Hey everyone, it is day 5 post-op here, and I am feeling well enough to be thinking about what I can do to feel better.
I'm still waiting on the pathology report; I'm guessing that if something was wrong I would have heard by now. My first post-op appointment is 11/28 (19 days post-op) and I suppose that the GYN will confirm or deny adenomyosis at that point, let me know if she found endometrial implants, adhesions, etc. All I really got from her was that the uterus was "boggy", but that everything else looked good.
My bladder symptoms are unchanged, or perhaps worse. GYN claimes that hyster will fix this problem and that it just takes time. I am uncertain. I feel like I need to pee 24/7, which is how I felt before the hyster, and the bladder pain is consistent with pre-surgery levels as well. I will be looking into neuro-therapy for my bladder (and anxiety) as soon as I can drive.
Here's where I need help. I want to get off of the ibuprofen I am taking; since I reacted badly to narcotics I am using the ibuprofen for pain relief, but it really doesn't do much. I remembered that KR used marshmallow root tea for urinary relief (in my dreams last night) so I made some this morning. It wasn't a cold infusion but I did some research when I woke up and a hot infusion is okay, if not preferable. I will use hot infusions today while the cold infusion is brewing.
KR, is it okay to sweeten the tea with raw honey?
Supplement-wise I am taking
Emer'gen-C Super Orange, natural vitamin E, zinc,
Dr. Fuhrman's Gentle Care formula multivitamin,
LEVITY,
Solaray Food Carotene, and a cal-mag supplement (when I remember). I'm thinking I may switch to the Levity Plus supplement as my main multivitamin once I am finished with the others.
My GYN has severely limited my activity. I can walk around the house, but not so much as to the corner of my block until after the 2 week check. Is she being overly cautious? She kept saying that I wasn't going to
feel like walking. I am very fatigued, that's true, but the lack of activity is damaging in other ways. She has flat out said no exercise-level activity for 6 weeks. It isn't that I am chomping at the bit to take an aerobics class, but walking is part of my normal routine (for errands and as a family activity).
Depression is a huge concern, since I have a history of major depressive episodes and PPD. This is an area that I have taken complete control of over the past year. I now use the LEVITY supplement, along with activity and sunlight, as my core mood regulators. I also use hydrotherapy in the form of hot epsom salt baths, along with an aromatherapy blend of geranium, lavender, and bergamot. I worked hard at establishing a community to battle loneliness. Of course, right now I can't take the baths (for 6 weeks), can't go hang out with my friends, and can't walk for activity. I have been going outside for at least 20 minutes of sun exposure (DH kindly tore down the gazebo we had put up over the deck so that I can get sun). I am feeling so lonely and isolated. Even when DH is here he can't be with me because he is doing everything that I usually do. I swear I feel like I need to literally plug into him at the end of the day, to get some physical affection and skin contact, as well as conversation and emotional connection.
Physically, I am tired and sore, and I am also cold unless I am in direct warm sunshine or using a heated mattress pad (I know, EMFs are bad, but I don't tolerate cold at all) and 6 layers of blankets/comforters. I am taking the supplements to aid in the healing process. DH is feeding me basic, healthy foods like fish, rice, and vegetables. He makes me a fruit smoothie each day (with flax) for raw enzymes and vitamins. I'm drinking filtered water. DH and the boys bought me a dark chocolate bar and I have been eating 1 square each day. I'm not really in a lot of pain, other than my bladder. When I get to the point when it is time for the ibuprofen again I am quite aware of the various places inside that were cut and down, but it is more a feeling of awareness and discomfort than pain (although at first the pain was far worse than I expected).
Bowel function is returning slowly. I thought there would be less of an interruption with a laparoscopic procedure, but I was wrong. My intestines are so sore! I've been using Colace but I want to stop. I think the flax is helping, and I started eating Activia yogurt 4 nights ago. I don't usually eat dairy, but have been unable to tolerate any probiotic I have tried. I don't think there is anything special about Activia, and will ask DH to get me some plain Strauss organic yogurt once the Activia is finished. I also read that the marshmallow root is mildly laxative.
Another thing, I am crying several times everyday. Sometimes it has a purpose, such as mourning the fact that I will never have another child (which DH doesn't understand as we didn't plan to have more children). Sometimes it comes for no reason. Yesterday I was hysterical until I finally got DH to agree not to send the boys away (he wanted to send them to his dad for this entire week). I am not usually a weepy person. My book says I may need the GYN to prescribe some estrogen until my ovaries are fully functional again. If I need more estrogen I'd prefer a natural source, but I don't know what I can do without the GYN's approval. She isn't a deity, I know, but I do have to work with her.
(Totally aside and TMI, DH thinks my ovaries are functioning fine, as I haven't lost any sexual desire.)
I'm not sleeping well. I never sleep well, so I suppose that is unchanged, but even with Ativan for anxiety (related to bladder issues) and Lunesta, I'm not sleeping well. The Lunesta isn't even getting me to sleep within an hour, I sleep fitfully, and I wake after 6 hours. I suppose daytime sleep could be part of this. I do need to nap/rest deeply several times a day.
OKay, this is long and I just threw many different things out at all of you, but you are the reigning princesses and I am just starting this journey. I appreciate any help, advice, sympathy that you all can offer!
(It did take 90 minutes to type this all out. My boys are angels...I'm so sad that I am the only one who knew they could be trusted to meet this challenge.)
Peace,
Linear Mode
