re-post from old blog April 4, 2023
Current Weight: 355.6 lbs
March A1C 6.4
Yesterday, I got a major haircut in this whole transformation phase of my life. I can’t even recall the last time I went to a salon in general.
I’ve posted about this, but I’ve been struggling since September 2022 I started having symptoms that led me back to the surgeon, and multiple tests confirmed I have a colovaginalfistula. I was referred to a Colorectal Surgeon at the University Hospital in my state. My pre-op appointment was disastrous Nothing had remained the same from my initial appointment; she changed the surgical plan.
She first told me she believed she could do it all in one robotic surgery with no plans of an ileostomy. That completely changed. I do not believe she even looked at the tests my general surgeon did to confirm the location. Because she did zero testing of her own, she told me that I could suffer severe complications if she were to open me up, including blood loss, infections, even death, or a permanent colostomy. I left stunned and overwhelmed.
When I got back home, I made calls to my general surgeon and gynecologist. My general surgeon was out of the country in Guatemala doing surgeries. But she called me back on the 21st. I told her what happened, and she said No she’s not going to do your surgery She paused and said I’m going to send you to the ClevelandClinic, where they do this surgery every single day. Yesterday they called, they already had my referral done and insurance approved. I have an appointment on April 7th. I waited from November 2022 until March 13th to get to a pre-op stage with the university hospital in my state. I’m paired now with a colorectal surgeon who is an expert in robotic surgery and has a very long list of accreditations. Specializing in everything I have issues with.
My best chance at living a normal life rests in this upcoming appointment and whatever surgical plan he has. I’m nervous and scared and have a great deal of #anxiety about the whole process. Sadly, I think I gave up on myself such a long time ago. I gave up on any type of normal for myself and have just been living in survival mode for so long. I have experienced a great deal of depression these last few months. Living with all the symptoms that unfold with colo-vaginal fistulas. I greatly appreciate my family and my sister and brother-in-law, who I love dearly, for making sure that I get to the Cleveland Clinic and giving me hope.
When I had my first surgery in 2020 for the 1st fistula, I had the flap repair, emergency colostomy, and 6 months later a takedown reversal. I was told by the prep nurse that many women die in my state because they never seek treatment because they are ashamed. I was educated on what causes fistulas in women during my hospital stays. In my case, diverticulitis caused my fistulas.
