2/8/2019 2 Comments Surgery Day!Yesterday I went in for my second laparoscopy and my third bladder surgery. I was a little nervous at first, but having my parents there made me feel so much better. They had to wake up at 4am just to drive 90 minutes to the hospital in Holland (where I go to school). This surgery had been something I was looking forward to and, I even pushed my doctor toward the idea. It had been 5 years since anyone had seen the endometriosis, because you have to have a laparoscopy in order to see it, and in that time I have been in and out of menopause twice, been on three different birth control pills, and had two IUDS, along with other new medications like Metformin. Metformin is a drug that is used to treat diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome, but I talked my doctor about using it for experimental purposes for my endometriosis.
I was home by 1:30 pm yesterday and have been on the couch since. The recovery hasn't been bad, but I haven't gotten off the couch yet today, and the second day is supposed to be the worst. The abdominal pain kind of sucks, but nothing is as terrible as the shoulder pain. I have to be laying on my left side at all times or else my shoulder hurts to bad to breathe sometimes (laying on one side for so long is not the most comfortable, let me tell you). The pain caused by the air they pumped into my stomach to see all of my organs during surgery. The air compresses a nerve in your shoulder, causing pain for a few days. Luckily, my fellow "endo sisters" gave me a list of things I'll need after surgery like Gas X and peppermint tea for the bloating. My family has been amazing with my recovery, as they have been throughout my entire endometriosis diagnosis. My mom is my personal nurse, giving meds and forcing fluids. My sister has been keeping me entertained while I'm awake, and my dad is a professional blanket adjuster and love-giver. I tried cuddling with my cat but he's a grump and doesn't like to be touched. I really want to cuddle with my puppy but her energy levels are about a 12 out of 10 and I will most likely be injured by her love. Either way, I am so glad to be home with my family during this process. I left the best part for last! A few months ago I was tested for something called interstitial cystitis (IC) which is basically just chronic inflammation of the bladder. The test was negative, which to anyone else may seem great, but IC is treatable by a single pill, so finding out all my bladder pain was from endometriosis was kind of a let-down. However, yesterday when the doctor stretched my bladder (to get rid of some scar tissue that was causing pain, my bladder started bleeding, and she was able to confirm that I do in fact have IC. IC can cause more than bladder problems, like vaginal cramping and back pain, which are my two biggest complaints right now, I will be starting on the medication for that soon, so hopefully this pain will go away soon! Last but not least, my endometriosis is in 100% remission!!! Thanks to the amazing doctors I have had these past seven years, along with my family and friends who have been so supportive! Even though it is all healing, we will still have to take some preventative measures to try to make sure it doesn't come back, but as for now, I am endometriosis free, and the pain I still have will be treated very soon!! Thanks to all my readers, and I will keep you updated, but for now I am going to sleep and continue to feel blessed as I recover from my last laparoscopy for a while! :)
2 Comments
Laurs
2/8/2019 05:33:57 am
Congratulations!!! I’m so happy for you!!!
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Mary K.H.
2/10/2019 08:15:18 am
Nina! I'm so very happy about that last news! Glad you're recovering well, and I applaud you for being so positive and using your experience to help others going through the same or similar things. Rest and heal, and hopefully I'll see you soon!
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AuthorI decided to start a blog because my mental and physical conditions are constantly changing, and I want to help encourage people with similar experiences, and let them know they are not alone. Archives
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