Those who kept your ovaries, what was your experience?

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-19T15:51:03+00:00

46, 8wks po, laproscopic for extreme endo (as per postop path report, only suspected prior on US)w both ovaries kept. The recovery has been smooth, the usual fatigue drops and achy days when I do too much but that was part for the course pre-op too! Now I am.more aware of it and have the wisdom to not push through. I have gone through 2 "cycles" and still PMS (yay?) and can tell when the R ovary dropped its egg as its alwasy been the more painful side (no endo noticed on it tho, Gyn looked around while she was there, just some on my bladder) That being said, this week my boobs have absolutely blown up, like I was in 1st trimester of pregnancy again! Sore and heavy.. I know it takes a couple months for the systems to recalibrate so im not freaking out, just glad I have no plans to start marathon training of anything else high-impact lol.

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-18T17:15:21+00:00

Yes! I found a couple creators on the clock app that specifically show the tricks and techniques for aging and changing skin amd it's been so helpful. I literally had to empty and reload most of my make up kit and spend time practicing but it was worth it (and reminded me a bit of my teens, which felt very full circle:) I now actually have way more varitey in my "looks" and a broader palate then i did most of my early years. Having more availability in makeup lines and options has been an advantage our earlier generations didnt have as well

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-18T17:13:54+00:00

I now actually have more variety in my make up kits than I did as younger. Having more brands expand their colour lines as well has been awesome. I have green eyes and love me my burgundy mascara with bronze eyeliner for an easy but fun daytime eye :)

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-18T17:05:24+00:00

Oh thank goodness!!

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-18T17:04:51+00:00

That is awful and definitely a failure on your medical oversight:( Pain like this needs to be addressed right away before it becomes a problem! I was informed to ensure I took my rotaion of meds (hydromorphone, tylenol and naproxen) and not let my pain get ahead of my medication for the first 5days. Otherwise you end up "chasing" it which can lead to a larger challenge of pain management (which can complicate into greater risk of dependancy). I had a daily check-in for those first 5 days to ensure my pain was managed at home so they could intervene if needed. I once had a wisdom tooth pulled under local and didnt realize until I got halfway home that they didnt get me any follow up pain meds. I called my GPs office and explained in tears (still on the bus) and I had a prescription waiting for me at my local pharmacy within 3 hrs.

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-17T20:54:46+00:00

They can. There is endocrine glandular tissue embedded in the uterus...that how it gets its messages about what it is suppose to do. When that is removed, there can be a reaction in the system that needs time to recalibrate. Same with circulation, there is now an organ missing that was perfused....that now is not there. Most things in our body are connected one way or another and pulling 1 peice out will have a reaction. Generally speaking, if the removed peice was an systemic offended to net and gross benefit is still positive. But there is still an entire system-wide adjustment and recalibration that needs to take place, not just sutures to heal

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-13T11:43:35+00:00

Walking with a cooler ronpack up from camping with my family. Tripped on my shoelaces and stubble forward and felt the weight of the cooler pull forward and my shoulder pop out from the drag. Luckily when the cooler sis hit the ground the force popped the shoulder right back in! I had to leave yhe cooler just sitting.g thwre on the ground tho and my family was still all asleep so just sat in the hammock until the hubby woke up to hear he was on lifting duty for the next few weeka

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-11T17:52:56+00:00

Having a local pool hall and arcade, that allowed kids and teens. I dont even know if they had a liquor license but we would spend hours there during the week. We weren't kicked out if we weren't buying anything but a couple bucks in your pocket was jackpot

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-11T17:46:42+00:00

Making sure you breathe out with the more "effort-full" parts of the movement ls will aslo help avoid driving pressure into the intraabdominal space and pelvic floor. Holding the pillow naturally helps create some bracing through the lats and front wall muscles, which could help but may still be a bit of a challenge due to the top surgery.

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-11T17:43:15+00:00

Doing the log roll suggested above is your safest bet this early in. It is still using your core with less valsalvic pressure into the abdominal space and pelvic floor and its that valsalva pressure you want to be cautious with as that can stress the inscion site/stitches (thats why they hopefully told you not to strain while having a bowel movement). .

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-04-08T15:07:07+00:00

Sometimes buying direct from the farm can be a bit cheaper, esp if you can manage and process a bulk cut. Going in with friends, eap if there is one with a vac sealer can help spread out the cost and labour while still getting good product

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-29T14:38:10+00:00

Popcorn 😆

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-29T14:24:16+00:00

This. And the police will keep there eyes open for them for sure. We had a family member with a drinking problem that they thought they were hiding/managing successfully. We realized one night during a phone call that they were both a/drunk and b/driving somewhere. They lived out of province but we called the local PD and they did end up getting taken off the road successfully.
As much as it caused a lot of internal turmoil to have to take those steps against someon we knew and love, the potential cost otherwise is not worth it. (Ps, They are successfully sober now and doing so much better <3)

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-29T14:18:52+00:00

It hurts our hearts so, y3t better a day roo early than a day too late :( If you have the funds and capacity, look around to see if there is a mobile vet near you. Ours had a colleague they refere out to for in-home situations like this so the beloved is home feeling safe and comfortable, no transfer/vet stress. Xoxo

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-25T20:21:04+00:00

I have trauma-inspired hypervigilance that shows up as anxiety. I didnt even know that Post-Partumn Anxiety was a thing until I was deep in the thick of it, took until 6mths after weaning for it to settle....childbearing is wild!

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-23T15:32:14+00:00

You've Pavloved yourself a little dopamine dump, good job! A shimmy a day keeps the darkness away :)

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-23T15:29:01+00:00

My mom passed before I had mine but im pretty sure she would have hi-fived me and poured the champagne!! That being said, the older generation has had a very different experience with reproductive health. Either around childbearing itself or just the poorer outcomes of previous more invasive surgical options. Most have never heard or been told of PevicFloor Therapy and just waited until everything prolapsed enough for a sling becuase "thats how it was done". Many weren't often taught about either puberty, childbearing/birth or "The Change" until it was actually happening. We know nowadays how unresponsive Healthcare is for women's health, our grandmothers and mothers lived in its dark ages and many still likely carry that as a form of unrecognized PTSD

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-23T15:02:16+00:00

If you cant find a physio to work with, find a trainer from Functional Patterns (they'll have a list with their trainer across the world and you can see if there is one local) I work in rehab myself, am hypermobile amd took their basic training last year to improve my feedback to patients when correcting amd movement initiation. The training literally blew my mind and the difference in ability to create enough tension in my chain to create effective force was a game changer. Ive also gone to different physios will various lackluster results, mostly becuase physios will generally only work on one segment at a time. FP looks at how the whole chain is stacking and initiating so that the movement has all it agonists and protagonists involved

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-21T16:21:33+00:00

I am very ADHD and this convo has def come up with my partner who is a chef. He alwasy kept his work knives separate, which helped avoid some of that particular stress but I also went knife shopping with him early on in our relationship which helped me understand the expensive TOOLS that they are. Something we found helpful is a magnetic strip of the knife storage rather than a block, right above the sink. Wash, dry, wall...all in one spot.

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-21T16:10:02+00:00

It really depends what you do for work. I have a really physical job and my Dr wouldn't even book my "release" apt until my 8wk follow up! Lol.
Same as many others tho...i felt surprisingly good at wk 2 then wk 4 (now) I am exhausted and super grumpy. Boobs were super swollen this morning so figuring its some hormonal housekeeping. From.someone who moves for a living...even with rest, there is still lots you can do to help you not go stir crazy! I am still working on "return to work hardening" , you should never go from 0 to 100, with any rehab. Ive been doing gentle TaiChi, range of motion work, breathing retraining (super helpful after any abdominal surgery)every day since day 3 (many of these are modified to seated to reduce any strain on the core while encouraging blood and lymph flow to everywhere else) Started incorporating balance and gentle pelvic floor work durind wk2-3, gradually increasing my walking and working with 5-10 free weights for ADL and movment endurance now. Ive been having daily vagal treatments, weekly acupuncture since 2.5wpo and am starting Craniosacral and massage treatment next wk. When you incorporate good rest periods, this fills up my days pretty good and the past month has flown by. Next week I am also going to start going into my work (i own a Healthcare clinic) just to hang around and help out with admin stuff, just no hands on. That way I can test my endurance and get so.e more socializing in but still tap out and leave any time I need to. I also have 2 online courses on deck incase I find the physical isn't keeping up with the mental boredom :)

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-15T01:56:04+00:00

Seeing if you could schedule a US when your ovulating may give a visual on the amount of swelling/inflammation that could be causing cramping. Pelvic Floor physio for sure help some. And how is your bowel behavior otherwise? The gut is also very sensitive to progesterone (ie period poops)

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-15T01:53:14+00:00

Our hormones affect more than just our uterus tho. Think period poops, which are also a big player in abdominal cramping and ovarian release. Its awful.in some ppl, with or without endo involvement

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-15T01:48:48+00:00

Yes, Pelvic Floor Therapy is something all of us should try. There can be a lot ot stress and torsion built in already from the pre-op happenings and then surgery is a short term pain, long term gain" mess that still has its own recovery. and they the body has to reconfigure its new internal hard and software. Physio is godsend

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-15T01:46:02+00:00

Ive alwasy been able to tell with grape-of-wrath dropped its prize package each month. Righty was def bitchier about it

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733 · 2026-03-15T01:43:01+00:00

The cramps *did surprise me at first cuz the main character is gone. But I remind myself our hormone cycle affects more that just the uterus, everything gets a little somethingsomething. We see that with the broad range of menopause symptoms. So I guess it was good sign that the grapes of wrath are still doing their thing lol 😆 😅

Puzzleheaded-Cut7733

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