Every day that we walk around healthy is a gift but as we do this we tend to take for granted that we will always feel this way. Sometimes we even feel that others must be doing things wrong if they are not healthy. During my recent illness I began to appreciate those days when I felt great and everything in my life was normal. I had to do nothing wrong in order for my health to start slipping away.
In just nine weeks time, I was pale, began to feel weak and tired all the time. I desperately missed the days that I could stay awake all day long, walk up and downstairs without being exhausted, walk anywhere without feeling exhausted. I felt horrible that I couldn't spend time with my son. Hours felt like they were wasting away.
I learned how to stop the weakness eventually but not without taking a huge amount, or what I think is huge compared to normal, of Iron, Vitamin C, B Vitamin Complex, hormones, and drinking Powerade like it was going out of style to replenish the large amount of blood I was losing. Even with those efforts I could feel myself not being able to keep up with life. I was diagnosed with Endometrial Hyperplasia with heavy bleeding and later found that there were noncancerous tumors in my uterus along with cysts on my ovaries.
Needless to say, when my doctor said full hysterectomy after nine weeks of what felt like torture, I was more than ready to get it done with. A day after the surgery and I was home recovering which brings it's own frustrations. Not being able to sleep on my right side, I'm a side sleeper. Not being able to do anything outside for fear of falling. I was and am on a ten pound weight restriction which doesn't sound bad until you want to mow, move furniture because it was spring cleanup week, carry in groceries (one bag at a time), or hold my son. Anything that required bending over, like cleaning or the dropsies (because I seem to have that issue at times) was a no go because of the feeling that my skin was ripping open.
Yes, it was a robotic surgery and yes, the recovery is a lot less than regular surgery but it is still surgery and there is still recovery time. The recovery just takes a lot less out of you and you don't have some massive wound to recover from. Just four small incisions with deep rooted stitches that feel like they pull.
Fortunately, I am recovering to the point where I can get things done like cleaning, picking things up (light things) and taking care of my son. I'm not hurting, actually after the first day home I required no pain medication at all. I can go for walks and haven't really felt weak since after the second week of recovery. I am still not allowed to mow or lift heavy things, though on occasion I have lifted some things, carefully and with assistance.
One thing is for sure, I no longer take my health for granted. After weeks of feeling like I was falling apart, there was no way my health was gonna be taken for granted. My son and I have great things planned for this summer some of which I plan to blog about.
A happy healthy life is nothing to sniff at. Don't take it for granted. Get regular checkups. Do self exams. Be proactive in your life. Don't put things off until your life is affected and you are in massive pain or are too weak to maintain your life. After all it is the only one you have and there are others counting on you to stick around. Do it for yourself, your family, and friends!
