Updates

I wanted to update since I haven't posted in a while.  I'm doing pretty well.  My stomach is feeling much better; I did have some heartburn earlier in the week, but it's hopefully done too.  My incision is doing fine and I don't really have much pain from it most of the time.  I haven't taken any pain medication in over a week.  I'm pretty much sticking to the Endo Diet in the last week or so since my stomach is finally working more normally.  During my 2 week follow-up phone call from PPVI, the nurse asked me about the Endo Diet because she's dealing with endometriosis too.

I have an interview for a nanny job on Tuesday, and I'll update when I have some news on that.  I haven't been doing a whole lot lately other than reading (blogs and books), listening to my iPod and resting.  I do need to work on housework a bit.

D's 28th birthday is in 8 days and we are going to have a couple friends over for dinner, etc.  Since I'm currently unemployed, I'm probably just going to do a special dinner and cake as his present.

I managed to ovulate on CD 16 or 17, but I only had one day of good 10KL.  Hopefully that was just because of surgery and my body trying to get back to normal.  CM has never been a problem for me so I'm hoping that this was just a fluke.  I'm currently P+7 or 8, but this was a break cycle so I'm just looking for a good LP (13 or 14 days would be lovely).

My 6 week phone follow-up with PPVI is on April 12, and that's when I'll be finding out exactly what Dr. H thinks that we need to do.  The main thing that he's going to be treating me for is the inflammation that he found during my hysteroscopy in December.  I'm still taking Hydrocort (which is supposed to help with inflammation) and I'll probably be starting on the Pain and Brain supplement that's also supposed to reduce inflammation.  The Endo Diet is also supposed to help reduce inflammation too.  One thing that I have to remember is that treating the inflammation, since it's chronic, will probably take a few months so it may be a while before anything happens.

Tummy Troubles

The main problem that I've had in healing from my surgery is stomach issues.  I had some serious constipation on Friday (4 days out from surgery), and my stomach has continued to have difficulties (mainly nausea) since then.  The nausea was still around a bit as of yesterday, so I've had a really hard time eating much since the surgery.  I've lost 10 pounds in the 10 days since the surgery and I really need to gain it back.  I'm hoping that the nausea issues are finally done so that I can get back to the Endo Diet since you've got to pretty much eat whatever you think you can handle when you are nauseated.

I haven't really had issues with the actual incision or much pain.  I stopped taking the Dar.voc.et on Friday since it can slow your digestive system.  I took ibuprofen and tylenol for a couple days, but I haven't even take those in 3-4 days.  The only time that I really have pain is when I laugh or cough.  I did have a rash near my incision, but I'm not sure if it was an adhesive allergy or if I had an weird immune reaction to the surgery.  I do tend to get a rash on my hips whenever I get sick, and no doctor that I've talk to has any idea what could be going on.

I had my follow-up with Dr. H on Monday afternoon.  He was really happy about how my incision is healing and with how the surgery went.  He says our odds of getting pregnant are up to about 75%.  I have to call PPVI on this coming Monday and then in another 4 weeks.  The 6 week post surgery call, on Monday, April 12, is when Dr. H will let us know exactly what we are doing moving forward.  He did say that he'll be order some bloodwork, but I don't know how extensive it'll be yet.  He'll also have me start on the Pain & Brain supplement, which is supposed to help with inflammation.  Since my hormone levels were good (and will be tested again), his main concern now that the endo is out is the signs of inflammation that he saw inside my uterus.  The hydrocort is supposed to help with that too.  Dr. H also briefly mentioned the Endo Diet, but said that he hadn't had time to really research it yet.  

The pathology report from the surgery confirmed that the 8 spots removed were endo, plus I had a benign growth on one of my ovaries removed as well as the cyst on one of my tubes removed that had be weighing it down.

I haven't really had any peak-type mucus yet even though I'm on CD 16, which isn't very surprising since my body has been under a lot of physical stress in the last 10 days.   

I'm out

I got out of hospital yesterday.  I'm actually having a rougher day today with a bit more pain.  My back is bothering me quite a bit.  I need to got walk around more I think.  D will be leaving tomorrow morning to go back home, and my mom will be staying with me through Monday when we fly back early evening after my appointment with Dr. H.  This is going be a relatively long post going over the surgery and recovery.  I'd like to thank LIM for posting on Monday and to thank all of you for your prayers.

Here's an overview of the last few days:
Sunday- I did the bowel prep and showered.  The bowel prep wasn't too horrible.  I tried to go to be before 10 but didn't sleep very well.

Monday- Surgery day.  I woke up about 4am.  I wasn't planning on getting up until 5, but I couldn't fall back asleep.  I got on the computer until it was time to leave for the hospital about 5:25.  We got to the hospital about 5:45, and they got me back to start doing the prep with the cleaning cloths about 6.

  The cleaning cloths were really difficult to open, but I finally got them open and did the whole body wipe down.  I had the same pre-op nurse as I had in December for my laparoscopy.  She got my IV started.  The priest at Creighton came in after D and my mom came back, and I got anoiting of the sick.  Dr. H came by and talked to me briefly.  I don't really remember after they got my sedation meds started. 

The surgery lasted about 3 hours and Dr. H removed 8 spots of endo as well as the cyst on my tube (I can't remember which tube right now though).

I woke up in the recovery room and was there about 30 or 45 minutes that I remember before they moved me up to my room.  I wasn't feeling too bad pain-wise when they had me on the morphine.  D ended up going to buy some ear plugs (the hospital didn't have any) so I'd be able to sleep.  I highly recommend earplugs if you are going to be in the hospital overnight.  The nurse cleaned my teeth with some swab things that made my mouth feel much better and less fuzzy.  I finally got some ice chips about 6 pm and it was so wonderful.  I didn't sleep very well that night, and it wasn't just because of the people come in and checking on me.

Tuesday-  I woke up pretty much at about 3am, just before the nurse came to check on me.  A lab person came to draw some blood about 4:30, and then Dr. H's med student came in about 6 to talk to me.  He was very nice and seemed pretty knowledgeable.  Dr. H's fellow came in a little later and told me that they would start me on the clear liquids, and I got the clear liquid breakfast.  I didn't see Dr. H that day, but my mom and D said that they saw him on the floor.

I still was doing pretty well with the pain and they switched me to oral pain meds in the late morning and I started back on my T3 and hydrocort.  I was able to take a shower midday and started doing the walking.  The nurses were impressed on how well I did with the walking. 

After dinner (meaning Jello, juice, broth and tea), I started not feeling well.  I hadn't had any issues with nausea up to this point.  The nurse gave me nausea medication, but I don't remember which one.  I was feeling uncomfortable sitting in bed so I had D go walk with me, but we barely made it 20 feet before I realized that I needed to vomit.  Thankfully I made it to the bathroom in my room.  I got back in bed, but started feeling off and restless in the bed so we got up to walk again, and I talked to the nurse and ended up vomiting again.  She gave me more nausea medication, this time Zofran, and I didn't have any more nausea issues.  I think that at least part of it was my system not being used to that much sugar. 

I actually slept pretty well from about 10pm to 6am, but there was a miscommunication between D and my mom and he ended up locked out of the hotel room and sleeping in the car.

Wednesday- The med student came and checked on me again, and then Dr. H came and check on me.  He said he was very happy with how the surgery went, and that as soon as I was able to pass gas that I'd be able to get started eating real food.  Thankfully after my breakfast, where I just at the broth and the tea, I finally did pass gas and then Dr. H's fellow came in and said that I could have real food for lunch.

After lunch, they said that they had the discharge orders for me.  We just had to wait for D, who had been resting and then went to work out after the locked out drama of the night before.  We got back to the hotel about 4 and I ate my first meal of non-hospital food.

D dropped off my prescriptions, but he had to come back and get the new RX card from me since he only had the old card, so it took about twice as long as necessary.

Thursday (today)-  I've been having a few issues with slight pain in my ears and some back pain.  I actually feeling a bit more tired that I was yesterday.  I'm very thankful that D was here to help me shower.  The pain from my actual incision isn't as annoying as the other issues.

I probably will post again when I get back home on Tuesday with information about what Dr. H says at my appointment.  I've been reading blogs, but I don't really feel up to commenting right now.  I am keeping all of you in my prayers.

Surgery Update - new information :)

Hi, Life In Mazes here.  Just wanting to fill you all in tht Mrsblondies made it through surgery and is currently in recovery.  There are no specifics on the surgery at this time, but let us continue to pray that she is receiving the best possible care and has a swift recovery!  Will update if I get any additional information.
New Update:
I did just get a new update from mrsblondies' Mom.  She said that she is out of recovery and doing well.  She did have eight spots of endometriosis removed and the cyst on her tube was removed.  Praise God!  She was in surgery for three hours and in recovery for two.  So glad to hear that she is in her own room right now!!

Surgery tomorrow

My surgery is tomorrow at 7:15am, so we have to be at the hospital at 5:45.  My mom, D and I got are checked into the hotel and I got my pre-op blood draw done.  I ate some soup and I'm going to do the enema when they head out for dinner.  Life in Mazes will be updating my blog sometime tomorrow and D will hopefully post on my FB tomorrow when I get out of the surgery.  I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers and I'll probably post once I'm out of the hospital either Wednesday or Thursday hopefully. 

Finally really CD 1, Cycle #29

This will be a break cycle due to my surgery, but I finally started my new cycle.  I need to double check my chart, but it looks like I had a 14-15 day LP, with only tiny amounts of pink in my CM for the previous 3 days.  If this is due to the Endo Diet (which I can't guarantee since this was also my first full cycle on cortisol), I'm sold. My mom got into the States yesterday, and is in our hometown until we leave on Sunday for Omaha.  D and I will go down this weekend.

I was wrong

Yesterday wasn't CD 1, but I'm having the tiniest bit of pink/red combined with 10K and still waiting for true flow.  13 day LP isn't too bad.  6 days until surgery.

One week, and CD 1

Just some quick stuff:
My surgery is in one week.  My current nanny job is finished on Friday.  I'm stressed out, but it's mainly since I need to find a job soon.  I've applied for a couple things, and we'll see if anything pans out.  Please continue the prayers in this area!

I'm doing pretty well on sticking to the Endo Diet (I've posted about it on my recipe blog and I have some Endo Diet-friendly recipes up in my February and March meal plans).

Today is almost definitely CD 1, though it's not quite officially yet.  That means another 12 day LP and no crazy spotting/bleeding.  Hopefully, once the endo is out, we'll have a decent chance of conceiving.