I had so many highs this year from work and my personal life, but the lows, issues from my fibroids hit hard.
Back in May, I had a myomectomy surgery that required me to miss six weeks of work.
It was a major invasive procedure that pulled out 14 fibroids. I was grateful that my medical issues stemming from the fibroids were over I thought. Recovery was difficult, but I was fortunate to have my mom by my side the entire time. It was a humbling experience during the first week home. My mom had to help me eat, shower, roll out of bed and even walk. Let me tell you, rolling out the bed was one the most painful things I ever experienced. To commensurate the surgery, I now have a c-section scar I embrace from fibroid removal.
Eventually the third-week post, I could walk for long periods and I was feeling a little like my normal self. Then my first cycle post-surgery stuck and all this intense pain hit me. It was so painful, my mom was considering taking me back to the hospital. I had to take stronger medicine + use a CBD/THC pain patch. Luckily, my doctor called to check on me the day the pain started and noted because of the number of cuts made to my uterus and muscle, this could continue to occur every cycle for the next few months.
Now six months later, the pain has subsided, but other issues still lingered. I was thriving, looking good and exercising more. After an amazing work weekend, I started feeling more fatigued than usual and my cycle lingered longer than two weeks. I called my doctor’s office on Monday, Nov 11 and spoke to an on-call doctor familiar with my case. The doctor provided me with temporary solutions to stop the period cycle and advised me to call back in four hours if the issues persisted. Fast forward, I called back four hours later and was fast-tracked to the emergency room. I underwent a series of uncomfortable tests while tears fell down my face. The ER doc told me that I was anemic I would need a blood transfusion if I didn’t raise iron levels. My mom and friends reassured me to remain hopeful, but how could I?
The verdict from my test results: there was a small fibroid in a complicated area causing the symptoms and I would need to undergo ANOTHER SURGERY. I don’t know if the fibroid had just formed or grew.
The surgery: hysteroscopic myomectomy. This is done in the operating room without an overnight stay with me back to full activities within 2–5 days.
Feeling like your body is working against you is less than ideal. I thought the issues were behind me. But I look at this now as a minor setback. This experience makes me more of a woman and not less. I wish there were more signs, and I was placed on a recovery plan post my first fibroid surgery. I encouraged health care providers and OBGYNs to advise women of the age to get examined for fibroids and when to take action just like we encourage women to conduct at-home breast exams. About 20 percent to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Fibroids are most common in women in their 40s and early 50s. It’s time to tell our fibroid stories and speak up to our doctors when problems persist.
I am grateful I could inspire a community of women to get checked for fibroids, move forward with removal surgeries and also come to terms with their new normal. I am telling my story so other women can feel comfortable disclosing their truths.
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