Post by akcheryl on Nov 28, 2006 14:45:14 GMT -5
I just wanted to say that all of this mess with endo has taught me to never ignore my body. I had suspected endo since I was young, but never did anything about it. For a long time, I didn't know that all my symptoms weren't just a normal part of being female, but at the same time, a part of me knew things weren't right either.
It seems like everything is moving so fast, and I'm very afraid. I went from walking into the Women's Clinic on November 1 thinking that nothing would show up on my ultrasound, to scheduling surgery for large ovarian chocolate cysts two days later. My surgery is exactly one month from the date my cysts were found. I'm scared, but strangely enough, I also feel somewhat validated.
For the past year, I have had a general feeling of being "sick." Call it malaise, fatigue, generalized pain, whatever, but I knew something wasn't right. I knew the constant headaches, pain, IBS-like symptoms, etc. weren't normal. I have had countless blood tests done, a sigmoidoscopy, CT scans, a sinus surgery (that I needed), but nothing produced definite results. Nothing made me feel better.
I'm proud of myself for not giving up and just accepting the way I felt, and I'm thankful that I have such a supportive husband who never let me give up searching for answers. I'm also grateful for my GP, who listened to my complaints and never accused me of malingering.
When I had that ultrasound and the doctors found the cysts, I was devastated. I probably looked like a fool for bawling as my husband and I walked out of the hospital, and I continued to cry for days. I'm still upset, and I worry constantly about ever having children (we've been trying for over a year), about the pain of surgery, and about the possibility of cancer. But at the same time, I feel somewhat validated. I know that I wasn't crazy - that I DO have something seriously wrong with me.
I've learned that no one knows my body the way I do. I've learned to not ignore feeling ill, even if blood tests, CT scans, etc. come back normal. I've learned to be proactive with my healthcare, and to search for answers and not just sit back. And I think that all of the women on this board should be proud of yourselves for doing the same.
It seems like everything is moving so fast, and I'm very afraid. I went from walking into the Women's Clinic on November 1 thinking that nothing would show up on my ultrasound, to scheduling surgery for large ovarian chocolate cysts two days later. My surgery is exactly one month from the date my cysts were found. I'm scared, but strangely enough, I also feel somewhat validated.
For the past year, I have had a general feeling of being "sick." Call it malaise, fatigue, generalized pain, whatever, but I knew something wasn't right. I knew the constant headaches, pain, IBS-like symptoms, etc. weren't normal. I have had countless blood tests done, a sigmoidoscopy, CT scans, a sinus surgery (that I needed), but nothing produced definite results. Nothing made me feel better.
I'm proud of myself for not giving up and just accepting the way I felt, and I'm thankful that I have such a supportive husband who never let me give up searching for answers. I'm also grateful for my GP, who listened to my complaints and never accused me of malingering.
When I had that ultrasound and the doctors found the cysts, I was devastated. I probably looked like a fool for bawling as my husband and I walked out of the hospital, and I continued to cry for days. I'm still upset, and I worry constantly about ever having children (we've been trying for over a year), about the pain of surgery, and about the possibility of cancer. But at the same time, I feel somewhat validated. I know that I wasn't crazy - that I DO have something seriously wrong with me.
I've learned that no one knows my body the way I do. I've learned to not ignore feeling ill, even if blood tests, CT scans, etc. come back normal. I've learned to be proactive with my healthcare, and to search for answers and not just sit back. And I think that all of the women on this board should be proud of yourselves for doing the same.