Six-Month Post-Op Update: Living Without the Constant Calculations
Today marks six months since my May-Thurner stent surgery, and I honestly can’t believe it.
A friend asked me last weekend how long it had been, and when I realized I was coming up on six months, it stopped me in my tracks. It doesn’t feel like six months — it feels like a year, maybe even longer. The last three months have flown by, likely helped along by holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and the momentum of a new year. But in the best way, it also feels like a lot of life has happened.
The Biggest Win: I Don’t Think About It Anymore
The most important update is this: my day-to-day function is no longer dictated by pelvic pain or bloating.
That alone feels enormous.
For years, every decision around movement came with calculations:
Will this flare my pain?
Is this worth the bloating later?
How long will I pay for this?
Now? I work out. I live my life. I enjoy movement. And I don’t think about my stent or recovery when I do those things anymore. That mental freedom is hard to put into words — and it’s something I don’t take lightly.
That doesn’t mean I’m 100% pain-free. I still have occasional evenings where I feel bloated or uncomfortable, but the difference is huge:
It doesn’t leave me bed-bound.
It doesn’t derail my week.
I almost always wake up feeling better the next morning.
Even more significant? It’s no longer clearly tied to what I physically did that day. That lack of predictability can still be frustrating, but the symptoms are infrequent, manageable, and tolerable — a massive shift from where I was.
Lingering Right-Sided Pain (and What I’m Noticing)
I do still have some lingering right lower abdominal discomfort, especially when lying on my left side. The good news: it resolves almost immediately when I reposition onto my back.
I’ve also noticed a clear pattern — this pain gets much worse when I’m sick or in the week following an illness.
When I had COVID, it flared significantly.
It settled down again to only a few episodes per week.
Then I got the flu… and it ramped back up to daily pain for a bit.
Even then, it remained positional and manageable, which — for me — is acceptable.
I also occasionally experience intense lower abdominal cramping that feels less like menstrual pain and more like abdominal muscle spasms, especially after prolonged coughing.
A Real Talk Moment About Pelvic Floor Recovery
After a brutal flu and weeks of coughing, I could absolutely tell my pelvic floor muscles were fatigued from repeated bracing. I had to be more intentional:
Bracing before coughing
Respecting bladder signals (no more “I’ll just finish this one thing first”)
And here’s something I really want to say out loud, because I know others need to hear it:
This does not mean I suddenly need to do Kegels all day, every day.
I fully believe my body is resilient and that this is a temporary phase related to illness.
Yes, pelvic floor coordination matters — especially alongside heavy lifting and core work. Yes, there’s a time and place for strengthening.
But I also prioritize:
Downregulation
Nervous system work
Preventing a return to old rectal pain cycles
I once had a pelvic PT tell me that constant elevated Kegels were my destiny for the rest of my life. Needless to say, I stopped seeing her and found someone who actually understood my body.
Kegels are a tool — not a life sentence.
Hormones, Sleep, and Feeling More Like Myself
Hormone-wise, things feel fairly dialed in right now. My current regimen:
Estrogen patch (changed twice weekly)
200 mg oral progesterone
Daily testosterone cream
Vaginal estrogen 2–3x/week
Sleep still comes in waves, but I now have more good nights than bad, which is huge. I’ll be rechecking labs soon to see if any small adjustments are needed, but overall this feels sustainable.
Where I Am Now
Overall? I’m in a really good place.
I’ll continue follow-ups with my doctors and plan for another ultrasound in the coming months. We may revisit a plan for the lingering right-sided pain, but for now, I’m okay observing.
If I’m being honest, my biggest hope right now is simple:
I’d love to make it through a full calendar year without any medical procedures for myself or my family.
That sounds pretty nice.
Final Thoughts
Six months ago, I was just hoping to feel functional again.
Now, I feel like I’m living — without constant calculations, fear, or second-guessing my body. I know healing isn’t always linear, and I don’t expect perfection. But this chapter feels grounded, resilient, and full of forward momentum.
And for anyone reading this who’s earlier in the process: this kind of progress is possible, even if it doesn’t look perfect or pain-free.
I’m deeply grateful to be here.
