Resilience in the Face of Hysterectomy: The Triumphant Tales of Three Women

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where making a decision felt like a matter of life and death? Often, we don't realize the magnitude of our choices until they directly impact our bodies and lives. That's what this emotionally packed episode is all about. We bring you the brave stories of three women who faced the daunting decision of undergoing a hysterectomy. Maribel Hernandez, Senthia Allen, and Rhonda Clark - their journeys, fraught with physical discomfort, emotional trauma, and unexpected complications, are unflinchingly raw and inspiring.

Maribel's story starts back in 2015 when she was first diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. Her journey took her from a cyst, to endometriosis, fibroids, an open surgery, an IUD, and ultimately, a hysterectomy in 2021. Senthia, a fellow warrior from the fitness community, shares her experience before and after the surgery, shedding light on the importance of robust research before making such a life-altering decision. Rhonda Clark, who underwent a robotic hysterectomy, talks about her symptoms, decision-making process and the importance of a supportive system. Each narrative, unique yet interconnected, serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of informed decision-making.

In addition to detailing their personal experiences, our guests share practical advice on preparing for a hysterectomy and life post-surgery. They shine a light on the significance of self-advocacy, research, and understanding your body. Maribel's story of rebuilding her life post-surgery, Senthia's account of hormone replacement therapy, and Rhonda's emphasis on self-care during recovery serve as valuable guides for those considering the same surgery. If you're on a similar journey or know someone who is, join us in this powerful conversation about advocating for women's health.

Chapters

• 0:02 Women Sharing Hysterectomy Experiences
• 12:52 Hysterectomy's Impact on Recovery and Life
• 21:53 Hysterectomy Experiences and Side Effects
• 35:56 Benefits and Advice for Hysterectomy Patients
• 43:29 Women's Health and Hysterectomy Advice
• 48:42 Rhonda's Hysterectomy Journey and Preparation
• 59:07 Post-Surgery Recovery Experiences
• 1:05:38 Post-Surgery Fitness and Weight Loss Journey
• 1:10:37 Life Changes and Challenges Post-Hysterectomy
• 1:20:42 Preparing for a Hysterectomy Tips
• 1:30:15 Empowering Women's Health Journey

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

Hello everyone, welcome to season two of the Infusion Podcast. My name is Theresa and I am your host. The goal of this podcast is to help women and young girls fill up their cups. Oftentimes, we are so focused on helping and supporting others that we forget to take care of ourselves too. My goal with this podcast is to spread love, joy, through movement, education and motivation, and if you've been following for the past few weeks, you know that I've shared my uterine fibroid journey, along with me getting a hysterectomy. I've had several women reach out to me to thank me for sharing my journey and also asking me questions about my experience. So I thought it would be great to have other women who've gone through a similar experience to also share their stories. And today I'm joined by my very first guest, maribel. So thank you so much for joining us today. Maribel, can you please share with the people a little bit about yourself before we dive into the interview?

Speaker 2: 0:54

Yes, and thank you for inviting me to this. I'm really excited. As she said, my name is Maribel and I went through some of the same journey as Tee. Right now I'm very excited because I'm a fitness instructor. I'm a dance fitness instructor, I work part-time at HomeGoods and I have a full-time job at an insurance company, so I'm a pretty busy girl after everything that I went through. So it's pretty exciting. I live in San Arizona and I was born in Mexico. And how long have you been in Phoenix, arizona? Since 1996. So about 20 something years, most of my life basically Awesome.

Speaker 1: 1:42

Yep, I came from California in 1994. So I've been here most of my life. So can you share with the people why you said yes to doing this interview?

Speaker 2: 1:53

I actually saw your post on Facebook and, like I said, I went through something like you and I was so excited for you to share your journey because when I went through it, there was nobody there for me, and so it's so exciting to see some other women stepping up and helping other women through this pretty hard journey. So I was like, yes, I want to share my story.

Speaker 1: 2:20

Well, I greatly appreciate you, so I'm going to ask you some questions, and if you want to add anything else, feel free to do so. So can you just share with us what were the first signs and symptoms that led you to go to the doctor and seek medical treatment? So what was it that you were experiencing before you end up having the hysterectomy?

Speaker 2: 2:37

So actually my journey started back in 2015. I started getting cyst back then in my ovaries and in 2015, actually it's going to be this week, it's going to be what 13 years ago, I got my right ovary removed because of a big cyst. So I lost my right ovary in 2015. And then from there, just I went downhill. I went, you know, I had endometriosis and then fibroids would grow up and then cyst and I just they just never went away and I go ahead, go ahead, and yeah, I kept going to doctors here and nobody would really help me here. So I actually find a good doctor in Mexico.

Speaker 2: 3:31

My whole family lives in Mexico, so I started after I had that and back in 2020, I went back and started doing treatment in Mexico and here they just told me that everything was fine, that they just get my birth control and it was going to work, and blah, blah, blah. But they never did anything for me here. So I found a really good doctor in Mexico and he started helping me. In 2020, I had my first open surgery. I had a. I remember what the size was, but it was a calcified cyst in my uterus that they never saw here. So that was my second surgery there in Mexico. That's my first. I call it C-section, so that was back in 2020.

Speaker 1: 4:25

And after that, and so you mentioned about birth control. Was that the only type of treatment that they tried before you end up having a surgery? No other treatments that they tried with you?

Speaker 2: 4:36

So after the, after the 2021, a year after they grew back the cyst and the fibroids grew back. So the doctor was like, okay, well, let's try the IUD, which I do not not not recommend. That IUD is the worst pain ever. So we tried that IUD for another year and it did not work. I was splitting, constantly, pain and they just kept growing as I'm pulling my cyst, where I used to go to Mexico like every three, four months just to get me a checkup, and they would grow and then my cyst will split and then they will come back together. And the doctor was like I don't know what I'm going to do with you. He's like I don't know. He's like what do you want to do? And that's when the point I was like you know what, let's just get it over with. And that's when you had the hysterectomy. And I had the hysterectomy in 2021, in December of 2021. It was December 20th of 2021.

Speaker 1: 5:42

And you had the open. You had the open hysterectomy, so not the robotic.

Speaker 2: 5:46

you had to be cut open, Absolutely cut open and then but that was that was the beginning of the nightmare. Okay, share with us about that. Oh, sorry. So, because I had endometriosis and I had cysts and I had everything. The surgery went well. He had to open, oh, back in 2020, I'm sorry, it was going to be a vaginal one, it was going to be easy, it was going to be something in and out. But then when he was doing the surgery, he's like you know what? I can't do this. So that's why he had to open me up then. And he was pretty, he said he was pretty big and everything Anyway.

Speaker 2: 6:24

So I was good for a year and I went back and he's like you know what we? There's really nothing else I can do. What do you want to do? We can give you more treatment. And I was fed up because he's been since 2015,. You know, through heavy bleeding, pain and all that stuff. So I was like I'm done so in 2021, he did the surgery, spent Christmas over there with my family and then December of December 25th, friday, christmas Day I started feeling like liquid was coming out of my, like I would go bathroom and basically it's not going to sound weird, but I was peeing myself and I couldn't control it.

Speaker 2: 7:09

Yeah, I couldn't control it. And so I texted my doctor and I was like, hey, this is what's happening. I'm just I can't control, I have to use, basically, dye bears because I'm peeing myself. He's like oh, no, he's like, okay, well, that weekend, of course, I couldn't see a doctor. So he, on Monday that Monday I was still in Mexico recovering, so he sent me to an urologist and, yes, I had a hole in my bladder. He actually punctured my bladder and that's why it was. The urine was coming through the canal because there was, you know, it was like a hole in it and so he had to. The urologist he's like Okay, well, let's get you another surgery. He's like we have to get that done. Which I don't understand is, back then I didn't understand what was going on and I was so afraid and I didn't know what to do and I was basically on my own. Of course my parents were there, but nobody really knew what was going on, you know.

Speaker 2: 8:16

So a week later I had another surgery to close that hole and it was a rough one. He had to open it again and my he didn't even take the stitches before I had the next surgery. So he took the other. The urologist took the stitches there during the surgery because he had to open me up again. So he closed it and I was with the catheter for about three weeks. But yeah, I was still. Even though I had the catheter, I was still, urine was still coming out through the, through the canal. So after three weeks he took out the catheter and he did it.

Speaker 2: 9:04

The urologist, he did another and the hole did not close. Oh my God. So then we that was like the end of like three, like the end of January. So he's like, okay, what we're going to have to do is going to have to wait three more weeks until your everything inside is kind of healed, because if we do it again I think that's what happened the tissue was not healed for the first time that he went in and he just ripped open because the tissue it couldn't hold, because the tissue was so fragile Like wetting a tissue, you know and, yeah, I just rips.

Speaker 2: 9:40

So we were at three more weeks and after that he did another surgery and he opened me up again, but this time the catheter was coming out through my stomach and not through, like you know, the what is it called? Urethra, so actually, the catheter coming out through my stomach. So I had a huge line of, like you know, the C section, plus a hole where the catheter was at, and I lasted with the catheter another three weeks and after that, finally, finally, I was like better. At this point.

Speaker 2: 10:23

Of course, I was really weak and I was trying to work from home, over there, from Mexico, so I had really good. I have really good bosses that understood. That's scary. Yeah, it was very scary. At that point I started following a couple Instagram not Instagram Facebook pages were like history to me pages and I did found this girl that I until right now we kind of still talk to each other here and there. She went through the same exact thing. He lasted with the catheter for like three months until he she finally found somebody else that helped her, and so right now she's she's doing really well as well, so I feel like she was the one that helped me through my journey at that time.

Speaker 1: 11:11

Well, I'm glad that you had her to support you. Because of my history of the C-fections and the scar tissue that I had, my doctor that I was originally referred to told me that there would be a possibility of my bladder being torn, because the uterus tends to attach to the bladder and then, when the scar is there, it's hard to pull it apart. So I'm grateful that she acknowledged that she was not, you know, equipped to do the surgery, and she referred me to yet another surgeon, and he specializes in gynecology and oncology. So he does a lot with cancer patients and because of his advanced training he was equipped to ensure that if there was a tear in my bladder he could repair it while we were already there, where I didn't have to go back that was awesome.

Speaker 1: 11:56

I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that, but I'm glad that you're sharing the story because, like we said, there's other women out there that don't know to ask these questions and they don't know that these are things that could happen, you know, when they have this type of procedure. So you've already answered one of my next questions about the information that was provided by your physicians. Like it sounds like there was not a lot of information that was given to you on what to expect what would happen, what could happen.

Speaker 1: 12:26

So, what would you share with women who are uninformed? What would you recommend that they do prior to having these surgeries, since the information that you were giving by your doctors was not sufficient?

Speaker 2: 12:37

I think research, research, research. Find other women that had done it before you know, like you're doing now. Find the pros and cons of it. Recovery, you know everything. Like I felt here, like I felt like if I wasn't pregnant I wasn't taken care of, I just felt like, and so that doctor in Mexico, he was very, he was very knowledgeable, but at the same time I don't feel like I didn't do enough research and talk to him about the consequences and talk to him about what's going to happen, you know. So I feel like women need to research a lot and talk to other, like you talk to other women, you know, just before.

Speaker 1: 13:24

Yeah, we have to advocate for ourselves and ask those questions, because the doctors are only going to provide the canned response based on you know what they're going to do and your situation. They're not going to go any further unless you ask them the question.

Speaker 2: 13:37

Right, yeah, like. And then example I couldn't tell the doctor their allergies. I'm like, well, it's only a week, could we just? Even my friend, when I met online she was like that was way too soon, like he could shoot. If he should have waited at least three weeks, even if I had the catheter on, maybe I would not have those two latter surgeries. You know, maybe I would have just like one and had a recovery.

Speaker 2: 14:02

Oh, and then can I say something else that happened to me after that? Yeah, so after I came back from Mexico it's March I came back March of 20, march 24th or something like that of 2021, 22. And my bladder not my bladder my appendix erupted. So they said that it looks like there was so much trauma that I went through so much trauma that my appendix did not make it. So April 1st it's going to be two years, so April 1st of 2021, my appendix erupted here and I went back to the hospital and I had again another surgery. But that one was the one that just gives you like a couple, like five different like with the camera. I don't remember what I was saying.

Speaker 1: 15:01

The robotic yeah Like the robotic, the robotic. Yeah, there you go?

Speaker 2: 15:05

Yeah, but I went in April 1st and they didn't want to do surgery. So I because everything was so inflamed inside, everything was so swollen I was in, so they were so afraid that something more was going to happen to me, so they waited and I went in there on Friday night to the hospital and it didn't do surgery until Sunday. I don't remember that weekend I was, I was probably full of morphine and it was an awful experience. And after that I was. I lasted one more month in the hospital between the hospital and then in a rehab center With antibiotics and everything.

Speaker 1: 15:47

Oh, yes, so your recovery was not like a traditional recovery because you had multiple surgeries. So how do you feel today? Like, do you feel that your body is finally back to normal? How long has it taken to get back to your normal self with all the surgeries you had?

Speaker 2: 16:03

So I took about by May of last year well, it's going to be two years already, yeah, from so I think by. So I lasted like six months in recovery from my hysterectomy. I lost so much weight. I finally went back to work six months later, to the office in June, and I was very thin. I went down like 27 pounds, very weak. But now now I feel amazing. Now I feel like I'm back to myself. When I was going through that, I'm like why did I do this? Why, why like, why did I get myself into all of this? But now it's like I'm enjoying life, I became a new person. I feel like it gave me a positive view about life, Like I have a second opportunity to live my life, and it just opened my eyes to how beautiful life is. And I'm now, you know, now I'm a fitness instructor, I'm doing something that I love to do, a little bit of dance, and I don't have to even think about it, period anymore.

Speaker 1: 17:23

Yeah, that's a great thing. Number one positive impact it's been amazing.

Speaker 2: 17:29

It's been so amazing. I'm so excited. I'm like I don't even have to go to that IO anymore and after that it's amazing and I'm able to live and it's been, it's been very good.

Speaker 1: 17:45

Well, that's awesome to hear. I know that. Normally, you know, depending on what type of surgery you have, they tell you four to six weeks or six to eight weeks. But I've also been following someone on YouTube. She is a licensed physical therapist and a Pilates instructor and she's the reason why I started moving early after my recovery, I mean after my surgery because you know the doctors tell you, you know you can start walking and then six weeks you go back to normal. But you can't do that. Your body's not ready to go back to normal if all you're doing is walking. So that's another reason of why.

Speaker 1: 18:14

I wanted to share my story to let women know. I mean, everybody's body is different but so you have to make sure that you're doing what's working for you. But we have to get up and start moving our bodies, even if it's just stretching or yoga or something, because in six weeks I don't feel like I'm going to be ready to teach a class Like again in six weeks.

Speaker 2: 18:35

They say that outside it may look ready but inside it's not and you want to be very careful. I didn't start exercising still like three, four, five months after I started recovering. I, yeah, I don't want to go back to the hospital and now I have this huge ugly scar because I'm not going to be able to do it. They open three times in two months and the only way to take that away is plastic surgery. But oh, I think I'm going to stay away from doctors right now.

Speaker 1: 19:12

Well, you can try the Medurma scar cream. I know that it works on old scars too. That's what I'm using right now to for my scars. I use that for I had three C sections. All of my kids were born by C section. And one thing that my doctor also did, because I had a big keloid after my second C section they did cortisone injections. So it's not a surgery, so that may be an option that you can talk to your doctor about, to see if they can inject the scar with cortisone and that reduces the inflammation of the scar. And then I started using that Medurma cream. Okay, yeah, so I told them I don't want any more symptoms, but I had a big fat like giant keloid on the front of mine and so he did the cortisone shots.

Speaker 2: 19:54

Yeah, I have that, so that made it work. I have like an extra skin, Like it's like so indent. The scar is like so indented, Like there wasn't much you know skin to hold on. So now kind of a little bit of a skin goes over it. I don't know it. Just it does like a little bump all across my abdomen just because I guess it's kind of a little indented. But you know, I don't really mind, it's just a reminder of what I went through and how it made me stronger.

Speaker 1: 20:25

Right Now I saw my scars just slaughter. But yeah, like you said, the scars do remind us of what we went through and when we're having bad days we can look back on. Is this really a bad day compared to what I've gone through with this, with this hysterectomy? So what piece of advice or tips would you share with someone who's preparing to have hysterectomy? So if they're just starting out and their doctor is recommending that this is their course of treatment, what are the things that you would share, advice or tips that you would share with them? I?

Speaker 2: 20:56

feel like this should, like I said before, that you do a lot of research and then talk to just different women. I know it's going to be scary. I know talk to women like you and I who went through this. Talk to the doctor and let them explain everything that can happen, whether it's good or bad. You know all the side effects or any bad things that can happen throughout the surgery. You know, like the bladder issue or just anything and everything. I will write down questions and do research and write your questions and then go to the doctor and be like, okay, this is my questions. Can I get my answers?

Speaker 1: 21:46

Okay, and speaking of positive, you shared the positive outlook of how your life has gotten better since the hysterectomy. Has there been any downsides or any negative side effects that you've had that are still lingering on, or there's no other negative side?

Speaker 2: 22:02

effects that you have at this moment. So I still have one ovary. My ovary hurts here and there, so I'm hoping that there's no more cyst. I am a little afraid to go back to the doctor, honestly, because I don't want to be like, oh well, you still have cyst. I do get symptoms like period you know your side effects away just sometimes your the temper or emotions and stuff like that. At the beginning I was getting a lot, a lot of hot flashes, like terrible hot flashes where I would sweat a night, like I would just get up and have to change because I was so sweaty. But I think right now that's the worst, just the hot flashes here and there. They're not as bad anymore, but in the beginning that was a big probably. My body was like what are you doing to me?

Speaker 1: 22:55

Yeah, that's what they call me, go ahead. I said that's what they told me. That's why my doctor kept my two ovaries, because he said you know, even if we take out one, you could still experience like the hot flashes and things and they told me that, even though you're not going to have a period, you may still have, but, like you said, those period likes them.

Speaker 2: 23:14

So you know there's not like like you know, breast pain or just kind of sluggish and just feeling like you want to eat everything. Yeah, that's me right now.

Speaker 4: 23:31

I'm going to get there.

Speaker 1: 23:32

I promise, but yeah, right now I want to eat sweets and soda and stuff that I know that my body doesn't need. So I'm going to you know, get on a reset plan and set up a program that I just said I'm going to let my body be because I'm recovering from my major surgery and I'm not going to be concerned about all these other things.

Speaker 2: 23:52

Yeah, I can only fight one thing, and I'm so pissed and then other things like I gained my weight back. So I'm like that's kind of in the way, that's kind of sad.

Speaker 1: 24:03

When you lost it, you lost it not healthy, Exactly.

Speaker 2: 24:06

So now I can lose a healthy.

Speaker 1: 24:11

So if there, what's the next question I can't read? Is there information that you wish you had available to you when you had your surgery? So if there's one thing that you wish you knew back then, that you know now before having your surgery, what would that be?

Speaker 2: 24:26

All the complications that happen, All the complications, that's a mess. Yes, I didn't know I was going to go through so many surgeries in such a little time, but yes, I think I would have done. I think I kind of maybe because I was so tired to go through all of this that I was just like forget it, let's do it. And I didn't do enough research. I thought it was going to be something just easy.

Speaker 1: 24:53

Okay, that's going to be my next question, but you already answered it, so is there anything else that you would like to share about your journey with the hysterectomy, anything else that you want to make the women out there that will be watching this interview aware of, or just anything else that you want to share about everything that you went through?

Speaker 2: 25:18

Like I said, just research, research, and I think it's not a bad thing to do it. I think, like my mom always tells me, uterus is only for two things to give you children and give you problems. So if you didn't have children, then just you know, I think that's one of the negative things that happened to me. I was never, ever, to have children, which I'm okay. But when that happened, when I had my surgery, I did get a little bit of sadness because, even though I didn't want children, my option was taken completely away.

Speaker 2: 25:54

I think that was one of the most painful things during that time. But I'm okay, I'm okay. I just want to, you know, like, want to know that, just be sure that this is something they want to do and be sure of everything that can happen. And, you know, it just depends on the body. It can be an easy, like you went through, or it can be complications, you know, but I think that if they get together with women like you and I, it's going to help them. It's going to help them a lot.

Speaker 1: 26:27

Yes, and that's why I wanted to interview different women, because my situation was not the same as yours and the other women that will be joining. Their situation will be completely different, so we want to make sure that they have different perspectives so that they can find the one that best matches their situation, and they ask a lot of questions of their doctors and, like you said, other women that are going through this. So, mary, thank you so much for joining. I appreciate you sharing your story. So we're going to disconnect from this video, but I want you to stay on after when we stop the recording. But thank you so much for joining. We will have a couple other special guests that will be joining us here in the coming weeks to share their hysterectomy journey. They'll let us know, like Mary Bell did, what they went through, what their symptoms were and what caused them to get a hysterectomy. All right, welcome back.

Speaker 1: 27:17

Infugio listeners, this is your girl T. I am back with another interview. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with my girl, cynthia Allen. We met through fitness and I'm excited to have her as our next interviewee talking about hysterectomies and our journeys. So before we dive into the interview, cynthia, can you please share a little bit about yourself and why you said yes to doing this interview today.

Speaker 3: 27:40

My name is Cynthia, you already said, native to Arizona. I still work in the same town that I grew up in, have a lot of really wonderful friends and within the fitness community, which is where I met you and just outside living my best life. And I said yes because I've actually recently had a couple other friends who have gone through this as well and kind of had a little bit of the same apprehension as I kind of read through your messages on Facebook that you may have had. So I figure you know why not reach out, educate and you know, share our stories, help people feel a little bit better about what they may be going through physically, mentally, through the process of hysterectomy for women.

Speaker 1: 28:31

Awesome. So can you please share some of the signs and symptoms that you had that led up to you going to the doctor before you actually had your hysterectomy?

Speaker 3: 28:39

Yeah, so I am now 48, but I actually went through my first surgery, which was supposed to be hysterectomy, at 26. So I have lived most of my adult life without the parts that I don't need, I wasn't using. I already knew I could not have viable pregnancy for children. The thing that got me to go to the doctor was laying in bed one day and I felt a huge lump in my lower abdomen and was concerned, obviously because it was quite sizable. And just about a year and a half, two years prior to that, even though I was so young, I had already had my tubes tied, so I didn't know if it was reproductive that this lump had come from or something else was going on, and that's what kind of spurred on what happened in the future.

Speaker 1: 29:43

And were there any other treatments that the doctors tried, like an IUD or medication or anything, before they told you that the hysterectomy would be the ultimate treatment?

Speaker 3: 29:52

No, actually, whenever they first sent me in for ultrasound and everything else, they had thought maybe it was hernia. I was so young. I ended up having a very, very aggressively growing large cyst or tumor on my right ovary and within 10 days I was in surgery. So there really wasn't a whole lot of time to process what was going on. It was just whatever is going. Whatever is happening in there wasn't right, so let's make it right. At that time the plan was to remove the uterus as well, but my doctor, upon waking up, said he was able to clean all the tumorous tissue off the uterus and remove the cyst or the tumor and he left the uterus in. Two years later I went back in for hysterectomy.

Speaker 1: 30:56

Okay, and back then were they offering, like the laparoscopic hysterectomies. Or did you have to get the open hysterectomy, or they had to open you up?

Speaker 3: 31:04

I had to get the open hysterectomy because it was the same doctor that had tied my tubes a year and a half earlier and at that time there was nothing there. So since it was so aggressively growing this thing was, I actually have a picture of it. Do not be afraid to ask for photos of what they take out of your body. You know, I think it's just nice to know what exactly is going on. So they took a photo. I won't show it because it might be. I do actually have it here. It might be too much for some people to take, but it was five inches by five inches. It was large. We called it Tammy and um oh, wow.

Speaker 3: 31:42

Yeah, so he went from hip to hip. So I have an eight inch incision across my lower abdomen. So therefore, two years later, whenever he went in to take the uterus, he just went straight through the same scar, kind of cleaned up the scar a little bit and you know it's 20 years ago, it's there but it's, you know, it's just part of me, it doesn't affect me really.

Speaker 1: 32:10

Yeah, they took pictures of my insides. I was when Bobby told me that they had photos and I'm like what? And they showed me one of my fibroids had grown so big since June it was, like I don't know, quadrupled the size of the other little small ones that were surrounding it. So now it made me understand why it wasn't so much pain, you know, closer to when I had the surgery, because that that fibroid had grown so much. And I was just like wow when I saw the photo. So yeah, it was awesome to have the picture Right.

Speaker 3: 32:40

I don't think it's something that most people think of whenever you're going through the process, because there's just so much going on. But since this thing has grown so fast, even from whenever I found it to like, the week next week I went to the doctor and then two well, 10 days later I was in surgery. It was still growing so fast that all of a sudden I couldn't wear my pants. So I was like I want to see this and yeah, don't be afraid to ask.

Speaker 1: 33:07

Now one of the questions that I have here is did you fill? The information that was provided to you by your surgery team was sufficient enough to prepare you for the procedure. I know you only had a little bit of time, but the information that they shared about the surgery, what would take place, Do you think that was sufficient, or did you have to go out and get the information on your own about what would be happening?

Speaker 3: 33:28

No, I was very young. Like I said, I was taking care of my daughter. I was a single mom at that time, even at 26. With co-parenting with her father, you know. So she, you know. There was extra support there and everything else. I didn't really ask too many questions once we realized what it was. I think for me it was different because I had already been informed that my daughter was my one and only so. To me it's like I don't need it, I'm not using it, it's causing a problem, let's get rid of it.

Speaker 1: 34:09

So and what was your recovery time frame? So were you out like four to six weeks, or how long did it take you to fully recover, to get back to your normal self after the hysterectomy?

Speaker 3: 34:21

My recovery time was supposed to be six to eight weeks because it was hip to hip incision. I went back right about two. At first I'm a dental assistant, so we're leaning over those chairs. You know getting there's a lot of core that's used while you're using it or while you're doing your job. You may not realize that leaning over those chairs and leaning over patients takes a lot of course strength. The first week I went back and worked front desk because I needed the income. I was the sole provider of my family. So I went back early and you know I did fine. You know me well enough, theresa. You know I'm kind of a little yeah she's a little crazy, but you know what Women do miraculous things, and you know.

Speaker 3: 35:15

That's why our bodies are built the way that they are and we do what we need to do. So I went back sooner than I was supposed to. I wouldn't advise that.

Speaker 1: 35:23

If you have the time, and then can you share how your life has changed after the hysterectomy, both positive and negative? I know that you said you knew that you would only be able to have your one child. So I know some women fear that they won't be able to have more kids. And I was in the same boat. I had my three. My tubes were already tied so I'm like just get the stuff out and let's be done with it. But do you have anything that like negative impacts? Do you think that you had, or was it all for you? Just all positive?

Speaker 3: 35:53

No negative, it was positive. So, like I said, in 2001, whenever I was 20, can you believe I was 21? No, I was 26 in 2001. But so that's whenever the ovary and the cyst had come out. Two years later, when I was 28, that's whenever I had the hysterectomy the doctor just realized that he should have done it all at once. So we had agreed to go back in and it was awesome for me. I was one of those young teenagers who would drop to the ground in a crouched position from pain, a lot of cramping, two week long periods. I was extremely anemic and that had continued until it was gone. So for me and my health, it was very positive.

Speaker 1: 36:51

Awesome. What are some tips or advice that you would share with women who are preparing for a hysterectomy? So they've gone to their doctor and told, been told that this is your only option. What tips or advice would you share with them as they're getting prepared to have the hysterectomy?

Speaker 3: 37:06

So I had the same situation last year, right before you were told that you needed yours. One of my closest friends was really upset. She kind of had pre-cancerous cells and she's like they said they might need to do a hysterectomy or I'm going to have to go in every three to six weeks for screening. And she was really upset and not sure what decision to make. And my advice is do you really want to go and get screened every three to six months for something that you could not have to deal with once it's gone? My questions to her were do you want children? She's 36 years old, married to somebody a little bit older than her, and he had already had grown kids. She didn't want children.

Speaker 3: 37:59

So I'm like do you want kids? No. Do you love having your period every month? No. Do you want to wear white shorts every single day and go swimming, have SEX and not have to worry about where you are as far as your cycle? And she's like, yeah, and then like then do the hysterectomy. And same thing for her. She did it. She took a few weeks off, Hers was laparoscopic, but it's really important for women instead of just being like oh my gosh, it's so bad. Why is it so bad if you're carrying something that you're not going to use and that's bringing you possible long term health effects? So I just figured, yeah, search within, it's not a curse, it really could be a blessing.

Speaker 1: 38:56

Yeah, that's what I've been telling people. When they reached out to me, I told them I mean, I didn't know I was going to have these fibroids and after I read up on all the things that can happen after the hysterectomy, I'm like, okay, like you just said, I asked myself those questions Do I want to wait to see if these fibroids shrink over time, or do I want to just get it over with and have a better life? Looking on the app to see when you're going to start your period, Is it pain in the butt being on your period? I think at one point I was on mine for 16 days in a row and I'm like when are we going to stop?

Speaker 3: 39:30

So yeah, Right, it's just really not, you know, for, yeah, for me it was just really positive. I just really think it could be a positive thing. You just have to take the fear and the apprehension and anybody who tells you a horror story don't even listen. You know their story is their story, not your story. So it's great. Your story makes you just for your own health.

Speaker 1: 39:57

Exactly? Is there any information that you wish you had available when you had the surgery? So I know now you've had yours over 20 years ago and there's so much new information that's out Like for me. I went online even though my doctor told me XYZ. I did my own research. Do you wish there was information that you could have like searched online or had available to you at the time, or were you satisfied with what you have been provided with by your doctor?

Speaker 3: 40:21

I was totally satisfied, especially the second time he went in and took the uterus, because I remember whenever he woke me up from the first surgery I said I'm going to think of you every single month for the next 20 years of my life. And isn't that crazy. But one thing I was very fortunate of, because I was so young, I did retain my left ovary and I just think that you know, if you have to go for the total and remove everything, remove it. There's so much more available for us as far as hormone replacement and everything. But I am 20 years post and I still don't have any of those issues. So yeah, Okay.

Speaker 1: 41:09

Yeah, that's what I was going to ask you next, because I still have my ovaries. But I know some women have to get the total replaced. You know the total hysterectomy, and I was even looking into that. Like, what does hormone therapy look like? What does that do? I'm not going to take appeal every day or so. Luckily I got to keep both of my ovaries, so I was glad of that, right.

Speaker 3: 41:26

My doctor said you're too young to have them both taken out. Yeah, well, and if I had to do it now, you know I would do the exact same thing. I was very happy with the whole situation. But I wasn't worried then about the hormone replacement because I knew that I still had the one. And even now I'm so close. Well, I'm in menopause, right, but I still, you know, all my levels are fine, right where they are.

Speaker 3: 41:50

I've got a really good NP now and I know that she is. She actually specializes in the hormone and, well, weight loss too and everything else, but like just hormones, making sure that she's checked everything. So it's really kind of nice. So I know where I am now. I know that I'm right where I should be for my age. Yeah, so, no, everything's been good. I'm doing very well, I think, fitness. That's awesome. So because just staying active and everything else, like I said, it's not a curse, it's not a sentence, and whether you were doing fitness before jump right back into it If you weren't, like I haven't talked to you in a long time, but a lot of times the only thing I want to do is take a walk. Take a walk, you know it's good for you to make sure that you're moving, but that's good throughout your whole life.

Speaker 1: 42:47

Yeah, that's what I told people, being that I was doing fitness before I had the surgery, the recovery has been, you know, much smoother because, like getting up and taking a walk that's something that I want to do all the time or moving around, not just sitting still. So people that work didn't have that routine before. Definitely during their recovery they're going to have to find the energy to get up and make themselves walk or make themselves stretch or do some type of program. And, like I said, the lady Jessica Vellante that I'm following on YouTube, she's created a whole 10 week post-historectomy program. She had historectomy surgery, she had a prolapse surgery about three years ago, and so she created this program all during her own recovery. Because people, you know, you go to the doctor and they say you can't do these things for four to six weeks and then at six weeks you're good to go, but if all you've been doing is walking, you're not going to be good to go. In six weeks you got to do more than just walk around.

Speaker 3: 43:41

And they generalize those things. So even though I was really young then I was very active all through my teenage years, my early adulthood years, and I think that's really what helped my recovery and just having that strength physical and inner strength. So we kind of girls like you and I cheat a little bit because we're already active, so our bodies will recover a lot more. So, like right, like you went back to work at four weeks or whatever Somebody else who wasn't more physical, it's going to take that six to eight weeks. So if you can really just get up and get that movement, the longer that you sit down, the more your body gets tight. The more it gets tight, the more you you know everything doesn't want to move and the more pain you're going to have. So you know if, if you know that you're having some issues, that's a really good time to start making some changes not big changes, just look changes. Take a morning walk, get that vitamin D and the fresh air and sunshine and then continue that through your healing. It'll be a lot quicker.

Speaker 1: 44:54

Exactly so. Is there anything else, cynthia, that you want to share to any of the women that will be watching this interview, about women's health or having a hysterectomy, or anything along those lines?

Speaker 3: 45:07

You know, I just think, as women's health, everybody should advocate for themselves. Know what you want, know what you know what your body is capable of, and just know that. You know these little things might be setbacks, but that's it. You know, we are strong human beings and everybody has their thing to go through. If you have a support system, reach out. Don't be ashamed, don't be scared and don't be a Debbie Downer.

Speaker 3: 45:41

You know, pick yourself up sometimes because everybody goes through things physical mental physical, you know, and so I just think that get a hold of your friends, make sure that people know, make sure that they're there to support you and my dog does not like the ice cream truck, do you hear him? Yeah, yeah, just reach out to the support system. And it's amazing because, just like you knew that I had previously had a hysterectomy We've been friends for a lot of years, but you didn't know that until you posted on Facebook. I'm going through this and I'm like you're going to feel so much better afterwards, go for it, don't worry.

Speaker 3: 46:22

So sometimes, kind of just put yourself out there and if you don't have the support system near, reach a little further. There's a lot of people out there who have gone through what you're going through and they can help you through it and encourage you to be positive.

Speaker 1: 46:37

Yeah, that's exactly what I say. Some people have started to reach out to me since they saw my story and they said, oh, I didn't know this was happening. And I said, well, I don't post every single thing that's going on in my life, but I thought that this would be something to share. Like I told Bobby, for other women, like you said, who are afraid to advocate for themselves, they have a support system in you and I.

Speaker 3: 46:57

Yes, there you go. We're on the same page. I figured we would be Go with awesome. If you don't need it, let it go, and also, you know, it's funny because I was in a situation.

Speaker 3: 47:12

You were in a situation. There are some women who go through this and Are looking to build a family and everything else. So if that's the case, Then maybe pre plan a little bit, see what you can do, See if you've got some eggs to harvest. There are children out there that need homes. You know there's, you know there's so many different avenues. So we have a little bit more of a positive Story because we had already known what our, what our fate was. But if you're on the other side and you're maybe younger and looking to have a family, Ask the hard questions. Ask there's anything that you can do. Can you harvest your eggs? Can you create a family in a different way? So exactly.

Speaker 1: 47:58

Yeah, we were very fortunate. So for those women, they do have to plan and ask questions to see what other options they have available to have a family. Yeah, I agree with that. Yep, all right, cynthia, thank you so much for taking the time to join me today. I appreciate your information, your story, your upbeat vibes. It's always been there, but I appreciate you sharing the positive side of this, because there's a lot of women out there that only think negative when they learn that they have to have a hysterectomy. So I appreciate you so much.

Speaker 1: 48:30

If you want to hang on the line, I'm going to end the video and then I'll talk to you after, so hang on, all right. Thank you for the invite. All right, welcome back. Infusion listeners. This is your host, teresa, and I am joined by another beautiful lady by the name of Rhonda. We met through a mutual friend. We were in a wedding together, so I met her a few years back and she is here to share her hysterectomy journey with us, like the other ladies in the previous videos. So, rhonda, before we dive in, if you can, please give a short intro of yourself and let the listeners know why you said yes to doing this interview.

Speaker 4: 49:03

Okay, Well, my name is Rhonda Clark. I am a pharmacist. I've been a pharmacist for almost 30 years. I love to scrapbook and make cards anything paper crafts, scissors, glue, I am all for. So right now I'm in my craft room actually. So and I also love college athletics. So my husband and I attend Arizona State University. So my husband and I attend Arizona State Games, since we're both graduated there, and we travel, as well as you know, to the games. The reason why I decided to be a part of this interview is because I wanted to kind of educate women particularly black women, but women in all of all colors as to what it is like to have a hysterectomy. Just the journey that you go through because you think things are done, You've got everything taken out, but there's things afterwards that you have to deal with. So just to share a story and educate other women on what they can expect.

Speaker 1: 50:14

Awesome. Well, I appreciate you being here and taking the time to share your journey with us today. So the first question that I have is can you share what signs and symptoms you had that led you to go to the doctor before you actually had to have your hysterectomy?

Speaker 4: 50:31

So I had had been having heavy periods and it just seemed to get heavier and heavier. So you know, during those times I would be all night changing my tampons out every 30 minutes it seemed like. So I was getting in sleep, I was tired, I was working out too. So I just figured and at that time I worked fairly early as a pharmacist I had to be at work at 6 am working in the hospital. So I just kind of chopped it up to you know, I'm just really stressed out, I'm working early, but the periods were getting heavier and heavier. And the interesting thing about me is, as a female pharmacist I was working with nothing but male pharmacists. So every 30 minutes I'm getting up, going to the bathroom. I was kind of embarrassed because I'm sure they're wondering what you just went to, where are you going now? So it was frequent bathroom breaks and even then it was just not enough. So I was really tired.

Speaker 4: 51:49

The other thing I noticed was I was eating a lot of ice, ice chips at home. The kids even noticed I was eating fill in my cup up at work Just eating ice, ice, ice, ice. I was fatigued. But again, I stopped that up to just working out because I would work out after I got home from work. So you know, just stress with the job. But then I noticed I had some like sharp stomach pains, but I didn't really pay attention to them, I ignored them. It was like sharp pain and it would go away.

Speaker 4: 52:34

So heavy periods, fatigue, definitely eating ice, and then the straw that broke the camel's back was I went to my daughter's volleyball game and my periods at that point were very irregular. But I kind of tried to calculate I'm not going to have my period this week because I was flying to Nebraska so I had nothing. I packed nothing. The next day I get there, boom Water looks. I got my period, had nothing. So that kind of prompted me to talk to the doctor about maybe some options. But anyways, it was fatigue, the ice eating, and the kids noticed Mom, are you anemic?

Speaker 1: 53:27

No.

Speaker 4: 53:27

I'm just eating ice, you know, just drinking water, eating ice.

Speaker 1: 53:31

Oh my goodness. Yeah, the periods are really a lot.

Speaker 4: 53:35

Here's the thing. So my husband and I went to Native New Yorker to dinner after church and I passed out at the restaurant oh, my goodness Called the paramedics, I get taken away and they did a bunch of tests and my hemoglobin was very low it was like seven, which is almost like blood transfusion levels. And then they did an ultrasound and they said you know, you have a football size cyst in your belly, like a mini, mini football size cyst in your belly, and that was basically sucking all my my energy and iron. So at that point I knew I needed to have some intervention.

Speaker 1: 54:29

And so did they go straight to the hysterectomy as your treatment option, or did they try, to like, do anything to shrink the cyst or give you any medications?

Speaker 4: 54:37

So there were options. So and you know I'm 54 years old at that time I was 49. So I you know I was done having kids. So the options were ablation. But then there was a risk for the cyst to come back and I didn't want to go in and have a procedure just for them to come back. I had been considering a hysterectomy, but I was trying to wait till my daughter's volleyball season was over and deal with the next year. But because you know of what happened at the restaurant, I decided, okay, I'm just going to do a hysterectomy. I did a complete hysterectomy because I was done having children.

Speaker 1: 55:23

And when you had the complete hysterectomy, was it open or robotic it?

Speaker 4: 55:27

was robotic. So robotic it's a less of a downtime. I was out for a month. I guess I could have melted and added on a couple of weeks, but I'm less invasive. I mean I thought about it and I was like, wow, that's a lot of muscle to cut through. So I did the robotic. The downtime was about a month. I mean, it was still hard, though it was still hard, so I went to work after a month.

Speaker 1: 55:56

Yeah, Now, was there any type of surgical complications that you had with the robotic, or was everything smooth?

Speaker 4: 56:04

You know I didn't have any surgical complications but I had terrible constipation just because of all the anesthesia, which slows everything down, and also the pain medicines I give you, which causes constipation. So, you know, as a pharmacist I work with surgeons, so I knew what kind of at post-op things to expect. But the constipation was no joke. So I was, you know, taking SINNA and other you know other things to expect. So I was, you know, taking SINNA and other, you know, laxatives, and it just wasn't working. I was getting more and more uncomfortable. So I ended up getting some laxatives from the pharmacy it's my husband to get magnesium citrate, and that, you know, eventually relieved everything. But that was probably the most uncomfortable thing that I had felt. As far as infection and, you know, revision, I didn't have to, I didn't experience any of that, everything went smoothly.

Speaker 1: 57:11

Yeah, when I had my C-sections I had some issues with the constipation. So the last two C-sections I decided when I left the hospital I wasn't going to take any pain medicine besides ibuprofen. And when they asked me after this hysterectomy, she said so what do you want? You want Tylenol-3?, you want oxycodone? You can pick what works best for you. And I said none of it because I vomit every time I take the pain medications. Even after anesthesia I was vomiting, so they had to give me a medicine for that.

Speaker 1: 57:39

And she says well, what do you want? I said I just want 800 milligram ibuprofen. And she said are you sure? I said I'm very sure. I know I'm going to have to deal with some uncomfortableness. So the heating pad, ice packs combined with the medication, helps. So I tried to alleviate that constipation because it's no joke, that's great.

Speaker 4: 58:01

And I hadn't taken, I'd never taken Lycogen or Percocet, even after having kids. It was always like a profen. So these opioids, man, they slow you down and to be constipated for a few days it was very uncomfortable, very uncomfortable, but I didn't get any oozing or anything, it was just regaining my strength gradually.

Speaker 1: 58:32

That's good to hear. Now, do you feel that the information that was provided by your surgery team and your doctors prepared you for the procedure, or do you think there was anything else they could have shared to make you better prepared for having the hysterectomy?

Speaker 4: 58:44

No, I mean I was pretty prepared because, again, I was working in hospital pharmacy. I knew what to expect. So I felt like the information I provided was adequate.

Speaker 1: 58:59

Awesome, and you had an advantage because you work in the field.

Speaker 4: 59:02

Right, I knew what questions to ask. I experienced shivering, which you know. When you're in the hospital, you know you prescribe certain medications for shivering. It was interesting, just like experiencing the same experience that post-surgery patients experience. Oh, this is why we, you know, use this medication or this medication. I was experiencing all of that, oh. It's very interesting.

Speaker 1: 59:32

Yeah, it's going to say it must have been interesting for you because, like you said, you're on the other side with the patients, but now you were the patient.

Speaker 4: 59:37

Right. And the other thing was when I had my hysterectomy it was on Christmas Eve, because at that point I wanted to get it done before the year was over and the only option at that point was Christmas Eve. So in the hospital on Christmas Eve, which I work hospital, you know, on Christmas Eve and you know the hospital looks empty and here I am on the table with this bright light, you know, and then count to five. You put your own purple fall in your out.

Speaker 4: 1:00:09

Yeah and it's like it was just interesting being the patient and being aware that you were the patient, and then when they you know that so with the robotic Surgery they go through, you know, the vaginal canal to Do all the surgery. So they had to pack that area with Gauze, you know. So then it was time to take it out and I just remember the nurse said okay, now brace, and she's like pulling it, pulling it out.

Speaker 1: 1:00:48

That was pretty uncomfortable, but yeah, yeah, I told them to knock me out. I didn't want to be awake for anything. I didn't. I don't know when they did that, I just know the anesthesiologist came in, they strapped me down and then he said okay, I'm gonna give you some medicine to relax and the next thing I know I was waking up in recovery. So I don't know. Yeah, I see sections, I could feel the pressure and they're talking and I just knocked me out. I don't want to be awake for this, just put me out.

Speaker 4: 1:01:13

This is post surgery, so I was kind of like where am I, you know? But oh, it was just doing quick, quick, quick, faster, faster, take it out, take it out.

Speaker 1: 1:01:22

Yeah, every time I go under anesthesia takes a while for me to wake up, so they may have been doing that while I was still asleep, but I know when, I woke up, she said you're ready to go home. You know this is what you got to do, so I'm like I'm done already. She said, yeah, you've been here for like five hours and I was like, oh, I just remember this, the anesthesiologist saying, oh, you something to relax, and that was it.

Speaker 4: 1:01:41

I was. I think I was in the hospital for about two days.

Speaker 1: 1:01:46

Yeah, I was able to go home the same day. My doctor, they said he has.

Speaker 1: 1:01:50

He has a high of go home the same day rate. I guess 95% of his patients go home, but they really left it up to me. She said you know you could stay the night here. Your insurance will cover it if you want to. You know, stay here. She said. But in order for us to send you home, you have to be able to get up and walk to the bathroom on your own. We will be behind you in case, you know, fall over. But if you start stumbling or like you're gonna fall, we can't let you go home. And I hate hospitals, I don't like sleeping in the hospital. But when I had the 3c sections, I had I didn't have a choice. I had to stay. So they gave me a choice and I just said God, give me the strength to make it to the bathroom.

Speaker 1: 1:02:24

You know, back to this bed, so.

Speaker 4: 1:02:26

I can go home, so you know, interesting enough. So it was time to get out of the bed, at least try to move. And she put my, hit my my legs to the side of the bed and I just felt intense pain. I was like I can't do it, give me some whatever pain minutes, and it was. It was intense because they want you to get up right away. Yeah, I can't, I can't.

Speaker 1: 1:02:52

Yeah, I was still under whatever they had me on because I didn't feel anything. But when I got home and I woke up and I tried to walk, I was like, oh no, where's the IV profan, where's the hand pad? And just to even get out of the bed, you had to like roll out, you couldn't like sit up. Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, oh wait you had to roll in and you had to roll back out. That's the only way you can get in the bed.

Speaker 4: 1:03:12

You couldn't climb in the way. We have a two-story house so I slept on the couch downstairs and it was still hard to get out. So my youngest son he's not 19, but he was like mom, they don't see me, as you know, sick. I'm always gonna help me doing stuff. So I'm walking slow, he's helping me to the bathroom. He's looking at me weird like are you gonna die? My daughter was in college at the time, planned. She's a baller ball player. But she was trying to contact me and I you know I've been admitted to the hospital wasn't responding and she was worried, says mom, I thought you were dead. I was like you were dying, you know. So it was like interesting the I Guess, the extra love you get, yeah, cuz you're not used to being the one down, you're used to taking care of everything else.

Speaker 4: 1:04:05

Yeah, and I was quiet, which maybe they appreciate it, cuz I'm not nagging, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:04:09

But yeah, no, that's how my kids were too. They were here my our 19-year-old help with the younger ones. Why my husband took me, cuz I had to be there early in the morning. But yeah, they wanted to make sure, mom, are you sure you're gonna be okay? And I said, yeah, yeah, just, you know that's something we gotta go through, so yeah, but my daughter was a godsend.

Speaker 4: 1:04:26

You know, daughters are kind of more nurturing.

Speaker 3: 1:04:30

Yeah, you know, the brothers.

Speaker 4: 1:04:32

But she just made she comb my hair. She made sure, you know I go to the bathroom. Small. They even wiped your butt, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:04:42

Oh wait, that was yeah anyways, yeah. So, based on what the doctors told you as far as your recovery time to get back to your normal self, would you say that that was accurate, or did it take you longer than what the doctors anticipated for you to get back to normal life?

Speaker 4: 1:04:58

I feel like it was pretty accurate. You know, I was, I was kind of I was kind of playing on milking it a little bit, but I'm still. I am so right. Look at their month. You know I'd watch enough YouTube videos and Netflix. I was ready to go back. You know what you.

Speaker 4: 1:05:18

But yeah, I know the same and I'm a crafter, so I'm looking at new craft ideas. And then there was oh, I gotta get this. You know, it's like maybe not spend much money. Yeah, it was as a temptation. I was definitely ready to go back. It was. It was very accurate. Yeah, yeah, I was right.

Speaker 1: 1:05:35

Yeah, I was ready to go back I was tired after the first two days. I went back last week and after my first day I came home and I told my husband why am I so tired?

Speaker 1: 1:05:43

He said well, you haven't been, you've been here resting your you know, I'm walking and doing some little YouTube Pilates workouts, trying to build my strength back up. But I said but I'm just sitting at a desk all day, but still your body's used to I up and down every hour. I was up right at home and at work. You know you get into it and you're like, oh, it's been four hours, I gotta get up and take a break. But I did put breaks on my calendar and I have them. I had them before but sometimes I would just snooze them. So I told my boss, when my little breaks pop up I will be getting up because I don't want to have any setbacks.

Speaker 1: 1:06:14

So right taking more walking.

Speaker 4: 1:06:17

That's what I did too, and I was gonna say the one thing I noticed, because with the constipation I wasn't eating as much I was, I guess I wasn't as hungry so I lost about Maybe 30 pounds, 20, wow, 20 pounds. Then I remember the cleaning lady is coming over and they're like your face is too small, and so when I started putting on my clothes, I noticed that they were, you know, loose-fitting. Oh, this is kind of nice. You know, my daughter was very thin and possible, mom, you're actually skinny, you know. Yeah, so that would that mean it kind of was a plus, I think. I don't know, but I definitely lost weight because I wasn't, I just wasn't hungry.

Speaker 1: 1:07:09

Yeah, and I read up that some people lose weight, some people gain weight. So I love food and after I I think I was throwing up for the first 12 hours after I got home and once I start eating again. I was like, oh, it's time to eat, so I love food. But I am working on a program so that I can, because I couldn't do all the things I wanted to do with all the fibroids, like I had to stop lifting weights and yeah only do cardio and Then it's hard.

Speaker 1: 1:07:33

I was had cravings like I was pregnant, so I was eating ice cream and so and I'm like, where did all this come from? And the doctor said it's your hormones. The fibroids make everything Out of whack. And I'm like, well, I don't want to eat all this stuff. But yeah, I told my husband that's not an excuse anymore, they're out. So I got to get back on track. But I mean, it's neither here nor there. I'm healthy, I'm alive.

Speaker 4: 1:07:52

So the thing about that is because you know I have a trainer too and I've been with her for like five years, so I didn't see her for, you know, two months. But you do lose muscle because you're not lifting weights, they don't want you lifting weights, and so when you go back, you know you have to slowly, very slowly, get back into your, your, your post surgery Weight or whatever that is. You know, lifting weights, right, and it was that, it was a battle, because she's like, well, I just want you to do, you know, like light, no, I can do it, I know that. No, I can't, because I would right wind it. So it took about Maybe six, eight weeks to start to.

Speaker 4: 1:08:45

You know, feel like your old self when working out and then from there you just start Adding on a little bit more weight and, just, you know, every week you got stronger. But that was one of those things where you had to take your time and I was frustrated Because I know I can do more than this, but I hadn't done it in two months. You know, if you don't work out for two weeks, it's a yeah, it's kind of a deficit, yeah, and for me you lost muscle because you're not building it.

Speaker 1: 1:09:16

Yeah, and for me it's a struggle because I teach group fitness part time. So I'm just like I'm ready to go, but I'm like, nope, I'm gonna pace myself and you know I'm ready to go back and teach, because all my students are saying when are you coming back?

Speaker 1: 1:09:28

and I said I'm doing a special class in December but I won't be back to my you know my class schedule until January. I have to be able to build my body up for me to work out. I can't do teach you guys if I can't even do the movement.

Speaker 3: 1:09:40

So that doesn't make any sense. Yes.

Speaker 1: 1:09:42

I mean they understand and they get it. So I'm gonna be, you know, doing a little bit here and there and I'm, like I said, I'm following Jessica Vellant. She's a physical therapist and Pilates instructor and she had a history three years ago and she created a post. His directed me 10 week workout. So I found her on YouTube and I've started doing. I mean, I was walking already and then she had a couple of like free videos and then I bought the program. So next week, week five, I'll be able to start doing weights.

Speaker 1: 1:10:08

She has like a lightweight program for next week and, like you said, she has it where you add on. Because I went through all the videos, like to do sneak peeks, because I wanted to see what was coming up. So I'm like, let me just back up and, you know, go in the order that she has it in. But it's been really great just to do the stretching and like getting on and off of off of a chair, getting up and down off the floor. I can do that. But then when she tells you this is how you're supposed to be doing, I'm like, oh, that feels different. So, yes, it's been very helpful. So I appreciate that, she, that you created that. So the next question I have is how has your life changed since your hysterectomy? Anything positive or negative that you want to share? Since you've had the hysterectomy, that's changed.

Speaker 4: 1:10:49

Okay, so positive honey throughout all of my Sanitary girl stuff. It was invigorating. Yes, white, whenever I want, I can swim whenever I want, I'm not bloated. No Soar boobs, no period. Huh, yes, I'm like you have taken this out earlier. Right, this, right here is complete freedom, because when I was on that plane, when I visited my daughter of Florida, nebraska, I Could, I had my period on the plane with no Protection right, worry about that anymore.

Speaker 4: 1:11:37

No, oh. And then once here, no pramps, no, nothing girl that no fat in itself. Skinny clothes or period clothes or whatever, none of that. I were white all day, every day. Okay, yeah, you don't have to worry about that anymore. Oh, I'm sorry for you. I don't have to worry about waking up. You know, changing out every 30 minutes. I get, you know, I can get some better sleep. At least this is what I'm thinking initially. You know, right, positive, positive, positive, a negative Hormones you said mentioned, yeah, out of whack, and you don't notice it right away.

Speaker 4: 1:12:22

So probably a month, about a month after my surgery is when I went into medical menopause. Okay, you start getting those hot flashes. I was getting a little bit before the surgery, but when I take showers, in about 15, 20 minutes, I have to let myself kind of cool down For applying makeup, because you just get this intense, you know like glistening, sweaty and I have a little, have a little fan girl. My sister got me this fan. I, first time after my hysterectomy, went to Tucson for a scrapbook convention. I forgot that Rooms don't have ceiling fans, the hotel rooms. I died. I had to turn it down to 60. Bring this. This is Amazon. Have this with you five speeds, all times traveling. Honey, you have to have one of these.

Speaker 4: 1:13:25

I don't use any hormonal therapy. We have breast cancer that runs in our family, so I've just been kind of fanning it out. I know there's like patches and pills and things that you can take. I haven't done that, so that's one of the negatives, the hot flashes. The other thing is dry sex. If you're even interested in having sex, okay, right, because your libido is, you know, lower. So I have these. You know KY jelly, which I used before, but Right, more. The other thing is, and this is so, I've been post hysterectomy, but it'll be five years Christmas Eve. Your hormones continue to be out of whack, so you have less estrogen, so that means less energy, but your cortisol levels rise, which are fat storage hormones. Right, my friend told me initially, like you make getting weight and I wasn't getting weight. Then I was perfect. It was like I was 147. I'm like, oh you know, it wasn't until last year I I started packing on pounds, pounds that.

Speaker 4: 1:14:38

I'd never been heavy, like you know, as heavy as I was right. So, you know, late night snacking, I noticed I was doing more of stress eating, stress drinking. I like to drink wine. Well, drink, you know, drink more when you're stressed out because my husband he has, who's going through prostate cancer. So I'm dealing with that in other stressors, you know. So your hormones predict how you're going to eat. Yep, and that's when I went from 147 to last March, this this March, 162, close, fitting a little tighter still working out now Hopefully. But there were some other Outside like stressors, like eating in, so I was at a weight that I wasn't comfortable with. That's what I experienced.

Speaker 4: 1:15:40

So now this is five years, almost five years, postman or puzzle. So you have the surgery, but things happen along the way. You have to, kind of. You know, I've been listening to podcasts and you know, like why do we snack the way we snack? What hormones post-mortem, postmenopausal hormones do? Because you can't work out like you did Premenopausal, you might have to do differently because your hormones are, they are what they are. So I learned a lot about Postmenopausal women and what they need to do to stay healthy. Now I'll tell you one thing Ozympic diabetic medication, also FDA approved for weight loss. I Decided to do it. I started. Sometimes you need a Push.

Speaker 1: 1:16:36

Yes, my doctor told me that I was working out.

Speaker 4: 1:16:40

I was eating pretty healthy, but I was late night snacking so I started ozympic back in the same March, may, may I was at 162 pre-diabetic Cluster levels a little higher than I'd like and diabetes runs in my family. So I saw my A1c. It was a little higher than I wanted it. I have a nurse practitioner friend. Actually it's my next-door neighbor. I Started seeing her. I got my blood work done. I started ozympic in May and this is very important because people are bashing.

Speaker 1: 1:17:19

Ozympic.

Speaker 4: 1:17:20

Yeah, you know, using all the medications. No, no, I'm not. I had a plan of three months so I went May, june, july. That was my plan. Those three months I lost about two pounds a week. I Lost 20 pounds. I wasn't expecting to lose 20 pounds, but I lost 20 pounds. So I went from 162 to like 142 143, stopped it. I weighed myself off August. I have not been on it since but I was still working out. I was, you know, actually eating less but trying to make sure I have my protein and Maintaining my weight At 143.

Speaker 1: 1:18:13

So that's one piece.

Speaker 4: 1:18:14

I mean you. It's an option for everybody. I've referred like 10 people to my nurse practitioner Because I, I, I didn't, I wasn't, I wasn't comfortable. Where I was at was a weight and I needed some help. Right, it's the first time in life I need help. So for you ladies out there considering Osepik or Manjaro, you know, as long as you're, you know, under a guidance of a physician, you have a goal in mind. I didn't want to be on it forever because I'm not diabetic and my weight decreased, my my a1c decrease. I'm back in normal range. Oh, and the other thing was my blood pressure was high. I never had high blood pressure ever, so it's normal now. Wow, that is an option for women that you know what I'm doing, everything. But I need some help.

Speaker 1: 1:19:07

Yeah, well, I'm glad that you shared that, because I know that my doctor was telling me about some type of Injections I could get to help boost my weight loss and I'm not a needle person I hate. So I'm like, um, I don't know. I said if I can't, you know, get back To my. You know healthy eating and, like you said, working out combined. And I said if that doesn't work, I'll come back and talk to you. I said, but I'm not really down to give myself injections at home to lose weight.

Speaker 4: 1:19:34

Yeah, I had never done that before. I know other people, you know, but it was, it wasn't difficult, but it was an adjustment. I'm sorry. I'm gonna get myself three months, because that's when the a1c will change your right, your diabetic level. Okay, so that's it.

Speaker 1: 1:19:51

So I'm done, so that's very helpful.

Speaker 1: 1:19:54

I'll be monitoring mine now that you showed, that we have a blood pressure machine at home, so For my husband, so I can start using that to monitor mine as well. But, yes, off to get my a1c levels check because diabetes runs in my family. Both my parents had it before they passed away Grandmother, uncles. Yeah, before the surgery I didn't have any issues with my a1c blood pressure anything. So I'll make sure that I have my doctor check it. Good, because you said five years later and I'm only four weeks, five weeks.

Speaker 4: 1:20:31

You know, and, and then the hormones start kicking in, the lack of hormones or the imbalance, and that's why everything goes catty office.

Speaker 1: 1:20:39

Yeah Well, I'm glad that you shared that. So what are some tips or advice that you would share for anyone or share with anyone Excuse me, that's preparing to have a hysterectomy. So they've been told by their doctor they have to have a hysterectomy and they're still not able to decide, or they're stuck in that phase where they don't know if they want to move forward with it. What type of advice would you share with those ladies?

Speaker 4: 1:21:02

Well, I would definitely, I mean explore all options, but the option is hysterectomy. Just know that. You know there's options to treat the hot flashes. There's naturopathic methods. There's estrogen that you can take depending on your family history. But be prepared for the hot flashes, especially in the summertime, especially if you live in Arizona. Have one of these and Then just try to really stick to a good eating plan.

Speaker 4: 1:21:39

Getting sleep is Paramount, because we don't. That also increases your cortisol levels so that the stress hormone Anything you can do to reduce the stress hormone is going to reduce your propensity to gain weight. So Things like yoga, sleep, even intermittent fasting, so like after seven o'clock, for me, no more, I drink water and that's it. That's helpful. And then just kind of reaching out to other friends or women that had Hysterectomies, because you're going to be emotional. I didn't think I was emotionally fine, but actually was not. I was very emotional. So Having a support system is very important. I'm not really sure, because I've got, you know, I've got one daughter, two sons and a husband. So men, you know, versus a house full of women, right, maybe they would have been more sympathetic, but they're guys, yeah, you know. So it's now, it's time to you know, lean on other women About. You know what you're going through, especially if you know someone that has been through what you've been through. It's very it's very

Speaker 2: 1:23:02

yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:23:03

Yeah, and that's the reason why I wanted to extend this Opportunity for other people to share, so that it wasn't just my story, because each of us are different. Our bodies are different.

Speaker 1: 1:23:12

We have different types of hysterectomy. Some have our ovaries, some don't, and that's a totally different experience than Each other. So that's why I wanted to have different people to share different perspectives, and then you can now be a resource to somebody that no watching this if they don't want to reach out to me, or they can Reach out to you or the other ladies that I interviewed. So that's that's one of the main reasons why I wanted to do the video interviews you know what to I mean.

Speaker 4: 1:23:38

Depends on how old you are, but I opted for the total hysterectomy. I knew I wasn't gonna have any more kids, so I was done. He's sure. Yes, take it all out. My, my, my son was like mom, or your ovaries broken, they're gone, they're gone, they're gone.

Speaker 1: 1:24:00

So, yeah, yeah, my doctor told me that because of my age I'll be 45 next year but he said you know, if I take your ovaries, you're gonna go into menopause earlier than normal. So it's really up to you. We can leave them. I mean because we can take everything else out with the fibroids. I've talked to other women, like you said, that had hysterectomy, said had their ovaries removed or had other issues where they had to have their ovaries removed, and they said, if you can wait, wait. So that's what, that's what I went with.

Speaker 4: 1:24:26

So there, was a doctor gave me an option. Yeah, yeah, you know the other thing too, for me, when I have my surgery, I don't know I had an epiphany, it's just I Changed jobs because I wanted to work less hours and do other things like you. Just you know, you want to Do different things right outside of your career. So, like I am a guest attendant at Arizona State, I scan tickets at the games.

Speaker 1: 1:24:56

Definitely different.

Speaker 4: 1:24:58

I volunteer for the Super Bowl committee last year, volunteering for the final four Tournament this year in Arizona. So it just kind of gives you an awareness like, okay, I need to have lunch with friends that I haven't seen in a long time. I, I want to do more crafting or whatever it is that you like to do, like your time is is Valuable, right, so that it really opened my eyes. So, like you know what, I work 30 hours a week. Now I'll spend less and I'm gonna do some different things.

Speaker 1: 1:25:33

Yeah, that's eye-opening because we're not promised the next moment. And yeah, especially when you find out that you have to have this major Surgery, it's like, oh my god, what am I gonna do? And then your whole life flashes before you and it does you got to make Changes after. So I'm doing the same thing, making some changes, not planning to do the same things I was doing before.

Speaker 1: 1:25:54

Not because I you know, the fibroids can't come back. Everything's gone. But it's like you said. You've gone through this experience and now it's time to change it up just a little bit Great. So the next question that I have is is there any information you wish was available to you when you had your surgery, or do you think the information that was provided to you was enough?

Speaker 4: 1:26:16

You know, I think that the information was enough. Okay, they did, the surgeon did for me to some websites, you know, for Support groups, chris directives, and then I reached out to some friends too, but I just felt like everything was adequate. I didn't really have a lot of questions after that, but I mean at that point, I mean as they came up, I asked questions and he was able to answer him, but at that time I thought I received adequate information.

Speaker 1: 1:26:51

Awesome. And then is there anything else that you want to share to the people that will be watching this video about your hysterectomy journey? Any other tips, advice, what you think they should have on hand after their surgery? Anything else that you want to share, girl?

Speaker 4: 1:27:05

no periods. No periods. I mean, look, it's just throw those suckers out, like, oh, I'm doing this, like that's the best part, okay, it's the best part the best part, but what I would do is have some Lacks.

Speaker 4: 1:27:27

It is on hand. I definitely would have a Magnetium citrate. You buy it at the pharmacy. We would drink half a bottle. Have that just in case, because that was no joke I was. You don't want to be Constipated for three days because then you're you know you're back hurts. It's just very uncomfortable. Make sure you have all of your your constipation medications on hand.

Speaker 4: 1:27:53

They're gonna send you home with the, the pain medicines. And then the other thing is just kind of rediscover you. You know, like, like I, I thought, well, and I had just I was gonna turn 50, so I'm like I would be 50 and fabulous. Which is when I started my Instagram page and I know it's like, oh, she always just post pictures of herself. Well, that was the whole point point right about me and not a selfish person, but you know he was a mom. You're taking, yes, everybody else.

Speaker 4: 1:28:27

I wanted to focus on me. So if I don't pills, post pictures of my family, that's it's a reason why I'm right me. So focus on you. You have to balance you and your family. If you're always doing stuff for your family, you're gonna, you're gonna go crazy. So I had a kind of reset several times and still resetting Just to get that balance.

Speaker 4: 1:28:56

That's the most important thing, meaning new friends, just doing stuff different, getting out of your element. You know, just Like being uncomfortable, being comfortable, being uncomfortable, right, that that's the most important thing I could tell a woman, because You're gonna just feel so invigorating, you don't have to spend time changing out anymore. It was so awful too, because when I yeah, so when that happened in Nebraska Get ready to go to my daughter's volleyball game, and it's a clear bag policy. Yeah, I mean, I was Expecting to have that. I had my bag, so I had to go to the store and get all the pads and Pan pods and I'm stuffing them in my pants, my jeans, like it was awful. That's what I knew. Okay, I gotta get this done sooner than later, so anyways.

Speaker 1: 1:29:49

Yeah, well now we don't have to worry about that. No periods, no Clear bag. We can just put our phone in our pockets. I hate it telling people oh, I can't, you know, let's go swim and let's go here. Oh, not, not right now.

Speaker 1: 1:30:11

Yeah right, right, so well. This has been a very great conversation. Ronda, I appreciate you taking some time to spend with Us on the infusion podcast and, for those of you that are listening, I hope that these interviews that these wonderful women have shared Marybell, cynthia and now Ronda Will help you along your life journey, whether it's dealing with a hysterectomy or any other Medical condition, mental health condition. If you want to reach out to us, we are all available. At the end of this video I will post each of their names and their social media, so if you want to reach out to them directly, feel free to do that. But you have been listening to the infusion podcast. Again, I hope that something was said today that will help you along your life journey. Until next time, continue to do you, be you, infuse you and be blessed. I