Take My Uterus…PLEASE!

This post is going to be a little different than any other post I have done so far.  This post is going to be very personal.  

Okay….here we go….

I have sufferred for YEARS with painful, brutal periods.  Im talking doubled over cramping, and super heavy bleeding.  Not just normal bleeding, but big clotted bleeding.  “Don’t leave the house if you dont have to” horrible!

We have struggled with fertility, {Its by God’s grace that we have our Bug} we have struggled with pain, and I have lost many articles of clothing to my horrible periods.  Planning life around this time each month is a pain too, its not ever convenient either!

In the last couple years its just gotten significantly worse.  So I finally went in and talked drastic measures with my OB/GYN.

In May ’19, I went in and had a hysterscopy with a D&C {plus a unexpected appendectomy}.  The D&C cleaned out alot of the bad tissue that was built up inside and gave me some relief for a couple of months-but not near long enough.  

With this surgery, the doctor was able to diagnose me with adenomyosis. This is very similar to endometriosis, with the exception of where the uterine lining grows.  In adenomyosis the lining grows within the muscle wall of the uterus. Whereas with endometriosis, it grows outside of the uterus.

If you experience heavy and painful periods, speak with your doctor to see what you can do to ease the pain.  There are options available!  

So now, here it is 6 months after my last surgery, and this coming Friday {11/22} I will be going in and having a total hysterectomy.  {Removing the uterus and cervix}

I am both thrilled that I will no longer have to deal with the monthly pain, but terrified of the recovery time and the dreaded gas pains that come from the docs pumping air into your body during the surgery.  {it feels like knives everywhere! Its awful!}

Recovery time is about 6 weeks, and I’m not sure how I’m going to handle resting for 6 weeks.  I’m really hoping it will be a week of rest max, and then I’ll be back up and running around, just with some minor restrictions!  {fingers, toes, and eyes crossed!!}

I have been overwhelmed trying to plan and prepare for the surgery with meal prep, house cleaning, and just my typical over planning of life.  So I’m trying to just breathe and leave it all at the feet of Jesus, bc I know He’s got this all under control.  I’ve got to step back and not try to micromanage it all.  So please lift me up in prayer as I finish prepping for surgery Friday.  

I will be MIA for a couple days at least starting Friday, but I plan to update and share my hysterectomy journey with you, as I recover.  The good, the bad, the hilarious…just hopefully I dont share while I’m drugged up in the hospital!  eek! hahahaha

Have you had a hysterectomy?  What are some key things I need for recovery?  Got any post-surgery tips/suggestions?!  

Also–I think I need this little uterus pillow!  So fun! The perfect gift for someone having a hysterectomy.