A Grapefruit-Sized Pause

My life is busy. That four-word sentence doesn’t even cut the surface of that busyness, but as I always say, I am quite fortunate: my busyness is not bad, just tiring (I don’t get nearly enough sleep in my quest to get everything on my to-do list accomplished). But you know how it goes. The moment I think I cannot possibly get any busier, life either tells me I’m wrong and throws another task my way, or it reminds me to hold up and take a breather. Earlier in the year, life told me I’d need to hit the pause button. Thankfully, it gave me some warning. This week—Wednesday, April 28—will be that day.

What’s happening on Wednesday? I’m heading to the hospital for two procedures: a laparoscopy to remove an 11-centimeter cyst on my ovary (which means the whole ovary will be going, a procedure called an oophorectomy) and a hysteroscopy to remove a polyp in my uterus. The doctor is pretty certain that both the cyst and the polyp are benign, but cysts over 5 centimeters are usually taken out (and mine has progressed to the size of a grapefruit), and if I’m going to be under general anesthesia, why the hell not just go in and get that polyp too? (He’s right, but I’d have been just fine with one or the other or none at all; clearly my body had other plans.)

The procedures are outpatient, so I’ll be coming home the same day, but I’ve experienced general anesthesia before, and it makes me sleepy. And I suspect the gas remaining in my belly will be uncomfortable, the three holes in my abdomen will be sore, and the cramping and bloody discharge that can accompany a hysteroscopy—well that might just make me downright annoyed, especially because I’ve already had my period this month! (Believe me, those who don’t menstruate: once a month sometimes feels like too much.)

At this point, you’re probably wondering why I’m bothering to even write this. Well, it’s that I used to write about everything. From things the kids said to what I was feeling that day to what the boss said to how my vacuum made me happy (it did). Then, my life became busier than I anticipated (there’s that word again), and social media took over a segment of my time, and I launched a book! My writing time dwindled and so did my blogging time, and part of my reasoning behind blogging is so my family can go back in time and see what was happening.

So there you have it. This week, I’ll be having surgery. This week, my busyness will be forced to a stop. This week, I’ll likely be grumpy because I won’t be able to run (I’m not sure for how long). But this week during my pause, I might have time to sit and think about all the good things going on in my life and where I want to go from here. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all.

What does your week look like? Are you planning on pausing? If so, what will fill that pause?

Image of grapefruit by Bishnu Sarangi from Pixabay.

8 Comments

  1. Andrea Davis on April 26, 2021 at 7:42 pm

    And even with all that going on, you didn’t bat an eyelash when I asked for help. You made time for me even though you hadn’t really interacted with me in 20+ years (Could it be 30? Yikes!). Thank you. It means a lot. I won’t waste it.

    I hope everything goes smoothly on Wednesday and your recovery is quick and effortless.

    • Christina Consolino on April 27, 2021 at 9:17 am

      It was so good to “see” you and chat. And I could talk forever about writing, though not specifically my own. So feel free to ask more questions, and I’ll look forward to reading and reviewing your own work someday! 🙂

      And thanks. I’m hoping recovery will be fine as long as I remind myself to go easy. Which is very hard to do!

  2. Jane Frances Miller on April 27, 2021 at 8:40 am

    Thank you for sharing your “news” and concerns. I will keep you in my thoughts. I’m glad you have the support and knowledge to face this grapefruit sized challenge. Thank you for giving others a chance to look at their own busyness and pauses.

    • Christina Consolino on April 27, 2021 at 9:18 am

      You are on my list of people to contact this summer! It seems like forever since we’ve bonded over books. 🙂

      Thank you, and I hope all is well with you and your family.

  3. Cyndi Pauwels on April 27, 2021 at 10:45 pm

    Holding you close in thought tomorrow…all the best.

    • Christina Consolino on April 28, 2021 at 5:27 am

      Thanks, Cyndi! Setting up my out-of-office reply right now!

  4. Marianne Lonsdale on April 28, 2021 at 8:57 pm

    Gosh I hope all went well

    • Christina Consolino on April 29, 2021 at 6:01 am

      So far so good, Marianne! Thanks!

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