That Just Happened!

For the events leading up to the day of the surgery go here.

Total procedures being done: diagnostic laparoscopy to identify and diagnose endometriosis, possible treatment of endometriosis, tubal dye test (to ensure fallopian tubes are clear), removal of possible scar tissue, D&C. 

Total problems found: 3.

I have level 1 endometriosis, which meant it was minimal (although he made it clear that the 1-4 scale does not in any way indicate pain caused from it) and he removed it.  I had scar tissue near my appendix (which he was surprised at because that much scaring without having had appendicitis is rare) and scar tissue on my big intestine (from a bad diet?!  But I’m a vegetarian!  Most likely from first year uni and living on my own for a year).  Unfortunately, this will probably not be last time I go in for surgery for this, as endometirosis comes back until you hit menopause.  It can cause infertility (if it goes untreated) and extreme abdominal pain.  Thankfully, I caught it pretty early and I havebeen on birth control pills for so long that it has helped delay the progression of the disease. 

I was glad that the doctor found something.  There was the possibility that he would find nothing.  It turns out your uterus, bowels and bladder share a nerve center, so it is difficult for a woman to identify exactly where the pain is coming from.  You may think it is your uterus, but it could be your bowel, or bladder.  So, the fact that the search can end there is reassuring.  Who knows how long it would have taken if I had to see another specialist.  I must admit that I lost heart a bit when I realized I would have to got hrough all this again.  The other factor is, I could need surgery again in  years, ten years, or even one year.  There is no way of knowing for sure.  It was a very emotional day and it takes a lot to stay braveand positive, so when I realized that it would come back I had to take a few minutes to just be by myself.  MPW was amazing and let me have my time, and he was ready to hold my hand when I was done sulking.  Hello, Pity Party, Table of One!

The pain meds make me nauseous, but I definitely have my appetite.  Moving around is painful and I vow that the next time I go in for this surgery I will have a smaller tummy to make it easier.  There are a lot of things to be grateful for, so here are some of them.

1. I get to havea stress-free Christmas.  No working out, no heavy lifting, no bending over.  MPW is my slave and has to do my bidding.  I must admit it has been fun getting him to run around for me.  Just being able to call him and he’ll get me stuff.  My recovery may take a looooong time.
2. MPW is around to help me and love me and take care of me.  Thank goodness, because the thought of looking at the incisions makes me more nauseous than the pain meds.
3. People bring me gifts (thanks again Stephtastic) and offer to do my bidding (Thanks Art Owl).
4. I finally found out what has been causing the pain and it has been taken care of so I can return to a normal life.
5. I live in Canada and the only thing I had to pay for was the surgical soap for my showers and $1 for the pain meds.  Thanks to universal health care and paying into it since I was 13 years old and the benefits through work.
6. The wonderful people at St. Mike’s who took such good care of me.  I really can’t thank them enough.  To donate to the hospital you can go here.
7. Chocolate.  Enough said.

So, for now I just need to catch up on my rest and be grateful that this is over for now.  I have a follow up appointment in a few weeks and then I should be okay for a while at least.

I wanted to share this with all of you because it is such a major event in my life.  It’s also been really helpful to write it all out (and I get to put words like vajayjay and lady business all over the Internet).  I think it’s also important to share stories like this so that other women know what’s happening and what can happen.  I have never known anyone to talk about having this problem and if I knew more about it, maybe I would have been able to get help a little sooner.  The most important thing I can think to pass on is something I have heard time and time again, “You know your body better than anyone else and if you think there is something wrong than there is!”  Don’t let one stupid doctor tell you they’ve never seen it before because someone out there has  and it doesn’t mean it’s all in your head.  You can keep going and find someone who believes you and who can help you. 

Yeah, That Just Happened!

Can we just talk about how much I really dislike the Vikings right now. Booo Favre. Booo Defense. How can you lose to Carolina?  Even the announcers before hand should have got you riled up enough to fight for it with all their trash talking about how you were going to blow it. Rather than prove them wrong, you justified the smug looks on their smarmy faces.

After some very interesting flops around the field in the first 5 minutes, it finally seemed as though the Vikings found their footing.  Unfortunately, the Panthers just wanted it more. You could tell from the beginning they were fired up and ready to go.  They were energetic, aggressive and drove the pace (something Favre is infamous for doing).  In short, the Panthers played like the Vikings and the Vikings played like dirt.  So really, not at all.

Vikings, you suck right now and I am not happy with this inauspicious start to my Holidays.  *pttthhhht*  Let’s hope for more in the near future. I really hate it when the announcers are right.  In show of my feelings I am not even going to bother finding your logo for this post and instead go to bed. I stupidly stayed up late in the hopes you would pull your stuff together.

I hope I dream of Favre… *sigh*