Post-Hysterectomy and Needing Additional Advocates

We decided on a hysterectomy for my endometriosis because I have dealt with stage four endometriosis for over fifteen years. During this time, I have had the laparoscopic surgeries, tried the various medications, and treatments. The medication combo that did give me some control and relief for a few years suddenly stopped working. My doctor was aware that I have no biological children, but my husband had four when we married, and we were helping his brother with two young children. Now we are even technically grandparents as well. The best thing left to try for me was a complete hysterectomy.

Immediately after the hysterectomy

After I woke up from my hysterectomy, the pain was extreme. I was not in my room, but in the recovery room where I remained for four hours because they could not get my pain controlled enough to move me to my room. Unfortunately, my pain never got under control at the hospital.

When they decided to send me home the first pain medication, they tried to use was one I was allergic to and then they switched it to a very minimal pain medicine. I tried to have my husband help me get the doctor back into the room to discuss the medication, but he simply said since I did not have endometriosis anymore that maybe I would be fine; even though I have an incision from my hairline to my bellybutton.

Once I got home

When I got home, my girlfriend, who is my other caregiver, came over and checked out my incision. Come Monday morning, she started calling the hospital and my doctor who did the surgery. After quiet a few phone calls and pretty much some ugly conversations, she managed to get us an appointment for that week.

Bless her heart, this has not been the only time she has had to call because nobody would return my calls, to get information on my labs or to get new appointments set up, or whatever maybe the need. I always put her down as somebody that the doctors can talk to or who can call about my condition, but she has never had to work so hard to assist in handling my health for my as during my post-hysterectomy period.

Advocacy

I am my own advocate, with multiple health conditions. When I was first diagnosed with endometriosis, there was little online about it and doctors insisted "you could not get it as a teenager". So I had to fight and fire doctors until I found a doctor who believed that I had it. Then IBS, chronic migraines, and fibromyalgia came along as well.

This is just a lesson that despite being our own advocates, we do need to have someone to be advocates for us when we are not at our usual strength. I am lucky to have one of the best friends any person could ask for in the world. It is a good thing to have someone aware of what medication you are taking and any allergies you may have, along with your medical history. Just in case you need a hand in advocating for yourself, especially after a major surgery.

Do you have an additional advocate for you?