#franblog

[cassolotl]

16 days post-hysto

I can curl up on my side now, so that’s pretty exciting. :) And I walked the very short distance to the town hall for counselling (we rent a room there to save me going all the way to the next big town over). And I still don’t have enough spoons to be as friendy with lovely people as I’d like, but I’m resting up much better than I was.

Some tweets I did a couple of days ago:

Okay, I'm gonna start acting like someone who's had major surgery now. I keep trying to not and it's no good for me. [x]

Actually, post-hysto I should probably be acting how I tell people-on-TV they should be acting when they eg: get shot. [x]

New plan: think like I'm in an action movie and I'm recovering from a gunshot wound to the, er, reproductive system after saving the day. [x]

Amazingly, this plan is working.

In other news, I got a cervical smear reminder letter through the post this morning, so I can write back and say, “I’d like to see you try!”

[cassolotl]

Judging by how my abdomen feels right now, they’re going to be removing my uterus on a day that would have been very painful anyway. They might have to knock me out early. :P Typical behaviour for that day of my cycle is “GET IT OUT, PLEASE JUST TAKE IT AWAY” - and this time someone will actually do that. Yes, very good.

[cassolotl]

Hysterectomy -2 days: An update

Today is Saturday, and my hysterectomy is on Monday.

I have a very minor cold that is not affecting my ability to breathe, and I’m really hoping that won’t interfere.

My cat has recently had surgery, so we’re taking her to the vet to stay there for £9 per night while I’m in hospital. (Tagging kay-leacock!)

Today is the day for doing all the washing, writing a packing list, resting lots, keeping an eye on Rosa.

Tomorrow is getting my hair cut, packing, downloading lots of TV and books, checking over the “you’re going to have some surgery” guidelines.

Monday is leaving early for Aberystwyth.

The annoying part is, me and my uterus are having a race. It’s attempting to menstruate, which hurts - but it can do this for anything from 2 days to 15 days before actually menstruating. I feel like bets should be placed on whether the hysto or the period happens first.

[cassolotl]

Cats and sleepitude

I am incredibly tired. Monday, I walked over 5,000 steps before midday. Tuesday, my support worker couldn’t come in the morning, which meant no help with meal planning and prep, washing, dressing, etc. This morning I woke at 5am for no apparent reason, and had to leave the house early to take Rosa to the vet - she had a 12cm-long tumour, little bit scary.

Had, past tense - they found that it was attached to her kidney, and since she has a spare kidney, they were able to remove the tumour at about 12pm (3 hours ago) and the affected kidney. (The vet said it didn’t look like a kidney though, and they’re sending everything off for testing, so we’ll know more soon.) Her blood pressure was a little low so they put her on a drip, and about half an hour ago they emailed to say that her blood pressure is more stable and normal so they’ve brought her round and given her painkillers. It looks like we’re in the clear.

I miss her! The house is not the same without her. I really hope she can come home this evening. I’m tired enough to fall asleep but I don’t dare in case the vet emails me!

[cassolotl]

Day 115 or so (almost 4 months), and my scars are feeling kinda raised. Under my right arm there's a patch of scar that's getting kinda lumpy. Hypertrophic? Hmmmm. I don't think I'd care; I'd rather that than breasts, any day. Still moisturising and massaging twice a day.

Yesterday I noticed that my left nipple is all squishy and normal, but my right nipple is lumpy. (Not the areola though, that's fine.) I got harpereaves to poke both nipples to see the difference, and I couldn't feel them touch me at all on either side.

Edit: I just looked at the page on hypertrophic scarring on wikipedia, and my scars are definitely like that. Interesting!

[cassolotl]

Knitting triad of impossibility

I want to knit something that is impossible.

I want to knit something for myself.

I want to knit lace.

I don’t want to wear lace.

[cassolotl]

Available now on BBC iPlayer

A five minute snippet of a conversation between two genderqueer people that was just on Radio 4 today. (Some swearing, so NSFW without headphones.)

[LINK - Grace and Emmy - No Box to Tick]

If you're not in the UK you can use Hola (browser extension) to pretend that you are.

Edit: Useful! Thanks for the correction. :)

caeciliusestinhorto: Available now on BBC iPlayer

actually, radio content on iplayer will play fine internationally, it’s only videos that need a proxy thingie :)

[cassolotl]

This morning some social workers are coming into my home to battle it out over whose department is supposed to be caring for my clearly quite urgent needs. "No, YOUR department should be looking after them!" "NO YOURS." Really makes a person feel safe and valued, yaknow? -.-