So, the last few months have been a bit insane for us. I have been laying low and staying quiet as we have been dealing with some heavy issues here. I guess I will back up a bit.
I had a medical procedure in early February where about half of my cervix was removed. Its a long road on how we got to that point, but basically it started with an abnormal pap smear about 2 years ago. And after watching me closely for the past 2 years, things progressed to the point that I needed to have that done.
After that was done they biopsied the parts they removed to ensure they got all the bad cells. But the bad news was that they found cancer cells on the pieces they removed, and it was the type of cells that were going to move up the glands into my uterus. Therefore next step was a hysterectomy.
I had to wait 6 weeks due to the risk of infection being higher than the risk of the cancer spreading outside the area. So, on Wednesday March 21 I had a hysterectomy. Wow, only 37 years old and having a hysterectomy. Good thing we are done having kids! We got the exceptional news 2 days after surgery that they got all the cells!!! I had clean margins all around! Couldn't ask for better news.
But backing up, from the moment the doctor called with the bad news in February, life has been so very different. My emotions went so many places I have never been before. I think I was on auto-pilot until we got the results last Friday. Looking back I feel like I wasn't able to think clearly for the last 6 weeks. Its so hard to put into words what the last 6 weeks were like.
One of the emotions that I was feeling was that I really didn't want many people to know. It was so odd. I am usually one of those people who live like an open book, especially with big issues because I feel that if I can help just one person with the things I have learned or gone through, then it's worth it. But this time I felt like keeping it private. I told those close to us, and I told my Sunday school class and ministry team for prayers.
But here I am after the event, healing, and I am okay being an open book again. Especially because it shows the importance of women getting yearly pap smears!!! My cancer was caught early and removed because my doctor and I stayed on top of it! And I do not have to have any more treatment (cancer wise) due to catching it early!!
How am I doing? Well, the hysterectomy was tougher than I thought. I mean the recovery has been harder than I expected for some reason. Everyone kept saying before that if I had already had a C-section that this would be easier than that. But for some reason, for me, this was worse. Maybe it's due to the fact that I don't have an adorable new baby afterwards, who knows.
So I have been taking it very slow. I learned a few days after surgery that I really have to be careful how many times I go up and down the stairs in a day. Of course the further away I get from the surgery the better I am. I am on lots of restrictions for a while. I am not supposed to lift anything over 10 lbs for 4 weeks!! That's a tough one. And I just have to take it easy for 8 weeks. This is all pretty tough stuff to do with a 2 year old and a 5 year old!
Thankfully this first week has worked out really well. It was already planned that Hubby was taking Courtney on a work trip to Florida with him for Spring Break. He dropped her at Grammy and Granddad's house for the week while he worked in Tampa. So Courtney has been gone most of my recovery time. It has helped immensely to keep me quiet.
My mom and my sister have been here taking care of me and Kasey. I am so thankful! And many friends have been bringing meals for us! I am so blessed! Soon this will all be a memory. I am looking forward to that day.
So to all of you who have sent cards, brought meals, visited, cleaned, called, etc, I can't thank you enough! I feel so very loved. And so very blessed.
No comments:
Post a Comment