Back to Work
It was kind of inevitable really, Its another hurdle to get over within my recovery and even though I like my job and where I work, it’s still a bit of a hurdle.
Oh well tomorrow it is 7 weeks since I had a total abdominal hysterectomy and it’s amazing just how far I’ve come, the true definition of slow road to recovery!
Strictly Come Dancing
Ok people steady yourself….. I have a big announcement to make…
After 4 years of trying, I got an email on Wednesday night that I thought I might never get. Yes, oh yes, I have got tickets to go and watch the launch of Strictly Come Dancing in Television Centre on Wednesday 7th September, which is only 11 days away!!!!
*screams*
Strictly Come Dancing is honestly my favourite programme on TV as I love the glamour, the dancing, the music and almost everything about it. Actually, the ticket does say the dress code is “glamorous” and so I will have to take my black dress and Moochy will have to wear his Wedding suit.
I honestly can’t wait… I am going to see all my favourite dancers, Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daley up close .
*screams*
I am officially on a countdown….. *screams*
6 week check
Soooo, last night I saw my consultant as part of my routine 6 week check as I am 6 weeks post-op. He said I was a “good example of why some people need a hysterectomy” as very often people have views an opinions on why or why not people should have this operation when they don’t have all the facts.
I know what he means, as people very often told me I was too young to have this operation and very often I think they wondered if my symptoms were really that bad…..but they really were and I wouldn’t have put myself through this whole ordeal if they weren’t. It’s a simple as that.
I also after an examination by Mr Griffith have got the green light to get my life back to normal, which means driving, swimming, having a bath and even going to the gym. I am SO pleased about the driving as I really felt like I lost my independence without my little brum brum.
I feel great and this also means that I am going back to work next week (mini scream). Mr Griffith gave me a sick note that said I could go back but on reduced hours initially, so I think I am going to work 4 hours next week and then the week after I am going somewhere amazing (more about that in a minute) and will just be working 3 days. I feel ready. Woo Hoo.
6 weeks post op
OMG, I’ve had a GREAT day! I have been to Mere Golf Club for a drink with my mother and father in law and it was lovely. But the exciting part was that whilst we were sitting enjoying the view we just happened to bump into Robbie Savage and Kevin Keegan. I was too embarrassed to speak to them properly, but my mother-in-law chatted to them before they left and we managed to have a little giggle and I even go too (slightly rubbish and very surreptitious) photos….
Then after the “meeting” we went into Knutsford for lunch and I managed to get a free lunch as there was a little mistake with our order….. but to be honest the lunch was a treat from my in-laws so I am a very luck girl with either way. ♥
Then tonight I have been to WW and I have lost a total of 5½lbs in 2 weeks. Bring it on!
Anyway, tomorrow night I am seeing the consultant tomorrow night as we are officially 6 weeks post-op. I am hoping I get the green light for driving, swimming, and all the other “naughty” things I have been banned from doing for 6 weeks *blushes*. I am pretty much ready to go back to work, but I think I am going to ask if I can do short days if only for the first week. I feel completely fine being at home, but going to work is a very different thing. I am fully anticipating being completely bushwhacked the first week back, but I think that will happen whenever I go back at this point.
I’m ready. x
5 weeks post op
It really is true that time heals everything, well certainly the effects of a hysterectomy. Now I am 5 weeks post-op, I feel like my time at home recuperating is quite rightly coming to an end. I am walking normally and able to do stuff almost like I did before the operation. I still am banned from lifting anything above 6lbs till after my 6 week check-up and doing any vigorous exercise for up to 3 months post op, but that’s a very small price to pay I reckon.
To be honest the two things that are really still catching up with me are the tiredness and the constipation. However I am able to do most things normally, I just still seem more tired that I would have been before I had the operation – I am going to ask Mr Griffith about that when I see him next week.
The constipation is still not fab, but I have had irritable bowel for years and years and it seems to have become slight more aggravated. When I first came home from hospital I had the opposite problem (if you know what I mean), but now even though I seem to be going once a day, (sorry I know this is gross), it’s quite painful, crampy and difficult. Again something to mention when I go back to the hospital next week.
But even despite the very minor setbacks, I still feel great and raring to go. Bring it on x
Fed up & Bored
So subsequently I’ve spent a day on the couch today to recuperate whilst Moochy was working on the computer upstairs all day. But let me tell you, despite me having reasonably interesting stuff to watch, I got more and more bored as the hours passed.
This is simply a culmination of 4+ weeks off work and being unable to drive or do much. I don’t mind admitting to you, it’s getting a bit old now…,
What can I do though? I’ve got 2 more weeks at home so I guess I’ll just have to plan my days/activities so that I don’t go completely barmy!!! Hey Ho…
Olympic Accommodation
So I don’t know if I might have mentioned it (once or three hundred times), but Moochy and I have Olympic 2012 tickets for the tennis at Wimbledon. They are for the 30th July and are for Court No 1. Woo Hoo. After speaking to my mother-in-law and her trouble in getting a hotel, I started to think that we should get our accommodation sorted asap.
So I spent an hour or so searching for somewhere to stay and I have to say it was almost impossible. Either hotels have not released their Olympic fortnight prices yet or they were booked up. Also, some smaller B&B’s didn’t have online booking systems and I am sorry, but in 2011 you need to be able to book online and quite frankly if they can’t, it makes me think they they might be a bit old fashioned… just my personal opinion.
Anyway, we ended up booking two different hotels for two different Olympic experiences.
Firstly we booked the Premier Inn (Wimbledon South) for 2 nights for the Tennis, for the princely sum £380! Not cheap, but we reckon this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I simply LOVE the Olympic and why the hell not eh?
Secondly we booked the Quality Maitrise Hotel in Maida Vale for Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th August 2012 so that we can go down to London and watch the womens marathon and the Triathlon. You don’t actually need tickets to see these events are they are long routes for both running and cycling, so you just need to find a good place to spectate from. This one is only £85 per night, so half as much as the Premier Inn, but we don’t care either way, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE ‘LYMPICS!!! What could be better than that?
Follow this link for the official Olympic Events Schedule.
Tiredy Free Time
Oh well, today I have had a nice couple of days intermingling chilling and trying to do a little more active stuff. I took Peggy dog for our first solo walk on the field since before my operation and it was great. She isn’t a pully dog at all, so I didn’t have the worry of her pulling on the lead and hurting me – Yay!
Today I spent most of the early part of the day watching telly and then about 15:30 I had a burst on energy and decided to get up and make some cupcakes.. wanna see?
Then I made chorizo & red pepper pasta for tea and now I am a bit tired. But that’s the way it goes…. Tomorrow I am going to Ashton-in-Makerfield on the bus to meet my mum to see how I get on with an extended outing. Wish me luck x
Hysterectomy Blog
Hi, Just FYI, if you are looking for a UK hysterectomy blog or diary, then you are in the right place. Follow this link to start at the very beginning and follow my journey from inital consultation to going back to work and beyond.
Post Op Physiotherapy
The one thing I didn’t really think I would have to do after my hysterectomy is physiotherapy. I was visited twice whilst I was in hospital by the physio, once to see if I could walk down the corridor and then up and down a flight of stairs (which I could).
The second visit was on the day I came home and it was to give me exercises to improve my tummy and back muscles. These exercises were as follows:
Lying on the back
With your knees bent up:
- Rock knees gently from side to side, trying to get them as far down as possible, still keeping the shoulders in contact with the floor/bed.
- Slide hands under the small of the back, try to press down onto the hands so flattening the curve of the spine.
- Pressing down on the feet, try to life your bottom off the floor/bed.
With one knee bent, one knee straight:
- Lengthen and shorten the straight leg by pulling up and pushing down from the hip. Repeat with the other leg.
Each exercise to be repeated 6 times at first, building up to 12 times each. Repeat all exercises 4 x daily.
So you see, it hasn’t been all watching telly, I’ve had some physical things to do to. They also said I couldn’t do any heavy exercise or swimming in addition to the not lifting anything. But they DID say that I could walk – which is great for me, as I already do a lot of that 
But on Friday I went back to see the physio as the exercises increase slightly once you are 3 week post-op. So in additional to the ones above, I now have to do the following:
Lying on the back
With Knees bent
- Reach towards the knees with outstretched arms, lifting head and shoulders only, and gently lie back again.
- With the arms held away from the body, but resting on the floor/bed, lift one hand over to touch the other hand, while raising head and shoulders only. Repeat with the other hand.
With both knees straight
- Lift one leg, keeping knees straight until the heel is about 9″ from the floor and lower again gently. Repeat with the other leg.
As with the early exercises, start off with 6 times each and gradually increase to 12 times each daily.
So as you can imagine, I expect to have an abdomen like Kelly Holmes by the time I am finished!!!
