Hysterectaversary!

Remember that one time I went to Stanford and had a super-complicated surgery? It’s hard to believe that was already ONE WHOLE YEAR ago. I am happy to report that, while I still have deep internal healing happening, I am basically 100% recovered and feeling so much better!


Healing isn’t linear and there have been numerous setbacks in the past year, so I haven’t always been able to keep track of my healing like I thought I would. Sometimes I don’t even realize the progress I’ve made until I look back on previous weeks and months and it dawns on me how differently I feel. For example, I had my COVID booster shot on Friday, so this weekend I’ve been laying low with body aches and the weird “aching skin” thing. It’s a familiar feeling for me because I spent years of my life battling constant internal inflammation that left me with body aches and aching skin (except I didn’t know that any of that was happening inside my body, so I would just randomly, and frequently, feel like I had the flu). I realized tonight that I haven’t felt this sensation in over a year!  


Other things that have changed for the better: 

  1. Minimal acne. My wonky hormones and high testosterone levels always left me with acne-prone skin. No hormones? Less acne!

  2. Migraine relief. My migraines haven’t entirely abated, but the headaches I get now are less intractable and much more treatable.

  3. I can lay on my stomach again without pain! 

  4. Temperature regulation. I get cold again, guys! I can wear sweaters! The past few years have been nothing but sweating and hot flashes. It is so refreshing to get COLD.


Things that will take some getting used to:

  1. The increased facial hair. I’ve always had some (see: high testosterone levels) but this is a new level even for me.

  2. The thinning hair everywhere else. Rude.

  3. Not being able to smell me. This one was super unexpected and nearly impossible to describe. I honestly don’t even know how it works. The best I can come up with is some kind of pheromone that I no longer have coming out of my skin, and now I smell like a stranger, which has really messed with my head. I lost a lot of my identity with this hysterectomy and resulting hormone crash, but this one threw me for a loop. Thank goodness I have a good therapist!


TL;DR-Main points: 

  1. I will never, ever, ever recommend a hysterectomy to anyone that I know (ever).

  2. If you have endometriosis, get yourself to the Camran Nezhat Institute. 

  3. Menopause is a trip.

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