A Little Unexpected Surgery, and Hysterectomy Recovery

This surgery was unexpected and pretty unwanted, honestly.  The past few months have been crazy with our move from California to Maryland.  We were in a nasty hotel for Thanksgiving, barely in our rental for Christmas, and then I had to have a hysterectomy.  Read on to find out what is up, and by doing so you are agreeing to my updated privacy policy (here).   I also use commission based links.

Ok, so the surgery.  I was having some mid-cycle bleeding.  This was happening on and off for a couple of years, and I have been to the doctor for it many times.  Nothing ever came up as a cause, so when it happened again last fall, I didn't think anything of it, but decided to make sure.  Thankfully, I made an appointment before we left MD, and they found a polyp in my uterus.  

It's not a huge deal they said. Just get it out within the next couple of months.  Fast forward to finding a doc here, and allll the appointments to get it removed.  The removal is surgical, but it is usually a quick outpatient procedure.  Removing polys is super common, so not a big deal. 

LOL.

The surgeon couldn't get the polyp out.  She tried for an hour, but my uterus was so tilted, she couldn't access it.  My doc recommended a hysterectomy.  After a second opinion, that decision made the most sense to us.  I would keep my ovaries (we are done having kids), and I scheduled it.

Surgery during covid was fun.  NOT

My second opinion was with the most experienced doc in the practice, and she decided to scrub in on the procedure too.  The plan was a laparoscopy, and it seemed fairly straightforward.  It didn't end up that way.  Luckily, I had two very experienced surgeons working on my because my c-section had messed everything up.  Scar tissue had adhered to my uterus, hence the horrible tilt. Scar tissue was also attached to my bladder, my cervix, and connected basically everything.  They had opened me up for the laparoscopy, but then had to open a new c-section incision to attempt to remove all of the scar tissue.  

They weren't able to get it all.

I woke up to a much different recovery than I was expecting.  Instead of the fairly uncomplicated laparoscopy (and the gas stuff IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW), I also had a new c-section incision.  And it is big.  Add in the three other incisions from the laparoscopy.  I look deformed, and I have no idea if it will get better.  I for sure will NOT be having surgery to fix it.  

I am six weeks post-op and starting to get better.  The prescription pain meds weren't necessary after a couple of days, but I am pretty sore.  Motrin, motrin, motrin. Exhaustion seems to hit me every afternoon, and I am thankful that my hubs is keeping me resting.  Staying on top of my meds, and taking it easy are the two things I am barely accomplishing.  This week, I have been able to feed the kids breakfast and make lunches.  That feels like quite an accomplishment.

My first day out and about.

I'm not sure if there is a non surgical option for dealing with the scars and how they moved everything around, but if you have any ideas...I would love to hear it.  After the whole mastectomy thing, my body is just very different. It's going to take some time to get used to all of the changes before going under the knife again.  In the meantime, I'm not sure I will ever be able to wear a bikini again.  Yes, I still do.  Well, did.

I would love some advice, or if you have done anything that helps, let me know!

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