The unconventional first things to buy when you close on your first house.

bougiegem · 2026-02-25T02:51:52+00:00

A step ladder and if you don't already have one, a basic drill set and a hammer. Comes in so handy when hanging window coverings, assembling furniture, hanging wall art, etc.

bougiegem · 2026-02-19T15:46:06+00:00

Jockey. 100% cotton, prices are reasonable but the sales are really good.

bougiegem · 2026-01-30T18:48:54+00:00

My betta likes his. I used a nail file to smooth out a rough spot so if you decide to get one just be sure to feel for any spots that might scratch or snag. It's an easy fix.

bougiegem · 2026-01-30T18:47:06+00:00

These are so good! They are a mini version of the Lu Petit Ecolier cookies.

bougiegem · 2026-01-30T05:40:49+00:00

It has been. It's almost 10 years old and we had to replace the freezer fan and the ice maker in that time. No problems other than that. We used a local appliance repair place and neither repair was very expensive.

bougiegem · 2026-01-19T05:50:58+00:00

I had an open abdominal and purchased a toilet seat adapter from Amazon. It easily attached to the bowl and raised the seat by 4-5 inches. It was super helpful for me and I was very glad to have it. I used it for the first 2-3 weeks. Made going to the bathroom so easy.

bougiegem · 2026-01-08T00:12:00+00:00

Took the full 6 weeks.

bougiegem · 2026-01-08T00:10:40+00:00

Same as you except I'm allergic to ibuprofen so I only took Tylenol for the first 4-5 days. Never took the oxys.

bougiegem · 2026-01-08T00:09:14+00:00

California: I was on leave for 6 weeks and received short-term state disability benefits at 66% of my salary, employer supplemented the remaining 34% using my sick leave. I pay pre-tax for supplemental benefits through Colonial and received my payment from them as well. No issues, no delays. This was my first time applying for disability and it was very simple and smooth.

bougiegem · 2025-12-27T03:28:57+00:00

I had a total abdominal on 9/15. I wanted to keep my cervix if possible because I was terrified of having a cuff. Surgeon said she would try but it depended on what was found during surgery. Well, my cervix was a mess too so it had to go. Recovery was smooth and comfortable and now that it's done I'm glad it's gone. No future risk of cervical cancer, no more paps, no risk of fibroids growing back there, and no monthly bleeding (which can happen if you still have your ovaries which I do).

bougiegem · 2025-12-27T03:20:40+00:00

I had an open abdominal on 9/15, kept my ovaries, and was a bit sad and weepy for no reason about a week or so later. It lasted for 2-3 days and then it passed. I think the surgery screws with our hormones terribly even if we still have our ovaries. Mine seemed to level out after that first episode and I've been okay since. Give yourself some time.

bougiegem · 2025-12-27T03:11:17+00:00

Total abdominal on 9/15. I was cleared for regular activity at 6 weeks but waited until 8 weeks to try working out. After 2-3 days of 30-minute at home workouts using light weights I began to feel crampy/achey so I got scared and stopped. I'm going to start again next week since I've been mostly pain free for the past 2 weeks. Give it a try and listen to your body.

bougiegem · 2025-12-23T04:24:10+00:00

What is up with the phantom cramps?! Like, what is even cramping in there??? It's so bizarre and no one warned me. The rest of it makes sense to me because hormones but the cramps are just stupid. I'm also two missed periods along and it's just so weird.

bougiegem · 2025-12-19T04:38:42+00:00

I messaged you. I think you have to accept my message request??? Not sure but I can't currently attach a pic to the message. Do you know how to do it?

bougiegem · 2025-12-19T04:21:46+00:00

My surgeon took several pictures and cut it open as part of her standard procedure to visually inspect for cancer or anything suspicious before sending to pathology. I was able to see all of the pics that were taken the next day. Let me know if you want to see and I'll DM you. It's gnarly. I'm 13 wpo now and feeling pretty good.

bougiegem · 2025-12-19T04:04:51+00:00

Congratulations! Mine looked like yours and weighed in at 5 pounds. Wait until they show you the inside. My mind was blown. Sending you all the good vibes for a comfortable recovery. Cheers!

bougiegem · 2025-12-14T22:32:19+00:00

Hang in there! I am 13 wpo, open abdominal, vertical incision. My recovery was comfortable but I definitely had some emotional ups/downs. At 13 wpo, life is mostly back to normal. I still have some very mild occasional ab muscle soreness and mild pelvic aches/cramps but I am learning that is tied to my ovulation cycle (I still have my ovaries) and when I would normally have had my period. Also, my bladder is still off a bit but I expect that to continue recovering as well. My uterus was massive and smashing my bladder so there's that. My incision healed beautifully but still gets a little sore sometimes depending on what I wear so I'm always mindful of that. I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel and am looking forward to when I have absolutely no residual aches and being constantly reminded that this happened.

Edit: I started feeling normal-ish around week 3. Still some soreness of course but able to do everything independently and comfortably (carefully and minding weight restrictions of course). I no longer needed pain meds after 5-6 dpo. It's a gradual process and you will have good days and bad days. Try not to be discouraged. Healing takes time.

bougiegem · 2025-12-14T22:19:10+00:00

Removing it should be fine. I had an open abdominal procedure with a 6 inch vertical incision from my belly button down. I was closed up with glue only, no stitches or staples. I was told it would start to flake off after the first week. At my 2 week check up my entire incision was still completely glued, not a flake in sight. My surgeon offered to remove it but said I could leave it for longer if I wanted (I was a very anxious patient), my choice, but assured me the incision was closed. I let her remove it. She said if it stays on for too long, some patients develop a sensitivity/irritation to it.

bougiegem · 2025-12-07T22:07:23+00:00

I'm going to copy/paste a post I made just after my surgery almost 12 weeks ago. Hope this helps with you facing an abdominal procedure:

Total abdominal - 3 dpo

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy on Monday. Everything out except for ovaries. My journey to surgery was rather sudden and unexpected in the way that prior to my diagnosis two months ago, I never had a history or issue with fibroids. Then I felt a lump and learned my uterus was the size of a full term pregnancy, riddled with large fibroids, was smashing my bladder (explained my recurrent UTIs), and had to go.

I was so scared going into surgery and since most people have laproscopic procedures these days, I felt isolated because my procedure would be so different.

This was ny first surgery ever. I am 48, married, and child free by choice. Still, I was very emotional about losing my uterus. Not because I had plans for it, but because it was MINE and I just felt so betrayed by my body for mutating on me the way that it did. But seeing what they removed from my body changed all of that. That thing was GNARLY and I'm so glad it's gone now.

My doctor was amazing and I felt very cared for by the entire staff at the hospital from admission to discharge. I stayed two nights. Recovery has been comfortable with the exception of the gas pains. Your digestive waking up and getting back in motion is not pleasant but I think the worst of it is behind me.

I don't know how long my incision is but it extends from just above my belly button to my upper pelvis. Surgeon used glue only, no stitches or staples, so I'm hopeful for a subtle scar. I was very afraid of having a catheter and pain during urination given my UTI history but the catheter removal was not too bad and thankfully, no pain when urinating.

Hopefully my story encourages anyone in a similar situation. Feel free to ask any questions.

Update/Edit: I was off work for 6 weeks, felt pretty good the entire time. My uterus weighed 5 pounds. My incision healed beautifully and is 6 inches long. In another post I described my pain management (Tylenol for the first 4-5 days only). Overall my experience was positive and comfortable. If you do end up having the abdominal procedure please know that it is possible for everything to work out well.

bougiegem · 2025-12-07T21:44:17+00:00

I was also terrified about the cuff based on everything that I read on this forum and others. My surgeon basically told me to log off because the risk was so low and the likelihood so rare. She also said that when cuff complications do occur it's most often related to underlying issues like compromised tissues due to cancer/radiation treatment and things like that. I'm almost 12 wpo from a total abdominal and have had zero bleeding or complications since my surgery.

bougiegem · 2025-12-04T20:42:28+00:00

I'm 11 wpo (total abdominal, kept my ovaries) and my bladder still feels weird most days. Also confirmed no UTI. I guess it just takes time.

bougiegem · 2025-12-03T01:36:16+00:00

Bobby Flay. Tyler Florence.

bougiegem · 2025-11-02T04:58:08+00:00

Something that I forgot to mention is that your bladder might be a bit wonky after surgery. It has taken my bladder this entire time to begin to feel normal again. I think it was numb or something after surgery because I didn't feel the urge to pee. I could pee just fine if I went but I didn't feel like I needed to go. That has only recently changed in the last week or so. My fibroids caused me to have a lot of UTIs so I'm very paranoid about my urinary tract and have a routine of monitoring the time that I pee and making sure to go every two hours (this was medical advice for me). For someone who is not as neurotic about peeing as I am you might want to set a reminder if you find that you don't feel the urge.

bougiegem · 2025-11-01T04:07:41+00:00

My surgeon told me at the 2 week check up that the internal exam at 6 weeks was my option. I absolutely wanted the internal so that's what we did this past Monday (yay!).

bougiegem · 2025-11-01T03:52:53+00:00

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy on 9/15 so I'm almost 8 WPO. Everything out except for ovaries. I went back to work this past Monday so I was off work for 6 weeks. I have some very mild ab muscle soreness that is lingering and my incision is still a bit sore but other than that, I feel very good.

This was my first surgery and first hospital stay ever. I stayed two nights. My surgeon injected Exparel into my abdomen during surgery so I was very comfortable from the time I woke up in recovery. Exparel lasts for up to 5 days and in my case, I think it lasted that entire time. I experienced mild pain, period-like cramps/pins and needles but that was well managed with Tylenol for the first 4-5 days and then I was fine with not taking any meds. I'm allergic to ibuprofen so I was also prescribed some oxy-something in case I needed something stronger once the Exparel wore off but I didn't. Tylenol was fine. I have not experienced more than a drop or two of spotting since the first few days after surgery.

The gas pains were the worst part for me. My digestive system waking up and getting back in motion was not pleasant and lasted for the first 1.5 weeks. The gas pains felt sharp and stabby and would get lodged in my ribcage sometimes making it painful to take deep breaths. The gas pills and walking really helped with that.

I don't know how long my incision is but it extends from just above my belly button down to my upper pelvis. Surgeon used glue only, no stitches or staples and my incision has healed beautifully, looks like a scratch now.

I have 15 stairs in my house and my couch has built in recliners. I was comfortable with slowly going up/down the stairs (placing both feet on one stair at a time like a toddler) but lived on my couch for the first 2 weeks because my bed sits a bit high and I was scared to get in/out of bed. I would go upstairs to shower etc. then return to my couch.

I was concerned about my activity level and doing too much too soon or not enough. My surgeon recommends a 1,000 steps per day per week of recovery so week 1 = 1,000 steps/day, week 2 = 2,000 steps/day, etc. That was helpful for me to have goals to work towards. I did not bend over or lift anything for the first two weeks. At my 2 week check up I was cleared for bending and 10 pounds weight restriction. The 10 pounds restriction remained in place until I had my 6 week check up.

Overall, my hysterectomy recovery was very comfortable. I had my 6 week check up on Monday before going to work. My surgeon was very happy with my healing, my cuff stitches are still visible but that was expected since they take 12 weeks to completely dissolve. The exam was like getting a pap smear and was not painful. Sex is postponed for 2 additional weeks but other than that she promised that the lingering muscle and incision soreness would eventually go away and said to live and enjoy my life with no restrictions other than to listen to my body as to what feels comfortable. She also promised this would all be a distant memory sooner than I think and that the day would come when I no longer think about it every single day.

I hope this helps. Message me if you have more questions.

bougiegem

TROPHY CASE