August 2015
Wednesday 5th August 2015 – My normal is not your normal but it is normal.
On Saturday we went to Goodwood races. We took a camping chair so I had somewhere to sit. It was a really good day. I won some money, left the house with £100 and came home with £116.90. I was very tired after the races so instead of staying out with everyone else I went home and straight to bed. I struggled with my energy the day before had really knocked me for seven. But it was worth it.
I had my Zoladex injection on Monday. I was really nervous, I do hate having this injection and get anxious because it is such a big and painful injection into the stomach, an area as you know that I am sensitive to. It was not as bad as when they done it in the hospital but still it was sore.
I would rather have this injection and all the side effects that I have been having than the alternative. The nurse that administered the injection was aware that I had just had surgery followed by complications but when I lifted my top up for her to inject me. She could not believe how many scars I had on my stomach. I think she was expecting a couple of little scars (maybe three little ones that are the usual after a laparoscopy) not the 5 that I had this time plus the previous small scars from the other laparoscopies and my laparotomy scar. Her reaction made me realise once again that my normal is not what everyone else sees as normal. It is not normal to have 6 operations in as many years. But it is my normal.
October 2009 – laparoscopy – diagnosis.
February 2013 – laparoscopy – cyst – post operation complications (paralytic ileus).
March 2013 – laparotomy – blocked bowel.
September 2014 – laparoscopy – salpingectomy – cysts.
January 2015 – laparoscopy – cysts.
July 2015 – laparoscopy – cysts – post operation complications (paralytic ileus).
Sometimes I do need reminding that not everyone spends so mych time in/at hospitals/GP’s, having to have injections to just keep themselves out of hospital. It is not normal but this is the reality of my life, my normal. My scars show how mych I have gone through and how much of a strong fighter I am. This goes for every other woman that suffers from endometriosis (or any other chronic illness) you should look at your scars and be proud of them after all they show that this disease has not beaten you. They say what does not kill you makes you stronger. Well I feel like the strongest person in to world with what endometriosis has put me through. When I look at my scars they remind me of how strong I am.
Yesterday was a rough day I was very sore and fatigued so I did not do a lot. Today I am feeling better pain wise but still feeling fatigued. I am due to go back to work end of next week. I cannot wait to get back to work, back to normality.
Tuesday 11th August 2015 – All go
Just got back from the doctors surgery and she agrees that I can go back to work on Thurseday. Tomorrow I will be seeing the Human Resourses Manager to discuss the terms of me returning back to work. The doctor signed me to go back to work on an amended duties (light duties) basis with reduced hours and phased return for the next two weeks.
Monday 17th August – Amazing strong women.
This week I am doing 20 hours (4 hours a day) next week 30hours and then back to full 40 hours on 1st September as long as all goes well. My first 2 days at work were very tiring but it did feel great to be back at work.
I was thinking this morning about how any strong women that I have met in hospital over the years. From my neighbour back in 2013 who had a cyst removed and then suffered from bowel problems just like myself all the way through to the women in with me whilst I was in hospital this time round.
Woman one – hysterectomy went well, went home to be sick and re-addmitted a few days later. They thought that they had nicked her bowel byt luckily they did not. Unfortunately se had several severe infections and ended up in the critical care unit. She looked really ill (as though she was on deaths door) when she was moved to our ward but each day got stronger and was soon discharged.
Woman two – 93 years old and still living on her own, how much she must have seen in her life. She had 3 carers coming in 3 times a day. She was into her books and so lovely to chat too.
Woman three – had cancer in the bowel and had to have a colostomy bag. Not only had she beaten bowel cancer she had also beaten breast cancer. She was 76 years old. They had found a lump or cyst on the lower part of her back/spine they were sending her to have a biopsy at a London hospital. To go through all of that and still be smiling through most of it takes a very strong woman.
Woman four – Also had cancer and asthma. She was in for struggling to breath. They managed to get her breathing under control and after she had to have her blood transfusion she was discharged on her birthday. The nurses kept her bed open for her up until midnight just in case she needed to be re-admitted. Thankfully this was not needed.
Woman five – had a hysterectomy four weeks ago at a private hospital. You would have thought that after four weeks post operation then you are in the clear but after four weeks this lady started bleeding huge clots and was rushed to Frimley Park hospital requiring emergency surgery. She had suffered with Endometriosis and had the hysterectomy to help it. She had an 18 month old granddaughter with really bad epilepsy who is on a feeding tube to hear their story was really moving and to see how they stick together to raise their baby without taking a penny off the state as well as raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
To see how strong all these women are and how they bounce back is amazing and this is just a few women that I have met whilst in hospital let alone the millions of women out there all fighting their own fight. It is good to get to know the other women on the same ward as you. I have found that as you are all in a similar boat that you help each other through your ups and downs. You feel happy when they get good news such as having a good day, blood levels going up or going home. You also feel for them when they have a bad day or get bad news
On Saturday we went to Goodwood races. We took a camping chair so I had somewhere to sit. It was a really good day. I won some money, left the house with £100 and came home with £116.90. I was very tired after the races so instead of staying out with everyone else I went home and straight to bed. I struggled with my energy the day before had really knocked me for seven. But it was worth it.
I had my Zoladex injection on Monday. I was really nervous, I do hate having this injection and get anxious because it is such a big and painful injection into the stomach, an area as you know that I am sensitive to. It was not as bad as when they done it in the hospital but still it was sore.
I would rather have this injection and all the side effects that I have been having than the alternative. The nurse that administered the injection was aware that I had just had surgery followed by complications but when I lifted my top up for her to inject me. She could not believe how many scars I had on my stomach. I think she was expecting a couple of little scars (maybe three little ones that are the usual after a laparoscopy) not the 5 that I had this time plus the previous small scars from the other laparoscopies and my laparotomy scar. Her reaction made me realise once again that my normal is not what everyone else sees as normal. It is not normal to have 6 operations in as many years. But it is my normal.
October 2009 – laparoscopy – diagnosis.
February 2013 – laparoscopy – cyst – post operation complications (paralytic ileus).
March 2013 – laparotomy – blocked bowel.
September 2014 – laparoscopy – salpingectomy – cysts.
January 2015 – laparoscopy – cysts.
July 2015 – laparoscopy – cysts – post operation complications (paralytic ileus).
Sometimes I do need reminding that not everyone spends so mych time in/at hospitals/GP’s, having to have injections to just keep themselves out of hospital. It is not normal but this is the reality of my life, my normal. My scars show how mych I have gone through and how much of a strong fighter I am. This goes for every other woman that suffers from endometriosis (or any other chronic illness) you should look at your scars and be proud of them after all they show that this disease has not beaten you. They say what does not kill you makes you stronger. Well I feel like the strongest person in to world with what endometriosis has put me through. When I look at my scars they remind me of how strong I am.
Yesterday was a rough day I was very sore and fatigued so I did not do a lot. Today I am feeling better pain wise but still feeling fatigued. I am due to go back to work end of next week. I cannot wait to get back to work, back to normality.
Tuesday 11th August 2015 – All go
Just got back from the doctors surgery and she agrees that I can go back to work on Thurseday. Tomorrow I will be seeing the Human Resourses Manager to discuss the terms of me returning back to work. The doctor signed me to go back to work on an amended duties (light duties) basis with reduced hours and phased return for the next two weeks.
Monday 17th August – Amazing strong women.
This week I am doing 20 hours (4 hours a day) next week 30hours and then back to full 40 hours on 1st September as long as all goes well. My first 2 days at work were very tiring but it did feel great to be back at work.
I was thinking this morning about how any strong women that I have met in hospital over the years. From my neighbour back in 2013 who had a cyst removed and then suffered from bowel problems just like myself all the way through to the women in with me whilst I was in hospital this time round.
Woman one – hysterectomy went well, went home to be sick and re-addmitted a few days later. They thought that they had nicked her bowel byt luckily they did not. Unfortunately se had several severe infections and ended up in the critical care unit. She looked really ill (as though she was on deaths door) when she was moved to our ward but each day got stronger and was soon discharged.
Woman two – 93 years old and still living on her own, how much she must have seen in her life. She had 3 carers coming in 3 times a day. She was into her books and so lovely to chat too.
Woman three – had cancer in the bowel and had to have a colostomy bag. Not only had she beaten bowel cancer she had also beaten breast cancer. She was 76 years old. They had found a lump or cyst on the lower part of her back/spine they were sending her to have a biopsy at a London hospital. To go through all of that and still be smiling through most of it takes a very strong woman.
Woman four – Also had cancer and asthma. She was in for struggling to breath. They managed to get her breathing under control and after she had to have her blood transfusion she was discharged on her birthday. The nurses kept her bed open for her up until midnight just in case she needed to be re-admitted. Thankfully this was not needed.
Woman five – had a hysterectomy four weeks ago at a private hospital. You would have thought that after four weeks post operation then you are in the clear but after four weeks this lady started bleeding huge clots and was rushed to Frimley Park hospital requiring emergency surgery. She had suffered with Endometriosis and had the hysterectomy to help it. She had an 18 month old granddaughter with really bad epilepsy who is on a feeding tube to hear their story was really moving and to see how they stick together to raise their baby without taking a penny off the state as well as raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
To see how strong all these women are and how they bounce back is amazing and this is just a few women that I have met whilst in hospital let alone the millions of women out there all fighting their own fight. It is good to get to know the other women on the same ward as you. I have found that as you are all in a similar boat that you help each other through your ups and downs. You feel happy when they get good news such as having a good day, blood levels going up or going home. You also feel for them when they have a bad day or get bad news