Chronic Ama

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

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