Laura's Photo Blog

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone. Update: I had my surgery on Feb 5. Everything when as routine as it could be for my laparoscopic total hysterectomy. My surgeon was happy that he did not need to go plan b route. I stayed the night in the hospital and was discharged the next morning. First few days were more sore and ginger moments but the last week I have been ninja rolling out my bed. My surgeon asked for 6 weeks off for recovery and I will take it. Energy is about 50%, and the next step is training to sit in a chair. Sitting in bed is no problem but I will need to practice sitting in a chair longer. Post op pathology showed even with treatment my womb was equivalent to being 25 weeks pregnant. I guess I do have a high pain tolerance...lol.

I am forever grateful for the support over the years, well wishes and understanding about it. I hope I can pick up photography by the Fall but we shall see. I am taking it one week at a time.

Update: Hi Everyone, Thank You for your support over the years and understanding that my health has put a pause on my favorite hobby. Gravity has made life interesting. Seeing your kids grow up before my lens has been my honour. I will be having my surgery later this week and will be down for 6 weeks for recovery and will listen to my body of how much I can push it. Fingers crossed I can slowly pick it up by late summer or Fall if not then next year. As I have been advocating please do your annual checkups. COVID has made us pause about our health.

Happy Christmas all. My Total Hysterectomy is scheduled for Feb 5, 2026. I am grateful that it is all working out. I have come to terms with this since August 2024. Not being tired, feeling heavy when sitting or standing will be nice. The medication I am on does not allow me to do my sessions and has caused more joint pain than expected and I walk with a cane on my bad days. I will see how my recovery goes in 2026. Before jumping in again. I apologize that I am unable to take photos for anyone. But grateful for the chance to capture the moments.

July Update: sometimes life throws a curve ball. In January I had decided to do a career change and accepted a new role. 2 weeks later I was told I had my surgery date for the end of April. I had to postpone it because with the economy being flex I could not risk losing my job or taking 2 months off after working only 2 months. The treatment I am now is working and the longer I can be on the treatment the better for the surgery. I have been on my doctor's wait list since December and since he is young and a specialist in the field I am willing to wait. Surgery is tentatively for end of the year or early next year. But with gravity as my enemy, standing for long periods take my energy out and swell my ankles. I am afraid I may have to retire from photography until 2027 pending how my surgery goes. Crazy. My body is slowing me down. My mind is still here ready.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Hi Everyone,
Unfortunate Update.
I may have to hang my camera up until 2027 or 2028. I tested doing mini sessions in December and standing/squatting for a few hours wipes me out. Having these large fibroids is like being 6 months pregnant or having 2 small yellow mangos internally makes gravity my enemy. I need to focus on my health first.

After seeing my second surgeon for a consultation, it looks like I may not get into surgery until next year, this was not what I was expecting to hear. He is a specialist in laparoscopic surgeries for special hysterectomy cases. He has scheduled another ultrasound in March to see how the hormonal treatments are working and we will go from there. If the hormonal treatments are reducing the size of the Fibroids then I can be waitlisted for surgery after April or I continue my treatment until they are reduced enough to not increase my surgery time.

The size and location of the fibroids will make it harder to reach and the risk to other structures is greater during the surgery. Since the surgery will have me on a slight incline where my body will be tilted down towards my head, the pressure from my organs, fluids and air they use may impact my heart. Since I was diagnosed with heart failure my surgery can be more difficult. Who knew. All I can do is continue my weight loss and stay on my heart medication to ensure my heart is ready for the surgery. He had mentioned other treatments but the chances of the fibroids staying or growing if it does not respond to treatment is not ideal considering the pain I had to put me in the hospital and the pressure pain I have now.

I need to focus on health first. I would like to thank everyone who has chosen me to capture their family photos over the years. It has been a privilege to be there for you. If I was able to give moments with your family and loved ones then I have succeeded. I wish everyone a great 2025 and hope you remember to take care of yourself and pause to enjoy the little things.

2024 Update: I saw my surgeon earlier this week and found out I am being referred to another surgeon who specialized in less invasive procedures for my case. I probably will not set a date set until June 2025. I will continue to rest because the treatments are working but I am still exhausted from the large fibroids. I tried a mini session for just an hour and my body was exhausted. I suspect I may have to retire from photos until 2027 if my surgery is not until mid next year and the recovery time will be between 4-8 weeks but probably will not be 100% for 6 months after. My body is pausing what my mind wants to do.

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Health Update. Saw my surgeon a few weeks ago. I am in my own storm. My fibroids are too large to do the surgery safely. I am now on a hormone shot to try and reduce the size. The downfall are the joint and bone pain are emphasized. I am unable to stand for more than an hour. Surgery may not happen until next summer if I am lucky. I guess the powers that be are making me rest. I miss photography but the fear of dropping my gear makes me wait for now. I am sorry for not being able capture family moments this year.

Hi Everyone,
Thank You for your patience. Update:I guess when it rains it pours for my medical woes. I will be pausing my photography for another year or 2. Last year, a diligent radiologists notice my heart changed and saw a cardiologist and was diagnosed with second stage heart failure. Essentially my heart is defective and not pumping normally. Not clogged arteries. This year, in the past month, i went to the hospital thinking i had an appendicitis but instead I found out I will need to get surgery done because they found some large fibroids and will need a Hysterectomy. Recovery is 4 to 6 weeks. So many life changing moments that have made me focus on my health first. I have been fortunate to get to see a specialist about a month after diagnosis and I am hoping to get the surgery done within this year. My advice to everyone is please get your full physical every year or every 2 years. The pandemic pause many things and some things just slip. Take time for your self. Thank You again for your support and interest.