Chronic Ama

I downloaded the FitStar app via my Fitbit a few months ago. I have used the free version about 4 times so far and I really like it. The free version gives you a workout a week, which isn't much, but it definitely helps with motivation. The nice thing, for me, is that the work outs are only about 15-20 minutes long, which is about all I can handle at the moment.  Staying active has become important to me in the last few years. Well, in the last 5 years since my hysterectomy. Since then, I have still dealt with pelvic pain from ovarian cysts (until I made them remove my last ovary in 2015) and endometriosis pain in my back and legs (which was finally diagnosed properly in 2015 after being suggested time and time again since about 2009), as well as debilitating migraines. Even after my 17 minute workout this morning, I am recliner bound with the heated blanket keeping heat on my back, hip and IT band, which are the source of my latest battle with pain, that I will be victo

No, I'm not writing this to start an argument or to say you're wrong. I'm not against what you believe in and I don't want you to think I don't care about birth control.  I'm writing this to show you why there is so much more to women's health than birth control. Yes, it is used as a treatment for acne, irregular periods, painful periods, heavy periods, etc. But, did you know those are also symptoms of other diseases.... other INCURABLE diseases? I bet you didn't. Acne and irregular periods are common symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Painful and heavy periods are symptoms of endometriosis. I have both. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2006 and then officially diagnosed with endometriosis in 2015, even though endo was suspected in 2010. Birth control was pretty much the gold standard to treat PCOS when I was diagnosed, but what happens when you want to have kids? Birth control is health insurance's favorite treatment for endom

I haven't had the right mindset to talk about this stupid disease. My life had been a sort of rollercoaster for the last few months. Some days, it's smooth and the sun is out and I'm having fun, others, I'm taking hair pin turns and white knuckling the lap bar trying to hang on amid the pain and total lack of energy. But I keep going. I can't stop. I refuse to give up and let go and get off the ride. I live for the days in the sun, laughing and enjoying life. Which is why I opted for surgery again with a new doctor that specializes in pelvic pain. I started writing this blog months ago to hash out an internal argument over wether surgery was the right answer.... And it was. I'm two weeks post-op today and still recovering from the excision surgery that removed endometriosis from my bladder and peritoneum. I was the "AH HA" patient that helped prove that endometriosis CANNOT be cured with hysterectomy in some patients. I'm h

I'm going to make this short. I'm out of energy (spoons) for the day. Ironic how what is probably endometriosis resurfacing in my life happens to occur during endometriosis awareness month! I'm getting anxious to talk to my OBGYN about this. I have no clue what she'll say. I'm even more excited to talk to this pelvic pain specialist up in Phoenix in the next few months. Honestly, I don't want to have another surgery. I'd like to see what my options are first, if there are any. I guess I'll have a lot to consider when I see these doctor folk. Anywhoo.... My bed is calling me. Actually, I'm in bed in my pajamas already. I couldn't wait to climb in after the kids were tucked in. I wish I had to energy to get up and make some tea, actually. Maybe even a small glass of wine. Just something to relax me even more since I'm comfy enough. I feel like I'm rambling.... Happy Endometriosis Awareness Month!

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

I was looking up more info on post hysterectomy healing since I've kinda had this "fat" feeling off and on lately. It dawned on my today that I am up against 6 months of post op swelling still. I'll be 3 months post op on Super Bowl Sunday, so I'm almost at the half way mark and still have this "swelly belly" to deal with. I still wouldn't change anything, though. I feel great, even with the fatty, swollen belly feeling. I'll take snug jeans over intense pelvic pain any damn day! The other interesting thing I've realized in the past two weeks is that I still get shitty PMS. I do have one ovary still and I'm surprised to see it working. I got the chocolate covered pickles cravings, the water retention and super bitchiness. I'm plain bitchy regularly, but super bitchy is kinda not fun. I guess staying on the Metformin helped more than I thought I would. I hate being on medication, but if it helps, I'm game.  Aside from

Oh little elf, you are so awesome. I could sing your praises all day. Yesterday, Bella was in awe that the elf could get up to the ceiling. She was super aware that she was being watched, so she cleaned her room without anyone asking again! She even made her bed and set out her PJ's for night time! Her room looked like I had just gotten done in there! Bella also did her homework without a complaint. Although, she was a bit bratty in the evening, playing with the car door locks during a trip to Target. But, when she had lost bedtime story privileges, she was OK with it since the elf was watching! No scream fest without a story last night! Wheee!!! As for me, I'm getting ready to celebrate 5 weeks post hysterectomy tomorrow! I'm feeling great! I still have icky feeling days, but those don't bother me too much. I can wear jeans now and it feels like a lot of swelling in my belly is gone! I can't wait to get back to running and back to work in another week! I s

I made it through my post-op appointment yesterday. I was looking forward to getting it out of the way. It looks like I will be having my hysterectomy sooner rather than later. I told the doctor about the pain I was still having she was on the same page as I was as far as wanting to get it taken care of. She acknowledged that the pain was probably worse after the surgery since everything was “stirred up” inside. I’ve gone through one day where the pain was so bad I couldn’t walk and that was more than enough to endure. Hell, I couldn’t even walk around at the zoo for more than an hour and a half without limping. And I still can’t wear jeans. A few hours in jeans last weekend was all I could take. If it’s not stretchy, it ain’t getting on. Yuck. I also had work to think about. I was supposed to be going back to work tomorrow. One part of me was excited to be getting back to work. The other part of me was worried sick about how I was going to manage my pain if I was at work. I

Another round of surgery, another disappointment. Well, sort of. Wednesday morning I went in to have my Implanon removed and have my tubes tied. I was also supposed to have more scar tissue removed and possibly have my left ovary removed, since after my last surgery, it was most likely non-functional. I had explained to my doctor that I was starting to have bad pain again. The pain started out as cramps about a month and a half ago and in the last two weeks has been more like sharp stabbing pain. My tubes were tied, but other than that, the surgery turned out to be more exploratory. My left ovary had attached itself to my uterus, making it really difficult and risky to remove. My surgery was done at an outpatient surgery center, not at a hospital, which is probably where some of the risk came from. I probably also have another band of scar tissue that needs to be removed. My doctor explained to my grandma, who was with me for the surgery, that I will probably still be pain. N