Monday, April 23, 2012

Next Up: Total Hysterectomy

Sorry for the delay in posting here on my blog. I have been very busy getting back to "normal." (More on that in a moment...)

Tomorrow I will undergo a complete hysterectomy. It is the last big hurdle of my cancer treatment. Children have never been in my life "game plan" so it's the big H for me. Normally the doctor would remove just my ovaries but because I have a large uterine fibroid (which was there pre-diagnosis), the doctor decided it was best to just take out everything.

My doctor will be using the daVinci robotic device which is supposed to dramatically reduce post-surgical pain and make recovery just a bit faster.

TIMEOUT: I just Googled "daVinci robotic hysterectomy" because I wanted to share some basic information with you. Unfortunately, I found this graphic video on YouTube - a complete hysterectomy by a San Francisco gynocologist all set to Bach's Orchestral Suite #3.

DO NOT WATCH this video if you are having a hysterectomy, think you might want to have a hysterectomy or would simply like to enjoy a barbeque ever again. Good Lord.

Gag! I wish I hadn't seen this video. It's going to be a while before I can watch chicken sizzling on the grill and not think of what will (has) been done to my lady parts. Geez. Doctors do have a whacked out sense of what's appropriate sometimes. I guess this guy is proud of his technique and sutures.

Anyway - here is the toned-down, sugar-coated information about the daVinci hysterectomy.

So... back to normal...

For me, this past year has been anything but normal. Cancer, lumpectomy, six rounds of chemo, no hair, no sex (or very little), massive weight gain (hello 30 lbs.), 33 radiation treatments every day for six and half weeks, etc. The list goes on and on and on.

This hysterectomy is the only thing that's standing between me and getting my life back. I don't want a "new normal." I want my "old normal." The doctor is giving me six weeks to recuperate from surgery. For six weeks, I need to really take it easy.

But after six weeks, I'm taking my life back.

19 comments:

  1. So glad to hear! I'm sitting here trying to decide if I want that video, hmmmm.........

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  2. Thanks for warning me about the video!
    You are a trooper and wish you a speedy recovery. You are in great hands and great hearts.
    I will drink a toast for you tomorrow as that is your first day back to your old normal, hum drum, rat race life!
    luv ya
    Scoot

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  3. Hang in there! You made it this far, so I am thinking this last hurdle will be a piece of cake for you. Thinking of you and sending love and healing vibes your way,
    Florence (Cancer Warrior)
    www.perksofcancer.com

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  4. Some of the old normal comes back after you have more time to adjust to transitioning back into life without treatments or surgeries ahead of you. Good luck at surgery and best of luck to the best normal you can make!

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  5. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow!!! PS I am def. *not* watching that video! ;-)

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  6. I'm hoping all goes well with your surgery & that you reach "normal" again soon. Rest as you should then take your life back!! God has a plan for you.

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  7. i found your blog by accident - glad i did! i plan to read it ALL in time. but i wanted to let you know that your feisty attitude about the "new normal" struck a note with me. my husbanmd was diagnosed with a rare cancer, multiple myeloma, in 2009. just before christmas, 2011, i was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer, then 6 days later, with insulin dependent diabetes. from day one, i have always HATED the concept of "new normal", and refuse to settle for a term that implies something that is imposed upon us, and always refers to our "old life" - which, truly, i would have given anything to have back. i wanted to rid us of that reference, wanted to grab onto every fabulous detail of a life well lived, cancer or not. so...we chose to call our journey "our life, reinvented".

    i will keep you close to my heart as you go through the hysterectomy. my new one-word mantra is "believe", and i will be believing that all will go well, and that the next leg of your journey will be all you wish it to be. warm hugs, karen sutherland

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  8. Hope everything went good with your surgery. I just had to have a complete hysterectomy the end of March. I have not figured out what "normal" is.

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  9. Benefits and drawbacks of laparoscopic hysterectomy

    One advantage of laparoscopic hysterectomy is that the incisions are smaller (1/2 inch) and much less uncomfortable than that of abdominal hysterectomy. So people are able to resume normal activity in about 2 weeks. So Laparoscopic hysterectomy has many advantages like:

    * Less postoperative pain
    * May shorten hospital stay
    * May result in a quicker return to bowel function
    * Quicker return to normal activity
    * Better cosmetic results

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  10. I hope your surgery went well. I read that the DaVinci robotic hysterectomy does help in reducing surgical pain and help in speeding up recovery. I think that your "new normal" would be a good thing too because you were able to survive all that you went through the past year and were able to live to tell the tale. I commend your strength and faith. I wish for your good health through the years!

    Chelsea Leis

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  11. Learning as much as possible about your surgical options, including minimally invasive alternatives to traditionally invasive surgery, may ease some of your concerns. While
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  12. thanks for sharing blog about Hysterectomy see more at Hysterectomy

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  13. This is a very clever article. Great work! I think this video can complement your article: Shocking Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy 2015

    Keep up the good work!

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  14. Hi, I had a da Vinci total vaginal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy on April 4, 2016. I was in the hospital overnight and home the next day. Initially I had some stomach discomfort but within a few days the strongest painkiller I was on was ibuprofen. After a week or so I was only taking ibuprofen at night. I highly recommend taking pain medication before the ride home though! It was the best decision I've ever made. Good luck!

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  15. Hysterectomy is a surgical strategy done by Gynecologist to expel uterus or womb. Speculated accurately! Once a lady has gone under a blade for this surgery, she can't end up noticeably pregnant nor will she have feminine cycle. It is normal for a lady prompted hysterectomy to ask 'Why me?' This blog will illuminate you with sorts of hysterectomy, dangers, signs, options and life a while later.
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  16. Hysterectomy is a surgery that is used to remove a woman's uterus, where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. Usually during the surgery the whole uterus is removed, but depending on the condition, your doctor may also remove your fallopian tubes and ovaries. After you have hysterectomy surgery, you would no longer have menstrual periods and you cannot become pregnant. Find Best Hysterectomy Surgeon in India.

    A Complete Details about Hysterectomy You Should Know- http://www.apsense.com/article/a-complete-details-about-hysterectomy-you-should-know-cusp-surgeons.html

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  17. My life is beautiful thanks to you, Mein Helfer. Lord Jesus in my life as a candle light in the darkness. You showed me the meaning of faith with your words. I know that even when I cried all day thinking about how to recover, you were not sleeping, you were dear to me. I contacted the herbal center Dr Itua, who lived in West Africa. A friend of mine here in Hamburg is also from Africa. She told me about African herbs but I was nervous. I am very afraid when it comes to Africa because I heard many terrible things about them because of my Christianity. god for direction, take a bold step and get in touch with him in the email and then move to WhatsApp, he asked me if I can come for treatment or I want a delivery, I told him I wanted to know him I buy ticket in 2 ways to Africa To meet Dr. Itua, I went there and I was speechless from the people I saw there. Patent, sick people. Itua is a god sent to the world, I told my pastor about what I am doing, Pastor Bill Scheer. We have a real battle beautifully with Spirit and Flesh. Adoration that same night. He prayed for me and asked me to lead. I spent 2 weeks and 2 days in Africa at Dr Itua Herbal Home. After the treatment, he asked me to meet his nurse for the HIV test when I did it. It was negative, I asked my friend to take me to another nearby hospital when I arrived, it was negative. I was overwhite with the result, but happy inside of me. We went with Dr. Itua, I thank him but I explain that I do not have enough to show him my appreciation, that he understands my situation, but I promise that he will testify about his good work. Thank God for my dear friend, Emma, I know I could be reading this now, I want to thank you. And many thanks to Dr. Itua Herbal Center. He gave me his calendar that I put on my wall in my house. Dr. Itua can also cure the following diseases ... Cancer, HIV, Herpes, Hepatitis B, Inflammatory Liver, Diabetis, Bladder Cancer,Colorectal Cancer,HPV,Breast Cancer,Kidney Cancer,Leukemia,Lun,Fribroid,Infertility,Parkinson's disease,Inflammatory bowel disease ,Fibromyalgia, recover your ex. You can contact him by email or whatsapp, @ .. drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com, phone number .. + 2348149277967 .. He is a good doctor, talk to him kindly. I'm sure he will also listen to you.

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