My medical check-up and blood works this year have shown favorable and non-favorable results.
I’ll start with the non-favorable ones first.
The fibroid in my uterus is still there and is still causing me heavy periods with blood clots every month. The pattern of blood flow will be one month heavy, the next month super heavy and the following month mildly heavy. The position of the fibroid sitting in my uterus is causing all the heavy bleeding. The fibroid is also splitting the uterus into half. Red flag 🔺
The moment I stepped into my gynae’s clinic, her first comment to me was my very pale complexion. She ordered me to have a total blood count test carried out urgently.
Next is the breast ultrasound scan which shows a cyst in each breast. They do not look malignant. Anyhow, I have been referred to a doctor specializing in breast for monitoring. Again, breast lumps in my case is genetic, as with fibroids, as my mum is also very prone to getting them.
As the total blood count report only came in 2 hours later, I had to make another trip to the hospital to see my doctor after 2 days. My total blood count is 6g/dL. Normal range is 12 – 16. A reading of 5 is near death in some cases. Can you see how low it is now?!! My doctor is very concerned that after my next period, I may collapse and require a blood transfusion! In fact, she asked if I’d like to do a blood transfusion like NOW! Big red flag!! 🔻
The doctor wants me to have a keyhole surgery done to have the fibroid removed, albeit this procedure only allows about 90% of the fibroid to be removed. Moreover, there is high chance that the fibroid will grow again. The only way to stop the growth of the fibroid is the onset of menopause. Yeah, blame it on the hormones. I have never looked forward to reaching menopause but now I am having a change of mind 😱
The other option that my gynae proposed is for me to start on Esmya. Esmya is used to treat moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids, which are benign tumors of the uterus, in adult women who have not yet reached the menopause. Cost aside (over RM600 a box), I am not keen on taking this drug due to its side effects, one of which is a slightly increased risk of ovarian, uterine or cervical cancer.
My doctor has referred me to another gynae specializing in fibroids and I will be seeing him in 2 days.
The good news is that my cholesterol level has gone down! From 6.4 mmol/L in February 2016, it went down to 5.8 mmol/L in August 2016. The latest reading (January 2017) shows 4.9 mmol/L. I am so happy that my altered diet, exercise and continued consumption of Izumio and Super Lutein have helped to bring the reading down. My doctors had previously warned me that it would be very hard to bring the cholesterol reading down as I have genetic high cholesterol but I did it! Praise the Lord! Thank goodness I did not listen to their advice to start on a course of Statin.
I now have about 2 weeks before my next period starts and I feel like Count Dracula – busy gorging down on red meat, red dates (organic ones), cockles, goji berries, black strap molasses, eggs, spinach, beet root, red beans, iron tabs and everything red to shore up my red blood cells before the next war of blood begins! Survive I must!!
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Sorry to hear about the fibroid Shireen. Hope your red blood counts increases and you don’t need to go for the key hole surgery.
Thanks Barb. After a few days on a diet high in foods for red blood cells, I feel much more energetic. I see colors on my lips and cheeks again. Yeah, I truly hope I can avoid another surgery.
Hi, my reading was 6 too! The doc asked if I felt tired, I said I thought all working mums felt tired! You know the feeling, right? Another friend is the winner with a reading of 2! And I know a nurse whose head nurse arranged for the surgeon on the ward order a transfusion, the nurse just lay on one of the beds, had one unit, then went back to work! True dedication! Anyways, I had severe endometriosis plus a fibroadenoma the size of an orange! Yup, had painful and heavy flows for years and I was taking more and more pain meds just to be able to function, and it just wasn’t worth it. So, ended up with a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoopherectomy; it was the best decision I ever made. Best part was I didn’t have to go on HRT which the surgeon found impressive.
All the best with your situation. Don’t forget to ask the doctor all the questions and make sure u get answers.
Oh my reading of 2 and the nurse was still walking around? Glad that you didnt have to go on HRT despite removal of the ovaries. Thanks for the well wishes, Chris!