Over the years, my body and I have changed a lot. I've been skinny (my elementary school nicknames were "Scarecrow" and "Bones"), I've been muscular, I've been curvy, I've been chonk... The one thing that never changed: My periods were always awful. Beyond awful.
For 24 years, my average "period" lasted 14 days. Each month, I had one week of PMS, two weeks of painful bleeding, and one week of being "okay" that I tried to cram as much work and life into as possible. From June 1997 (menarche) onward, I lived my life around my menstrual cycle.
I tried several different brands/combinations/dosages of birth control pills, I was given shots, I had a Mirena IUD inserted... Nothing helped.
Then, in January 2020, my IUD ejected itself from my body. By April 2020, my periods were no longer lasting 14 days — they were lasting months.
The lining of my uterus was (over)growing at an alarmingly rapid pace (endometrial hyperplasia). After far too many doctor visits and multiple trips to the ER, it was determined I had uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometrial polyps — all symptomatic, all painful.
Cancer runs heavy in my family and rapidly growing mutations were the last thing I needed. I was also running the risk of anemia (I'd had it as a teen due to blood loss from my cycles and: No thank you! Not again!!).
Since every other option had already been exhausted long ago, a hysterectomy was the answer to save my life...
But I had no insurance and low income.
It was an incredibly difficult journey. In the end, I was saved by the generosity of others.
My final "period"/uterine bleed lasted 404 days. On July 23, 2021, my uterus, both of my fallopian tubes, and my right ovary were removed. It was one of the top five best days of my entire life!
I could not be more grateful to be rid of my evil organs. To be free from the daily pain.
Thank you to everyone who gave me a chance, at 36-years-old, to have a real life. I love you all and I'm forever grateful. God bless each and every one of you who helped me! ♥
Thank You, Donors! ♥
My family, friends, and even a few kind-hearted strangers contributed towards the funds necessary to save my life.
I wouldn't still be here without them.
Thank you to each and every person who helped.
Thank You, New Choice Health! ♥
When you have low income and no insurance, it's difficult to get any kind of medical help. During normal times, it's an immense hassle — during a global pandemic, it was nearly impossible!
Women's health issues were cast aside. It took a long time to even get diagnostics, let alone actual help. It was overwhelming! I could barely get my foot in any doors and, when I did, I was quoted outrageous "cash discount" prices.
New Choice Health acted as a temporary form of insurance as well as a savvy medical advocate. They took over pounding on doors and asking for help while I focused on things like not bleeding to death before I could be saved.
Through New Choice Health's Patient Assist program, I was able to get the care I needed despite my lack of resources. They negotiated on my behalf and made sure I was taken care of. My family and I would've been lost without their help.
Thank You, Dr. Dao! ♥
I'm Also Thankful For...
- HysterSisters - HysterSisters is a community for those who are undergoing and/or recovering from a hysterectomy. I didn't make much use of their forums (except as a lurker), but their articles helped me feel knowledgeable/confident (and answered some of my more embarrassing questions!) and their Daily Checkpoints were extremely uplifting and helped me feel prepared for The Big Day.
- Hysterectomy Pillow with Pocket - That link is an Amazon Affiliate Link (so I'll get a small kickback, at no additional cost to you, if you buy your own pillow with it). As for the pillow itself, it was cute and the perfect size for holding in front of myself while recovering. And it was just a super comfy pillow on its own! My husband fell in love with my hysterectomy recovery pillow and ended up getting one of his own just to sleep on (he's a hot sleeper and having a pillow with a cold pack has helped him immensely — he also uses it on his back while working!).
- Reusable Gel Hot/Cold Packs - This is also an Amazon Affiliate link. These compresses were invaluable and fit perfectly inside the pocket on the hysterectomy pillow I recommended above. They're sturdy, they're easy to use (and clean), and they last for hours. Thirty seconds in the microwave and you have soothing heat for a good two hours. Or, pop one into your freezer for about an hour and you'll wield the power of pain-relieving chill!
- Papa & Barkley CBD (affiliate link) - Speaking of pain relief... Due to allergen risks, as well as personal preference, I went through my recovery from major surgery without "traditional" (opioid) painkillers! Instead, I took two 30mg Papa & Barkley CBD Releaf Capsules and one Ibuprofen per day. I highly recommend them. And, no, that wasn't a pun — CBD has no psychoactive effects and, better still, is available in all 50 states. It takes a little while to kick in (so take it before you're in pain, if you can!) but, once it does, it feels so... cozy. I'm not sure how else to describe it! The tensions and pains just sort of melt away, almost like when you get a hug from the person you love most — but without having to insist your beloved hold you for five hours straight. (I'm now a member of #PapasChamps, the official Papa & Barkley affiliate team, because I truly believe in the awesomeness of their CBD products).
- INNERSY High-Waisted Cotton Underwear - Once again, the link for this is an Amazon Affiliate link. These panties are great and I fully intend to keep wearing them until they're rags! During my hysterectomy recovery period, they worked like a stomach binder, gently holding me in place and making things like sneezing less traumatic. The cotton crotch breathes, the colors are great, and they even give your butt a nice lil lift (bonus!). :3
Blog Posts About Uterus Issues:
- One Full Year Uterus-Free! (07/23/2022)
- MORE TO COME!!