Quick check-in
I return to work tomorrow after 6 weeks of short-term disability.
Yes, I planned for 2 weeks. Maybe 4. But oops! Turns out my uterus was huge (700 g vs. the normal 60). In addition to endometriosis and fibroids, I had adenoymyosis, which I'm ashamed to admit I'd never heard of (I mean, really? I had horrible cramps for >40 years and never looked up other possible causes? EMBARRASSING. I mean, I knew I had endometriosis, but still!).
Anyhoo, we'd planned for a laparoscopic hysterectomy, but you can't get a 700 g uterus out through a small incision. Nor can you push it out the vagina when it's, y'know, adhered to other bits of anatomy. Used to be you could, but the instrument used was pulled off the market. (I remember it as a macerator, which I know is completely wrong, but, y'know, morphine). So I had open abdominal surgery that was a bit of a mess.
So 2 weeks was not even remotely sufficient for STD. I thought maybe 4. Um... nope. Turns out 6-8 is normal. When I called the STD folks, the rep said she would never approve someone for a 4-week absence after an open abdominal hysterectomy.
And I did need the 6 weeks. I'm nervous about returning. I still tire very easily (that's likely to take 6 months to resolve). Mercifully, most of my focus has returned. For the first 4 weeks, I could barely think. And when I could think a little bit, it didn't even bother me that I couldn't think. And when I could think about that a little, it really bothered me.
For a few minutes. Until I forgot, and went back to reading fanfic or watching British Bakeoffs.
I had (still have!) a full bookcase of stuff to read while I was out. I've read 1.5 books.
1.5 books. In 6 weeks. Actually, in the last week, which is the first time I've managed to read any books at all. I still read, of course, but it was generally the aforementioned fanfic or Entertainment Weekly, an article at a time.
Ze brain? She iz not fully functional yet. But she iz lotz better.
I assume this week will be exhausting. I've warned Peter & Teddy that we'll be living on takeout and TV dinners (I've been cooking again for the last couple of weeks). So we'll see!
Yes, I planned for 2 weeks. Maybe 4. But oops! Turns out my uterus was huge (700 g vs. the normal 60). In addition to endometriosis and fibroids, I had adenoymyosis, which I'm ashamed to admit I'd never heard of (I mean, really? I had horrible cramps for >40 years and never looked up other possible causes? EMBARRASSING. I mean, I knew I had endometriosis, but still!).
Anyhoo, we'd planned for a laparoscopic hysterectomy, but you can't get a 700 g uterus out through a small incision. Nor can you push it out the vagina when it's, y'know, adhered to other bits of anatomy. Used to be you could, but the instrument used was pulled off the market. (I remember it as a macerator, which I know is completely wrong, but, y'know, morphine). So I had open abdominal surgery that was a bit of a mess.
So 2 weeks was not even remotely sufficient for STD. I thought maybe 4. Um... nope. Turns out 6-8 is normal. When I called the STD folks, the rep said she would never approve someone for a 4-week absence after an open abdominal hysterectomy.
And I did need the 6 weeks. I'm nervous about returning. I still tire very easily (that's likely to take 6 months to resolve). Mercifully, most of my focus has returned. For the first 4 weeks, I could barely think. And when I could think a little bit, it didn't even bother me that I couldn't think. And when I could think about that a little, it really bothered me.
For a few minutes. Until I forgot, and went back to reading fanfic or watching British Bakeoffs.
I had (still have!) a full bookcase of stuff to read while I was out. I've read 1.5 books.
1.5 books. In 6 weeks. Actually, in the last week, which is the first time I've managed to read any books at all. I still read, of course, but it was generally the aforementioned fanfic or Entertainment Weekly, an article at a time.
Ze brain? She iz not fully functional yet. But she iz lotz better.
I assume this week will be exhausting. I've warned Peter & Teddy that we'll be living on takeout and TV dinners (I've been cooking again for the last couple of weeks). So we'll see!