Author: Claire

My Lucky Seventh
By: Penny

Hello everyone. The title refers to a very special anniversary. I hope what I am about to say will not upset anyone.
On the 7th September 1995 I had a very small hysterectomy. The procedure is called an “endometrial ablation”, and is usually done for people who have given birth. I haven’t however, but it was able to be done for me.
I have had a lot of problems since major neurosurgery for hydrocephalus and due to not reacting well to any kind of major change, I did not want a full operation. The months leading up to the procedure were eventful. I collapsed at the entrance to a shop in early December 1994, due to recurring anaemia.
At the end of that month my GP said to see him again in a week. I did, with no mention of why I had anaemia again. I can’t remember the details but on the way out from the appointment, they decided to hospitalize me straight afterwards, to see what was going on.
Over about five years, I had cumulatively lost half my blood supply. I think it was amazing the transfusion had been able to be done at all, because my blood type is shared by only 7% of Australians. I got three units and did not want to stay another night for the fourth. I was all right without it though, because the transfusion had put up my blood count considerably.
The next few months I took oral contraceptives which I stopped in favour of hormones so that the procedure could go ahead in six months. At the time I had another recurring (unrelated) problem which could have also reduced my blood supply.
In June, I met the surgeon who was to do the procedure. From a distance he looked tall and maybe a bit frightening… probably because of my anxiety. But I soon learnt I had misjudged him because he has become my favourite doctor (let alone specialist) of all time. Unlike some others, he has never used my neurological condition against me. His diagnostic test said that the procedure would be able to go ahead. I had never been so pleased to hear anything in my life! He’d found a polyp which was probably the cause of the problem. He said it would be removed during the operation.
In July the GP saw me again, this time for bad acid in my stomach. He said it was due to nerves and gave me tablets supposedly to help the acid problem. They did. That night I read up on them though, and found they were antidepressants! Unlike me, he said I was depressed, but the tablets took care of both problems. They certainly improved the acid problem.
The day of the procedure arrived. It was done in the afternoon. The staff let my mother come down to the anaesthetic room in the lift with me. I guess I was nervous even though I didn’t feel that way. I began to make small talk. I think I remember saying goodbye to my mother (there was a very small risk of me not coming back) but of course I did come back. The surgeon asked me how the anaesthetic had gone – not many surgeons have done that in my lifetime. Most of my operations I have had trouble with anaesthetics, so I was pleased that it was not the case this time.

EGERIA

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