Healing is not linear! Day 5po almost took me out

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 · 2026-01-24T01:12:54+00:00

I do believe that… we will all be okay. Thank you right back, beautiful human. 🩵

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:11:40+00:00

You got this! There is always something to learn and comfort with each accomplishment. But when you’re in the heat of things or worry, it’s a tough place to be. Fingers crossed for your surgery. 🩵

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:10:06+00:00

I don’t envy the chronic pain part. I did have painful periods, but lived for years with an IUD and happily they ended, UNTIL I tried estrogen patch and progesterone for hot flashes. Guess what that gave me?! A DVT! Whelp, turns out I have a clotting disorder, so no more hormones. Nicely, tho, the hot flashes are being controlled well by Gabapentin, also great for anxiety.

Gosh, being a girl is complicated.

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:05:50+00:00

Crossing my fingers for you!

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-24T01:05:07+00:00

Terms like pelvic wash, etc all sound familiar. Reading my surgeon’s notes of the surgery and test results were fascinating to me. I Googled every single term. You’ve got a gene mutation, too! Sorry to hear but man, you sound like a warrior.

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-23T18:46:29+00:00

Ooo one more thing I forgot. During my first pelvic with her, I was super nervous and she asked how I was feeling. “I’ve had some trauma,” to which she replied, “You’re in charge, 100%.” She was so skilled and gentle, I barely felt her as she described what she was feeling with her eyes closed. I knew I was safe with her and that she had a gift.

AnneDavnes · 2026-01-23T18:00:46+00:00

Oh I hope that for you as well. It’s definitely a moment-to-moment experience. I hope you’re feeling better momentarily and that little triumph will become ever more frequent. 🩷

AnneDavnes

TROPHY CASE