Hello world!

How being a woman at times can sometimes be a bit more trying then you would really like.

Endometrosis, the silent inner stalker of a woman’s nether regions.

About 5 years ago is when i started to notice the periodic pain, but i didn’t register it being just before my periods. Once i was hospitalized as the dr’s thought it was appendics. But on and off over the time of the 5 or 6 years prior to now, on and off i would have these pains, i have had plenty of ultrasounds, and other tests to see what was happening.  But nothing never came up as a strong indicator to what may be happening.

Although one lovely Gynocologosit, whom i had to visit 5ish years ago, just said if i lost weight i wouldn’t have the pain associated. The sad thing is that when i have spoken to other ladies about this and mentioned this lovely Gyno, they have all said similar things that he said to loose weight or even to some ladies to gain weight. Hmmmm i don’t quiet think that is the only problem with gynocological probelms for woman. Thank you very much for your kindness and thorough examination, as if this gyno had of done the procedure my doctor had asked for well the edometrosis would have been found, and most likely, well highly likely it wouldn’t have been as bad as it was when they finally did find it.

Fast forward to June 2009, Just around my 30th birthday the pain that i was having on and off, that was kinda bearable when it was there. Well it really hit, labour pain was nothing really. And i happened to mention to my doctor whom my husband was seeing at the time, about the pain, and he asked have you had your periods and i’m said not yet, he gave me some pain killers for period pain, which helped to some extent. It did happen again, the next month was bearable, but the next month, well honestly it was the worst, i didn’t know if i wanted to be on the toilet, i was on the toilet trying to do impossible business ( and i have never been constipated), then in the shower, actually laying down in the bath with the hot water pouring over me to see if that would help in any way, the tables the dr had previously given me didn’t even touch the surface of the pain. Even laying down in bed in many positions, with heat or not heat, nothing helped. We had visitors, i was trying to be hospitable, but the pain was horrid, and uncomfortable. At least when you go into labour, you know that you will have your beautiful baby in the end, with this, well i definitely wasn’t pregnant or in labour, no end result. I was at the stage to ring the ambulance as i couldn’t take the pain anymore, the pain killers weren’t even putting a dint in it. My husband wasn’t sure what to do either.

As we had the visitors i got my father to take me to the after hours service, they gave me a form to fill our my name and details, at this stage i was having to ask my dad, basic details, i couldn’t think straight. Within moments (thankfully) the lovely lady dr seen me, asking me questions, i answered what i could, my brain still wasn’t working properly. I left there with one or two needles, i think, one for pain, and one for nausea’s, (as i was starting to feel sick from the pain), some forms for some more tests ct scan and ultrasound, and the dr thinking it may be irritable bowel syndrome, well thankfully the pain was easing, that i could manage.

I have the tests and go and see my Doctor, so we start with more tests, as those tests come up not to bad, as they were looking for bowel problems. My dr wants me to have a few more procedures to check more thoroughly the bowel, and stomach area’s. They come up perfect, nothing wrong there. While i was waiting for the results to come back from those tests, as said to the dr, should we just get the ball rolling with the gyno, but please please don’t send me to that same one again. So we get that ball rolling, thankfully as the news as said above was all good there.

So next up and there was another bout of pain, but not as bad as last time, I am going to visit the new (and better, nicer) Gyno. After a bit of discussion and examination, we discuss what he thinks it may be, A. because the pain is before my periods is part of the sign. B. my sister had had similar problems etc etc (and a lot more family members to, have had endometrosis, from one degree to another). We have to do laproscopic surgery to find out for sure, but he was fairly certain that is what it was. phew at least i had some kinda answers. Basically at this stage he was going to place in the marina, and have a look and clean up any damage which was causing the pain.

Laproscopic surgery 1:  Go in have my surgery, my dr comes and see’s me to tell me about what he found and happened and how the surgery went, he asked am i sure i have finished having children,  I answer yes, we are happy with the two we have, he said that is good to know, A good colleage friend will be doing the hysterectomy for me, it was more damaged then first thought.  OK. wow, what was happening, why couldn’t my husband have been here, what is going on. I’m only 30………….. Shock shock, wowsies and more.

The next morning i ask him some more questions, i will be going to Brisbane for this surgery won’t i, it won’t be here. yes that was right.

Well i got let out of hospital still quiet dazed, get home and about an hour later receive the phone call from the gyno’s office in Brisbane with the dates for my apt and surgery. WOW. ok, something is not right, what aren’t i being told. That is really quick, which is great, really it is great, but scarey. We are a week out from Christmas when this is all happening, and my next appointment and surgery are when my kids start up school again for the year.

I get my letter from the gyno, look the hospital up and the gyno, and i am quiet distraught, not because of the dr or place, but what he specializes in he is an oncologist (cancer) WTF is all i can think, i vaguely remember that my grandmother had some type of cancer around that area. And another family member they got it when they did the hysterectomy (only early though which was good for them). So many questions are going through my head, I don’t see my gyno here until after xmas, i have to do more tests again, another ct scan and ultrasound, blood tests, etc. I am really trying to stay positive, but it always niggled at the back of my mind is it, could it, why didn’t they just do it here, why are they really sending me there…… Come on Positive, positive, then why why how how, positive positive. What a whirl wind. I had my appointment with my gyno, and we ask that lovely question are you sure it isn’t some type of cancer, no he said all those tests have come back clear (mean while i am in tears). Phew i think i can deal with a hysterectomy that is kinda easy.

Now i just wait to go down for my surgery, My father comes with me again, we stay close by so it is easier for dad to come and visit when he wants. My husband and children have to stay home for work and school reasons.

While this waiting is going on for the next surgery I do go through a lot of emotions, sometimes it is quiet hard.  Some parts of me feel that after i have this hysterectomy i won’t be a complete woman, and i think gosh i buggered up the last 30 years worrying about my weight and this and that. But i knew i still would be a wonderful woman, just one less hassle to worry about monthly it would be. 🙂 It was quiet trying at times for me and my husband, my husband was finding it quiet hard, not knowing if things would work out ok, if i would be ok, what the outcome would be, would i well be coming back at all, our children to think about. But we did get through it, tough as it was at times, we were there together. If you knew me, some days you would probably be thinking gosh stay away from that girl, there was good moods, dark moods, happy and sad. I was a bag of mixed emotions, trying to keep a strong facade for my children, family and friends, while inside i was being eaten up with all these fears, worries, emtions and concerns. And trying to be positive. The good and kinda funny thing was i was happy i would never have to buy those darn female personelle items a woman needs every month, and all i could think of was, what a saving we would make. 🙂

And of course i had the why me, what did i to wrong for this to happen to me etc etc. The speedy factor between the two surgeries was the fact that we had christmas to do, new years to do and my son’s and other birthdays and back to school. But i am lucky, i am still alive, I have a wonderful, caring and very loving husband (especially with the emotional rollercoaster i have been on), beautiful and wonderful children and my family. And yes unfortunately there is always someone worse off then myself or going through a more difficult medical condition.

Brisbane gyno:

To Be Continued.

🙂