For the Girls Only…

This one is just for the girls. Well, the guys can read it, but you know … it has to do with girly things. So you can continue at your own risk. (I can’t remember how to do the “more” thing in WordPress right now and I don’t care enough to look it up. Sorry.)

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Ever since I stopped taking the pill, I’ve had weird period cycles. Too close together, and sometimes long. So having a period every 3 weeks (instead of 4) and having it last for 10 days or so really sucks. I celebrated the months when it was close to 4 weeks apart, as you can imagine. I had my annual exam last fall, and no one was really concerned about it after I was checked out. It is inconvenient, but I checked out ok and I even had a pelvic ultrasound at the same time to check on my left ovary when they were doing the gallbladder ultrasound.

(In case you don’t know, I had my right ovary removed when I was 20. A looooong 17+ years ago. Massive multi-loculated ovarian cyst, not the usual ovarian cysts that people sometimes have. I’m good about getting my CA-125 and ultrasounds ever since. Also, last fall I had strange abdominal pain near my gallbladder, but they never found out why and it went away when we switched my blood pressure meds and took me off of anti-inflamitories for my carpal tunnel problems. I’ve been a lot less “broken” this year than I was last year, which is a good thing! Uhm, until today.)

So the frequent periods were annoying. Especially because I get headaches whenever they start. Fine. But the latest development has had me a bit more worried.

I’ve had a constant period since we returned from Germany. That means it has been 6-7 weeks long. Sometimes lighter, sometimes heavier. But always there. This past week, always heavy. Enough to freak me out and make me call the doctor. First appointment available? October 8th. He would be traveling this week, and so they couldn’t work me in any sooner.

Yesterday, after Elaine & I spent 10+ hours at a wedding on Saturday, I was sore, tired & achy. Ok, fine. To be expected, right? Then the abdominal pain started. Not the usual cramps, but pain — and on my left side, not my right which is where I normally have cramps because of the scar tissue there. The pain has increased. If you push on my abdomin, it hurts. It hurts to stand. Knowing my usual doctor was traveling this week, I called another doctor to see if I could get in any earlier to see her since she is closer to home. Nope, new patient? First opening is in NOVEMBER.

Yeah, today I get why people end up using the emergency room for doctor visits. What are you supposed to do when no one will give you an appointment?

Before I drove myself to the ER, I called my normal doctor’s office again. I really did not want to take the random shoot of getting whatever doctor sees me, especially considering my past medical history. Seems if you say “I’ve had a period for 6 weeks and now I have had abdominal pain for 24 hours” they jump. I have an appointment for 3pm today. At least I won’t have to go and wait at the ER like I originally anticipated doing. I’ve packed my knitting, so I am ready for anything. The laptop may be coming along for the ride too, just in case I need it.

I’m feeling a bit broken again. I really, really, really HATE this feeling.