward to the new adventures ahead...