So I Had a Hysterectomy and It Wasn’t What I Expected (Part 1)
If you follow me on Instagram then you know I’ve been down for a month after having a hysterectomy. The process was long and not what I expected at all. Here's my story. Well part 1 at least.
The Pain
Starting at the VERY beginning… I got my first period when I was 9 (!!!!) years old. And my periods have always been incredibly painful. So back in December of 2020 when my menstrual cycle completely stopped, I was elated.
Months passed and I decided to take a pregnancy test in February— it was negative. Then I thought maybe I was starting menopause.
The Doctor Visits
I make an appointment with my OBGYN and she does a quick exam and finds that my uterus felt very enlarged. She had me get some vaginal scans.
The doctor prescribed meds to stop the bleeding, but they didn’t fully work. This is now June 2021 and I am still bleeding and cramping.
My options were: embolization, a pill, a few options I don’t remember, and a hysterectomy.
The Surgery Prep
I decided to hold off on the surgery until after the summer because I had some incredible deejay gigs lined up. Also, as a Black woman, I am wired to think I need to exist through the pain.
I had a blood count of 6. My uterus was trying to kill me. Because of this, my PCP and OBGYN both decided I had to get a blood transfusion before and during the surgery.
The ER
The surgery was scheduled for October 7th and I was scheduled to be admitted the day before. But there were no beds available so I was told to go to the ER for the blood transfusion.
The ER was understaffed, the staff was underpaid, and the pandemic is still very much happening despite the behavior of most people. So the ER was hectic and after a lot of waiting, I had to get my blood taken so they could see if it was thin. My body didn’t want to give up any blood.
The panic was setting in.
Join me next week for part two of my story where I’ll share some of your testimonies as well.
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