Hold The Phone

The first time I heard the phrase "hold the phone"(with the meaning of 'let's not go any further yet until more details are discovered') was when I was 13 years old and watching the first of 4 Shrek movies.  He was shocked (and excited) to witness delicate Princess Fiona just win a fight against a whole group of robbers.

Image belongs to DreamWorks Studio and is subject to copyright

Anyway, I'm going to use the phrase a little differently here.  Now I'm meaning that I'm going to hold on before I go any further with a potential hysterectomy.  I was diagnosed with fibroids in late September this year (2019), and told that a hysterectomy was the best course of action.  To be fair, I've had some issues with heavy bleeding, which has costed me a lot of money on feminine hygiene products these past couple of years. 💸  It also nearly cost me my life when I first discovered it in Spring 2017. That's when I learned about Cyklokapron, a blood-clotting medication I take during the really heavy ones, along with iron supplements, while I await treatment.


Currently, I'm very busy taking extra shifts at work, to fill the spot of an injured co-worker.  I'm also volunteering [with my awesome husband] for the Salvation Army, and trying to prepare for a fast-approaching Christmas.  In January, there will be a family trip to the tropics.  So it will be early 2020 when I next see my family doctor.


These past few months, I just assumed that I'd be having a hysterectomy to treat my fibroids - I even took the time to write an eBook for husbands about the subject.  I joined some hysterectomy support groups to connect with women who've had them done, and read up as much as I could. I've talked both of Rob's ears off now, about how long I'm probably going to be on bed rest and how our home is going to go to pot, and how I'll be in endless pain... you know, whining.

 

I'm very grateful to have recently learned more about a procedure called Uterine Artery Embolization, in which a catheter is carefully inserted into an artery (often in the groin) and tiny granules are released into the blood vessels that feed the fibroids, resulting in them "dying" and shrinking. Though it has risks, it's significantly less invasive and recovery time is significantly shorter! 

So I've decided to "hold the phone" on my initial thought of going forward with a hysterectomy, until I've seen my doctor in early 2020 and booked an appointment with a specialist to do the UAE. 

Tune in later for updates!

Period Advice For Teen Girls

When a young girl starts her period, she may be given the "birds & bees" run down of why it happens, but there's a lot more to menstruation than just suddenly being able to have babies.


If you are a teenage girl, then this post is written for you. Whether or not you've begun your period, there are some things you need to know.  First of all, I hope you have the okay from your parents, in case there's still stuff they haven't told you.
At the same time, some parents are really uneasy about these kinds of talks and may not feel comfortable sharing everything that you have a right to know about your own body.


👧

Cramps

• I'm sorry to say this, but you will have pain in your lower belly, back, vagina (yes it can happen), and sometimes thighs.
• They vary for every female, but some can be extreme enough to cause chills, fever and even digestive disturbances - you may get nauseated & feel like throwing up.
• Thankfully, there's a variety of pain relief options. If you do NOT have a heavy flow (if you're not filling a pad or tampon in an hour), you can use a heating pad or even a stick-on heat relief patch, which rests on your skin for up to 8 hours.
• If you are producing a large amount of fluid, then opt for medicinal relief (no heat), with Tylenol, Midol, Aleve, Advil or whatever you find works the best! Personally, I find Aleve works very well. 
• Don't be embarrassed to ask your doctor about pain relief options - extreme cramps (like ones that make you miss school) can be a sign of something more serious (see next section).
• Stay hydrated, well-rested and get light exercise, as all of that can help ease your cramps. Also make sure to eat healthy and limit stress.

Menstrual Disorders

• As said above, sometimes cramps can be a sign of something more serious. If your periods are very painful, ask to make an appointment with your doctor.  Remember - if you have strict parents, you can also go to a local clinic and most of them will respect your privacy and not "report" your visit to your parents.Your body is your own.
• Even though you are young and having your first periods, your cramps may be caused by a condition called endometriosis, which is when the lining of your uterus (what sheds during your period), may have ended up forming on surrounding organs outside of your uterus.
• Strange as it sounds, you might also be beginning to develop fibroids - they are NOT cancerous, but they are small tumors that develop within the uterus and can cause a lot of pain and heavy bleeding. Left untreated, the bleeding can lead to anemia (an iron deficiency). 
• If you are 15 years of age or older, and haven't begun your period yet, it is worth getting that checked out by a doctor to make sure everything is okay. 

🚺 

Menstrual Flow (the actual period)

• Even if you do not have any menstrual disorders, you will notice that menstrual fluid & 'flow' is different for everyone. It can even differ vastly for you each month, especially as your body establishes it's own rhythm. 
• As you begin, your flow may be fairly light the first few times. You may also find the first 2-3 days of your period seem heavy, but it will (should) taper off and slow down as you get to the last day.
• BTW, though it's often red blood you see, your menstrual fluid is also made of endometrial tissue (lining of your uterus that forms each month), cervical and vaginal mucus. You may sometimes feel & see 'chunks' in it, which can just be blood clots or tissue, and nothing to worry about. 
• Your mother may not have told you what it "feels like" to menstruate; that is, the sensation of blood leaving through your vagina.  Well, it's not like peeing - it does not come from your urethra. There's no way to contract your muscles & stop the flow.  However, it often just trickles out - similar to the speed and consistency of a nose bleed (did you also think of El from Stranger Things?)
• If you have a heavier flow, it will sometimes feel more like "gushing" - just for a few seconds at a time, not continuously. When you awake and sit up in the morning, you will often feel a gush of fluid leave your vagina, and likely in your bum crack.  Funny as it may sound, menstrual fluid often finds it's way into your bum and this may occasionally lead to an embarrassing stain on the back of your pants if you've been sitting. 
• This can be alleviated if you're comfortable wearing tampons. If your flow is heavy already, try wearing tampons and pads together. Remember to change them every 4 hours or so, since Toxic Shock Syndrome, though rare, is a serious possibility. 
• If your flow is light, you only need to wear pads, unless you're planning to go swimming. Yes, you can safely wear tampons for swimming or having baths. Just be careful to not go into overly hot water if your flow is heavy, as heat can increase it. 
• You'll be happy to know that, as confusing as the feminine hygiene aisle looks, that the items are color-coded based on your needs. 
• Yellow means regular flow. 
• Purple means light flow.
• Green means super flow.
• Orange means super+ (the maximum). 
• You can buy "overnight" pads which offer more coverage, and pads with wings, which help prevent embarrassing leaks.  
• Another thing to note about your flow, is that it can sometimes come out in colors other than red. If it is brown, that often just means that blood has been in your vagina for awhile and oxygen has gotten to it. If it is light/pink, it's got more mucus than blood in it. Any time you feel concerned about whether it's normal, talk to your doctor.  At your age, you should already be seeing a gynecologist.  

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PMS symptoms

• Some people - especially boys - may tease you about "having PMS" to imply that you're acting overly hormonal. However, Premenstrual Syndrome (the week or so leading up to each period) can affect you in many ways, not just mood.
• You may be bloated and starting to cramp already, as your uterus prepares to shed it's lining. 
• You may also be feeling emotionally-sensitive, such as crying more easily, and feeling angry or at least more easily annoyed.  This is all normal. 
• Food cravings may occur, especially sweet food, and meaty food (high in iron). Try to eat lots of fruit & veggies when possible, and try to limit beverages like pop (soda). If you eat meat, try to get seafood and poultry in higher amounts during this time. 
• Also, keep yourself hydrated - your body will be losing fluid for a week.
• Your breasts will feel swollen & painful during PMS. This is normal and often goes away about halfway through your period. 
• It's possible you may feel nauseated, gassy, constipated, having diarrhea, or frequent urination during this week. It's caused by both hormonal changes and pressure on your other organs from an expanding uterus. 
• You may also suddenly feel very sleepy and want to nap. This is normal and if you have time after school, by all means, get some extra rest. Your body will thank you.

Don't let all of the above information overwhelm you - just come back to this post any time you want to re-read something.  You're a woman now, and you can expect to menstruate for *approximately 35 years (*it varies for everyone) before you come to menopause.

You can always ask your mother, aunt, other trusted relative, your family doctor, or even a friend's mother when you have any questions. Remember that having a period is NOT shameful and you should never feel embarrassed to talk about it.

Disclaimer About This Blog

First and foremost, I'd like to say I am not a doctor, and this blog is not intended to provide nor replace medical advice from your physician.  I'm not trying to dole out controversial or potentially harmful advice, and I implore you to see your doctor whenever you notice a suspicious symptom - especially if it includes bleeding problems.


You may feel put off by this blog's blatant content, and that is fine.  It's not for everyone.  This blog is written from a personal perspective, from my own experiences with fibroids and an impending hysterectomy... anyone can read it for educational purposes, including curious men, women, or teens - but I recommend that teen readers are at least of menstruating age and have parental permission, in case you see something that hasn't been discussed with you yet.


Please take a moment to read the section "About This Blog", along the right margin.  I'd really appreciate if you show support of this 'taboo' topic by sharing it, helping to ban period-shaming (and the awkwardness of discussing women's health issues so frankly).

It's also really appreciated - if you happen to donate to your local food bank - if you could occasionally include feminine hygiene products such as pads and tampons, in a variety of absorbency levels (light, regular, super, super-plus, overnight, etc.)  Like diapers and toilet paper, these items are needed and often go overlooked.


Also, please take a moment to briefly read the footnote (darker area) at the bottom of this blog - I'm not trying to nag, just trying to remind you that only your doctor can help when you have symptoms that could possibly be fibroids.  They will need to run some diagnostic tests, and then suggest treatments personalized to your own situation, preferences, needs, etc.


I'd like to thank you for taking this blog seriously and reading it respectfully.  It took a lot of courage on my part to be so frank about my personal experience(s), and I'm sharing this story [of having fibroids] so that it may be inspiring to others in a similar situation.  I believe we women, no matter our walks of life, have a sisterhood.
 *With that being said, if you don't like the content of this blog, please stop reading and move on. I'm reminding you now that any negative comments [including - but not limited to - body-shaming, trolling, spam, threats, misogynistic (sexist toward female) comments, and the like, will be removed and possibly reported, depending on the level of seriousness. This is not the place for that.


Thank you for being a supporter for this blog, and being with me on this journey 🥰

What is it Like to Have Fibroids?

Though fibroids eventually become common for a lot of women (often starting in the 30s, and becoming more likely as we age), not every woman has them and may wonder what it is like to have them.  For instance, you may want to visit your family doctor or gynecologist if you experience any of the following symptoms...

  [From my own experience] it started with very irregular and very heavy "menstrual" bleeding.  It started up about 2.5 years ago (in Spring of 2017), where my periods were quite heavy - to the point where I ended up in the ER in May.  I was light-headed, dizzy and slightly nauseated from blood loss. As it turns out, I'm bordering on anemic and need iron supplements and a blood-clotting medication called Cyklokapron.  In addition to that, the cramps would feel like someone was karate-kicking me in the lower abdomen... the cramps were bad enough to occasionally cause fever, chills, vomiting and cold-sweats.  I've had to go home sick from work because of them.

In addition to heavy periods, they also cause frequent and irregular ones... I one time had over 6 weeks of continuous spotting, with some occasional "periods" - the bleeding went for near two months!  The anemia makes me tired, and also very cold most of the time.  I have to dress in layers and have the heat turned up high, since my body can no longer naturally warm itself.  

In 2018, I was diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), because I was experiencing a great deal of painful, gassy bloating (often looking 3 months pregnant), gradually-increasing bowel disturbances (less "regular" than I used to be), and some nausea.  Now it makes sense - my bowels are being pushed against by the ever-growing fibroids.

The fibroids are also putting pressure on my bladder, which leads to more frequent urgency.  Sadly, this can happen at night when I'm sound asleep, which is an annoying trip to the bathroom, with blurry eyes, that makes me feel like I may as well be 80 years old.

To be honest, as they were developing (before I was officially diagnosed in September 2019), I thought it might be perimenopause - the beginning stages of menopause, though at 31 I'm kind of too young for that. Perimenopause made sense to consider, due to my mood and sleep disturbances, changes in bathroom habits, irregular menstruation, and of course mild vaginal pain and discomfort with sexual intimacy. That's only been occurring for the last year or so... and again makes me feel like I may as well be 80.


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Just a recap, the symptoms of fibroids may include:

•  Heavy, prolonged uterine bleeding that can extend beyond typical periods and include spotting for weeks or months at a time.  If you soak through a pad or tampon within an hour or less, see a doctor!
• Anemia (loss of iron) which leads to feeling cold, tired, & hungry a lot of the time.
• Vaginal pain, dryness or other sensitivity with intimacy.
• Pressure on your bowels and/or bladder, which can change your bathroom habits over time.
• Nausea, fever, sometimes chills - this may be caused by nerves in the area as the fibroids grow.
• Highly visible and painful bloating, which eventually interferes with being able to wear jeans.
• Constant 'tummy ache' pain, similar to low-grade menstrual cramps.
•  A feeling of 'heaviness' and pressure in the lower abdomen, vagina, and lower back.

When in doubt, ask your family doctor or gynecologist about new symptoms developing. 👍
 

What is Ekobi(TM)?

Yes, I did say I planned on going for a hysterectomy to resolve the unpleasant (and unsafe!) symptoms of my uterine fibroids...

Then, that thought was [at least temporarily] halted when I saw something awesome on the news last night, here in Alberta - there is a new technology for UAE (Uterine Artery Embolization), which involves the first biodegradable product for blocking the blood flow to the fibroids.  It is made, essentially, from the same material for dissolving stitches, and will eventually break down in the body when it's ready - after the fibroid tumors have shrunk from no more nutrition supplied by blood.


The awesome thing about this is that, while fibroids are being starved of blood, they should not be bleeding and the heavy periods [and related anemia] should subside - what great news!


I admit I was dreading the next appointment with my family doctor, having to ask about the next steps in booking a hysterectomy - now I feel excited to try this minimally-invasive procedure first, and see what becomes of the fibroids afterward.  Admittedly, I will probably still require a hysterectomy down the line (hoping for next autumn), but this can be a great delay in fibroid-growth.


Anyway, check out the website for Ekobi™

 

Free eBook for Husbands

Hi everyone 😄

After several weeks of researching, talking with my amazing husband, learning from other women, writing, illustrating, and editing - it's finally ready!

Here is the Hysterectomy Guide for Husbands: Helping Your Man to Better Understand What You're Going Through, which was written specifically for the biologically male partner in your life, if you have one.  The idea is to make this whole ordeal easier on your marriage, by allowing him to understand what your body and your emotions are going through, and ways he can make it easier.

This will open with Google Docs, and you can download it from there, so you can save it on your computer - Hint: you can print specific pages that can help you the most, and even highlight them or make marginal notes.  Girl, your recovery is important and you deserve the best possible one!


♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀  ♀

Disclaimer for members of the LGBTQ community: I respect that some of the female readers here, have female partners and might feel this eBook is blatantly discriminatory.  I apologize if you feel this way, and I appreciate your understanding that if you're with another woman, she is likely to be able to understand more easily everything you're going through.  
This was intended for men to gain more perspective into everything a woman is going through during such an overwhelming time. 

Preparation for Post-Op Recovery

Recovering from a hysterectomy is serious business!


A woman will likely experience everything from depression, to weeks of pain; spotting/light bleeding, to nausea/appetite disturbances; tiredness to digestive and bladder issues.  It's a journey for sure!

Surely there's a way to be prepared for these weeks (or, up to 3 months)... good news - there is!



Make sure to shop ahead of time and pick up:


Dietary:

-Hydrating food such as soup, real-fruit popsicles, Vitamin Water, etc.
-Probiotic food such as yogurt or kefir
-Cranberry juice to help prevent UTIs
-Easy-to-make meals, such as [healthy] microwavable TV dinners

-Protein shakes, such as "Boost" or "Ensure" for much-needed nutrients
-Herbal tea for symptoms such as nausea (ginger), gas pains (peppermint), or calmness (chamomile)



Bowels & Bladder Care:

-Stool softeners!

-Gas-X, since it can help relieve the sharp pains
-Some kind of foot stool can help for using the toilet...
-Possibly adult diapers, just in case you have bladder spasms
-Soft and gentle toilet paper (remember to blot away urine, rather than wiping it; and when wiping your behind, it may be easier to stay seated and take as much time as you need)


Pain and Nausea Management:

-Gravol or something natural for nausea (Preggy-Pops may work well)
-Tylenol or other pain & fever reducers
-Cuddly pillow or plush toy to hold on your belly

-Seatbelt pillow to protect your vulnerable belly while being driven
-Ice packs or something with cooling gel for pain (heat is not advisable because it can increase post-surgical bleeding)

-A pregnancy pillow may help you sleep easier...



Miscellaneous:

-One more round of menstrual pads for post-op bleeding (no tampons)
-A couple of good novels, and/or crosswords or other puzzle books
-Folding side table for next to the bed (unless you're okay clearing off your end-table items) 
-[if you don't already have one] Subscription to Netflix, for easy movies while you're resting
-Adult coloring book and some gel pens (so you're not sharpening pencil crayons)
-Dry shampoo (trust me on this) and facial cleansing wipes
-Natural sleep aide or lavender-scented aromatherapy - essential oils work great
-A journal for keeping track of your symptoms & overall feelings - you can bring this with you to follow-up appointments

-A belly binder to re-train your guts and help prevent some "swelly belly"

-Some lubricant (unscented/uncolored/unflavored) for when you're ready to have sex again...

-SOMETHING TO STORE ALL THESE ITEMS IN, SUCH AS A SUITCASE!  Do this well before the surgery date, and have the suitcase elevated (on a table or chair) for easy access 👍




The above 'shopping list' doesn't have to be bought all in the same day.  It might be more convenient to begin by picking up the 'dry' items (medication, entertainment, pads, toilet paper, etc.) in the weeks leading up to the surgery, and then store them in a specific container (luggage works well for this). 

Then for the food items, they can be bought and refrigerated the day before your surgery, so they are nice & fresh for you when you're home from hospital and will be consuming them.  

*Plus, it doesn't have to be expensive - you can use coupons & savings apps, shop on specific sales days, get some of your items at a dollar store, or use things you already have laying around 😊

 

Bleeding from Fibroids

Hello there,

Today's post is sort of a PSA (public service announcement).  It's about the unfortunate effects that emotional stress has on your uterus when you have fibroids.


So for the past couple of years, I've been dealing with worsening anxiety symptoms... and it can get very bad, to the point where I'm having full meltdowns - crying, shaking, yelling, swearing - the works!  Well, when something from my life triggers this event, something else happens too...

I begin to bleed vaginally... like a period, but not.  It can happen just a few days after the end of the most previous period, and often only lasts 1-3 days, depending on how stressful the trigger is.  I've learned to do things like cut back on caffeine (sorry, coffee), try deep breathing techniques and of course, journalling to help me put the stress into healthy perspective.  Then the bleeding lets up.

This "stress bleed" is caused by a spike in blood pressure, which bursts the randomly-developed ones that feed the fibroids - which is where the PSA part comes in...

Ladies - if you've been dealing with fibroids - or any condition that leads to abnormal uterine bleeding - then it's imperative that you keep your blood pressure at a reasonable level.  This is something to discuss with your doctor, and many adults do see their physician about stress - so you have nothing to be ashamed of, and you will likely come away with lots of great techniques!



Here are some of my personal favorite de-stressing techniques:

•  Throw on a good tune like "The Cha Cha Slide" by DJ Casper, or any music that feels very happy to you 😃
• Do some light housework - it's good exercise, and you accomplish something clean. Win-win.
• Go for a walk on your block, or stand outside on your step or balcony - the fresh air is great, even on a crisp winter day. 
• Cut back on caffeine... try decaf coffee for your "fix", or a hot chocolate, peppermint tea or any relaxing beverage.
• Also drink more water - hydration feels great!  Your skin will look great, too. 
• Do some light yoga... maybe to relaxing music...
• Practice some deep-breathing and mindfulness exercises...
• Write out your stressors in a journal/diary - rant about them!  Then, go back and look at them from a problem-solving perspective.  When you do this, your problems shrink.
• Lock yourself in the bathroom for a bubble bath & spa facial.
• Hang out with a really good friend, and laugh together.
• Watch a classic comedy show or movie with positive (non-political) vibes.
• Go to a pet store or shelter and interact with cute animals - if you can, adopt one so you can spend time with them often.

Techniques that are not a good idea:

• Having sex or masturbating, since these will only increase your bleeding in that region. 
• Drinking alcohol or indulging in junk food to soothe your woes - that won't end well. 
• Giving in to anger and intentionally raging - this only increases your stress hormones and your blood pressure... you want calm, not rage.
• Ranting on facebook - this will only put people off, and you'll probably lose friends, as well as respect.  Do you really want to be known for being angry?

Anyway, hope the above tips help you if you've ever experienced sudden vaginal bleeding during a time of stress.  Remember to always check with your doctor if this is the first time this has happened, or if it happens to you often.  Your health is very important! 

Mom Life

Hi everyone.

This is a follow-up post to the recent one titled, "Do You Have Kids?" in which I asked the public (well, readers here) to please reconsider the emotional impact of asking women (whom you don't yet know well) if they have children.

Well, there is another request I've got, and this one is for mothers specifically....


I am advocating not only from my own experience with this, but after joining some hysterectomy support groups and hearing other womens' stories, also for them:

Mothers... we all appreciate that you carried offspring in your body, experienced the agony of delivering them, nourished them and are raising them.... but this is not the sole experience of your entire identity, and a lot of women who cannot have their own children, would really appreciate if ALL your conversations didn't lead back to your children, or what you go through to raise them.

This is especially true for those of you who acknowledge your relatives or friends who do not have children (not by choice, but by medical reason), with nasty phrases such as these:

• "Oh, you wouldn't know.... you don't have children!"
• "It's just exhausting being a mother.... but you wouldn't understand what that's like!"
• "(scoffs) it must be nice to have so much freedom... what do you even do with all that time?"

You get the drift.  If you've ever talked like this to a childless relative or friend in your life, you may very well be resentful of their freedom.  After all, raising children is expensive, it can be hurtful, and frustrating.... but it's not an excuse to devastate someone who would love to share in your experience.


 So please apologize to her, and make an effort to not mistreat someone for not having the ability to be a mother, like you.  Life is not a competition. 




♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀  


 Coming soon to this blog, is an eBook for you to show your husband or common-law partner, or boyfriend (designed for males, specifically) so that if you're needing a hysterectomy, you can have him read this with you first, so he can be a much more supportive partner to you during this rough time!  You will heal, of course, but having an understanding partner makes it all the better!  So stay tuned. 

Remember that sharing is caring, so please send this blog along to friends who could benefit from it...

Do You Have Kids?

This is a very straight-forward question, and is often met with an equally straight-forward yes or no.  It's one of the most common questions asked when meeting someone for the first time, such as a new co-worker.

And yet.... for someone who is physically unable to have kids, and they would love to (or worse, they've miscarried or delivered a stillbirth!), this can be awkward and painful.

I don't want to nag you, especially since literally all of us (myself included) have asked this at some point in life.  However, I do want to suggest that when you meet someone for the first time - or, first few times - that you keep this question for later, when you know them better.

Chances are, as you get to know them, they will voluntarily mention whether they have kids, how many, details about them ("Jeremy is 7 and loves to play soccer..." or "Jenny is in pre-school and she's so artistic!").


For now, please try to stick to more neutral topics, such as hobbies, where they grew up, favorite animals, type of music, pet peeves, favorite celebrities, shows, etc.  You get the drill.  Thank you.





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On a side note, though I cannot have children and on some levels that saddens me, I also don't mind sharing why I don't have kids, when people ask.  Not having kids can have a lot of perks, such as more freedom and saving money.  I understand this question is asked without ill intent. 

Why Write This Blog?

Understandably, some of you have questions about the intimate content of this blog.  If you're reading it right now, you may be wondering why I would share something so personal, and frankly, so gross!

Is it to solicit sympathy?  No, not really.

Is it to garner attention from others?  Nah. I get enough of that, whether I want it or not.

Well, what then??



The reason I started this blog, was exactly because it's such an intimate, personal issue for a lot of women, to be diagnosed with fibroids and be facing a hysterectomy - which means permanent loss of fertility.  Even for a woman who already has children, this can be devastating to deal with.

I want my fellow females to know that, I understand your plight - your shame, your fears, everything you're going through, and that - essentially - we're in this together.  I'm just past the beginning stages of this journey (living with symptoms for upward of 2 years & getting diagnosed last month).  You may be much further ahead, possibly having had a hysterectomy in the years past... and maybe you can reach out to me and teach me more about it, and coach me along the way.  That would be much-appreciated. 

Image is from acelebrationofwomen.org and may be subject to copyright

I also want to point out that a hysterectomy is NOT your only option if you've been diagnosed with fibroids.  Depending on the nature of your symptoms, you could also ask your doctor (or your gynecologist, specifically) for another procedure which doesn't take away your fertility.  For example, if your fibroids are NOT causing you heavy menstrual bleeding, you could ask about:

• Ablation: Basically, the lining (endometrium) of your uterus is removed, which can lessen your menstrual bleeding if done correctly. It is typically done with laser, but can also be done by freezing (cryosurgery).  
• Medication: Though intended to be used short-term only, Cyklokapron is one of a family of medications called Tranexamic Acid, which helps the blood to clot naturally. It can cause side effects such as blood clots though, and also nausea which can affect daily activities. 
• Fibroid Removal: The surgeon can insert a camera through the cervix to identify the fibroids, and use tiny robotic arms (through tiny incisions) to remove only the fibroid myomas, while sparing the uterus.  However, there is a high likelihood of them returning within a few years and the procedure may need to be repeated.  There can also be heavy post-surgical bleeding in some rare cases. 
• Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE): This is a cardiovascular procedure in which a catheter is inserted in an artery in the thigh, and guided to the blood supply for the uterus, where small particles are delivered to "block" the blood supply from getting to the fibroids.  This of course can have adverse side effects. 

Ultimately, it's YOUR body and it's up to you (and only you) as to what procedure you are most comfortable with.  Make a plan with your doctor, and don't be embarrassed to bring a list of important questions, such as pros/cons of each procedure, recovery time, and which one is right for your specific symptoms. 

In my case, the bleeding is heavy enough to cause health problems which could realistically result in premature death, which is why I'm opting for the surgery.  If you are experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding and your doctor suggests a hysterectomy, don't poo-poo it just yet.  It just might save your life.  Remember to always keep the dialog open with your medical team. 

And that is why I started this blog of such an intimate nature... not only my story, but the story of what it's like to have fibroids and what can be done about it.  You're not alone.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this blog is not intended to provide or replace medical advice.  Always check with your physician when you discover a health problem.

A Little Easter Egg About Cramps

Have you ever had excruciating cramps, where you've decided to stay in bed, maybe laying on your side with a heating pad?

Image from qoctor.com.au and may be subject to copyright

That seems like a really good idea... it allows you to rest, keeps you off your feet, and you can just focus on breathing...

But did you know: menstrual fluid (blood, mucus and other lining from the uterus) is made to leave the body, not only from cramping, but also from gravity?  It's simple and definitely makes you want to roll your eyes and say, "Well, duh!"  

Obviously, as soon as you sit up in bed in the morning, you can feel "the gush" - you may even notice your sheets have been soiled!

Anyway, this is relevant information because, if you're in an inverted position during your cramps, the abdominal muscles around your uterus will actually work harder (stronger cramps!) to push more blood out of your body - ouch!

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So how can you fix this? 

Well, personally, this took me a long, long time to figure out on my own.  My first instinct when my cramps got intense, was to lie down in bed, plug in the heating pad and watch TV.  Yeah sure it would give some very mild relief - but the cramps were still there. Sometimes I could be laying like that, still cramping, for upward of 4 hours... my husband questioned me, and said that whenever we were out & about together during my time of the month, I didn't complain about the intensity of my pain as much as when I was laying down.  He actually made sense - my cramps truly did feel worse when I wasn't upright! 

After some research about the cause of menstrual cramps (and alternative relief, such as yoga), I was enlightened to find out that when we're in a position where our menstrual fluid cannot just "flow out" onto the pad (or, into the Diva Cup, etc.) with gravity, we will feel more intense cramping. Which means we, as women, have power to change that 😍


Next time you're tempted to lay back down in bed, or on the couch (c-ouch), challenge yourself to get up and walk around your home for just 10 minutes.  If you can handle that okay, try for 20 minutes.  If you think you can do it, go outside for a brief walk around the block... you may be surprised to find that light physical activity is better for the muscles around your uterus, than laying down.  It's totally okay if you don't believe me... after all, I'm not trying to sound preachy.  I only suggest that you try this and compare how you feel. 

If you're worried about bad cramps keeping (or waking!) you up, take a pain relief medicine about 30 minutes before sleeping.

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Caveat:  If you find your cramps are so intense that they interfere with your ability to complete daily tasks, going to work, if they cause you a fever, chills, or nausea/vomiting, then you should seek prompt medical advice!  It's never a bad idea to visit an ER if you're in too much pain to stand straight or do a simple task like take a shower or do light housework.  If it turns out you have something like endometriosis (lining on the outside of your uterus), it would be a relief to start getting that condition treated.