My journey started years ago, but honestly don’t remember when. Oh, I knew I had fibroids. When I was pregnant with both my children my fibroids grew at the same rate as my kids in the first few weeks of pregnancy due to the hormones I took. But, outside of those two different moments in time more than a decade ago, I cannot tell you if my journey to a hysterectomy started before then. I know some women can tell you their entire reproductive start to finish but it was nothing I kept up with that closely until that one time of year when I went in for an annual exam, held my breath until I got the postcard that my pap was good and then forgot about it again. The most recent event or something I can kick start this hystersister journey would be a fall I took in late February this year.
So how does a fall lead to major surgery to remove organs? It doesn’t. It was a start to discover why I could not recover from my fall and the fact I was losing the feeling in my left leg. At first, the orthopeadic told me the fall recovery would take 8-10 weeks, including the swelling. At 12 weeks I was getting worse and starting to lose my balance. Actually, my leg kept giving way and I fell…again. So back into the orthopeadic I went. He decided a MRI was needed as I should have been completely healed at 12 weeks. So, off I went and got the MRI. Instead of the customary phone call to give me results, I was asked to schedule an appointment to talk about the results. Like most, sure I was a little nervous but nothing terribly worried about. That was until the doc pulled up my report and lead the conversation with, ‘you need to schedule an immediate appointment with your on/gyn’. He showed me the results and showed the fibroid tumor that was pushing up on the base of my spine and sciatica causing pain down my leg. He asked how quickly I could see my doctor and did I need his assistance to get an appointment. While I appreciated his help, I knew if I called my doctor with the importance he suggested I would be able to get in quite quickly. I was right.
Fast forward, one pap, pelvic exam and ultrasound later (all within hours), I was told there was not one but two fibroids spanning the width of me and my uterus was so big they could not see my ovaries in the ultrasound. Decision was made, hysterectomy was the solution. Now, at 47 and blessed with two children, I did not plan to have more children but will not lie, I had a small sense of loss. Loss of the ability to have more children. Some would dismiss this as hormonal and you may be right. However, I truly loved being pregnant and consider it a gift I was given, to bring life into this world. That is now gone.
But, I digress just a moment. So, push forward, my surgery was July 5, 2017. A complete abdominal hysterectomy, leaving the ovaries. I had the epidural to manage pain afterwards (great decision) and within 48 hrs I was heading home. All in all the hospital stay was the quickest and the easiest. Managing pain and trying not to get ahead of myself seems to be hardest part since I got home. At least right now. I keep waiting for all the other things I have read from other women, like insomnia, mood swings or depression. For right now, I am just tired as I have entered this #hystersister club.
Until next time ladies. Stay strong my chickadees. 
Healthier Me Adventures 