What’s Next?

My first year at the new job is over!  I’ve quite enjoyed it [this is English speak “for loved nearly every minute of it”].  Teaching introductory and general chemistry was definitely a learning experience but I got the hang off it in the end.  The thing is to be tough.  Tell the students up front that chemistry is hard (even if it never was for me) and that they will have to work their butts off to succeed.  I am grateful that I do not feel as emotionally exhausted now as I did after my first semester in the fall, so I have learned to protect that side of me a little more. Mentally drained, yeah, but I can live with that.

So what’s next?

Scientiae wants to know how we are moving forward.  I hope my route is a little different than for other people as I am having a hysterectomy in a few weeks.

Last December it was found that I had three huge uterine fibroids which kinda explained why I was bleeding to death each month. Until the fibroids were identified, I felt that my recovery from the colon-resection I had in 2005 had stalled and that I would never be able to do as much as I saw colleagues and friends doing.  It couldn’t be age as I am too young really for me to blame age on slowing me down.

Unfortunately, the fibroids, and my uterus, are too big for any other treatment than a complete removal of my womb.  We, myself and my gynecologist, hope to save at least an ovary as I have a few years before natural menopause would set in. My Gyn also permitted me to wait until the summer because of the new job and lack of sick days etc.  But then set up the op for the first day I told her I was free, so I guess she thinks it important I get this done.

This is moving forward for me, as I don’t know how I will feel after the operation.  Immediately after wards, and probably for about six months, I will feel sore and exhausted and tired and cranky.   But hey, what’s new?

In a year, as I won’t be losing so much iron each month, will I have my stamina back?  Will I have more energy to do more and better at both work and pleasure?  Will I start wanting to ride my bicycle and hiking again, which I loved doing four years ago?  I hope so.

On the plus side, I am also told I will lose 15 lbs when the fibroids are removed.  That means I’ll only be about 5 – 10 lbs over my ideal weight.

I cannot leave you with another garden photo:

Rhododendron Flower Close Up

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