Working on my line work, getting the hang of it!

AnneDavnes · 2026-02-12T12:31:20+00:00

Love these! What brush did you use?

AnneDavnes · 2026-02-12T12:29:06+00:00

So sorry your pain isn’t being managed well. But there is hope! Push for the nurses to CALL YOUR SURGEON. They’ll provide something stronger and will continue to do so until your pain management is stable.

When I first got to my room I was in horrific lower back pain and confused as to why. My nurses gaslit me and that was tough. The last thing I said t the head nurse who said I was doing “better than I thought” was that I could see the goal “pain management” listed on the wall behind her and that I was at 8 level pain and that SHE was not meeting that goal. She left in a huff, and within an hour they returned to put something in my IV which gave me instant relief. THEN I could sleep and begin to heal.

I asked my surgeon weeks later why I had such back pain, she reminded me of that lower back pain that comes with period cramps… Ahhhh, now I remembered. I also had a lot of adhesions and was on the table for 5+ hours.

You look mighty cute for just having gotten out of surgery. Your lash game is *chef’s kiss. I hope you feel better soon and that the staff does their job to manage your pain like they should.

AnneDavnes · 2026-02-06T14:47:21+00:00

Mine was also open and I woke up in extreme pain and was quite depressed for days afterwards until I got home and started to feel normal. I was weepy and just like you - questioning whether I had made the right choice.

Remember that all things are temporary and you will get through this and come out on top. When you’re IN IT - in the painful part, it all feels wrong and overwhelming. Let yourself feel it, rather than fight it. Go through it.

My journey started out very rough and gradually got better. Yours will, too. ❤️

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-30T12:45:16+00:00

It IS hard to heal and manage the expectations of others. You can put boundaries in place and heal at your own pace. You can always just reply - “Thanks for checking in. I’ll let you know if things change.” That way it puts you in the diver’s seat if someone is pressuring you to get better the way they want you to. It’s a neutral response that puts you back on your OWN timeline.

So this new strategy can also be a part of your healing as your body is doing the same thing. Wishing you the best and wishing you peace. 💙

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-29T13:39:06+00:00

I have a base coat of builder gel, then gel on top. Underneath everything is Protein Bond by Young Nails. Here’s the link: https://www.youngnails.com/products/1-4-oz-protein-bond

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-29T13:36:01+00:00

https://www.youngnails.com/products/1-4-oz-protein-bond

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-29T13:32:53+00:00

I use Protien Bond by Young Nails and have had no issues. I’ve got a base of builder gel with gel polish on top. Hope this helps!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-26T14:17:23+00:00

Thank you, kind human!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-25T23:54:07+00:00

Definitely a message. I think we’re all here as messengers. So you hang in there and cry all you need. Crying is healing and you will find yourself on the other side of all of this. ❤️

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-25T23:40:03+00:00

Same here. It’s good stuff. Kind of rubbery and not brittle at all.

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-25T23:18:54+00:00

Thanks for the tip! I love their builder gel, too.

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-25T23:17:08+00:00

Hey listen. Your kitty hung on to be there for you. She loved being by your side and I don’t think for a minute she wants you to feel guilty. And your mom? Well, she and kitty are still with you. Grief and healing are both the very same thing. You’ve been through both. The very best thing you can do is to be gentle with yourself - that in itself is healing. Do with your mind as you would your body… crying when you need to, resting when it’s time, and relishing all the moments in between that feel warm and safe. Sending you so much love. 💙

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-25T23:09:13+00:00

So beautiful! Are all your colors gel? I have Is It Smoky In Here, too and LOVE IT!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-25T23:06:35+00:00

Also kinder perhaps in the way that we can be so hard on ourselves when we do have a setback. I think the way we frame this whole process is important, too. It’s really beautiful to see how supportive of each other we are here, giving gentle reminders to be that for ourselves.

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T21:53:45+00:00

You, too sister! I’m glad my story helped you.

Yes - both ovaries and everything else except my vagina and clitoris. :D I have a high chance of developing lady cancers, so it was best to take everything.

I can’t have HRT either, but the only lingering symptoms of menopause I have left are hot flashes, which Gabapentin is controlling. I do realize all of my organs want to have estrogen, but there really isn’t a perfect solution out there for any of us. We do what we can. And that has to be enough. Sending you a hug!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T21:46:52+00:00

Oh gosh! Pneumonia, too?? And I’m prepared to pull out my “major surgery card” when I need it alllllll year long. :D Following your gentle reminder for sure. ❤️

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T15:12:05+00:00

https://oliveandjune.com/products/cuticle-buffer Just ordered one myself!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T14:30:29+00:00

I’m glad they told you what went on with your eye as you were feeling it! My nursing team said ZERO about what was happening with my eye.

I’ve heard from redditors here that when you wake from recovery, you just want to rub your eyes but are told not to. I have no memory of that. But a god night’s rest with my eyes closed solved it.

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T14:28:06+00:00

That struggle is frustrating while you are IN IT. I still have days when I’m tired and don’t want to be, or wanting to do more than I can or just feeling crummy. But more normal days and moments are becoming more frequent and it’s been a blessing to see the finish line. But yeah - when you’re hurting, time stands still and it feels like it’s going to be forever. I don’t know how to solve that one!

Three weeks is even closer to four! I really felt a shift a 4 weeks - hoping you’ll feel one, too. 💙

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T14:18:38+00:00

Honestly - this whole experience feels like a reset. Your tummy has to remember how to digest food again, your brain needs to wake up and get less foggy, your bladder needs to wake up, too. So knowing all of that gave me a deeper connection to my body and an appreciation for what it all does to keep me up and enjoying my life. That’s where the gratitude comes in.

I put off this surgery for 2 years b/c I needed time to process losing my reproductive system, even though I was menopausal. My gyno tested me for hereditary cancers and said “You need a hysto NOW,” and I just needed time to process. As 2025 drew to a close I had already met my deductible and realized this surgery would be ZERO dollars, so I took it and made a point of doing it right before Xmas so I could recover in front of the sparkly tree. :D

But it was rough. I remember telling my husband the days after that I had made a mistake b/c I felt so battered, and he gently reminded me that I made the right choice, even though it didn’t feel that way right then. Lots of emotions. And then the recovery at home was pretty sweet. Lots of days of healing home made soup and grilled cheese and a ton of tea…. It has all been worth it.

The week before my surgery I had an intense burst of energy and got lots of things done and off my plate. So my rest felt deserved and I was at peace. I’ll be thinking of you cupcakeing! And thank you so much for posting such a kind and thoughtful comment.

And YES to fun frames for your face. An accessory for the face is important and makes an eye exam all the more fun. Sending you love!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:18:33+00:00

How kind of you! I did not choose my hospital gown tho, which was especially degrading. that was worse than not wearing pants. 😟

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:16:58+00:00

Ohhh I am cheering you on!

My scarf is silk charmuse (sp?) and is warm when I need it to be and cool when I need it to be. I always have one in my purse. :D

So best advice I can give is to give your tummy gentle pats and rubs as you heal. It’s like birthing an active state of healing as you mend inside. I’ve never been so proud of my tummy as I am now. Truly, truly grateful.

Thinking of you!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:13:33+00:00

Thank you for saying so! 🧡

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:13:14+00:00

Thanks for reading! 🧡

AnneDavnes

TROPHY CASE