I’ve Got a White Dress, a Surgeon and a Plan!

Earlier this week, via Instagram, I told you all I would be sharing FOUR things with you all. I’ve been experiencing life real hard and fast lately but have only shared with a few so what better way to inform and enlighten than to share with everyone all at the same time, right?!

Why I’ll be wearing white every chance I get in July

After about a year of being dismissed by various doctors, when expressing concerns about a couple of symptoms, I finally got to the point where I had to become my own advocate…aka I had to regulate! Once the regulating officially commenced, it took FOUR months for me to finally have an appointment dedicated to finding the root of the issue, two sonograms. Following that appointment my physician was still not satisfied enough with the images to make a detailed diagnosis. She knew she saw a fibroid but couldn’t identify the location (which is critical and identifies the type of fibroid) and the exact size. I then had to schedule a procedure to insert fluid into the uterus, a sonohysterogram, but because it’s broken into two parts you have to make back to back appointments and it has to be done the week after your period for the best possible imaging. Therefore, I had to make that appointment for three months following my sonograms to work with my doctor’s schedule, who was in high demand, and meet the parameters set as far as timing. During the procedure, which I’ll detail more in another post, on a 40in screen I saw the source of all my issues. It turns out I have ONE fibroid. Although that’s rare, as most women have numerous, and initially would seem like a relief the bad news soon followed. The fibroid is completely intracavitary, another rarity and means it’s completely inside my uterine cavity…so basically my womb is currently being harbored. As if the bad news couldn’t possibly stop there, the measurement for my fibroid is a little over 5cm. Now 5cm is a little larger than 2 inches in size, which would be harmless enough if located in the muscle or anywhere else on the uterus, however that’s considered huge when the inside of my uterus is only 6cm. Because estrogen is the one thing doctors have determined makes fibroids grow, my physician informed me that not only would I most likely have trouble conceiving with there being barely any room for implantation, but that without surgery I’d more than likely miscarry any pregnancy I did have because the increase in hormones during pregnancy would cause the fibroid to continue to grow and not allow room for a baby to properly form. As some of you may know…and many of you probably don’t, July is Fibroid Awareness Month. So this month, I vow to wear white as often as I can to stand in solidarity with the many other ladies suffering, trying to find answers and figuring life out post diagnosis in the one color many often avoid due to one of the main symptoms, heavy bleeding.

What’s so significant about my next trip back home

While still on the table completely stunned, with a 9000w light on my cheeks, my doctor told me she didn’t feel comfortable operating on me and wouldn’t perform the surgery. At that point I was pretty much ready to be like, you know what…SAY LESS! Aside from hello, she hadn’t really said a single positive thing since she’d entered the room. Due to the size and location she said the only option she knew was a myomectomy. Myomectomies involve cutting of the uterus which means about a 6 week recovery period (Can you say FMLA?) and going forward, should I conceive, a Cesarean section would be mandatory, as uterine rupture is a major concern. Unfortunately, because my fibroid is intracavitary she would have to cut all the way into my uterus to remove it and that would put me at risk for a build up of scar tissue. Although I would be fibroid free, the scar tissue could prevent implantation and would drastically decrease my chances of conception or carrying my own child without miscarriage. She referred me to a specialist and to make a long story short…I wouldn’t let him file my dog’s toenails, let alone operate on me! Numerous referrals, countless copays and tons of trickling medical bills later I received a referral from a sweet family friend for a doctor she highly recommended. Her exact words were, “I trust her with my life and I’ve had to.” Being as though she’d lived to tell the story AND give a rave review, I was interested. So after phone calls stating my ideal plans going forward, having my images, info and everything but Harley’s paw prints sent over…I’ve found a surgeon, and to top it off she’s located in God’s country, Texas! She not only came highly recommended and listened to my concerns but she offered to try a less invasive attack plan, hysteroscopy. Should she go in and decide that’s not a viable option then we will have to proceed with the original plan and have a myomectomy. The only downside is I will go under hoping for a completely successful hysteroscopic procedure but should that not be possible, and I’m forced to have a myomectomy, I won’t know until after it’s all said and done and I awake. *Whomp* Nonetheless, Harley and I will be back in Texas, where the stars are big and bright, the tea is always sweet and Tex-Mex is always a good idea!

Why I’m determined to drop these pounds

Despite the fact that fibroids affect so many women not much info, in the realm of an exact cause or trigger as far as growth (aside from estrogen) is known. There are A LOT of theories and studies but not nearly as many facts. While researching like a mad scientist, I’ve read that increased weight can prevent estrogen from completely metabolizing as it should. As a result it lingers in the body and this can cause a fibroid(s) to grow. Although I’m not quite knocking on obesity’s door, I spent nine months trying different birth control pills every three months in the attempt to be remedied by the first couple of doctors I had. I’ve picked up about 5-7 pounds (depending on the day I weigh) from where I was this time last year before I started pill swappin. Now I can’t necessarily blame all of the pounds on the pills and changes…because I have had my fair share of churros in 2018. However, due to the hemorrhaging I became severely anemic but was unaware for months. I was literally so drained that I could barely get out of bed in the mornings and when I would come in from work I felt like I could shower and go to bed for the night. I had no energy or strength for workouts. I barely even took my dog out for walks. In January I decided to push through and start a new bootcamp and almost blacked out during my workout one morning and I knew then something wasn’t right. Since then I’ve been working to regulate my iron levels without a transfusion or IV iron infusion and I’ve been getting back in the gym regularly and pushing myself again. So my goal is to drop the new pounds in hopes of: 1.) Assuring I’m metabolizing all the estrogen I need to be, 2.) For overall health 3.) A quicker recovery 4.) Good ol vanity!

Why I’m celebrating all month long

As I stated earlier, July is Fibroid Awareness Month and to celebrate I’m kicking off the documentation of this journey. I’m hoping that it will help someone else. There are message boards online and small groups but they are usually filled with unanswered questions and similar stories and symptoms. I’ll be sharing how/why my concerns were overlooked, why you MUST be your own advocate when it comes to YOUR body, vital information I’ve learned from a few women who were very candid with me about their surgery experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly…maternity diapers and all! I found out about my fibroid and the need for surgery just a couple of weeks before my birthday and that caused a delay in the launch of The Minnie Bar and a last minute birthday dinner with my Texans because my energy and mood were so off I’d decided I didn’t want to celebrate or do anything because no one knew and anytime I tried to even think of telling someone I  ended compromising my good Dior mascara. It was literally consuming my thoughts. At that time I hadn’t met my surgeon and I’d been given a list of things to consider, actions to potentially take and major life decisions to make. I was going to appointments during the week, working around the clock to stay semi caught up at work and volunteering when I didn’t have to work late. I do NOT have it all figured out but I’m better now than I was 3 months ago so I want to take the time to hopefully help or encourage someone else. In the few times I have revealed my current story I’ve received a lot of inquiries and stories of women who have friends and family currently going through similar struggles. I’m proud to announce that I will have the honor to speak at this year’s A Night In White, hosted by The White Dress Project, to tell my story and encourage women to listen to their bodies a little more than they listen to their physicians if they know something just doesn’t feel right!

I know, this has been THE longest post but now that you’re all caught up (assuming you stuck with me this far) going forward the updates will be thorough but concise. To break up the monotony, I’m also contemplating a vlog (video + blog…that’s for my mom, who read that and thought I had a typo!)  to update you, give any tips or things to stay away from, as well as address any questions you all have! If you know of anyone battling fibroids and trying to regain some sense of normalcy in their life please share and subscribe!

Do you have any tips or suggestions for women dealing with fibroids? If so, comment below or email me so I can include them in the next post!