Day 1.
As I hadn't been in any real pain in the hospital I was not given any pain killers. As soon as I got home my shoulders were killing me. I quickly took two codeine/paracetamol tablets and fell asleep. I woke up in pain after two hours but couldn't take pain killers for another two hours so walked around the house to distract myself from the pain. I took the medication my anaesthetist gave me for nausea. I used constant heat packs (to the point it was burning my skin) to ease the pain. I got about four hours sleep overnight, which I thought was okay as I had slept most of the day. I wasn't hungry but had clear fluids, including peppermint tea, water and lemonade. At this point I was taking pain killers every 4-5 hours. I noticed that I had blue liquid, as well as some brown discharge in my pad. I quickly messaged my friend who assured me that it was the dye they use to check your tubes. Phew!
Day 2.
I was in slightly less shoulder pain but now my lower back was sore. I was still using heatpacks, pain killers every 5 hours and nausea medication. I found I could be semi comfortable if flat on my side so I lay like this for a while. I felt pretty miserable on this day. It was also a public holiday so some friends came over and kindly brought me some flowers and warm wishes.
Day 3.
My husband had to go back to work so I was on my own. I was in less and less shoulder pain so stopped taking pain killers during the day. Plus I started to worry about my bowels as I hadn't so much as passed gas and have occasional constipation issues anyway. I took a coloxyl tablet but I don't think it did anything. I decided to call my doctor to find out the results of my surgery. He said that my ovaries were "good" and my endometriosis was "good" but that my right tube was blocked. He said it had scarring and adhesions. I had a cyst removed and endometriosis burnt about ten years ago so I wondered if this happened then. I'm very surprised when he said my ovaries and endometriosis was good. I really want to get more information and confirmation before I get too excited because I was told that I have polycystic ovaries (via a few tests in the last few months) and endometriosis (via the lap 10 years ago, and apparently endo only gets worse). I tried to ask questions about what we would do next, iui, ivf etc but he said we would discuss that at my next appointment.
I decided to try and remove my dressings and put new ones on if needed. This took a while and freaked me out as I don't like blood and was trying not to faint. I washed both my belly button incision and pubic line incision and dried them before putting breathable Band-Aids on so my clothes didn't rub. I took a nap this afternoon which I didn't realise I even needed!
Day 4.
I was off the pain medication and moving around a lot more easily. I felt like my bladder was filling really quickly. I drove to a friend's place and we went out for brunch. It was really nice. I was pretty tired when I came home but kept going and tried to tidy the house. We went out to dinner with my brother and his fiancé and while we were there my belly button was stinging. It felt like it was pulling from the inside. I don't know how they do dissolving stitches but I felt like I had internal stitches. I really hoped they would settle down.
Day 5.
I had to try on bridesmaids dresses today so I had to cover both my incisions so they wouldn't rub. I was still quite swollen today but I'm not sure if that's from the gases or because I'm constipated. I managed to try on dresses and walk around with the bridal party for a few hours but as soon as I got home I was sore everywhere and had to sit down with a heat pack on my lower back. My period also came today so I'm not sure which symptoms are which anymore. I decided, after two more coloxyl and half a bottle of prune juice, to send my husband to the late night chemist to buy me an enema. It eventually got things moving a little bit.
Saturday, 16 August 2014
Laparoscopy time!
I'd fasted overnight and was super thirsty. I hadn't slept well but hopped in the shower and into my loose but warm clothes.
Luckily my husband woke up to take me to the day hospital. He's not a fan of getting up before 8am so 6.15am was always going to be tough for him.
We arrived and I was admitted with my husband with me. I was given panadol with water which didn't make sense as I thought I couldn't drink? Anyway, I then said my goodbyes to my husband as I was led to get dressed. I got in a hospital gown, which I had so much trouble figuring out as it had three ties...seriously..are people not challenged enough? Then I put my hairnet and footcovers on and sat in the waiting area. I was eventually called by the anaesthetist and discussed my worries about nausea, as after my last laparoscopy I was readmitted for severe vomiting. I was then sat back down in the waiting area.
After a little bit longer, I was collected by a lady with heavy make up. She asked if I'd been to the toilet and I said no she she told me to go. I then realised I forgotten to take my underwear off, so I quickly removed it, along with any dignity and walked back to the lady. We walked down a hall then and into an operating room. There were two cheerful ladies setting up... 'don't look' I thought, 'don't look'. On the other side of the room as my anaesthetist. She asked how I was feeling I said 'fine, freaking out a little bit'. Then I climbed awkwardly on the table. I was so nervous at this point. There really was no turning back. The anaesthetist then told me I would feel a sting in my hand, and YES I did. She told me to look at the other lady who was putting a mask on my face. Something tasted weird and they began chatting about the ekka. I don't remember anything after that.
I started waking up in the recovery room every time a machine beeped and my arm cuff swelled. I could only wake for a moment because I felt SO TIRED. The nurse, who knows what she looked like, asked if I was in any pain. I think I said no. Then I dozed again. She then checked my vitals again, my pad, and offered me water before moving my bed to the other side of the room. People were asking about my pain and all I wanted was to be left alone to sleep. So very tired.
Eventually the anaesthetist came to speak to me. I think she said something about giving me a script for nausea medication. I really don't know.
Then another lady came and asked how I was. I told her I was so tired and didn't want anything. She said I needed to have some lemonade and tilted up my bed. I had a few sips of lemonade but really didn't want them. She put a bung in my drip and I suddenly felt pain under my right ribcage. After a little while longer of trying to keep my eyes open she checked my pad and asked me if I was ready to get dressed. I said I would try and she handed me a pad. She helped me to get into sitting position and then found my clothes and assisted me to get ready. She then took me to a sitting area with armchairs and I sat here for about half an hour before my husband came.
Another nurse came and checked my temp and blood pressure before removing the needle from my hand. I was then stood up and was sent on my way.
Luckily my husband woke up to take me to the day hospital. He's not a fan of getting up before 8am so 6.15am was always going to be tough for him.
We arrived and I was admitted with my husband with me. I was given panadol with water which didn't make sense as I thought I couldn't drink? Anyway, I then said my goodbyes to my husband as I was led to get dressed. I got in a hospital gown, which I had so much trouble figuring out as it had three ties...seriously..are people not challenged enough? Then I put my hairnet and footcovers on and sat in the waiting area. I was eventually called by the anaesthetist and discussed my worries about nausea, as after my last laparoscopy I was readmitted for severe vomiting. I was then sat back down in the waiting area.
After a little bit longer, I was collected by a lady with heavy make up. She asked if I'd been to the toilet and I said no she she told me to go. I then realised I forgotten to take my underwear off, so I quickly removed it, along with any dignity and walked back to the lady. We walked down a hall then and into an operating room. There were two cheerful ladies setting up... 'don't look' I thought, 'don't look'. On the other side of the room as my anaesthetist. She asked how I was feeling I said 'fine, freaking out a little bit'. Then I climbed awkwardly on the table. I was so nervous at this point. There really was no turning back. The anaesthetist then told me I would feel a sting in my hand, and YES I did. She told me to look at the other lady who was putting a mask on my face. Something tasted weird and they began chatting about the ekka. I don't remember anything after that.
I started waking up in the recovery room every time a machine beeped and my arm cuff swelled. I could only wake for a moment because I felt SO TIRED. The nurse, who knows what she looked like, asked if I was in any pain. I think I said no. Then I dozed again. She then checked my vitals again, my pad, and offered me water before moving my bed to the other side of the room. People were asking about my pain and all I wanted was to be left alone to sleep. So very tired.
Eventually the anaesthetist came to speak to me. I think she said something about giving me a script for nausea medication. I really don't know.
Then another lady came and asked how I was. I told her I was so tired and didn't want anything. She said I needed to have some lemonade and tilted up my bed. I had a few sips of lemonade but really didn't want them. She put a bung in my drip and I suddenly felt pain under my right ribcage. After a little while longer of trying to keep my eyes open she checked my pad and asked me if I was ready to get dressed. I said I would try and she handed me a pad. She helped me to get into sitting position and then found my clothes and assisted me to get ready. She then took me to a sitting area with armchairs and I sat here for about half an hour before my husband came.
Another nurse came and checked my temp and blood pressure before removing the needle from my hand. I was then stood up and was sent on my way.
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Gulp.. did I just pay to be told that?
Along I went to my fertility specialist, buoyed by the great result of my thyroid level and excited by what was next. I showed him my result and he seemed pleased. He did say that if I got pregnant I would probably need thyroxin to support the baby as mine may not be sufficient.
Then came the news I did not want.
My AMH level was 43, which meant I was confirmed as having polycystic ovaries.
My husbands sperm had low motility. This meant we would need to do iui or ivf to have any chance of getting pregnant.
I can't remember if he said anything much else.
He said we could either do a few rounds of clomid and if I didn't get pregnant I could do the laparoscopy. Or we could do a laparoscopy and then start clomid.
As I already have endometriosis I opted to have a laparoscopy first. If it's already broken I don't want to go through the hope and heartbreak and emotions of clomid without a chance.
All I want is to be on an even playing field with everyone who has normal fertility.
I've booked my laparoscopy for mid August so will update when I have some more results.
Then came the news I did not want.
My AMH level was 43, which meant I was confirmed as having polycystic ovaries.
My husbands sperm had low motility. This meant we would need to do iui or ivf to have any chance of getting pregnant.
I can't remember if he said anything much else.
He said we could either do a few rounds of clomid and if I didn't get pregnant I could do the laparoscopy. Or we could do a laparoscopy and then start clomid.
As I already have endometriosis I opted to have a laparoscopy first. If it's already broken I don't want to go through the hope and heartbreak and emotions of clomid without a chance.
All I want is to be on an even playing field with everyone who has normal fertility.
I've booked my laparoscopy for mid August so will update when I have some more results.
The post-new-diet thyroid check
So about 3 weeks later I went along to a different (female) GP to get my pap smear and asked her if she could check me for any deficiencies. She sent me to have my blood taken and as it happened they also checked my thyroid.
A few days later I got the results and my thyroid had gone from 5.4 to 2.3, which is a normal thyroid level. This was great news to me as it meant I didn't need thyroxine yet. It's hard to know if my thyroid is improving because I'm off gluten and dairy and on selenium, vitamin e and vitamin d or if it's just all over the place. Only time will tell.
My new diet is having other effects. I have had issues with what the gp assumes to be a haemorrhoid for about 6 months. His advice was to increase fibre and vegetables. But it got better for only a little while (and with the help of anusol) and then I'd be back at square one after something was too firm one day. Now that I'm not consuming gluten I've had next to no trouble with it. I can eat meat again (they seemed to make things too firm) and not stress about going to the toilet. I do have an appointment with a specialist so he can have a look this week but it feels so much better!
Another effect of my diet is my skin. I've had pimples since I was about 12. They went away while I was on yasmin and yaz and returned one by one when I went off it. Days after this new diet began there were no new pimples of my face. I thought it was the gluten so I had some milk in my tea and a decaf coffee last week. My skin erupted. So I'm back off the dairy and within days my skin has pretty much cleared. AMAZING.
Next I'm off to the fertility obgyn to get my results...
A few days later I got the results and my thyroid had gone from 5.4 to 2.3, which is a normal thyroid level. This was great news to me as it meant I didn't need thyroxine yet. It's hard to know if my thyroid is improving because I'm off gluten and dairy and on selenium, vitamin e and vitamin d or if it's just all over the place. Only time will tell.
My new diet is having other effects. I have had issues with what the gp assumes to be a haemorrhoid for about 6 months. His advice was to increase fibre and vegetables. But it got better for only a little while (and with the help of anusol) and then I'd be back at square one after something was too firm one day. Now that I'm not consuming gluten I've had next to no trouble with it. I can eat meat again (they seemed to make things too firm) and not stress about going to the toilet. I do have an appointment with a specialist so he can have a look this week but it feels so much better!
Another effect of my diet is my skin. I've had pimples since I was about 12. They went away while I was on yasmin and yaz and returned one by one when I went off it. Days after this new diet began there were no new pimples of my face. I thought it was the gluten so I had some milk in my tea and a decaf coffee last week. My skin erupted. So I'm back off the dairy and within days my skin has pretty much cleared. AMAZING.
Next I'm off to the fertility obgyn to get my results...
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Researching during my wait, always a GREAT idea
I began reading my book about thyroid disease while away for my husbands birthday with his family. I wasn't the most social but I couldn't help it. The book seemed to simplify the fact that if you were hypothyroid you could just take a tablet and you would be feeling better.
I did some more researching online and from what I understand most people who are hypothyroid have something called hashimotos, where your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland. Not cool at all!
I then began reading into hashimotos and I saw that there are links between hashimotos/hypothyroidism and polycystic ovaries and endometriosis. As a person who apparently has all three this clicked with me. If the hashimotos is causing the hypothyroidism, then couldn't it be causing the polycystic ovaries and endometriosis?
After reading a blog about hashimotos, (http://hopeforhashimotosdisease.blogspot.com.au/) I decided to change my multivitamins from Conceive well gold to individual selenium and vitamin e in the morning, and a probiotic, folate and vitamin d in the evening. This blog also links an allergic reaction to milk to the cause of her hashimotos so I'm going to try to cut down on milk and see how I go. Also the general consensus on hypothyroidism is that you should cut right back on gluten so here I go!
I did some more researching online and from what I understand most people who are hypothyroid have something called hashimotos, where your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland. Not cool at all!
I then began reading into hashimotos and I saw that there are links between hashimotos/hypothyroidism and polycystic ovaries and endometriosis. As a person who apparently has all three this clicked with me. If the hashimotos is causing the hypothyroidism, then couldn't it be causing the polycystic ovaries and endometriosis?
After reading a blog about hashimotos, (http://hopeforhashimotosdisease.blogspot.com.au/) I decided to change my multivitamins from Conceive well gold to individual selenium and vitamin e in the morning, and a probiotic, folate and vitamin d in the evening. This blog also links an allergic reaction to milk to the cause of her hashimotos so I'm going to try to cut down on milk and see how I go. Also the general consensus on hypothyroidism is that you should cut right back on gluten so here I go!
Some results..
The morning after my GTT and other blood tests I went to the GP for something else. He happened to have my results. Gulp.
I have a bad habit of reading things over my drs shoulders on the computer screen. Maybe I'm paranoid, who knows. I read the results as he clicked each screen.
Progesterone 21 : 50
GTT: normal
Thyroid: subclinical hypothyroid ( FSH 5)
I was psyched not to be diabetic. I'd read a library book about diabetes cover to cover in case I had it. I also got a book about thyroid disease but didn't get to read that one. Of course I didn't!
I was over the moon about my progesterone level. It meant I'd ovulated and would be the correct level to support a baby.
I had no idea what hypothyroid meant. I asked the doctor what I should do about it and he said they would continue to monitor it.
I googled my life away that afternoon as from what I understand in order to conceive your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) should be 1-2. So clearly, with a level of 5 I would not conceive.
My next GYNO appt is not for another 3 weeks so this wait should be interesting!
I have a bad habit of reading things over my drs shoulders on the computer screen. Maybe I'm paranoid, who knows. I read the results as he clicked each screen.
Progesterone 21 : 50
GTT: normal
Thyroid: subclinical hypothyroid ( FSH 5)
I was psyched not to be diabetic. I'd read a library book about diabetes cover to cover in case I had it. I also got a book about thyroid disease but didn't get to read that one. Of course I didn't!
I was over the moon about my progesterone level. It meant I'd ovulated and would be the correct level to support a baby.
I had no idea what hypothyroid meant. I asked the doctor what I should do about it and he said they would continue to monitor it.
I googled my life away that afternoon as from what I understand in order to conceive your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) should be 1-2. So clearly, with a level of 5 I would not conceive.
My next GYNO appt is not for another 3 weeks so this wait should be interesting!
GTT ... after a nightshift :(
I calculated 7 days after my ovulation date (which is when you need to get your progesterone check, technically 21 days of a regular cycle, if you ovulated on day 14). Unfortunately I work nightshift and so when I called the collection facility to see if I could get it done when I woke up that afternoon I was told a flat "no". I did my best to convince them that because it would be morning for me that it should be okay but I had no luck. So after fasting from 8pm, I worked all night till 5am (STARVING) and went to sleep around 6.00am, getting up at 7.30am for an 8.00am appt. You can imagine how I was feeling. I was exhausted and starving.
I walked in there and was quickly given me first blood test (1 vial for the gtt, another vial for the other tests). I don't look when they take my blood as I've fainted at the sight of blood before. After my first test my head started spinning like I was going to faint. Oh great I thought, I'm diabetic, surely this is the kind of thing that they feel? I was then given a glucose drink which tasted like flat lemonade. I'd heard terrible things about it being sickly sweet but maybe it was the fact that I was desperate for sugar but I loved it at that moment. I had to drink it within a few minutes so that was a bit tricky when I was feeling like rubbish but I managed.
I was then told to sit in the waiting area for an hour. I was collected after an hour and more blood taken. I was then told to sit for another hour. I was called again and more blood taken. I was excited about my meal by this point.
On the walk home I got a footlong sub and it was AMAZING.
I walked in there and was quickly given me first blood test (1 vial for the gtt, another vial for the other tests). I don't look when they take my blood as I've fainted at the sight of blood before. After my first test my head started spinning like I was going to faint. Oh great I thought, I'm diabetic, surely this is the kind of thing that they feel? I was then given a glucose drink which tasted like flat lemonade. I'd heard terrible things about it being sickly sweet but maybe it was the fact that I was desperate for sugar but I loved it at that moment. I had to drink it within a few minutes so that was a bit tricky when I was feeling like rubbish but I managed.
I was then told to sit in the waiting area for an hour. I was collected after an hour and more blood taken. I was then told to sit for another hour. I was called again and more blood taken. I was excited about my meal by this point.
On the walk home I got a footlong sub and it was AMAZING.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)