Chronic Ama

I haven't posted about September being Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome awareness month. This is actually where my health journey started. I was diagnosed with PCOS in spring of 2006. I was immediately put on Metformin to regulate my insulin and try to get my hormones to work normally. It worked, and I was having more and more normal periods, for the first time ever in my life. Then, we decided we should try for a baby. In November 2006, I was told it was not going to be possible to conceive and they started me on more meds to see if it was possible for me to ovulate normally. I was pregnant 4 weeks later. I was one of the lucky ones.  Fast forward to the present. I no longer have ovaries, thus I really don't have PCOS anymore. But, I still have a lot of the hormonal symptoms, which also cross over to the hormonal issues I have with endometriosis. I get cystic acne, which I have started seeing a dermatologist for. I find it more and more difficult to lose weight, alt

Today I have officially been diagnosed with "Chronic Pelvic Pain." Well, fuck my life, right? Yeah, but I'm not going to freak out and give myself a panic attack. I'm so over that! I just don't have time to panic. I gotta take this day by day. At least it's bearable pain that's not interfering with my life [yet]. Everything so far points to scar tissues (adhesions) from all the damn surgeries I've had in my life. (I think I've surpassed lucky 13.) Guess we'll wait a spell and see what the new specialist has in mind. Oh, right! I'm apparently being referred to a doctor in Phoenix that specializes in pelvic pain. (http://www.dignityhealth.org/stjosephs/services/cancer-center/pelvic-pain-and-gynecologic-surgery/meet-the-team/michael-hibner) I'm kinda excited to see what comes of this. Maybe an end? Maybe a new diagnosis? Maybe nothing? Who knows? At least I have an excuse to visit Fluffit Marshamallows again! Look at me, looki

September is a wonderful month for so many reasons! Let me tell you about a few... My daughter, son and mom (as well as many many friends) were all born in this fine month! I love celebrating my kids' birthdays! I think I overindulge them just a bit, but it is so worth it! They are just 6 days apart in September, so until they get older, they share a birthday party. We also make sure we celebrate on their actual birthday as well! I also decorate the house at the beginning of the month so we can celebrate all month long.  Why are my kids' birthdays so important to me? Well, starting with my daughter, I was told it would be very difficult for me to have kids due to my PCOS. Amazingly, within a month of being told that, I was pregnant. And with my son, I was told it was nearly impossible for me to have more kids, so we gave up trying and then about 2 months after that, I was pregnant. Both kids shared the same due date and both kids came a just a bit early. So, each y

I just learned to never search for ovarian cyst pictures after you've just eaten a big lunch. Did you know some of those things can grow hair!! Gross! Thankfully the one I had just three weeks ago wasn't any hairy trouble. It was more trouble being told to go to the ER in case I needed surgery for a cyst or possible abdominal adhesions that were causing ovarian torsion or some other misdeed. Of course they couldn't find anything at the ER that was causing me pain. And a great pain I did have for a few days! Even a follow up with my OBGYN still had a big question mark on my pain. I was, of course, a little scared and a little pissed to be having problems again, especially with no answers. Thankfully an ultrasound done last week revealed I did have a cyst burst, but it was a cyst caused by ovulation. It seems I may be in the small percent that has occasional painful ovulation.  I was supposed to follow up with the doctor this morning, but they had to cancel.

I think I may be the only person to admit that it is a little sad when your once curve-hugging jeans are now saggy-ass jeans. I like my big butt and I cannot lie. But, I also like the fact that since January 22nd, I have lost a little more than 6 pounds without really even trying. Yeah, you probably think I'm full of shit, but hear me out...  After my 10th anniversary party, it kinda hit me that I wasn't as healthy as I should be. I reached my goal of being freed of my medical problems, but now I was faced with keeping it that way. I still have one ovary, and thus, still have polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and will remain on meds for that until it's time to hit menopause, but I can still help my body be all it can be. Or something like that.  My main enemy is sugar. My PCOD causes insulin resistance, meaning that my body doesn't respond to normal insulin levels, leaving my blood sugar quite high and thus shooting me into the high risk category for type 2

Let me start by saying that I DO NOT make New Years Resolutions. Why bother when most people make them, then break them. Plus, I'm all about action and not resolution. If I want to do something, I'm going to do it. I wish more people followed this mindset.  Moving on. Last Spring, I started walking. Then, come May, had surgery. But, by Summer I was walking and even running. My jeans had started to fit loose and I was happy. Then, come fall it was surgery time again and then came the hysterectomy (of which my belly still swells from). I spent the better part of 4 months in sweat pants and not because I was still running. But, since I made it clear to myself that I would be free of this mess come January, here it is, the last day of January and I'm one month free of shitty health. I'm not in pain. I'm not scared or sad. I have come to accept that I will have PCOD all my life and I just have to deal with it. It puts me at higher risk for diabetes, heart diseas

Yeah, a matchstick that makes your life hell. Well, actually, not for the first 5 months at least. And I guess I need to put some of my blame on the surgery I had in May.... But, since June I've been feeling like crap. I got a period after not having one for 7 months and the day before that came on, I had a migraine that kept me in bed all day. Then, after 7 days of a heavy period, I got a few days of rest, more headaches and then another period!! OK, my hormones are out of whack! I am also so anxious and angry and tired all the time. Today seemed like a good day to cry to me and also a good day to pick up the phone and call my OBGYN. I thought about going back to my endocrinologist since he said I may need surgery again and he could tie my tubes, but I'd have to go to my OBGYN to get the implant removed. So, I figured I'd just try to see one doctor. I figure she could take the damn thing out, tie my tubes, remove scar tissue and assess my ovaries in one swift move. Ho

Let me rewind myself a few weeks back to March. I went to my annual exam with my OBGYN and decided it was best to make an appointment for a surgery consultation in September. I was thinking ahead a little. I knew I was bound to have problems with my ovaries and with scar tissue from my C section and I also wanted to get my tubes tied and be done with it. I discussed all this with the wonderful nurse practitioner, who thought it was great that I was thinking ahead. She also warned me that if I started having pain again from cysts that I would need to bump up the appointment. No problem, I thought. I also had committed to exercising and trying my best to keep a high protein diet and eat my vegetables. I figured that this time around I was gonna be on top of my ovaries. Bah! Fast forward to midnight last night. I turned over in my sleep and was very rudely awakened by a terribly sharp pain in my left side. I thought I could wait it out and tried to fall back asleep. But, 15 minut

I honestly don't know what has sparked the subject matter job this blog. Perhaps the imminent life changing event about to unfold in the next 6ish weeks? Maybe the continued current state of the economy and the looming losses behind a life sustaining staple such as social security? Or may I've just been looking at old pictures and thinking too damn much. It's definitely NOT got Amy Winehouse finally died! Either way, my adult life this far has been filled with milestones that I never want to forget. I have accomplished a lot of the things I've wanted to do in my life so far and I plan on accomplishing more. So, here it goes.... At 18, I met the love of my life. At the time he was just another boyfriend passing through between the time I graduated high school and started college. Little did I know what I was in store for. By this time, I had also already been an assistant manager at two of my jobs and manager at another. Yeah, they weren't really important jobs, but

Yup, it came as a surprise. I went in for check up with my doctor since I hadn't been since October. It was nice getting through the holidays without worrying about my condition or new prescriptions or anything else. Apparently it was so nice that my body decided to start ovulating on its own and get pregnant. Unfortunately, I'm considered at a high risk for miscarriage given that I have PCOS and had much difficulty getting pregnant. I have to go back weekly for blood draws and ultrasounds. That makes me nervous. I was told to call if I had any cramping or bleeding and was put on Prometruim , a progesterone prescription. Of course, yesterday was my first bad day. I woke up feeling blah. I had felt a little blah on Super Bowl Sunday, but I chalked that up to working past midnight that morning. Monday I woke up nauseous and lightheaded. I didn't want to get out of bed and was cranky. Not that unusual. After nap time, I showered to get ready for work and started to have stabb

Well.... I've been busy. And lousy at posting. OK , just lousy. Forgive me. The shot of Toridol I got at the end of September really helped! In two days, I was pain free and able to go back to work. I tried another round of Provera to bring on a period and then was sort of talked into trying Clomid again, since after the surgery, we may have more luck. The Provera and Clomid have started making me nauseous a lot and I've lost about 9 pounds this month. I also have been reading that nausea is another symptom often related to PCOS . It's NOT the metformin as I'm on the extended release and have had no problems with metformin for months. I'm also NOT pregnant as I have yet to ovulate since the surgery. Nausea can be caused by cysts, which I'm not 100% sure I have again, but it is likely. After the last round of Clomid , I had follicles on each ovary, but none big enough to trigger ovulation, so the follicles may have developed into cysts again. At least I&#

Had my follow up appointment number 23849728053780465 today for my pelvic pain. It started last Tuesday with cramps that just were so uncomfortable. I just didn't feel myself. Of course, the doctor though it was my period coming on... rest... pain killer... blah blah. Went back on Friday after waking up with pelvic pain in my left side radiating to my leg. Guess what, ANOTHER CYST! More rest, pain meds and follow up today. Since Friday I've been online and on message boards and reading books about PCOS . I discussed some options with my husband and we concluded that maybe I need a regular routine again. Going to bed at the same time, waking up at the same time, taking meds at the same time, planning meals, regular exercise. It's what was recommended when I was first trying to get pregnant with Bella. It apparently worked then because I was pregnant about 5 weeks into my "treatment" and while I was pregnant, I only gained 28 pounds and lost it all by 6 weeks pos

Four days since surgey on Monday and I'm still very uncomfortable. It's at least a tolerable pain, now, though, but still sucks! Monday we got to the hospital at 10 and went to pre admit, then to amit, then to a room. Waited in said room for about na hour during which I got to strip down and put on this lovely plastic gown and smelled like a medical strorage room. Yum! Got asked a milllion questions that had been asked at my pre anesthesia and my pre surgery appointments. Then wheeled to the pre op room. (Thank god they didn't make me walk across the hospital in that god awful gown!) Met my nurse, answered more questions, put on a sexy beret, got an IV, and then it was surgery time. I got hella nervous. They wheeled me into the OR and had me roll over onto the operating table. Hell, if I was only a little nervous before, I was ready to piss myself nervous now. Some "relaxation" medicine into the IV, some oxygen, then, I was out. Time to get on with the hysterosco

Well, I see it's been weeks since I've posted anything about my lovely health issues. Last time, I had a cyst on my left ovary that was giving me a great deal of pain. About a week after that, I was back in the doctor's office with more pain, on the right side of my pelvis. An ultrasound revealed a cyst on my right ovary. "F my life" ran through my head a few times. I was still finishing the Provera prescription, so my doctor was confident that the pain would go away once I got my period. But, it was also time to discuss other options. My other option was surgery, which I kinda knew would have happened sooner or later. The doctor submitted the paperwork with my insurance and said they would call me before the week was up. Halfway through the week, I got my period! But, it was the worst pain I had ever felt. I was up most of the night moaning and groaning in pain. I kept my husband awake too apparently. I called the doctor the next morning again and went back in t

More pain. Same story. It started about a week and a half ago as a dull pain around my C-section scar area. Last night it got worse. I was wide awake with sharp stabbing pains on my left side. I was finally able to go back to sleep and wake up fine. But, after a few hours today, the pain came back. I could feel it in my leg and my butt! I called the doctor and they said to come in right away. I went in and had a ultrasound to reveal another cyst. Yuck. Ouch. The doctor said it may be because I should be getting a period, but since my period was late, maybe not. I'm taking another round of Provera starting tonight and I'm gonna take some pain killers to help ease the pain. This sucks. I can't believe that after switching doctors and after more tests and meds, the same problem is still persisting. The doctor also wanted me to try increasing the dosage of my Metformin, but the last few times that happened, I was so sick and miserable. I had blood drawn today, with results comi

I spent the first part of my day nervous about this HSG test. Luckily, I have a friend who works in radiology and I was able to call the tech doing the test to ask questions. It helped put my mind at ease. The test was quick and easy. My husband, Mark, got to be in the room with me. He made everyone laugh with his quirky little comments. He also got to wear an ultra-cool superman lead apron. Yes, there's a picture of it on Facebook. I got a few bad cramps during the test and I'm still having bad cramps. I'm just mostly cranky and uncomfortable right now. The doctor said there were not blockages in my fallopina tubes and everything looked fine. Now, we just need to get me to ovulate like normal. I have a follow up appointment this Thursday to see what we do next. It's time for me to get back to the couch. Moving around isn't helping the cramps and I need some good brain rotting TV to relax me. Haha! We shall see what this week brings...

Yesterday I had my second appointment with the specialst. Things look good. My bloodwork came back normal, but of course, I was told that it could be the metformin that's making me normal. I'm staying on the metformin and trying another round of clomid. In the next week I have to have a hysterosalpingography (HSG) or what they call a dye test. Thet shoot dye into my uterus and fallopianubes and look for things that can be wrong like scarring, fibriods or blocked tubes. I'm supposed to have this done by next Friday at the latest. I have my follow up appointment next Thursday, so before Thursday would be better. I just have to wait for them to call me and schedule since I have to go to the hospital to have that done. I was hoping it would be an in office procedure. Depending on how the HSG and the clomid go, I may have to have a laproscopy done as well. Not excited. I'm going to try to get to my old doctor in the next week to request a copy of my medical records since the