On May 14th I had my first surgery in my BRCA2 journey and I am on the road to recovery. It is quite jarring to discover that you have a genetic mutation that interrupts your body’s ability to fight certain cancers. I wasn’t entirely sure what I would experience with this surgery. So far it really hasn’t been all that bad. I am off all pain medications even Tylenol and Motrin. I have some minor discomfort at the incision sites (quite frankly the skin the resident ripped off next to the incision site hurts more). All in all not bad. Upset stomach the first day home, but stopping the narcotics solved that problem. A trip to the emergency room with a UTI which is a common problem after surgery.
I am following doctors orders and walking around the house, no lifting or housework. I have successfully watched season one of NCIS. (It is fascinating to see these characters in the beginning. But that is another post…) What I am getting at, is that I believe that rest has a lot to do with where I am mentally. That and all the prehab that I had done to prepare for the the hysterectomy. I was walking at least 10,000 steps, I had eliminated caffeine from my diet and I doubled down on my meditation practice. I walked into this surgery mentally prepared.
Returning home after the surgery my husband ensured that I rested and relaxed. I have two recliners to do so, one in the living room and the other in our bedroom. They have been a great relief to me. Today is the first day out of the brain fog I have had and writing from my recliner is a joy. I so want to get out into the garden, but that will have to wait.
Road to Recovery is a Mindset
When you find out you have a time bomb in your body waiting to go off, it changes how you approach things. I looked at things very pragmatically. Eliminate risks. I am done having children and I am in menopause and there are no real diagnostic tools to detected Ovarian cancer. Later this summer I will continue to reduce my risk for cancer with a double mastectomy and reconstruction. Instead of letting fear guide me I am taking control. Something that my mother and grandmother did not have the luxury of doing. I am a Previvor.
