A Huge Health Update
Hello family & friends,
It has been a while since I wrote one of these. Honestly, I just didn’t want to give you the same ‘ol news. I wanted to make sure that the next time I gave an update, it would be pretty significant and thus the reason for this blog.
As most of you might already know, for the past 7 years I was diagnosed with a severe form of Menorrhagia (?). Due to the excessive blood loss over the years, I developed severe Anemia (?).
Some Background
Though I knew I was anemic, I did not understand the extent of it. I was living life normally but always felt sick, extremely tired, had terrible headaches, could not wake up in the mornings, my hair and skin changed, and I did not have a clue of how severe it was. When I would go to the hospital, it was mostly emergency visits but my hemoglobin level was not low enough to receive a blood transfusion, and since I did not have insurance, there was no follow up. It wasn’t until I came to Kansas City in 2008 that I started attending a clinic on a regular basis, getting tests done, taking different treatments to see what the cause could be, and so on.
News that Changed Everything
On the 21st of January of 2010, I went to a doctor’s appointment that has changed my life. The doctor and nurse that saw me were astounded at how low my hemoglobin was, but still, no answer as to how to stop the bleeding. This time, the doctor told me these words: “Do you have any idea what can happen to you if you continue to carry on life as usual? Did you know that severe anemia can cause heart failure?” I told him that I had no idea. He said that until my hemoglobin level is a higher, I would need to be on bed-rest and at the rate that I was, it would take six months to a year to recover. At the time, I really did not understand what that meant until I got in the car with my husband and was on my way to my next appointment. When I told Eduardo, that’s when it hit me. I cried so much that day.
Ultimately this meant that I had to take ten steps back. I had to quit the worship team where I was singing because I could barely breathe when I sang. I had to ask to work from home because just getting into bed, or getting into my car, made me feel as if I walked a mile. Thankfully my boss was so gracious that he allowed me to do so and my worship team leader sent me off with a blessing and said I was welcome to come back when I felt better.
The next few months were very frustrating. Appointment after appointment, test after test, pill after pill. I became very depressed because I didn’t even look the same as I did a year ago. I was so weak that I could not do the most simple things.
Time to Make Decisions
Though it was difficult to think about it, I had to face the possibility of going through a hysterectomy (?). Eduardo and I discussed it. We cried. We knew that it might be the only way out, or at least the easiest. During this time, I was asked get another ultrasound done. When I received the results, they were negative. There was absolutely nothing wrong with my organs. Praise Jesus! That ruled the possibility of a hysterectomy out.
Darn Hormones
Now that doctors were able to narrow down the possible causes, I was put on several hormone treatments.
In May of 2010, I was given a hormone pill for 10 days. This little tiny pill stopped the bleeding that had been there for the past 7 years. I was so happy and full of hope. However, on day 12, the bleeding returned. I was devastated. I returned to the doctor and made a few more appointments to see what in the world happened.
A week later I went to the hospital and went through an emergency biopsy to see if there was any cancer or anything related. It was the most pain I have ever experienced but I was happy to get it done since I was so desperate for answers.
It Stopped
After approximately a month, the bleeding stopped again and it stopped for about a month. During that month, I recovered some of my strength and felt great about myself. I got my hair done, scheduled a trip to New York, went back to work for a couple of days a week and since then, I’m happy to say that system is making the attempt of going back to normal, little by little. I am not exactly sure how it happened, but it did, after 7 years. It’s still not quite fully normal, but it is a lot shorter than a 3-month menstruation cycle. Thank you God!
So now, I’m just tired.
I’m very grateful and happy that my cycle is making its way to normality. You have no idea what a joy that is for me. There is one little problem. I don’t have enough time to recover my strength. See, before, the bleeding would last for 3 months at a time. It would then stop for a month to 2 months, and it would then start again for another 3 months. Now that it’s shorter, I have a shorter timeframe to recover the blood-loss of the previous cycle so I constantly feel like right when I’m beginning to feel better, a cycle starts and then I lose my energy again and that is where I’m at right now. Extremely tired, feeling weak, not able to go out or work out of the office, and just feeling a little desperate.
I have spent the past 10 months inside my home. Sometimes I think like I’m about to lose it, seriously. ;-) I just have to be patient.
I have had a friend that has really helped me figure out different foods that will help increase my iron levels, as well as foods that I need to avoid since they shut down iron increase. I am also taking iron pills three times a day. All I can do is wait.
In the Waiting
So in the waiting, I just ask that you please keep me in your prayers. I really need strength to carry on with my life. It has been almost a year since God healed me (blog post about that) and I know that He can make me whole again.
Thanks for reading.
With love, Gedy
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