Fertility Findings and Surgery Update

I'm just over one week post-op now and am doing pretty well.  I was VERY lucky that my surgeon, Dr. C, was able to examine my pelvic area after the bypass.  There was a lot to be discovered and I feel so blessed that we know another piece of the fertility puzzle.  Right before the surgery, she said she would do anything possible to give Dr. G an good idea about what was really going on inside of me.  She did a great job and I am so thankful!

Funny thing is... I learned about some of the findings from my own blog!  I was SO out of it after surgery that I don't think I really heard anything that was being said about what they found.  I was messing with phone and looked on the blog and read Ann's update and thought, "Oh, I have endo."  Hahahaha!

Dr. C looked around the pelvis and found out that I do, indeed, have endometriosis.  She could not comment on the extent of it because she said it was not her expertise.  It was in several places and also on some of my bowel.  She took a ton of pictures, some that she gave me and others that she will forward to Dr. G for review.  My left ovary was enlarged and hard a huge cyst on it.  My left tube also had a cyst attached to it.

For months I've had excruciating pain on my right side.  Ann nicknamed the pain, the Gremlin, and I think it accurately describes it!  Well, turns out the Gremlin is most likely my right ovary.  It is attached to my abdominal wall.  Ouch.  Totally stuck.  It wouldn't move at all.  It also had a cyst by it.  It was, however, a normal sized ovary.  Dr. C said that this was most likely the cause for my right sided pain.

While I am upset that I have endo, I am not surprised.  Sew smelled it on me as she always says.  Plus, the pain indicated that I had it and Dr. G assumed I had it... we just needed it to be confirmed.  This will most likely result in a surgery next year.  My pain is horrible and I cannot endure that forever.  Dr. G had talked about a surgery for the endo (even before we knew this) next summer, after I lost some weight and healed.  I am interested in what he will say now that he has all the pictures and the endo is confirmed.

Side note: My cycle decided it would show up while I was in the hospital.  I think there should be some sort of law against this.  CD 1, Cramps, the Gremlin and surgery pains should not happen all at the same time.  Ha!

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In other news... the WLS went great.  It went better than I expected.  I did not expect to feel 'well' in the hospital.  I've gotten sick after every other surgery I've had.  They were minor (tonsils, gallbladder) and I was so sick.  I did not feel the least bit sick this time.  Whoo hoo!  My hospital stay went great.  They had me up every two hours walking and I walked like a champ... even with my IV and all!  I walked a mile at 3am the first night.  Yes, only 12 hours after the surgery.  The nurse told me I needed to sloooow down a bit.  Ha!  I was a total lap leader and took that seriously!  I'm a bit competitive, I admit it! 

I was in the hospital two days and then was released.  Things at home have been pretty smoothly too.  It is a big adjustment.  I am very sore and my incisions are still hurting.  Getting up and down from a chair or in and out of bed are the most painful, but getting better each day.  

I am on a very limited diet right now and am doing well with it.  I eat three small meals each day.  Small, meaning 2 oz. of modified liquids or mushy food (applesauce, smooshed beans, pudding, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.).  Sometimes I cannot even get the full 2oz. down.  I am not hungry at all and have to remind myself to eat.  It takes me almost an hour to eat 2 oz!  I take a bite, set a timer and wait two minutes, take another bite and repeat.  I sip on liquids and protein drinks during the rest of the day.  The program I am involved with has is very structured, which I love.  It lays out exactly what and when I can and should eat.  It takes everything very slow and I like it that way.  It gives my new stomach, or "pouch" as it is commonly called, time to adjust to new foods that are introduced.  Here are pictures of my first meal in the hospital and my lunch the other day.  I love the little containers.  :)

                      

 

I take a number of supplements during the day as well.  I have a list of medications and vitamins and I check them off as I go.  That's a full time job in itself.  There are some that I have to take two hours apart, others I have to take before or after a meal.  I have to cut up the pills.  I take a pill, then I wait 15 minutes, take the second part and continue.  It's a process to get everything done.

I did have one 'bad' day.  It happened to be the day that DH was heading back to work.  I woke up and felt sick, which was very different than any other day.  I was nervous about DH being gone and I let my anxiety get the better of me.  I was so nervous the rest of the day.  It was hard to eat or drink... until he came home.  Hmmm... I think DH was my miracle cure.  Cheesy, but true.  

I have managed to lose some weight this first week!  I gained almost 12 pounds from all the fluids in the hospital!  They wanted to 'over-hydrate' me prior to my release.  They told me this would happen and they were pleased with the amount I gained.  Ha! I lost the water weight within the first few days being home and have lost about an additional 10 pounds.  I am trying to walk a lot during the day.  It's snowy outside, so I've just been walking inside the house and using the wi.i fit.  DH and I have been shopping several times to help get in some quality walking time.  Overall, I am pleased with the progress so far.  This is not easy.  It's not the easy way out, as some think.  Not at all!  I know that there will be many ups and downs to come, but am confident that this was a good choice for me.  I would still appreciate prayers as I continue to recover and adjust to this new life.