June 3, 2005

The hysterectomy is pretty much behind me, so part of me is resisting this diary because it makes me think about it. I'm not saying I want to deny it, but after a certain point talking about it makes it a bigger deal. I like feeling normal and not thinking about the big changes it's meant in my life.

I went to the doctor earlier this week. Just a basic physical. My resting heart rate was 62, which he thought was good for a woman pushing forty. We talked about me having a mammogram (as I am nearing 40) but thought it could wait until I actually am, as there's no cancer in my family. I understand that a small percentage of breast cancers are actually genetic, but there are proclivities for getting cancer in the first place or maybe environmental exposures and we're just not seeing that in my family anywhere. Everyone gets heart disease or Alzheimers.

Anyway, I will get my cholesterol and other blood tests back in about a week. I'm not expecting any surprises there. I know I don't have diabetes and my cholesterol has checked out okay the past few times (about 180 with a solid good cholesterol number). But I still want to know if I need to watch what I eat even more. I do eat reasonably healthy, though I don't withhold indulgences either. I figure if I'm eating lots of whole grains and fresh fruit & veggies without a lot of processed fats and other stuff, I can have dessert or candy. And my weight is in check (though I would be happier if I redistributed it).

All in all, this review after 10 months is pretty positive.

Posted by Elizabeth M. at 8:12 PM | Comments (1)

June 21, 2005

A while back I gave an account of what my periods used to be like before the hysterectomy. Most notable was the length of my periods.

The weirdest thing happened two weeks ago. I got what I thought my was my mini-period. Very light. No other symptoms, no breast tenderness.

But then a week later I got another period. The real mini-period with the breast tenderness and certainly more blood with some tiny clots.

It's odd. There's no reason for me to expect my periods to be normal, they were never normal and it might have been just as much hormonal issues as uterine ones.

In other news, my blood tests were perfectly normal. Liver, kidneys, cholesterol was all normal and healthy.

I'm just going to keep plugging away at staying healthy. Long walks, some canoeing on vacation and maybe I'll take up yoga again soon.

Posted by Elizabeth M. at 8:57 PM

June 29, 2005

I went on vacation last week and I have to say, I had a better time than last year.

Last year at this time I was in the process of scheduling my surgery and making my decisions.

I went on a nearly identical vacation - I take active vacations that involve hiking, canoeing, long walks, birdwatching, etc - to the one I had last year at this time.

What a difference a year makes. My energy level was much better. I got up early, felt like doing stuff (anemia gone!). We were able to go to places without bathroom facilities because I was able to go a full 6 hours without needing to pee. I could wear any sort of backpack or clothes without the pressing fibroid belly.

I wore any sort of panties I wanted and didn't worry about breakthrough bleeding or inaccurate cycles. I didn't have to plan my vacation around my bleeding.

Honestly, if I had to wish for something, it would be that the fibroids never got troublesome, not that I would have a hysterectomy and never have a period again. I know some women love it, and I do admit that I hated my periods because they were so long and so heavy and I ruined so many pairs of underwear. But they were a part of my body and my cycle and I'm sorry that I had to tinker with my essential nature in that way. Though I never wanted kids, I'm sorry that I can't have them (that's a tough one to figure out, but it's just the way it is).

Posted by Elizabeth M. at 10:51 AM