A Bellydancer and Her Hysterectomy: Back to it...

I made it!

Today I am 7 weeks and 1 day post op.  Time sure flies...  The holidays have come and are almost gone...  I got through my "5-week meltdown" (thank goodness!) and I am getting closer to 100% back in action.  It feels good.  I have had a number of private lessons with some of my wonderful students over the past few weeks as well as over-the-phone Pilates Mat lessons. With each lesson I am getting stronger and stronger, and ready to jump back into my busy weekly bellydance class schedule.  My 2015 classes start next week and I am super excited!

Dance, Dance, DANCE!!!  ♥

My journey with my hysterectomy has been a real trip....  From the day I made the decision with my doctor to do the surgery, to my surgery day...  then healing...  resting...  more resting...  and now...  getting back to it.  I have an even more real connection with my body than before, and I feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world with I all of the support I have received during this brief yet incredibly transitional time in my life.  

The coolest part of my journey (besides no more bleeding/pain/etc. - Yippee!) has been connecting and re-connecting with women who are also facing this same decision/transition as I did/am in their lives right now and being able to talk and offer support to them.  While a hysterectomy is a common surgery for women, there is so much mystery and dare I say "taboo" linked to the subject.  I am amazed and baffled at the lack of medical information readily available to women about the subject of their bodies and the fear most women have about it. My advice to all women out there is: TALK to your doctor and ASK as many questions as you can think of about what you are experiencing with your body.  

THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR WELL BEING!  

Also, when making the decision to have a hysterectomy, take your time and really plan ahead.  Truly, you are out for the count anywhere from 6-8 weeks (or longer), and each surgery recovery is different for each woman.  As I have mentioned before, I had an LAVH (laporoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy -  removed: uterus, cervix & tubes) and my doctor was/is simply fantastic.  My healing has been rather quick and my doc is pleased with my progress, however I still get tired easily and some days I have a bit of nausea.  I take each day as it comes, and do what I can, but I also let myself REST.  If I feel like I need to lay down for awhile, I do, and even though I am dancing right now in moderation and gearing up for my regular dance schedule, it really kicks my ass!  Good thing my kitties are always ready for a good nap...

Nurse Natasha says it's time for bed...  ♥

So, with all of this talk of resting, it is just as important to be active.  Finding the daily balance of the two can be difficult, but can be achieved.  I walk for over a mile everyday (when not dancing or doing Pilates) and I *KNOW* that walking (along with being vegan, taking my vitamins and being pretty fit to begin with) has put me on the healing path much quicker than some. Also, I still wear my abdominal binder (I named her Lucy) when I walk, drive, sleep, and anytime I feel like my abs need a little extra support.  I cannot express enough how I believe this simple thing has helped with my healing!

My belly-binder and best friend, Lucy  ;)

It is almost the New Year and I am grateful.  Grateful through the ups and downs, and for everything else I have gone through to get to this point in my life.  I am stronger than I have ever been in so many ways and pretty much ready to conquer the world ~ So get ready, here I come!

Comin' atcha!  :)

Lastly, here are some encouraging words for the New Year from me to you:

Listen to your body and do right by her ~ She will return the favor and do right by you.

I promise.

Thanks for checking in...  Happy New Year!

xo

PS: 

There are some wonderful hysterectomy support groups for women that I am a part of.  If you want their info, just let me know.  ♥

A Bellydancer and Her Hysterectomy: Ups and Downs...

Wow.  

Today I am 5 weeks and 2 days post op...  It is kind of hard for me to believe that it has been over a month since my surgery.  All and all I am doing very well and healing more and more every day.  The support from my family and friends has been wonderful, but I am at the point now on this journey that since I have a lot of (forced) down time I am starting to go a little stir-crazy...

I am still unable to really work (namely: dance) and while I have my post op Dr. appointment tomorrow (12/18/14) and some Private Lessons lined up for the weekend (since I *know* my doc will clear me to dance in moderation) I can't help but feel a little uncertain about my future....

As I have mentioned before my financial fear is real, and sometimes that fear leads to a little anxiety.  

I have my good days = Feeling optimistic and excited about the New Year coming up and all the opportunities that are waiting for me

And I have my bad days = Feeling down in the dumps that I am "stuck at home" and unable to jump back into work and earn a living and take care of business

Thank goodness that I have a little $$ in savings, and have sold a few things online to keep me afloat...

I *know* I have to rest, and I *know* in a few months I will be feeling amazing and ready to conquer the world, but the "right now" is getting a little hard.  I am, however, able to snap out of these rough patches pretty quickly and realize this is actually a big part of the healing process.  Hormones and their effects on the brain and emotions are REAL (I still have my ovaries, so still have normal hormone production) and I need to remember that.*

By the way, I do not regret for a second my decision to have a hysterectomy.

So with that all being said, I am moving on in a positive direction and fully open to any and all opportunities that come my way.  My 2015 ATS® Bellydance classes are scheduled and on track, and I am broadening my horizons, so to speak, in terms of a career.

I hope that other women who are going through similar "ups and downs" from their hysterectomy (or other life changing surgery)  find comfort in knowing: "You are not alone."

Know this: If I can do it, you can do it!

and...

Thanks for checking in...

xo

*Afternote: I have been told by a fellow hyster-sister that what I am going through right now can be referred to as "The 5-week meltdown" and there is light at the end of the tunnel...  Good to know and WHEW!!  :)