The Diagnosis
I remember when my doctor first told me I had fibroids. I was 28, in great shape, and at the time they were only as small as walnuts. Sure, I had always had really painful periods, in which I was given birth control to help to subside. But going to the ER once every blue moon for my cramps had become pretty normal to me. It’s really strange how things that are so abnormal can become so normal if you allow them.
**Disclaimer: I am by no means a medical professional. Any items within this blog, please confirm with you doctor or medical provider. If you are having an emergency, please call 911.**
I noticed when I turned 31, I had a bulge in my belly that honestly wouldn’t go anywhere. I really didn’t understand why. Maybe I was constipated? Or maybe old age was finally giving me grown woman weight. I didn’t really understand why I couldn’t quite lose this bulge, even when I was my smallest (128 pounds), that bulge would not budge.
At 31, June 2018, when I first started noticing my fibroids. You almost can’t see it because I was so small at the time, but there is a small bump poking out.
It finally hit me that the fibroids had become a problem, when people I worked with asked often if I was pregnant or not. Right then, I started to wear baggy clothing in order to hide these aliens that grew inside of me. Not only this, but I was SO TIRED. I started to go to sleep as soon as I came home from work, with little energy to even keep my eyes open. One thing the doctors don’t explain to you, is which ways fibroids can wreck havoc on your body. I experienced personally the following symptoms:
1. Swelling – Not just in my stomach, which was as large as a woman who was 5 months pregnant, but in every other part of my body. My face, breasts, legs and even my hands were larger than normal
2. Irregular Bowel Movements – Either I had diarrhea or I was constipated. It was literally like my body didn’t know how it wanted to eliminate, which actually made my stomach bloating worse
3. Mood Swings – I would get so upset for very minor things that would typically not upset me. Literally I felt like I couldn’t control my temperament
4. Fatigue – I was ALWAYS tired. 2 weeks prior to surgery I was drinking 2 cups of coffee a day just to keep myself awake and I would still fall asleep at 6pm to wake up the next morning! I had no energy to do anything except sleep and come home
5. Period Pain/Length— I would literally be in extreme pain for all 8 days of my period. Yes, EIGHT DAYS! Not only that, but I would spot for about 5 days after my period. This meant for more than half of the month I was bleeding and in pain. My iron levels were so low and I was so sluggish I hardly wanted to do anything at all.
Everything changed for me when I was rushed to the hospital April 2019.
I thought that I was just constipated, but the pain just continued to get worse. At the point, I drove to an urgent care clinic and told them of the pain I was experiencing. Once I saw the doctor he immediately told me I had to go to the ER. 12 hours later in the ER, I was told that I had a large cyst on my ovary and I had fibroids that were as big as mangos—3 to be exact.
I found out I had to get my fibroids taken out in the beginning of July which oddly enough was fibroids awareness month. How ironic? When I got my ultrasounds and MRI, there were 3 fibroids that my doctors could see that were causing the issues. Little did I know that there were much more under the hood, but I wouldn’t find that out until after my surgery.
I finally scheduled my surgery for October 23rd. The time prior to that was the scariest emotional rollercoster I have ever been on. I made this blog, to help women like myself with all the questions and concerns that a normal person would have around a myomectomy. I am not a doctor, but I am a survivor.