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!