Okay, since today is the last day of my first post-op week , I'm going to try and be thankful for the little strides. This week has been rough but I think overall I've made a lot of improvement. It seems with each cough I'm gaining a little more mmph, which means less pain and that's a good thing! I'm also beginning to sleep a little better. I've been sleeping on my couch because I can sleep against the arm at a less-reclined angle which makes it easier to stand up from. Also, my sleep has been rather erratic and I don't want to wake my boyfriend with my restlessness--my nurse needs to be well rested! Speaking of sleeplessness, last night I was up at 4:30am so I turned on the t.v. I happened upon a documentary that gave me pause and allowed me to see my recovery in a different light. The film is called "A Walk to Beautiful." It's an award-winning Nova documentary following five Ethiopian women suffering from obstetric fistula.
It's estimated that millions of women in the world suffer from obstetric fistula, almost all of whom live in developing countries (primarily in Africa and south Asia). The condition develops when blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder (and/or rectum) is cut off during prolonged obstructed labor. The tissues die and a hole forms through which urine and/or feces pass uncontrollably.
Women who develop fistulas are often abandoned by their husbands, rejected by their communities, and forced to live an isolated existence (taken from The Fistula Foundation website). Seeing how these women live their lives while suffering not only from the physical condition but the psychological and emotional distress caused by it, led me to realize just how lucky I am. I highly recommend watching it but be prepared for the tears!
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