Recovering from Major Abdominal Surgery

Photo 1: Day 2 of surgery

Photo 2: Day 6 of surgery

Photo 3: Week 3 after surgery

So, what happened?

Well, my day started as just a regular day.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, I doubled over in the most horrendous and excruciating pain ever.

I knew right away that it was something serious. It literally felt like my intestines had twisted.

Within 10 minutes, I was on the floor, unable to move.

20 minutes later, I was at the ER, and from the look on my doctor’s face, I knew it was serious.

Following countless tests and a CT scan, I was urgently taken to surgery.

My condition was now deemed life-threatening.

It turns out, that I had developed ‘adhesions’ from a C-section that I had over 35 years ago.

These adhesions are ‘scar-like tissue’ which can gradually grow and attach themselves to other organs.

In my case, over the years, it seems that the adhesions had slowly been wrapping themselves around my intestine, eventually twisting it, and causing it to suddenly block entirely.

Thankfully, the surgery was successful.

My doctor said that the reason I was able to recover so quickly after having major abdominal surgery was because my body was so strong and healthy, otherwise it would have been a completely different story.

For me, this is the most important lesson that I have learnt from this ordeal – to be healthy, and to keep my body strong.

The post-surgery recovery has been really hard, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.

I went from being 100% active, to barely being able to walk.

My minimum recovery time is now estimated to be around 6 months.

I’ve lost 4.5 kilos in 3 weeks, and my stomach is still very swollen.

By the 5^th day of my surgery, I was able to take 5 baby steps.

By day 10, I could walk 100 steps.

My goal has been to increase my steps by 50 each time.

I am now able to do 600 steps!

I had set several new goals for 2024, but unfortunately, life sometimes has a way of throwing unexpected events and challenges at you that can change the course of your plans.

However, even after life-threatening surgery, I am not, and I will never be defeated, never.

I’m a very strong-willed person, and I’m a fighter.

I have pulled on all of my internal strength, sheer willpower, and positivity to get through this.

I’ve picked myself up, I’ve brushed myself off, and I’ve continued moving forward.

And I am confident and certain that I will be back to normal in no time.

 “Always move forwards, never backwards. Keep going no matter what life throws at you, and never, ever, ever give up”