Overachiever

A few posts back I mentioned that I have often been referred to as an "overachiever"...my Dad even mentioned that particular attribute when I was diagnosed with UD.  Apparently, that theme continues in my life.

I had been feeling a lot of pain after surgery.  I was concerned, because out of all the information I had read about septum removals (not that there is a lot of info out there!), everyone had said the pain was minimal and the recovery period was swift.  I, however, was feeling worse and worse each day, despite all of the heavy pain medication I was taking.  I finally went to visit my doctor a week after surgery and a few hours later found out that not only did I have healing stitches in my vagina (although they were healing nicely!), I had a bladder infection that had reached my kidneys.  Since I had never had a UTI, I hadn't realized those were the symptoms I had been experiencing on top of my post-surgery recovery.  I definitely do not recommend anyone else doing those two things at once!

Thankfully, I am finally healing up and made it through a whole day yesterday with no pain medication!  I am now officially 15 days out from surgery, and have just a few more weeks for my post-op appointment...it can't come soon enough!  My poor husband better prepare himself, because I am already feeling antsy...4-6 weeks is a long time for newlyweds! :)

Madame Cranky

This past week has been rough.  I hadn't imagined I would be skipping through a field of daisies with a bouquet anytime soon (not that it would have been a possibility since it is winter), but I didn't think I would be practically bedridden because I am having so much discomfort.  And something they don't mention during all of those pre-op meetings?  How nauseated and constipated you will be because of the pain meds.  So then you don't take the pain meds, and you aren't bloated and can eat, but the pain is out of control.  By 2:00 every day, I usually have a good cry reminiscent of a preschooler who needs a nap, a snack, and just slammed their finger in a door.  My good husband just puts an arm out around this time so I can snuggle in as he continues to play on the Ipad and tries to ignore his crazy, two uterused wife.

Tomorrow will be one week since the septum was removed and I am highly aware that I still have stitches in my vagina.  Who can say they have had THAT life experience?  It is also a good excuse when you don't want to do your dinner dishes or make the bed (not that I have had to use it often---hubs is a good man nurse)..."Sorry, I can't do that.  I currently have stitches in my lady bits."  That shuts people right up.  

I am wondering if I can use this diagnosis to my benefit in the future...gotta look at the silver lining, right? "Can't cook dinner tonight.  I have two uteruses and they are weighing me down."  That could come in handy.

Blergh

It has been just over 48 hours since surgery and I am currently thankful for pain medication, anti-nausea meds, and a comfortable bed to sleep in.

The whole surgery day was very surreal and I only remember bits and pieces of it...everything else my husband informed me of afterwards.

I checked in for surgery 0600 this past Monday.  I had to repeat my name, birth date, and the phrase "vaginal septum removal" about 1,000 times.  They put the IV in (always the worst part) and rolled me into surgery by 0730 and the vaginal septum that had unknowingly been a part of my body for the past 27 years was successfully removed. Can't say I will miss it.

The few hours after surgery in the recovery room are the biggest blur.  I remember asking for my husband. When I got that request, I apparently asked to go home a dozen times to anyone who talked to me.  The pain meds worked wonders and I was home by lunchtime and tucked into the bed I had been yearning for.

And now I am two days into the recovery period and it is a bit more painful than I had mentally prepared for. It hurts to sit straight because it puts a lot of pressure on that particular area, however, that is a good excuse to lie around all day and no one can tell you otherwise.

4-6 weeks the stitches will be gone and my body may seem a little less foreign, perhaps?  What is next on this mysterious UD road I never planned to travel on?  The adventure continues...

Surgery Eve

Weeks ago, I assumed I had one working, normal uterus.  This evening, I prepare to get my partial vaginal septum removed tomorrow morning.  Definitely not something that I had on my bucket list.

I have never had surgery before.  Rather than watching the mid-season finale of "Walking Dead," I am browsing the internet for UD surgery stories.  Again, not something that I had wanted to do on a December evening like tonight.

Plus, there is the added addition of wondering what life will be like POST-surgery.  Will it be painful afterwards? Will my sex life be the same/better/worse/different/weird? Will I have to have further surgery? (Apparently this type of septum may need two separate surgeries to be completely removed)  This rare abnormality just leaves me with lots of questions and few answers.

I will just keep praying tonight for a clean surgery, speedy recovery, and try and focus on snuggling my husband and the zombies.

And It Begins

UD. It sounds like an STD. Or the initials for a state college. Or the sound a Neanderthal makes when he is trying to lift something heavy. What does it stand for in my life? Uterine Didelphys or as the Mayo Clinic more clearly states, a “double uterus.” I apparently have two uteruses, two cervixes and a vagina that is almost split down the middle. 

What?! That is the most common reaction I have received when I began to tell people my diagnosis. Often associated with big eyes, gaping mouths, and comments like, “I saw that on Grey’s Anatomy!” and “Can you have a baby in BOTH?!” When my dad heard the news, his response was, “She always was an overachiever.” My husband (that blessed man) probably had the calmest reaction of anyone that I told and overall wasn’t too concerned about it. I, on the other hand, feel like I am living in the body of a stranger. 

How do you go 27 years without knowing something like this? I am healthy. I exercise. I try not to eat cake every single day. My mom wanted to be pregnant and took care of herself before and during her pregnancy. I wasn't a preemie and have had no other abnormalities or ongoing health problems. I have had pelvic exams for years with multiple doctors and no one ever mentioned any abnormality. It was only after a recent visit to a new OB-GYN that this rare abnormality came to light. When the doctor told me of his suspicions, I laughed out loud and asked if he was joking. One week after that I had an abdominal and pelvic MRI resulting in my UD diagnosis just a few days later. 

Although the diagnosis isn’t life threatening or painful, it could affect my fertility and the risk of having kids down the road, which has been the most overwhelming part of this whole experience. My husband and I have only been married for about a year and had hoped to start our family this summer. However, now rather than baby planning, I have visits with an infertility specialist and possible surgery on the horizon instead. 

I am trying to stay focused on the blessings in this unexpected blurb of my life---my supportive friends and family (who try to make me laugh about this unusual situation), the fact that I have great health insurance for all these doctor visits (one thing I appreciate about the Army!), and the man I sleep next to every night who has no problem being married to a woman with two uteruses. 

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving---and this year I can add an extra uterus to the list!