And Another Thing

Just a rant:

11 months ago I had an endometrial ablation due to some recurring issues and because I knew having more kids was out of the question.

My pregnancy with 7 was a #shitshow from the start.

Between early labor, 4 months of irregular contractions, being prescribed Procardia to slow the contractions, 11 trips to the ER for fluids or IV meds, and preeclampsia which made me balloon from 99 lbs when I got pregnant to 200 lbs when I delivered.🐳🐳🐳

Throw in the fact that his umbilical cord was "tethered" (like a corkscrew tail) and we didn't know this until I had already forgone meds, dilated to 10 and started to labor. This little weirdo's cord was so short he was NEVER going to come out.

Doctor: Okay, you're going to have to stop pushing.

Me: That's the stupidest joke I've ever heard.

Doc: No really, we have to prep for an emergency C-section.

Me: The fuck outta here...(then I did what I was told bc I just wanted my baby out and alive).

He makes it here all safe and sound...thank the lord! We discuss with my doctors about the possibility of more someday and they're advice was that I could "maybe" do it again but each pregnancy would probably be progressively worse.

Soooo after numerous trials of different birth controls ,pills~made me crazy(er), Depo caused nonstop bleeding for over a year, IUD caused 4 ruptured ovarian cysts in a year. I decided that tubal removal and an ablation would be the best thing. I researched, I planned it around holidays so I wouldn't miss too much work. I researched some more. I requested input from women who had had it done already. I read and read and read. I decided that the pros outweighed the cons. I had it done the day before Thanksgiving.

Fast forward about a month. I've healed pretty well. No pain. No more cysts. Not crazy bc no more hormonal birth control. No more bleeding (HALLELUJAH).

June 2019. So much pain in my abdomen I head to the ER. They suggest that it's possibly constipation (sorry if that's TMI). They send me home with some nasty stuff to drink and tell me not to stray too far from a bathroom for a few days.

July 2019. The same type of pain but it's lasted multiple days (and I've been taking the meds to prevent constipation so I know it's not that). Head back to the ER. They see nothing on a CT and send me home with pain meds and suggest a follow up with PCP.

August 2019.

🎵Hello from the waiting room....I must have screamed a time or 2. 🎵

Seriously...they're used to me now and know my first name. PCP says nothing to worry about. ER suggests visit to OBGYN. No more pain meds because apparently I've hit my limit for them to prescribe (new laws because of the opioid epidemic). Okay....heating pad and naproxen two times a day.

September 2019.

I've scheduled my appointment with OBGYN. I'm now researching possible options on my own because I know the ER won't do anything. My PCP is amazing but is at a loss. She's never seen someone have pain and bleeding 8-10 months after an ablation. I stumble across an article in a medical journal.

PATSS.

Post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome

There's no way. How did I NOT see this when I was researching?!?! (But I know how...I was researching pros and cons...not complications from).

October 2019.

OBGYN confirms that my endometrial tissue is growing back.

PATSS presents as cyclic pelvic pain caused by tubal distention from occult bleeding into the obstructed tubes.

Basically, even though my "tubes" were removed, there's still a portion filling up.

So, my body is like a God damn woman coming back into the room after a fight screaming "AND ANOTHER THING......." and it will continue to do so...every fucking month until I have my already disabled baby maker cut out of my body. OBGYN sends me home with a script for pain meds until I can schedule the surgery.

A total hysterectomy. The one thing I was trying to avoid by having the ablation is now the only thing that will fix the "botched" ablation. (It's really not botched...it just didn't work on me like it does on others).

I head home and swing into work to tell my boss (she's amazing), she assures me we'll get the paperwork done ASAP and reminds me that I have short term disability benefits.

Here's the kicker though....I'll only get 60% of my pay. I have 2 weeks vacation I'll have to use up first, THEN, if I heal quickly I can return to work in 4 weeks (so only one pay period at 60%). But I have to agree to NO lifting, bending, stooping, pushing clients in wheelchairs, blah blah fuckingblah.

It needs done ASAP because I've met my deductible for the year so as long as I have it done before December I won't have any out of pocket costs BUT that means losing pay right before Christmas.

This dumb bitch of a uterus...that's made my life miserable for the last 3 years is laughing at me.

Not only is she laughing at me...she's going to ruin the rest of my year.

Moral of the story: My body sucks, my boss is amazing, do ALL the research plus some before deciding on a treatment, and then go broke.

I am blessed with insurance, I am blessed with family that won't let us be hungry, I am blessed with a job that is supportive...but I am still angry that in 2019 people are faced with having to decide if they can take off work for a necessary, emergent medical problem.

I'm lucky in the sense that my medical care is covered (which I know isn't the norm). I just hate the fact that in order to "take care of myself" medically I will be stressing about taking care of us financially. No one should have to be faced with this bullshit.

That's all. That's my rant. Thanks for letting me get it off my chest. 😘