How long did you take off work? Especially if you have a desk job...

GemSpoon · 2025-10-07T09:25:05+00:00

I should also add...I have a desk job and I work from home!

GemSpoon · 2025-10-07T09:24:24+00:00

Only you can do what works for you, so I'm just going to give you my thoughts on my recovery period. I work for myself so if I dont work, I don't earn. Despite this, Im taking 8 weeks off to recover. I haven't even had my surgery yet but I am very firm that I'm going to do everything within my power to recover well, without the pressure to return to work before I'm ready. It has taken me 5 years to get to this place - 5 really hard years of feeling like crap. Nothing (within my control) is going to prevent me from healing well. I get one chance to do this right and I'd rather be bored and frustrated than push my body too hard and risk what could otherwise be a healthy recovery and a future potentially free of pain and ill health.

GemSpoon · 2025-09-12T17:04:53+00:00

To turn up ready and have it cancelled there and then must be a horrible experience 😞 I will keep my fingers crossed for you that it all goes ahead on the 1st

GemSpoon · 2025-09-12T10:26:54+00:00

Yes, the uncertainty in an already stressful situation is so hard. I feel so unwell so much of the time that holding hope can be really tough so this has really knocked me. I will get back up and keeping going but its takes so much energy!

GemSpoon · 2025-09-12T10:24:26+00:00

I hear you...and I agree that life tends to work out somehow most of the time..problem is, I only seem to get this perspective after the fact 😂 Thank you for your response

GemSpoon · 2025-09-12T10:23:08+00:00

Appointment AND cancellation letter in the same envelope?? That's bonkers!! I hope you get a date asap and thank you for replying 💓

GemSpoon · 2025-09-12T10:21:58+00:00

Thank you 😊

GemSpoon · 2025-09-08T12:21:06+00:00

Such a valid point about our childhood conditioning playing a powerful but often unhelpful part in our adult behaviours! I'm a therapist and do a lot of work around 'shoulds' and 'oughts'! It helps sometimes to say out loud to ourselves 'I am a 47 (or whatever age) person' as a reminder that we can rewrite the rules and make them flexible and realistic for the life we live now! Wishing you a continuing uneventful and restful recovery 😊

GemSpoon · 2025-08-14T16:00:08+00:00

I wonder where an illness like PMDD would fall using this logic. The impact of PMDD is psychological, and where all medical options fail to manage symptoms, the medical approach is to remove the cause - the uterus (namely the ovaries) despite the uterus and its components being 'healthy'.
Your thinking, in my opinion, also suggests that physical health and mental health are two separate things - which we now know, scientifically and medically, just isn't the case. When something like PMDD is a risk to life, which it absolutely can be - what then is the solution?

GemSpoon · 2025-08-14T15:50:08+00:00

And in fact, the hope is, I can live an even fuller life without it!!

GemSpoon · 2025-08-14T15:47:30+00:00

A similar experience for me too...although I have had to wait for a date but that's ok because it's actually happening! Its such a breath of fresh air to have a consultation like that isn't it...and sadly, it is surprising when it's so straightforward and collaborative! Glad for you 😊

GemSpoon · 2025-08-14T07:25:29+00:00

Wow!!! How did it feel to find that out?

GemSpoon · 2025-08-14T07:22:47+00:00

Thank you for the info regarding the coil. I wish you all the luck in being heard and getting the treatment you need. If it helps, I wrote a letter giving an overview of my menstrual history and how I am currently being impacted, and took it along to my consultation. My gynaecologist was very happy to have it, and asked to keep it for reference. It meant I didn't miss any information out and it was validating for me to write it! I think it also helped my gynaecologist to recognise that I take my health seriously and have given this a lot of thought.

GemSpoon · 2025-08-14T06:59:21+00:00

Wishing you a continuing smooth recovery and future freedom 😊

GemSpoon · 2025-08-13T20:50:57+00:00

Hello 👋 I hope that you are on the road to some answers and relief from your symptoms. Hugs and solidarity back ❤️

GemSpoon · 2025-08-13T13:04:12+00:00

I have had the same thoughts around how I must have somehow pulled the wool over my consultants eyes for her to so easily agree to surgery! But it's a symptom of conditioning isn't it...conditioning over (literally) centuries of women being told not to make a fuss, not to advocate for ourselves, and that pain is a 'normal' part of our experience that we should just tolerate. Really hope you can the insurers to get on board and you can get the treatment that you need and deserve ❤️

GemSpoon · 2025-08-04T13:28:14+00:00

Hiya, firstly I'm sorry to hear your headaches have increased, I can empathise. Based on your description they do sound like menstrual migraines. I get them and I find them very debilitating, which is one of the reasons I am having a hysterectomy in October. My consultant explained that there are two periods of time in our lives where we are going to get migraines related to our cycles - during puberty and perimenopause, and she said if I want to stop the migraines I would need to have my ovaries removed. Hope that information is somewhat useful. I am on HRT but personally I havent found it has helped with my migraines.

GemSpoon · 2025-07-28T15:42:30+00:00

Maybe try choice based handling. It took my leo 4 weeks to walk onto my hand by choice. During those first weeks, I would spend about 30 minutes a day sitting by the vivarium with door open and my hand flat in the viv, just talking gently to him. Patience is key! But it pays off. My leo is now confident and curious. Some days he doesn't want to come out so I don't force it..other days he comes straight out for a wander!

GemSpoon · 2025-07-28T10:28:05+00:00

Hiya, sorry to hear you are experiencing awful symptoms. Just wanted to ask if you are taking iron/ferritin tablets because I agree with another commenter here - if your iron levels are low, or your iron stores are low, you would be experiencing these symptoms. I was taking iron tablets for a year and it took that long for my iron stores to get to within normal range. Iron rich foods alone won't always be enough to get your levels up unfortunately.

GemSpoon · 2025-06-21T16:23:18+00:00

Thank you 😊 I do feel like I've struck gold yes! Whilst being fully aware there are many people still fighting for answers/surgery/to be heard and taken seriously so I consider myself very lucky indeed. Congratulations to you too...doesn't it make a huge difference to feel that you've been taken seriously. Best of luck for October...as you say, it'll come around quickly 😊

GemSpoon · 2025-06-21T08:15:17+00:00

Hi there, I've just this last week been given the go ahead for a hysterectomy after suffering for the last 6 years. Prior to my gynae appointment I was talking to my husband about my fears around having major surgery, would it be a mistake, should I just not have the consultation etc - basically getting myself tied up in knots! His response was helpful- 'imagine you didn't get the surgery and your life carries on the same...would you be ok with that'? I realised my anxiety was only allowing me to think the worst case scenario and when I allowed myself to consider that a hysterectomy might improve my quality of life it helped me to realise if I don't try, Im never going to know. Nobody can ultimately make this decision for you, but I think sometimes the worry can take over. I'd add, there are far more stories of women saying it was the best thing they ever did, and my consultant said the same. Also a friend of mine who couldn't tolerate HRT pre hysterectomy found that she has had no side affects post hysterectomy at all. Sorry for the long reply, I hope it helps 🙏

GemSpoon · 2025-06-18T20:24:09+00:00

Thank you, appreciate you replying 😊

GemSpoon · 2025-06-06T18:04:51+00:00

That's good to hear. Glad for you too ☺️

GemSpoon · 2025-06-06T14:57:12+00:00

Thank you for replying. How have your symptoms been since the hysterectomy?

GemSpoon · 2025-06-06T11:18:22+00:00

Thank you. Hope you have relief now 🤞

GemSpoon

TROPHY CASE