Netflix and Napping Get Old Fast When You’re Recovering From Surgery

So I’m back to writing on Medium and musing aloud about life.

Do I wish I were walking through a grassy field right now? Yes, I do. Photo by Hisu lee on Unsplash

It’s been almost two weeks since I had a total hysterectomy. My amazing world-class surgeon specializes in minimally invasive surgery, which meant she had a long waiting list. She took out my uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes and left three tiny scars on my abdomen (not counting the scar in my belly button).

My OB/GYN had planned to make a large abdominal incision similar to a C-section incision as she wasn’t comfortable trying to do the procedure laparoscopically. But I waited an extra two months so this surgeon could do it. I’m glad I waited. I was able to go home just 4 hours after surgery instead of spending 2–3 nights at the hospital, bedridden. I even walked outside a bit that same evening I came home to get some fresh air.

I was also off all narcotic medication once I left the hospital and weaned myself off Tylenol/Advil within three days. Then it was all about sleep, TV, and short gentle walks to get my blood flowing. I also found that regularly exercising before surgery helped strengthen my abdominal muscles so I’ve recovered quicker than expected. I’m also now over 25 pounds lighter than I was two months ago!

Friday will mark two weeks since I had my surgery. After getting bored of Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime/Disney Plus and sleeping so much that I couldn’t nap anymore, I have started to just sit and think. It’s led to moments of immense gratitude and some interesting observations.

• I’m surprisingly not heartbroken about losing my ability to have more children. I already knew I had limited fertility as a woman in my mid-40s. The pathology report also indicated some other surprising issues related to my fallopian tubes so it sounds like I couldn’t have had a third child even if I wanted one.
• I will never have to worry about an early menstrual period catching me off guard or menstrual blood leaking through my clothes. I’ve written about how my most embarrassing moment involved menstruation here. I might even buy white pants now after more than 30 years of avoiding light colored pants!
• I will never worry about a missed period again. I have had a…