Warning! Female issues will be discussed within this post. Do not go forward if this offends you. Bless your heart!

I have been struggling for approximately a year and 10 months. Initially, I had no idea what in the world was wrong! What I did know was that whatever it was going on with me was getting progressively worse. It got to the point last December where we were gathered around the table giving thanks to God for the Christmas meal the staff was about to partake in when I suddenly became faint. My heart was pounding, and I became extremely hot, weak, and dizzy. My family was attending this meal, and they knew immediately something was wrong. I excused myself after a few minutes of sitting quietly hoping the feeling would pass. I felt hot, dizzy, and I knew this was not normal. My family doctor did not have any available appointments, so I was put with someone in their network. THAT proved to be a big mistake and waste of money. When I went and explained my symptoms that came on suddenly, the doctor prescriped Flonase. What? Really? I questioned how this would help with ALL of the symptoms, especially when my main concern was my heart pounding all over the place. They did note that my blood pressure was high, but they shrugged it off to being nervous at a new doctor’s office. Hardly! I left that doctor’s office determined never to return. Then, I promptly made a self referral to the heart doctor in another town. The heart doctor did blood work, as well as an EKG and echocardigram. All of the tests came back fine, except the blood work. I was anemic, thus causing ALL of the symptoms I had just experienced. Finally some answers! I was put on an iron supplement and asked what could be causing the anemia. Female issues!

Fast forward to the ob/gyn appointment and ultrasound, the doctors in my home town indicated I had one fibroid causing the issues. Fibroids are generally not something to be concerned with, yet it causes a whole host of issues, including anemia! Great. The doctor here immediately went into surgery mode. That is ALL they wanted to talk about, but it wasn’t on the top of my list. They put me on a pill that made my life hell for six weeks. Finally, I took myself off of this medicine when the doctor in town did not seem too concerned or too receptive to how this was affecting my life and ability to work! Another self referral was in order! This self referral would also NOT be in my home town. I was going where they appear more knowledgeable and actually to care about their patients and their well being!

My new doctor has been wonderful. I was hesitant initially, but he took the time to thoroughly explain to me what was going on with my body, with even having models to show me in detail. I became emotional at my very first appointment with the difference in my home town doctors and these doctors. I knew right then that I was done with my home town doctors. There was no turning back. This was cemented in my mind when the new doctor ordered another ultrasound. The home town doctors had it wrong! I didn’t have just ONE fibroid … I had THREE!!!!! In addition to this, I have Adenomyosis as well. I was shocked and scared when he relayed this information to me. While they agreed to try a hard hitting, heavy medicine, there was no guarantee it would work. And, here I am to report that, sadly, it has not. Therefore, I will be having a hysterectomy in the near future. This was not something I wanted at all, not because I’m still considering having more children, because I’m not. But, no one wants to be cut on! I realize the medical field has advanced so much, but it is still scary being put under and having someone cut on you! I’m not a fan of that, especially after a ruptured ectopic pregnancy in 2003, yet another time when my home town doctors let me down by NOT seeing me when I insisted something was wrong! The results of their neglect almost caused me my life! This time the home town doctors said they’d have to open me completely up due to possible scar tissue left behind. However, this new doctor feels confident he can do it laproscopically. I pray he can!

With all of the above said, please pray that the surgery will be successful, that I will not have any complications or any problems with the anesthesia or the surgery itself. Please pray that the fibroids and everything else turn out not to be anything bad, and hopefully all of the issues I’ve had the past year and ten months will finally be resolved. I’m 46 years old with two beautiful children who need me as much as I need them. I pray God allows me many, many, many more years with them! I hope to be an old woman rocking my great-great-grandchildren in my lap on my front porch one day!