Passing Time And Counting Down

There's nothing like being sick to pass the time. Last week it was a nasty cold, this week it was food poisoning. I'm currently hijacked by PMS. If it's not one thing it's certainly something else. I really hope that I am getting all illness out of the way now so that I am in good health for surgery.

I keep finding myself wanting to think that it's weird and strangely symbolic that I am about to have my period for the very last time, but I don't. I am not feeling much of anything about it except for being grateful that this is it. There will be no mourning of my womanhood or anything like that. In fact, that seems quite silly to even think about. I just want to start my period already so that I can get it over with and not look back! Last month was brutal so I'm prepared for this one to be a doozy. Who knows...maybe it will be a walk in the park. I just know that by having my period this month, I am that much closer to surgery day and to reclaiming my body.

I'm still trying to figure out last minute logistical things. My gynecologist, Dr. Knox, never received medical clearance from my hematologist, Dr. Terpenning, for me to have surgery, even though she gave it to me at the end of March. So I had to call Dr. Terpenning to inquire about the clearance as well as about having a prescription for an anti-coagulant mailed to me. My poor mom has to give me a shot in the stomach for a few days post-op so my blood doesn't clot. Dr. Knox doesn't need any special lab work done since my chest surgeon, Dr. Salomonson, already sent me a lab slip for pre-op blood work. I would love nothing more than to not have to go see Dr. Terpenning again. I of course already have my work days mapped out from now until my last day before surgery, so having to schedule an appointment at this point would just be a pain.

I asked Manya, the surgery guru at Dr. Knox's office, what the deal is with having to stay in the hospital post-op. If I have to have an abdominal hysterectomy, they will keep me for at least 1 night, often 2, and if I have the surgery done laproscopically, they usually don't keep you unless you are feeling really sick and don't feel up to going home. I am of course hoping for the best for reasons of less trauma to my body and a quicker recovery, but I also just don't want to have to stay in the hospital longer than a few hours post-op. I would much rather go home and get in bed with my cat and sleep off the anesthesia. Dr. Knox will give me all of my prescriptions for pain and anti-nausea medications at my pre-op appointment so that I can fill them before surgery.

And so the countdown is on. I have 16 days of work left before my pre-op appointment with Dr. Knox and before I go on leave for surgery. I have 24 days until my mom arrives in LA. I have 26 days until my pre-op appointment with Dr. Salomonson. And I have 27 days until surgery!

Not that I'm counting.