The time has come.
I have been living with and trying to manage a great deal of pain for many years now. I have had the pain of endometriosis and ever growing fibroids. These have grown to a point that has begun to include nerve pain throughout the left side of my body for over the last 18 months. The students have even begun to remark on my crooked posture. I lean very far to the right to avoid certain points on my left. This has caused a slight curvature of my spine and my right foot to point almost 45 degrees to the right. It has gotten to a point that I cannot hide my discomfort from the students anymore.
The cases of COVID are reducing in the hospitals, I am fully vaccinated, and I feel now is a safe time for me to be proactive in approaching this head on. My doctors, surgeon, and I have made the decision for me to have a full hysterectomy. With the loosening of restrictions - Mom and Jeremy will be able to wait at the hospital as I undergo the surgery. I am excited to have this taken care of.
AFTER: (7/21)
It is done!
I was told I was going to be tired after surgery, but THIS is intense! The first day I could hardly stay awake for more than 1 or 2 hours at a time. The next few days, I had 2-4 good hours before I HAD to take a nap or risk falling into a deep sleep where I was. The last few days have been getting better. I have been able to stay awake 6-9 hours at a time. Today I am pushing through to see if I can make it through a day without a nap!! (These have not been your typically cap naps - I mean full cycle REM, deep sleep)
My movement has steadily improved each day. I think I am hitting all my marks with my movement and breathing. It is really just the way I am truly fatigued that surprises me. I was told NOT to plan to work for two weeks and not to be back to my old self for 4-8 weeks. The waiting is hard. Ya'll know how 'incredibly patient' I am.