If you’ve read this blog for a while, you know I’m not too keen on new year’s resolutions. There’s so much hype and, often, very little real change. But I am big on taking stock of life, appreciating and investing in what’s working, and removing what’s not.
Over the last two years, I’ve had a lot of time to evaluate what’s worth keeping and what no longer serves me. I’ve done it with food and supplements, cleaning products and toiletries, relationships and career. As I continue to step into a healthy and whole life, there’s one last thing that needs to go: my uterus and its pelvic neighbors.
Since I was a teenager, I’ve dealt with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) causing inflammation, irregular periods, hirsutism, and painful ovulation. Since 2009, I’ve dealt with Endometriosis pain and the complications it brings to all of my pelvic organs and life. Surgery in 2010 and a variety of hormonal treatments over the years brought a short reprieve but my pain and complications are back with a vengeance.
After two years of intense focus on my health and finally feeling the best I’ve felt in 15+ years, I’m not willing to let these pesky pelvic organs make life more difficult for me. While I’ve been asking for a hysterectomy on and off since 2009, at 44 I’m finally old enough for the US medical system to grant my request. <cue long winded, angry rant about how insurance companies and the government are given more control over women’s bodies than women themselves.> This surgery feels like the last big step to feeling my best and staying that way for a long time.
I met with a fantastic surgeon in October who can do a total hysterectomy (removing cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes), a unilateral oophorectomy (painful left ovary with a hemorrhagic cyst is coming out! The right one will stay unless it doesn’t look viable during surgery.), and do endometriosis excision surgery at the same time (cutting out endometriosis on my intestines, bladder, pelvic ligaments, and any other place they find it.) Endometriosis doesn’t show up on scans so that part is a bit unknown until the surgeon gets in there to see it himself. Based on my MRI, the surgeon expects I also have adenomyosis of the uterus causing pain and discomfort daily. It will be a laparoscopic surgery performed by robot! While I wasn’t so sure about the robotic piece at first, I’ve learned it has a proven track record of better recovery and more precision in the OR so robot it is! Plus I get to have the surgery at Duke Regional which is all of 4 minutes from my house.
While a hysterectomy isn’t a total cure for endometriosis (surprise, there isn’t one because research is so severely lacking in women’s health), the excision surgery combined with removal of painful, inflamed organs will go a long way in getting me out of pain now and in the future. But getting out of pain doesn’t come cheap! Even with paying over $6000 a year for quality insurance, this surgery will cost me over $8000 out of pocket. If you’ve been paying attention to the politics of health care this year, you know our whole system is broken. Here’s a little more evidence for you. How much should a healthy, functional body cost? How much debt should one assume to live without daily pain? How will we ever fix it when capitalism is the ruling value in our health care?
Surgery will be on February 10th and initial recovery time will be 8-12 weeks then up to a year for complete healing, readjustment of hormones, and resettling of the organs left behind. My biological and chosen family will be on hand to help as lifting anything over 10 lbs will not be allowed for a month or so. I’m grateful to work from home which means I can get back to it as soon as I feel up to holding a laptop in bed. Disciplined rest will be the rule. I’ve been told “you get one chance to heal properly” and I intend to do it right (I do have to maintain my gold star patient status!).
The good news is that every measurable lab number my integrative doctor runs is the best it’s ever been. My inflammation markers and subsequently cholesterol are the lowest they’ve been in over 15 years (my primary care doctor thought I had started taking cholesterol medication!…which I would never because of the mycotoxins included in those little pills). My glucose and A1C couldn’t be lower. I’m no longer on blood pressure medication and I’m taking the least amount of supplements since November 2022. Every other marker that was a source of alarm bells 2 years ago could not be more perfect. So I’m in a great place to have this big surgery and recover well. (more gold stars from and for Integrative Medicine of NC!)
So the time feels right to cut out the parts of me that are no longer needed and continue to cause problems. As we embark on a new year, what are you cutting out of your life? What or who is just causing pain, bringing no joy, and needs to go? Yes, cutting things out of your body or your life can be painful and hard and scary (big surgery is big scary, y’all!). But, if there’s something that needs removing from your life, here’s your inspiration to take the steps to cut it out! It can take weeks and months to recover and readjust. It might be costly in all kinds of ways. You may go back and forth a hundred times before making a final decision to remove what’s no longer serving you. But a new life without old, lingering pains and difficulty might just be on the other side.
How can you help?
- Venmo kimunc03 (https://venmo.com/u/Kimunc03) to help with the out of pocket costs associated with surgery.
- Browse my amazon wish list to help contribute needed supplies.
- Had this surgery before or supported someone who did? Send me your pro tips for a smooth recovery!
Seeking Sabbath 