Hey… it’s Anna. 🖤
It’s been a little while.
And for the first time in what feels like forever, I finally have some really good news.
I had my surgery.
I’m writing this three days later.
And despite everything, I’m okay.
Actually…
I’m more than okay.
I’m relieved.
I feel like the biggest chapter of my life has finally closed.
The Tea
Well…
Apparently my uterus wanted one last opportunity to be dramatic.
The surgery ended up taking about eight hours.
Eight.
Hours.
When the surgeons made the incision, they discovered another massive fibroid hanging off my uterus.
Apparently nobody got the memo that we were done growing fibroids.
This one was about the size a normal uterus should have been.
So before they could even remove my uterus, they had to remove that fibroid first.
Honestly…
My uterus really believed in going out with a grand finale.
Then It Got Even More Complicated
As if seventeen fibroids weren’t enough.
As if carrying around what looked like a six-month pregnancy wasn’t enough.
The fibroids had actually attached themselves to my pelvic bone.
Apparently they got comfortable.
Very comfortable.
So the surgeons had to carefully separate everything before they could continue.
Which explains why the operation took so much longer than expected.
Hearing that afterward made me realize just how much was actually happening inside my body.
And somehow…
I was still getting up at three in the morning and going to work.
Looking back now, I honestly don’t know how I did it.
What They Removed
So it’s official.
My uterus is gone.
My cervix is gone.
My fallopian tubes are gone.
My ovaries stayed exactly where they belong.
Which is wonderful news.
Keeping my ovaries means my body should continue producing hormones naturally, so unless something unexpected shows up, I should go into menopause when my body is naturally ready.
Everything they removed has been sent off to pathology.
Now it’s another waiting game.
Waiting for results.
Waiting to officially close this chapter.
The doctor told me before surgery that the chances of those two suspicious fibroids being cancerous were extremely low.
I’m holding onto that.
Because right now, that’s all I can do.
Let’s Talk About The Pain
You know what surprised me?
The incision isn’t actually the worst part.
My incision starts around my belly button and goes down toward my lower abdomen.
Is it sore?
Absolutely.
But it’s manageable.
The real villain of this story?
Gas pain.
Nobody warned me properly about the gas pain.
Or maybe they did and I just underestimated it.
Either way…
That pain is something else.
I don’t even know how to explain it.
It isn’t where I expected pain to be.
It moves around.
It is sharp.
It makes me question every decision I’d ever made.
Thankfully once they gave me medication for it, the pain settled down quite a bit.
So if you’re reading this because you’re thinking about having this surgery one day…
Please don’t panic if the gas pain shows up.
Apparently it’s completely normal.
Still rude.
But normal.
Every Little Milestone Feels Huge
The funny thing about surgery recovery is that things you normally never think about suddenly become major accomplishments.
Walking.
Huge victory.
Going to the bathroom by yourself.
Huge victory.
Doing number two.
Believe me…
Huge victory.
Nobody tells you how excited you’ll become over completely normal bodily functions.
Recovery really humbles you.
Home Sweet Home
Today is the day I get to go home.
And honestly?
I’m so excited to sleep in my own bed.
Hospitals are wonderful.
The nurses were amazing.
The doctors were incredible.
But there really is no place like home.
I’m ready for my own blanket.
My own pillow.
My own cup of caffeine-free tea.
And absolutely no one waking me up every few hours to check my blood pressure.
The Next Few Weeks
The instructions are pretty straightforward.
Take it easy.
No lifting anything heavy.
No strenuous exercise.
No trying to prove I’m Wonder Woman.
Walking is encouraged.
Everything else?
Not so much.
Recovery is expected to take about four to six weeks.
For someone who’s used to constantly doing something, that’s probably going to be the hardest part.
Apparently resting is now my full-time job.
I’m going to do my best.
No promises.
But I’ll try.
The Part I’m Looking Forward To The Most
This is the part that almost makes me emotional.
I don’t have to plan my life around my period anymore.
Read that again.
I.
Don’t.
Have.
To.
Plan.
My.
Life.
Around.
My.
Period.
No more wondering where the nearest bathroom is.
No more buying the biggest pads I can find.
No more adult diapers.
No more setting alarms during the night because I’m afraid I’ll bleed through the bed.
No more organizing my entire calendar around a cycle that completely controlled my life.
For years, it felt like I was dragging a giant ball and chain behind me.
Now…
That chain is finally gone.
I honestly don’t know what normal looks like anymore.
But I’m excited to find out.
You Wouldn’t Believe The Pictures
You guys…
I have pictures.
And they are shocking.
I keep looking at them thinking…
“That was inside me?”
It’s unbelievable.
I wish I could show you all.
But trust me when I say…
It explains everything.
The bloated belly.
The pain.
The heavy bleeding.
The exhaustion.
I wasn’t imagining any of it.
My body had been carrying around an incredible amount of weight.
And now it’s finally gone.
One Day At A Time, Lovelies
So this is the beginning of a brand-new chapter.
Recovery won’t happen overnight.
There will be good days.
There will probably be frustrating days.
But I want to document all of it.
The victories.
The setbacks.
The little things nobody tells you about.
Because if sharing my experience helps even one woman feel a little less afraid of this surgery, then it’ll be worth it.
Thank you for every prayer.
Every kind message.
Every encouraging comment.
I read them all.
And they meant more than you’ll ever know.
Now it’s time to heal.
One slow walk.
One nap.
One cup of caffeine-free tea.
And one day at a time.
Until next time, lovelies.
Anna out. 🖤💋
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-heal-while-helping-others
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