Moni, it sounds like your on top of this. I felt much the same way and still underestimated how much it actually meant to me when it was done. That was a good thing.

I still discover new things I hadn't thought about before. The least of which are how awesome my pants and underwear fit and not having to worry about anything protruding in any way. Being naked now feels so much more liberating now that i'm not self-conscious about "that".

The prep turned into a 3 day bowel circus for me. It was the gift that kept on giving.

And yes dilation turns into a chore pretty quickly.



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Hey dont forget relearning the fine art of urination, fun with catheters and mastering the wings on a maxipad. These are too often overlooked. Lol.

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Emma,
   If I am able to proceed with surgery, all the things that you mentioned that might be considered negatives are okay with me. I feel privileged if I can have this done. So many others are unable to have surgery or are waiting for what  seems like an interminable amount of time. My heart goes out to them. If I come on here in six months complaining about dilating, someone please give me a hard time. I reserve the right to complain about the bowel prep though. lol
   I will add one massive positive to your list of good things, the possibility of being sexually aroused and not have it accompanied by the feeling of that awful movement in the pants. Running around naked without feeling shame would be fantastic  too. I'll have to ship my kids off on vacation somewhere, so I could do it. Ha ha!
Moni

Moni if you are bemoaning dilation in 6 months or in 6 years I will be commiserating. I'm about to go dilate and where I'd held out some inkling of hope that if it were not exactly sexy, then slightly painful and mostly numb honestly hadn't crossed my mind. 15 days post op I'm absolutely sure things are gonna be ok and one minor worry is past with some slight tearing of the left fourchette still being a bit of a problem.

Not in the least sexy, definitely at present rated on the not fun scale. Still I agree 100% on privileged and glad to be here, anticipating the time when it will start to feel fun and 100% thankful that so far dilation has been trouble free and easy-in, easy-out.

Huggles,

Sb

I bought 2 luxury items for my recovery time spent in bed. I got a relatively cheap computer holder/tray that works well while I am lying down. It is adjustable for angle and for height. Pretty stable actually! The other item was more expensive, but I think possibly worth it if I must spend a lot of time in bed. It is a weighted message blanket.  It is 2 speed with multiple vibration areas. I am thinking that after leaving the hospital, this might help with going to sleep. After my emergency surgery I spent one horrible night on my back not being able to move much. I counted the minutes through the night. I am willing to try anything to avoid multiple days like that. I think many times the meds are ineffective for pain or sleep. I wanted a backup plan. If anyone wants details on the products let me know. Hopefully I will soon know if they actually help.
Moni

Yesterday I elected to spend most of the day horizontal and don't regret it -- swelling is down a little if definitely not as much as I'd like. No pain meds at all beyond the ibuprofen I'm already taking to try to minimize swelling.

I seem to need just as much sleep as on days that I went out for a couple of hours so I think I'm going to check the forecast and get out somewhere in the city this afternoon.

Sadie,
   Thanks for continuing to let me know how things are. My pre-op is tomorrow. It is scary to think it might not happen. I am trying to be positive. Getting outside definitely helps the mental outlook so I hope you get to go out.
Moni

Today I overdid it a little and walked farther than I'd done before. I think for me alternating days of pure rest with days of activity has worked really well, yesterday I was quite tired and enjoyed every bit of my self imposed rest. To be sure, I was also pf sore at the end of going nearly a mile today, OTOH this was a first day if being active with no Percocet and only ibuprofen and it worked ok as well as I appreciated being clear headed. I also took an hour nap immediately on return to My friend's place.

Hooray on the pre-op! How close does this mean you are to your GCS date? My thoughts will ne with you.

P.s. before going out I also did some rock climbing exercises, just hanging body weight from fixed holds out on my friend's porch ceiling. That felt *really" good, doing something positive towards keeping my upper body strength going

Quote from: HappyMoni on May 14, 2017, 08:20:02 PM
Sadie,
   Thanks for continuing to let me know how things are. My pre-op is tomorrow. It is scary to think it might not happen. I am trying to be positive. Getting outside definitely helps the mental outlook so I hope you get to go out.
Moni

Hey Moni,

Just want to say I hope your pre-op goes smoothly tomorrow. I'm not sure anything can help your mental outlook other than you looking out the tiny window at the world from your padded cell. There nothing to be afraid of. Everything is going to be just fine if you will just calm down and let it happen.

  Hugs,
    Laurie

Quote from: HappyMoni on May 14, 2017, 08:20:02 PM
Sadie,
   Thanks for continuing to let me know how things are. My pre-op is tomorrow. It is scary to think it might not happen. I am trying to be positive. Getting outside definitely helps the mental outlook so I hope you get to go out.
Moni

Hope it goes well Moni

Thinking of you

Hugs
Liz

Hi Moni, When is the big day?

   Call me crazy.  Call me silly. Call me a cab. No, actually call me relieved. I got my doctor's clearance for surgery today. I am so happy. I had to pass the physical, a chest x-ray, and the lab work. Maybe I am crazy but I have no fear of the surgery itself, but I was terrified I might not be able to get to it. My surgery is June 27. So near and yet so far. Thank you so much for anyone wishing me well, especially Laurie since I know it physically hurts her to be nice to me. lol The support we give each other on this site is really amazing. Love you all!
Moni

Quote from: HappyMoni on May 16, 2017, 07:28:48 PM
   Call me crazy.  Call me silly. Call me a cab. No, actually call me relieved. I got my doctor's clearance for surgery today. I am so happy. I had to pass the physical, a chest x-ray, and the lab work. Maybe I am crazy but I have no fear of the surgery itself, but I was terrified I might not be able to get to it. My surgery is June 27. So near and yet so far. Thank you so much for anyone wishing me well, especially Laurie since I know it physically hurts her to be nice to me. lol The support we give each other on this site is really amazing. Love you all!
Moni

That is wonderful news, sweetie! <doing happy dance now> 

xo Terri

Quote from: HappyMoni on May 16, 2017, 07:28:48 PM
   Call me crazy.  Call me silly. ....
...Thank you so much for anyone wishing me well, especially Laurie since I know it physically hurts her to be nice to me. lol The support we give each other on this site is really amazing. Love you all!
Moni

Hi  you silly, crazy woman.

  No problem fulfilling that wish of yours, Moni, as in pony, ( I have some more, umm descriptive words for you if you want, They are pretty colorful ones too...)

  hmmmph "especially Laurie" she must be talking about a different, She know I'd never do something like that.

  LOL You're welcome you silly, crazy woman.

Hugs & love,
   Laurie

That's ***wonderful*** news Moni! So glad for you.

And while I've not been without my fear of surgery, when the surgeon's office briefly fumbled my dates to something that really didn't work for me (after my insurance via COBRA lapses) I was far more fearful just as you say of possibly not being able to get it. It was a terribly stressful couple of weeks while they confirmed that we could do April rather than August.