I apologize for the absence.
My grandma emailed me this morning: "I'm waiting on a blog?????????????" Sorry Grams.Here it is:
Did you know this week marks three months since my last surgery and five months since the awful symptoms first started appearing? But, I mean, I’m not counting or anything. WOW.
Things we take for granted:
- belly laughs
- walking (better yet, walking with good posture)
- turning and twisting
- driving
- cooking
- showering
- making our bed
- doing laundry
- putting on shoes
- putting away clothes
- work
- washing our hair
- being able to sit on a stool
- reaching for things above our heads
- opening and shutting car doors or heavy doors
- getting in and out of bed
- rolling over in our sleep
I had no idea 12 weeks ago that I was going in for major surgery. Turns out, instead of a week off work I was supposed to take a month off work...who can do that?! Especially when you're doctor doesn't properly prepare you for the type of surgery you're having. Thankfully, my job has been not only incredibly understanding, but also all kinds of supportive and caring.
Since the second surgery, I’ve learned they took my appendix and parts of other organs. Friends have said: "They scraped your insides clean!" It has certainly felt like it!
Endometriosis was far more severe than I understood. A month after surgery I found out endo had spread to my lungs and diaphragm. Who knew it could do that?!
Sitting in my post-op doc appointment, my friend and I may as well have been mouth open in shock at the news my doc presented. Bad news after bad news culminated with: “It’ll be months before you’re normal.” I’m still trying to figure out what that means: like normal walk a few miles everyday after work “normal” or normal go climbing throughout the week and hike some mountains on the weekend kind of normal. As recovery progresses, I’m tongue-in-cheek thinking it means the former.
Since the second surgery, I’ve learned they took my appendix and parts of other organs. Friends have said: "They scraped your insides clean!" It has certainly felt like it!
Endometriosis was far more severe than I understood. A month after surgery I found out endo had spread to my lungs and diaphragm. Who knew it could do that?!
Sitting in my post-op doc appointment, my friend and I may as well have been mouth open in shock at the news my doc presented. Bad news after bad news culminated with: “It’ll be months before you’re normal.” I’m still trying to figure out what that means: like normal walk a few miles everyday after work “normal” or normal go climbing throughout the week and hike some mountains on the weekend kind of normal. As recovery progresses, I’m tongue-in-cheek thinking it means the former.
To be frank, I didn’t handle the post-op news well. It threw me for a loop for sure. Prior to that appointment, I’d been handling everything in stride for the most part. Usually I'm adventuring in the mountains every spare moment when I’m healthy, but I don’t mind reading and doing quieter things.
A resident and I are going through the book of James right now and, my, how it is fitting! I came across this the other day and found the picture quiet perfect for recovery and life in general:
A resident and I are going through the book of James right now and, my, how it is fitting! I came across this the other day and found the picture quiet perfect for recovery and life in general:
To every single person who has:
THANK YOU
It’s been a LONG road, y’all. Yet, I am continually astounded at the depth and width of my community.
To those who keep showing up and those who just are finding out I’m still rather boring and have started showing up, THANK YOU.
What does recovery look like now?
I'm still not entirely sure. I'm learning as I go. The phrase: two steps forward, one step back is on point. It's nice to be working full-time again! However, I'm noticing while I'm working more, I'm not able to get out as much. while finding I'm still easily exhausted and worn out.
I'm trying to find what the balance is as I recover.
I'm more of an all-in-who-needs-sleep-when-there's-excitement-to-be-had type of gal and have never been good at balancing unless I'm climbing rocks, so it's tricky!
My goals for November:
- visited
- surprised me with care packages
- sent flowers
- gone on the slowwwwwest (and sometimes shortest) walks possible with me
- prayed with me
- given me careful hugs even though it made ya’ll nervous
- done errands for me
- sent me worship songs when I had nothing to give
- listened to me cry for the umpteenth time
- cooked for me
- brought me groceries
- surprised me with UberEats (I’m so old school I had to download it)
- washed my dishes
- supported the GoFundMe my friends set up (We surpassed the goal!)
- taken out the trash (and still takes out the trash)
- been my chauffeur
- done my laundry
- put my clothes away
- mopped my floor
- vacuumed
- called
- private messaged
- pushed the silly wheelchair
- sent thinking-of-you texts
- offered to help in any way
- and to EVERYONE who keeps doing all of the above.....
THANK YOU
It’s been a LONG road, y’all. Yet, I am continually astounded at the depth and width of my community.
To those who keep showing up and those who just are finding out I’m still rather boring and have started showing up, THANK YOU.
What does recovery look like now?
I'm still not entirely sure. I'm learning as I go. The phrase: two steps forward, one step back is on point. It's nice to be working full-time again! However, I'm noticing while I'm working more, I'm not able to get out as much. while finding I'm still easily exhausted and worn out.
I'm trying to find what the balance is as I recover.
I'm more of an all-in-who-needs-sleep-when-there's-excitement-to-be-had type of gal and have never been good at balancing unless I'm climbing rocks, so it's tricky!
My goals for November:
- continue walking more and more
- start simple strength-building and core exercises
- work towards rebuilding my energy levels (It's so WEIRD not having energy!)
- get to the mountains to chillax a bit....even if it's not for skiing
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