More Nether News!

If you have been paying attention, then you will know that I was going under the knife again for a total hysterecomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes).

Friday 2nd October

PRE-OP

Up at 6.05am and straight into the shower. 

Despite taking the time out a couple of days ago (and struggling to do so, I forgot how taxing it was on the arms), I straightened my hair thinking it would be easier to manage when in hospital. 

I quickly discovered otherwise - thanks to the boys taunting yesterday morning; 'cock-atoo' head I believe they called me!  It turns out that straight hair means brushing to look neat.  Whereas, curly just looks the same brushed or not; a jumbled mess.  Oh, that was my long winded way of stating that I washed my hair LOL!

At 6.25am, I kissed my boys goodbye (Jazz pulled yet another all nighter...we need to get him back into school routine ASAP.  Mind you, he stayed up specifically so he wouldn't miss saying goodbye...naww sweet boy!), wheeled my suitcase out to the car, and at 6.35am we were pulling out the driveway and on the way!

We arrived at Ballarat Base Hospital with plenty enough time to stop briefly and admire the beauty of nature...

And, to say our goodbyes at the door.  

Mark struggled not being allowed to come inside with me whereas, I simply went into 'it is what it is' mode!  Admittedly, nerves were high!

- Temperature check, and standard Covid-19 questions ✔

- Front desk check-in, and sticker stuck ✔

- Admission granted... I arrived and checked in at the 1st Floor DPU spot on 7.30am ✔

- Admission paperwork with nurse ✔

- Anesthesia doctor check-in ✔

- Sexy surgery outfit provided ✔

- Waiting, waiting, more waitIng ✔

I was finally called and we made what felt like a bloody long walk into the pre-surgery room.  Here  they popped a bung in my hand and gave me an lovely injection..."equivalent to one and a half glasses of wine"...bye bye nervousness!  

The last time I remember looking at the clock it was 8.50am.  Not long after that I was in the operating room being shuffled from one bed to another and breathing in a special sleepy time gas!  

While I was on the chopping block, Mark was keeping busy, and keeping everyone updated...

POST-OP

When Mark came in to see me after the op, all I remember is feeling FREEZING.  Thankfully, my sweet man brought me my R4L blankie and put his beanie on me 'kinda'.

Pic taken at 3.24pm.

Eyes open - 3.59pm

Yay...food and a cuppa!

Hmmm the pic says it all!

Two hours goes really fast, and time was up and he had to leave in what felt like a blink of an eye!

And ofcourse the process wouldn't be complete without Markys facebook update, so here it is!

Update #1

2/10/20

(No cuppa necessary...unless of course you feel like a cuppa; in which case, go make yourself said cuppa and then sit back and enjoy a bit of that cuppa, as you read my rantings and ravings.....not that I actually rant and rave...CRAP!! **spoiler alert** Actually, should I put that asterixed "**spoiler alert **" at the beginning? Hmmm...not sure. 

Actually, having looked at this post and the advice that a cuppa ISN'T necessary; I would ACTUALLY recommend a cuppa !! And I kinda HAVE raved on. But, I haven't ranted, as I feel ranting requires a sense of anger; and I'm not angry...just long winded sometimes)

Welcome back to medical madness!  Your faithful reporter Mark here, coming to you from the empty confines of our lil love-nest...☹

It is with great joy that I can report that my dear, darling Denigirl has pulled through her hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (Removal of cervix, uterus, both fallopian tubes and ovaries) without any major issues...thus far. 😊

My gorgeous Angel is indeed flying high tonight, with many thanks to the inventor of Endone (tm, pty ltd, et al)!!

Before being permitted to exit stage right, we need to wait to see if ALL nasties were cut out and have a meaningful discussion with the pros!😁

Anywho, I'm knackered...been an exhausting day...both physically and mentally. 

Toodle-pip!!😊❤

Saturday 3rd October

Good morning...despite very little sleep I'm doing okay!

I had to call the Doc in during the night as I was itching like a mad woman, and stressing that they accidentally gave me penicillin.  Nope, turns out it was just because they used a woollen type kylie and still had the surgical plastic on me like WTAF eewww!  

On top of that, the poor lady across from me had 'another' heart attack, and so there were people running from all directions and beeping galore.

Also, being woken every hour for observations makes it hard to sleep.

During this mornings rounds my Gynocology surgeon and team confirmed that they found a cyst on my left ovary.  We believe this is the reason I ended up in hospital on Aceys birthday, even though the CT scans and internal ultrasounds didn't find it.  Oh, and surprise surprise, its (rare) symptoms are some of the problems I've been having like; severe lower back pain, irregular bowel motions, heavy abnormal periods, and bleeding during sex.

Also, on Wednesday last week I got a call from my GP to tell me that my papsmear results weren't good. This was confirmed during the operation. Since my burn and scrape operation last year the pre-cancerous squamous cells have regrown and changed into cancerous cells. HPV was also detected. 

Anyway..., they assured me that they successfully removed EVERYTHING!  

Given family history, they also went up into the bladder to check for abnormalities.  Thankfully it is all clear! 

At this moment, there is no need for systemic treatment (e.g chemotherapy, radiation) as it was caught early and now it is all gone - thank f#^% for that!!!

I have an appointment to discuss things in more depth in 6 weeks time. Things such as; whether I need ongoing vaginal smears, whether they/I/we want a PET/Bone scan. 

Because they did the op laprascopically (only 4 little incisions) they took everything out via the vagina. But, because I'm 'little' (sorry to those who find it TMI) they had to cut and stitch (dissolvable); let me just say "burnies". 

My cathetar was taken out this morning, I had a lovely shower, and bloods were taken (oh another thing to discuss is menopause parameters.  I will be taking herbal route before even contemplating pharmaceutical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), if at all)! They are measuring my wees today and then doing an ultra sound of my bladder to check I'm voiding ok. 

If all is good, it is looking like home either late today or tomorrow...

I am hoping for today, as I know I will actually sleep at home!  Something you may not know about me, is that I have a phobia about people standing over me, watching me sleep. So yeah, being in a room full of strangers, with nurses coming in and out constantly equals NO SLEEP!

The joys of laprascopic proceedures...

A belly full of gas...

Check out my facebook live video HERE!

Update 2

03.10.20

Okay, this is your favorite medical reporter Mark, coming to you from the bedside of my beautiful bride. 

I've gotta keep things real. That's just how I roll...So, despite feeling so very blessed 🙏 (yeah, yeah... I know. Technically its a high five and not prayer hands, sue me! 😁), Im still finding it hard to get my head round a few things 🥺 so I'm gunna just yak. Been told I've got the gift of the gab!!

So the Gynocology surgeon and team confirmed that they've successfully removed all the nasty bits 🙌! My darling Denigirl has an appointment to have a yarn about "things" with the head honcho in 6 weeks time 🤔. 

Despite not having a great sleep due to various reasons but mostly an itchy kylie...my beautiful bride is feeling hunky dory 😁..... so much so infact, that Imma toss her over ma shoulder and take her home. Home is the best place for her to get proper rest and I can be there at her beck and call...besides, it gives me a genuine excuse to wear my skimpy nurses' outfit!! 👨‍⚕️

Sunday 4th October 

Photo taken at 6.21pm 2/10/20

Here's Markys update for today which covers everything nicely.

Update3

4/10/20

Yup...it's me again! Hopefully, this will be my final update for a while! 

So, the girl has been given the green light to come home...but with conditions! 

Haemaglobin levels are quite low (around 85 but should be 120), so first condition is that we need to take supplements. Next, we need to visit our G.P. to check that the levels have actually increased. If they haven't increased, then we'll need a blood transfusion. 

All in all , she's not doing too bad. A bit lethargic, a little dizzy, tummy a little distended, but better at home than she was in hospital. She actually got some half decent sleep!

Anywho, better boot off...m'lady desires a cuppa...aaand I DID promise to be at her beck and call. What IS a beck? I know someone can beckon...is that what it means...she becks and I call. Or is it she becks AND calls? Dang! I've done it again...prattling away!!

See ya's!

Well, that's its folks.  I am pretty drugged up and ultra tired so I am gonna love you and leave you.

I will finish by saying this...even though I am ultra blessed, smile on cue, push through the pain to get stuff done, and say I am doing okay...I am ultra freaking weary and have moments where I feel fragile....so, if I disappear for a while, please come find me as I may need your help to pull me put of the darkness, and sometimes even my pride prevents me from crying out.

If you made it all the way to the end of this post, you rock!  

Thanks heaps for your support, friendship and love xo

Read more "More Nether News!"

Filling in the gaps...

So there was a little bit of a jump between my 'Dam good day' on August 20th to 'Fathers Day 2020' on September 6th, and today is September the 18th so I thought I would quickly fill in the gaps.

Now let me see...

Remote Learning...

Our weekdays have been spent mostly doing remote learning with the boys.

Depite the funny face, and the fingers up in the background (cheeky shits), there has really only been one or two days that can be put in the 'this sucks balls' basket.

Even though we haven't been working to proper school time schedule, nor following the time table of subjects as they would be doing at school, the boys have managed to 'pretty much' stay on top of their work. I actually believe that during this time they have probably achieved and learnt more than they would have at school; Ace more so than Jazz as he doesn't get the one on one, someone sitting beside him the whole day helping and encouraging (like Mark and I have done), support at school.

Today is the last day of term 3 (18/9/20)...let the two weeks of school holidays begin!

As the restrictions have eased for Covid-19 in the regional areas, they are due to go back to onsite learning for Term 4 (date to be confirmed). You would think we would all be jumping for joy hey, but no! Although they miss their friends and crave the social aspect, both the boys would quite happily do another term of remote learning. Us too, although them going back to school will give me more study time! If it wasn't for the fact that Ace will be doing VCAL next year, we would have seriously contemplated moving into homeschooling. Oh well, at least having the remote learning aspect, we can say we did it, and loved it!

Uni Study...

I take Tuesdays off from being a 'teacher', to be a 'student'.

My day looks a bit like this - minus the boring household chores, eating and elimination stuff!

8.00am - 10.00am - Botany lecture (via zoom)

Quick break

10.30am - 12.30pm - Herbal Manufacturing lecture (via zoom)

Lunch time - wander the garden and get some fresh air!

2.00pm - 5.00pm - Materia Medica lecture (via zoom)

Break

6.00pm - until I simply cannot do any more!

Hahaha despite THAT face, I actually really enjoy the whole day.

I'm loving the subjects, and foraging (wildcrafting) in my own garden is ultra awesome! Do you like my fancy plant pressing setup LOL!?!

I will be honest with you, it is full on!!! I am trying really hard not to stress over it, but...

Stuff all really...

So, other than those two things, plus the normal day to day stuff like household chores, physio exercises and the odd walk out in nature (the last two are ones which I need to ensure happens more often, I've been a bit slack), as we have been in lockdown due to the Covid-19 restrictions there really isn't a great deal to share, as we've done stuff all really!

New Specks...

On August 26th, Ace and I went and got our eyes checked.  Wasn't that an interesting experience when wearing a mask that fogs up the optometry lenses - FAK!

Ace didn't require a prescription just yet but I did, and so on the 3rd of September I picked up my new 'reading only' specks!

Ace picked them out for me :)  Not fancy CK's or anything but for $45.00 (throught the VAS), I'm not complaining!

Over did it...

So after spending the day before fathers day, and also fathers day out in the garden (c'mon the weather was absolutely glorious), on Monday 7th September, I ended up paying for it!

When the f@&% will I learn that just because I can doesn't mean I should! Actually, I think the pain I felt was the icing on the cake.

Needless to say that the other half of the backyard and the front yard remains looking shabby!

Food glorious food...

I ended up getting another box of both Hello Fresh and Dinnerly so dinners have been one less thing for us to think about. As per last time, Hello Fresh wins hands down for taste.

Pictured below is pork tacos with pickled onion and crushed peanuts.

Dinnerly however, is much more affordable...this time around the meals have been a little nicer.

Picture below is Haloumi San Choy Bay with crushed cashews.

I love that Mark and the boys have been working together on Tuesday nights to make dinner!

What else...

Like I said earlier there really isn't a great deal to share. Oh wait...so as of yesterday (17/9/20) regional victoria moved steps on the road out and so that means we are now free to leave home 'just because'. It also means that elective surgery reopened AND...

Hospital booked...

As I was category 2 (within 90 days), I was one of the first to be offered a spot, which is - Friday 2nd October. Yep, in two weeks time, 15 days I will be having a Hysterecomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy! Goodbye cervical cancer cells!

What was I saying before about trying not to stress about uni stuff...eeeekkk, maybe I should drop out before concensus, BUT I have already done so much it just seems like a waste of time. I might just get the doc to fill in some forms so I can get an extension...that should work? Hmmmm, I will think it over! They said I should expect to be in hospital for about 4 days. Which means that if the boys do go back to school for start of term 4 on the 5th October I won't be home. And if they do a staggered start and they don't go back straight away I wont be able to do remote learning with them...so many thought racing in my head. It's okay, I will sort it all out!

Anyway, depite all the racing thoughts I'm glad it is happening sooner rather than later. Not only because of the trouble I've been having but also because it means that I can rest and recover and get back on my feet enough to be okay for the next foob op, which should be at the end of the year or early 2021. Oh, and hopefully in between the two, the lapband operation can happen.

So much for getting back to work anytime soon though. Not that I'm ultra keen to be in such close proximity with people with the whole covid-19 thing. Money would be good though...

Covid-19...

Well since its been mentioned a few times I thought I would share a bit more about it.

I personally have really enjoyed the lockdown phase! I love how the world has slowed down allowing me to catch my breath and just take time to get back on my feet.

Vader reminding me to take time to smell the roses...camillias!

And Simba reminding me to take time to bask in the glory of the sunlight!

It has also given us a heap of quality family time together, which is always a blessing.

The worst part for us has been not physically being able to see those we love...family, friends!

Actually, because metro is still in lockdown I still can't visit Mum!

Funniest thing though, I sent her a message today saying "I miss you". Her response, "Why? I'm not dead"!

Hahahaha trust her to put it into perspective!

She's right though, we talk every night on the phone, text throughtout the day and have a family video call once a week. How blessed we are to have modern technology...imagine if we were in lockdown without that stuff - now 'that' would be hard!

Anyway, I think that's it...so much for a quick gap filling post LOL!

I will leave you with another pic of my furbabies.

Look how much they have grown! WOW!

I will try and pop up another post before heading into hospital, and ofcourse will keep you updated also. Thanks heaps for reading my ramblings all the way to the end.

Read more "Filling in the gaps..."

It comes in threes...

For those unaware, I am now waiting on three, yes '3', different operations!

1.  Lapbad port revision

I discovered in January 2020 that my port has done a 180 degree flip.  This means that they are unable to get the syringe in to draw any fluid out, or put any fluid in.  I got called in to have the operation done only a few weeks after the mastectomy, but for obvious reasons said no! 

2.  Additional Breast Surgery

More tissue transfer to get the breast size even, and provide fullness.  As well as fix and smooth out the scarring.

3.  Hysterectomy 

This has been recommended by both the team at the familial cancer centre, and the gynecologist due to previous abnormal checks, high risk and various issues.  Paperwork has been submitted and I am on the 90 day waiting list as Category 2.  

Waiting isn't so bad...

In saying that though, due to Covid-19 putting a hold on elective surgeries, when they will happen is anyones guess.

As much as I'd love to get them all over and done with, this waiting period is allowing me the opportunity to focus on getting in tip top shape and becoming 'op-ready'.  

Confession Time...

Unfortunately, during my recovery time, the sedentary lifestyle has seen me put on a whole 8 kilos eeekkk, and I have reached a point where I am ultra uncomfortable in my own skin.  I am thankful that I realised my downward spiral before I entered triple figures...just!

My Goal...

-  To be op-ready; mentally and physically strong, healthy, and lighter!

My plan...

- Move more by walking (aim of 10,000 steps per day) and doing physiotherapy exercises.  Not only will this improve physical stamina and strength, I am hoping that coupled with the next goal it will see the scales and tape measurement numbers go down.

- Be more mindful of my unhealthy food choices, and make small gradual changes to improve nutrition.  e.g. drink more water, reduce sugar in cuppas, cut back on crappy carbs!

- Keep my mental health strong by attending psychology appointments, and keeping it real!

-  Most importantly, I will listen to my body, and not get down on myself if I don't reach my steps, or am too sore to do my physio session.

My thoughts...

I am pissed off at myself, and totally embarrassed to be here in this place again!  But, I will forgive myself, and I will show myself love by working hard to reach a place where I will stand tall with pride.  I've done it before so I know it can be done, even with the restrictions that I face.

When I get there, I will share my before photo, so be sure to stay tuned!

Read more "It comes in threes..."

Nether News

When I say nether, I am indeed referring to the nether regions!  Yes, this is a Gynocological update!

On Wednesday 5th August, Mark and I made our way up to the Ballarat Base hospital. 

Whilst not as scary an experience as going to RMH, Covid-19 protocols were in place.  These included being asked a series of questions, temperature check, checkin process at the main desk, and no support people allowed.

This meant Mark had to wait in the foyer, and I was a big girl and went upstairs all on my lonesome.

Notice a mask change?  This is because every time I would smile or laugh, the elastic on the other mask would fly off my ear.  So freaking funny but not safe - so a hospital mask it was!

I didn't have to wait long before I was called in...I was the only one there.

So, here I was thinking that we would just be discussing results, filling in paperwork, and booking follow up appointments for cervical check.  Oh boy was I wrong!  He decided that we may as well do a papsmear, and take a little chunk of my insides then and there!  Wowee!  That was fun NOT!  And so starts the bleeding *sigh*.

After that, we discussed my 'cancer' risk factor based on family history (file sent from the Familial Cancer Centre (FCC)), my previous abnormal findings, and all the problems I've been experiencing.  As per the FCC, it was his recommendation to remove the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes via laparoscopic surgery.  This is called a Total Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. No way I can pronounce that, I have enough saying my name somedays LOL.

Anyway, I agreed, filled in the paperwork and so the admission process is now underway on a category 2, which means within 90 days.  Mind you, with elective surgery on hold due to Covid-19 when it will happen is anyones guess (unless my status changed to urgent (category 1) based on test results).

Another brief area of discussion was the possible need for pharmaceutical menopause relief (hormone replacement therapy).  At this point I enquired about whether he could/would recommend Complementary and Alterative Medicine.  His answer was, "Yes, BUT they don't work"!  Needless to say that I walked out knowing exactly what my focus area would be for any future university assessments.  As I've said in the past, I'm not a one or the other gal.  Both types are beneficial and have their place.  Used together in an integrative way, I believe you get the best of both worlds.

These are the exact words I said on Monday (10th August) when I received a phone call from the hospital.

Why?

Because, they informed me that the tube they used for my pap smear was out of date.  Which means, I need to have it done again! Wahhhh!!

Oh, and just when the bleeding stopped from the wonderful chunk removal, TTOTM started...joy of joys!

In all seriousness though, as much as they are unpleasant...early detection saves lives, so that alone makes it worth it!

Read more "Nether News"