When Your Appendix Isn’t the Only Star of the Show

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Yesterday when I wrote “One treatment down, one or two more to go,” I had a little hunch that my next hospital adventure wouldn’t just be about the appendix. And guess what? My hunch was right. Turns out my rather large myoma has been quietly auditioning for the lead role in my medical drama.

Apparently, that’s the real culprit behind my perpetually full bladder. No wonder I’ve been peeing every thirty minutes like clockwork. Exhausting, right? And that’s not even counting the extra risks it drags along, like cancer and those pre-menopause bleeding episodes that nobody ever asks for.

The good news is my gynecologist is an absolute gem. He explained everything in plain, logical language and made the whole thing feel less scary. Bonus points for being funny and easygoing. If there was a TripAdvisor for doctors, he’d get five stars from me.

So now, instead of today’s appendix surgery, we’re hitting pause to wait for insurance approval for a myomectomy. And maybe even a hysterectomy, just to remove any future risks of cancer or heavy bleeding. Or, as I like to call it, “closing the factory.”

While the insurance people are doing their thing, I’m sitting pretty in my super VIP hospital room, which honestly feels like a boutique hotel with better food. The waiting is strangely calm. I feel relaxed, knowing that I'm in a good place where the whole team serve with heart. 

Because today’s surgery got postponed, my fasting also got canceled. Relief! I’d been told to fast from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., and skipping lunch is not my spiritual gift. Thankfully, I didn’t have to endure it, at least for now.

With visiting hours back open, I got to see some lovely people. My husband’s aunt and a neighbor from my in-laws’ church came all the way to pray for me. It’s the kind of kindness you don’t forget. Then our friend Okki arrived, carrying a Get Well Soon pack from Rejuve. Cold-pressed juice and warm friendship, combo! 

The extra free time has been a blessing in disguise. I’ve been reading more, not just some physical books I brought, but also using the Headway app for summaries of imported books. Lately I’ve been diving deep into stoicism: Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic, Lives of the Stoics, The Daily Stoic, and A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy. Even just the summaries have been like mental armor, helping me face this whole process with more calm and perspective.

As Seneca wrote, “We suffer more in imagination than in reality.” And honestly, the more I remind myself of that, the lighter my steps feel. Even when those steps are just from the bed to the bathroom and back again, every 30 minutes. LOL. 

So here’s to the pauses, the detours, and the plot twists. Sometimes they’re not interruptions at all, but the story itself. And if you find yourself in one, I hope you fill the waiting with things that make you stronger, kinder, and a little bit braver.

Take care of your body, guard your peace, and fill your mind with good things. Life has enough battles, so make sure you’re stocked with the best weapons.

Love,
Nuniek

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