We are now in August, and tomorrow will mark four weeks since my surgery date.
I'm lying awake at 4:50 in the morning because my sleep cycle is so messed up at this point from nights of discomfort.
At 10:15 this morning, I have an appointment with a urologist to have a uretic stent removed. That's a long flexible tube of some sort that runs from my left kidney, through the tube, and connects to my bladder.
That's a tube I didn't plan on having. That's an appointment I didn't plan on needing!
In the doctor's words, it looked like someone had poured glue inside me there was so much scar tissue and adhesions from cysts.
My left ovary (the only one I had left) was encapsulated inside a cyst, as well as lots of scar tissue from previous cysts. In his efforts to get the ovary out, my left ureter was severed.
Now I understand how serious and even fatal this can be if it is not discovered. I rejoice that my GYN has the experience and wisdom to run a dye through the urinary tract and check to make sure things are working correctly and discovered the issue! Other women have not had that experience. Some have lost their life after becoming septic!
A urologist was called in for an emergency repair. (A very skilled urologist thank heaven!)
I ended up being on the operating table from 9 A.M. until 5 P.M. which, as you can imagine, had my family a bit concerned.
I came back to my senses as I was being loaded into an ambulance to be transported from the outpatient facility to a nearby hospital.
After laying and gagging on my dry throat, being shuffled from operating table to bed to gurney to bed, and receiving pain meds much later than should be allowed, I settled in for a 4-day hospital stay.
I can tell you there have been rough moments, a few horrible moments, and hours of discomfort. However, considering all that happened, I can also say that every prayer I prayed was answered sweetly and God has comforted me.
This situation could have ended so badly. I could have endured terrible pain. But, I have much to be grateful for because it was all manageable as long as I just reclined and rested.
I continue to grow stronger every single day. I'm once again amazed at how the human body regenerates itself. Something I couldn't do the day before, I suddenly can do the next day!
So later this morning I get this uncomfortable stent removed and the pressure on my bladder, the burning urination, and the feeling of being kicked in the side or back will be gone!
The pain from my organs fusing together and a uterus full of endometrial tissue and a fibroid is gone. Endometriosis is a thing of the past for me I'm declaring! Cysts will plague me no more! Freedom has come!
I just had my 38th birthday, and I can't think of a much better gift than having my daily life back!
Thank you to all of you who prayed for me, brought meals, sent pizza gift cards, texted or emailed encouragement, help with my children...
I am blessed.
