Bandages off...

I took off the steri-strips today. I'm two-weeks post-op now and things are healing well. I've probably overdone it today, but hopefully it will all work out.

I don't go back to the doctor until the end of the month for my post-op follow-up. He'll have biopsy results then on the cysts that were sent in for testing.

The scar's gonna be "weak" according to the Brent Scar Scale. It gets good points for its length ("distance" as he put it), but it loses points for being too clean and straight. He says if the doctor would have used a rusty nail instead of a scalpel, then the scar would have character.... (apparently the fact that I'd also have tetnus and gangrene and some other stuff doesn't have a negative impact on this Scar Scale)

I think I like "weak scars" if those are my options

"...Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig..."

Back in my own bed and resting. The incision is about 5-6" long so my belly's pretty tender. I walk with the beautiful posture of the letter "C" ... or stork with intestinal problems... or something like that.

Brent's taking good care of me. Thank you for all the good wishes and kind thoughts.

We've also been notified that we won't be going to Haiti in April. They're trying to reschedule a trip before September. It's hard to miss this time with them, particularly while Nathan is at such a fun stage, but laws are what they are and we have to comply. As Brent said, "A Haitian hotel was bad enough... I don't need to see a Haitian Jail!"

"Oophorectomy. O-O-P-H-O-R-E-C-T-O-M-Y. Oophorectomy."

Yeah... I couldn't spell it either.

They deported the Beatles and sent one ovary with it. On one side, the cysts were removable without issue. On the other side they had adhered themselves to the ovary like a bad wig on Britney Spears, so that one had to be removed.

Overnight in the hospital - I think I get to go home tomorrow.

Of Cysts and Surgeries

So I had my pre-op visit with the MD today. They'll plan on going in with the scope to remove all the cysts, but if they get in there and the cysts are too big to take out through scope then they'll put me under deeper and cut me open to get them out. The latter option will require a couple of nights in the hospital.

The human body is fascinating. It can also be disgusting. They're not sure what type of cysts I have - although they do know they're different types of cysts on each side, based on the ultrasound. The one side may be what they call a dermoid cyst.

I also highly recommend that you never, never, never, never look up pictures of dermoid cysts on the internet. See, these are cysts that are made from the cells on the ovary that contribute hair, teeth and skin in an embryo. So that's what the cysts are filled with: hair or teeth or skin. Nasty to the infinite power.

Dr. Lind said he once removed two cysts from a woman that each had part of a mandible (jawbone) growing in them! Just these little cells in there, doing what they do best, which is dividing and creating whatever structure they were designed to create. ("Look, Ma! I'm a jawbone!!")

So, here's to hoping that they're all "scope-able" and that the "cysts of nastiness" are soon no longer invading my abdomen. It's time to deport the ovaric Beatles!

Uninvited Guests...

It's been a crazy week here. I'm not even allowed to mention everything that's going on at this point. And once you read this post, you'll wonder what the "other" stuff is if I CAN post THIS. :)

I found out this week that the Beatles have taken up residence on one of my ovaries. At least, it amuses me to think of it that way. I've got some cysts that they've been quazi-watching for the last several months and they've decided that I need to be scoped next month to check them out and see if they have unwholesome intentions with my organs.

They kinda look like grapes. and since this is a scan of a photocopy of an ultrasound, it's pretty grainy. That's a pretty sad pedigree for one little picture.

.

However, it occurred to me that this little foursome is also like my own little ovaric (made that word up, thank you very much) version of the Beatles:

Begone, foul fiends! I don't have time to deal with you!

And the funniest part??

The doctor said, 'You've been married for 10 years? Maybe if we get these taken care of we can see about helping you to become pregnant."

Um... Doc?

I don't think you understand. I'm so far BEYOND needing to push a child out of my own womb that I'm IN HAITI!!

Don't worry, Lexi and Nathan. You're still everything to us! Beatles or no Beatles!

Trip to Haiti April 9th. Approximately 61 days!