I like to say that my hysterectomy journey began about a decade ago. Truly, it began during the first year I had a period. I was 12 years old, and taking a drama class. I was about to give a presentation (pantomime) when my head started hurting. The pain preceded to get worse as I gave my presentation (so glad it was silent). By the time I excused myself from class, the pain was piercing and I could hardly see. The lights of the school hallway seemed to stream and glide off every surface and stab into my eyes. As the pain increased, I was suddenly, and violently, nauseas. I tilted my head back and tried to run to the bathroom, but I didn't make it in time. I went to the nurses office with some vomit lingering on my clothes. I prayed the entire way there that no other middle schoolers would see me in my haggard state. I would only know that the horrifying experience and pain I had was a migraine later that day when my mom was able to get off work and we discussed my symptoms. Migraines ran in my family; I was relieved that I wasn't going to die or some kind of freak (again, this was middle school). It would take me years to know that my worst, and inevitably un-treatable, migraines came with my period.
You may remember my other diagnoses. My hormone drop before my period came with suicidal thoughts and other depression symptoms. It's called PMDD, and can be treated for a majority of sufferers by taking the right birth control and anti depression medications. (I am not going to discuss the political and sociological implications that arise with that treatment as they don't directly impact my journey, but I would like it if people are aware.) These medications created little impact on my PMDD.
I also experienced irregular periods. All of these symptoms would strike at any time. Ovarian cysts would grow and regularly pop. Several attempts were made at finding a birth control to regulate my period and control my cysts. Estrogen based birth control (AKA the majority) and migraines with aura increase risk for stroke dramatically. We ran out of other options, so my treatments became more dangerous as time went by.
I even had an Essure procedure, a way of sealing my tubes, to see if life would work without birth control. My journey to a hysterectomy began about a decade ago, when I decided that gifting some child with my genetics was a horribly idea. At that time, I began to doubt if my ovaries and uterus had any benefit.
For years my doctors continued different medications and treatments while I discussed a hysterectomy and they told me about the risks for someone so young. Finally, I stated that we couldn't keep doing this, and my newest OB agreed. My hysterectomy was done last Friday. I'm healing well and very excited for my new life, and a real chance to be healthy.
You may remember my other diagnoses. My hormone drop before my period came with suicidal thoughts and other depression symptoms. It's called PMDD, and can be treated for a majority of sufferers by taking the right birth control and anti depression medications. (I am not going to discuss the political and sociological implications that arise with that treatment as they don't directly impact my journey, but I would like it if people are aware.) These medications created little impact on my PMDD.
I also experienced irregular periods. All of these symptoms would strike at any time. Ovarian cysts would grow and regularly pop. Several attempts were made at finding a birth control to regulate my period and control my cysts. Estrogen based birth control (AKA the majority) and migraines with aura increase risk for stroke dramatically. We ran out of other options, so my treatments became more dangerous as time went by.
I even had an Essure procedure, a way of sealing my tubes, to see if life would work without birth control. My journey to a hysterectomy began about a decade ago, when I decided that gifting some child with my genetics was a horribly idea. At that time, I began to doubt if my ovaries and uterus had any benefit.
For years my doctors continued different medications and treatments while I discussed a hysterectomy and they told me about the risks for someone so young. Finally, I stated that we couldn't keep doing this, and my newest OB agreed. My hysterectomy was done last Friday. I'm healing well and very excited for my new life, and a real chance to be healthy.
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