Been a couple months since my last update. I should change that, huh? So, in 2024 thus far, I turned 39 and then (in order of when it occurred):
Continue reading “Life, Death, and Other Updates: 2024 So Far!”Category: Physical Health

One Full Year Uterus-Free!
On July 23rd, 2021, I had FIVE organs removed: My cervix, my right fallopian tube, my left fallopian tube, my right ovary, and my demonic uterus. Today, on the one-year anniversary, I’m making an update about what’s been going on in my life since then.
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One Year Ago Today: July 23, 2021
It’s hard to believe it’s been 365 days since my lifesaving — and life changing — surgery! Wow!!
One year ago today, my husband Frank and I took an Uber ride to the surgery center. Then, Frank had to kiss me goodbye and wish me luck. Due to COVID restrictions in Los Angeles, no one was allowed into the building but staff and patients… that meant no loving husband by my side. Frank caught a ride back home where he and my parents waited anxiously by the phone, texting my bestie Christi the details as they came in.
Meanwhile, I was getting prepped for major surgery. They gave me a Pepcid for stomach acid (didn’t want acid reflux making a nasty guest appearance while I was unconscious!) and crossed their fingers that nothing would go wrong with the anesthesia. I had been put under once in my life before, for my hip replacement/bone graft as a wee one, but every medical and dental procedure I’d had since was done with only local anesthetics.
I tend to have bad reactions to strong medications. And even some “normal” ones (I’m deathly allergic to cough syrup, for example!).
They gave me zero painkillers while I was under. I had a prescription for Ibuprofen and an antinausea medication for when I got home. And, Papa & Barkley CBD ReLeaf Capsules came highly recommended. So, I had a bottle of those too! And they’re amazing. As someone who has struggled with chronic inflammation for most of my adult life, they were a Godsend, even now, long after my recovery period has come and gone. I was so impressed that Papa & Barkley’s CBD products actually do everything they say they will (from what I’ve experienced, a lot of places just slap the “CBD” label on to be trendy and the actual benefits are nil) that I became one of “Papa’s Champs” and recommend their products to everyone — especially fellow Spoonies who have never known a life completely free from pain…
Speaking of pain, the surgery itself went extremely well! And I kinda freaked out the staff a little bit. They were hovering around nervously, expecting me to have some trouble — after all, I’d just had five organs removed with zero painkillers! — but I was basically a-okay!! Compared to the pain I’d been in BEFORE the surgery, the actual operation pain was NOTHING!!
Our friend Brian’s girlfriend, Annie, picked me up and drove me home from the surgery center. They’d been together quite a while, but that was the first time I’d gotten to meet her in person (how memorable, huh??). She got me home safely and was an excellent driver. I liked her a ton, even though it was odd circumstances and a bit hard to concentrate due to the lingering anesthesia making me a bit woozy.
I’m happy to report that, since then, Brian and Annie have gotten engaged! ♥
So, that’s one big thing that’s changed since my surgery last year! Here are a few other things:
Continue reading “One Full Year Uterus-Free!”
Hysterectomy 1-year Anniversary Drawings
This was formerly a Kofi Exclusive. For more about why it’s not anymore, you can read this update: https://ko-fi.com/post/Im-No-Longer-Kofi-GOLD–Heres-What-That-Means-Y8Y4KPBW2 Thank you for your viewership/support! –Lauren*
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ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: On July 23rd, 2021, I had FIVE organs removed: My cervix, my right fallopian tube, my left fallopian tube, my right ovary, and my demonic uterus. I drew these for the one-year anniversary (07/23/2022) update about what’s been going on in my life since then, physically (“Adventures of Lefty the Ovary”) and otherwise. Music = “Burning Trapezoid of Fire” by Kevin MacLeod via FreePD.com

Thank You, New Choice Health!
This was formerly a Kofi Exclusive. For more about why it’s not anymore, you can read this update: https://ko-fi.com/post/Im-No-Longer-Kofi-GOLD–Heres-What-That-Means-Y8Y4KPBW2 Thank you for your viewership/support! –Lauren*
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ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION:
The gals in the Patient Assist Program at New Choice Health — who helped me get my lifesaving hysterectomy in spite of having zero insurance — sent me a thank you card for choosing their services for help. They included a photo of themselves… which I turned into a drawing and sent back to them as a return thank you! They framed it and put it up on the wall of their office 🙂 For more about my life-saving surgery: https://littlezotz.com/uterus-issues For more about New Choice Health/Patient Assist: https://www.newchoicehealth.com/patient-assist