My memory's not what it used to be (I supposed that's a result of being hit in the head at work), so there aren't too many things that I can't remember too well. But I can remember clear as day how my cancer fight got started and the medical emergency that led to my diagnosis.
I've had bad monthly cycles for the past 8 years. I didn't have any for 5 years, then I've had sporadic cycles, on and off, for 3 years. I started having somewhat regular ones for about 6 months (though I had really heavy ones, but I didn't concern myself with that). I was excited. It meant that I might be able to have kids. Woo hoo. :-)
I can remember the exact day that my most recent issues started. I began my period on July 20. I was mad because that was the exact day that I went on vacation with my sister and my nephew. Who wants to go on vacation during "that" time of the month?? I didn't, that was for damn sure. I figured that it would last for a few days, and I would be able to enjoy the rest of my vacation. Psshh, I wish. It ended up lasting the entire 9 days! :-( Some vacation! Anyway, I continued to have the red flow for days. Okay, this is not good. But I still didn't want to go to the doctor. I figured the problem would go away. But it didn't. I still had the flow. I did not want it. At all. It got worse. And I hated it. But finally one day, it stopped, as if someone had turned off a faucet. And I was happy. But I wasn't happy for long.
I started again the very next day, August 14th. It started off as a light flow, so I wasn't too worried. I was at work and needed to eat, so I went on break. I went to the restroom and noticed the flow was heavier, so I changed, and finished my break. I went back to work. Ten minutes after I was back, I felt something "pop" down there. Then, I felt something flowing hard, kinda like someone was pouring a drink down the drain. I asked the RN to let me go home and change, because the blood soaked through the pad, the underwear, and the shorts I was wearing. She let me go home, thank goodness. When I got to my bathroom, I came very close to blacking out. All that blood loss, I suppose. :-/ I sat down on the toilet and it was as if someone had hit a fire hydrant or something. The flow was that hard. I figured I was doing #1. Then I thought, no, that can't be right. Something's going on. I cleaned myself up and changed. Before I flushed the toilet, I looked in it. Holy crap!! I saw red water floating. I had never been so scared in my entire life. My friend Ashley, who I was texting at the time, convinced me to go to the ER. I was there for over 2 hours. The doctor did a pelvic exam and some tests but couldn't find anything wrong. He asked me if I had a gynecologist, and I said no, I didn't. He said to make an appointment, but I told him that I had one in October. He told me that I simply could not wait that long. So I made an appointment the next morning, and they told me I could go that next day. I went to see Dr. Winfrey, and she was wonderful. She did a Pap smear and took some tissue samples. I went home, and 8 days later, I was given the worst news: I had uterine cancer. I was sad, angry, resentful, and scared, to name a few. But I was relieved, too. Why? Because it meant that I finally knew what was wrong with me, and that it wasn't just my imagination. I was sick. But now, I'm better. :-)
*Kathy*
Kathy, I am a Peach Sister and decided to read your blog. Much like you, I had uncontrolled bleeding. I thought I was just experiencing normal menopausal symptoms. My periods were irregular - I would start - stop - start - then have a light pink almost watery flow - then start - then stop for a month - then begin again - very heavy flow. ALL VERY NORMAL MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS. I went to the gynocologist in August for my pap. It came back normal. At the time, I mentioned all the irregularity and bleeding. We talked about an ablation. He said well, we need to do a uterine biopsy first but I am sure everything will be ok and very assuring. I said ok. The following Saturday, I was at my Son's football game. I began pouring blood - I could not get to the bathroom fast enough. It would not stop. I had to get my mom to help me it was so bad. We had to drive an hour home, I had to sit on a stadium pillow it was everywhere. By the time I got home and showered, the flow slowed down. I got a call from my dr. to come in to the office. I had uterine cancer. My point to sharing this is WOMEN ARE NOT AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS. The symptoms mimic menopause and we have got to get the word out! Julie
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