Category Archives: Health Journey

Interstitial Cystitis – Nov 2013

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To top matters off, I went back to my OB/GYN to talk about other options beside progesterone (still have massive side effects) and pelvic floor therapy (quit that). After several questions and hearing about my symptoms (those other than thyroid) like pressure and pain in bladder, frequent urination day and night, consent UTIs and painful intercourse (its back), he said I had Interstitial Cystitis (an inflammatory condition in the bladder). He said to start taking Elmiron (but that would take up to 12 months before I saw any benefit), Bladder installations (they injection medicine directly into your bladder) for 6 weeks and vaginal velum suppositories (insert the capsules then lay down for 30 minutes) and of course pelvic floor therapy!

I came home and lost it! I threw in the towel or so I thought I would. I changed gears and decided to go the holistic approach!

Hashimoto – Nov 2013

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Now through all of this, I did follow instructions and went back to the endocrinologist in 8 weeks for another blood test to see where my thyroid levels were. My levels were improving; however, I also showed positive for Hashimoto antibodies. Yet again, since the thyroid levels were low, but normal, they wouldn’t do anything!

Central Hypothyroidism July 2013

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During this time I went back to the chiropractor, he suggested I complete another round of blood tests especially after all the surgery I’ve had. This time the blood tests came back even lower. He said I had Central Hypothyroidism.  I was suffering from fatigue, dry skin, weight gain (after all that work with my diet and exercise I did after 2010 I felt very defeated), muscle weakness, thinning hair, and depression.

A General Practitioner at Park Nicollet confirmed the results and then referred me to an endocrinologist also at Park Nicollet.

Blood test with this new endocrinologist showed the same result. Low T4, Low TSH – very rare condition so they scheduled a Thyroid Uptake and Scan.

They also tested me for Grave’s disease. Well, the Thyroid Scan showed lower thyroid function, but nothing of great concern and the uptake was pretty good. The Graves’ disease test came back with positive antibodies.

Because I was central hypothyroid (symptoms of both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid), the doctor said to come back in 8 weeks so they can monitor my blood. They would continue to monitor my blood until the blood test showed which way my thyroid had decided to go. Basically they couldn’t treat me because I was both hyper or hypo! Seriously?

Ok, now I think I’ve about reached my threshold! Endometriosis, thyroid problems, now autoimmune disease!

I did end up going for a third opinion to see if a third endocrinologist would do something. Their blood tests showed slightly higher results and said technically it’s within normal range, definitely on the low end, but normal. Nothing more he would do.

At this point, I felt like I was running in circles!

Depo Lupron – Dec 2012 to May 2013

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Let the journey begin….I started the shots in December 2012. This would put me into menopause with side effects included severe fatigue, tired muscles, night sweats, acne (felt like I was 16 again), weight gain, joint/muscle aches, hot flashes and depression.

I cannot begin to tell you how awful those 6 months were. I would never wish that upon my worst enemy (well maybe…. Ok, no I wouldn’t). It was miserable, I felt miserable, my body looked miserable, my life was miserable!   I tried daily to put on a happy face, but this was wearing me down!

After the 6 months of shots, I had to start taking progesterone to reduce/maintain the levels of estrogen in order to avoid reoccurring endometriosis. After about 2 weeks, I fell into a deep depression. Basically I wanted to quit my job, divorce my husband and leave my kids. I felt like I had hit rock bottom. The progesterone made me depressed, gain weight, suffer memory loss…Oh it was not wonderful! Needless to say, this lead to anti-depressants.

At this point, my journey was becoming more difficult. After a month of progesterone and anti-depressants, I went back to my OB to find out if there were other ways to deal with endometriosis.   I could try other drugs; I could acupuncture; I could try pelvic floor therapy as well.

I tried Pelvic floor therapy – I wasn’t a fan! With devices inserted into your vagina and someone telling you to flex your pelvic floor muscles wasn’t something I wanted to do everyday or every other day!

Laparoscopy for Endometriosis-Nov 2012

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Now on to dealing with the endometriosis…. I had a laparoscopic surgery to remove the endometriosis from my abdominal cavity (Remember I don’t have a uterus or cervix anymore). Surgery was successful expect yet again I developed another infection. After the infection cleared, my OB said I also needed to kill the micro-endometriosis and recommended I have Depo Lupron shots (puts your body into menopause which stops your ovaries from producing estrogen) for 6 months to rid my system of all endometriosis.

Hypothyroidism – 2012

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Since my head-on collision in 1998, I have been seeing a chiropractor. I hadn’t gone to a chiropractor since I moved to the Cities, but found one very quickly in 2004 when I was rear-ended going 60 miles an hour on Hwy 100 when Ella (my first born) was 4 weeks old.   Since I had a relationship already with him, I told him about the hole-in-my-bladder surgery and he suggested I complete more blood tests to see how my body was adjusting after surgery.

A change up happened…. Blood tests came back with low TSH and low T4. Hypothyroidism not hyperthyroidism. Yes, this is the opposite of what the Endocrinologist said but I went with it since my chiropractor was willing to help. I started taking iodine supplements and found improvement with my fatigue and weight loss within days!

EMERGENCY: Hole-in-the-Bladder – 2012

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On Memorial weekend, 2012, I ended up in the emergency room with not-being-able-to-stand stomach pains and after two days of being sent home and readmitted, they called my OB to come in. He thought I had a twisted ovary. (I did not have them removed when I had a hysterectomy if you remember). They needed to bring me to surgery to look inside to determine the cause of my pain.

Several hours later, I woke up to Christian (my husband) telling me they had to open me up (good news: they used the same scar as my two C-Sections) because I had a hole in my bladder. WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHAT HAPPENED?

Pathology tests showed endometriosis on my bladder. The doctors were stumped! They could not figure out how this could happen! They speculated it was the endometriosis but had never heard of this happening before. I had a catheter for two weeks, ended up with yet another infection and yet another round of antibiotics.

This put a big dent in our Memorial weekend plans! I recovered from the surgery but was told to go to an Endocrinologist to have my thyroid tested. I was also going to have to deal with the endometriosis. NOTE: I was not informed at the time of my hysterectomy that I also had endometriosis. However, I did research and discovered endometriosis often occurs after adenomyosis. But how could it become so severe within a year and half (after my hysterectomy) to cause a hole in my bladder? No one could answer that question but they knew I needed to take all precautions so it doesn’t happen again! No kidding!

SIDE NOTE Mental, Physical and Emotional Changes 2010

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With such a heavy decision and massive change in my life, I needed something to help me deal with the grief and loss of my decision. I would never be able to have children again and I always thought I would have 3-4 kids. Even though I am blessed with two girls, I needed to find a way to accept my loss and move on!

I started exercising (P90x) and watching my diet. I cut out alcohol during the week, cut out sugary snacks and started adding fruits and vegetables to my meals.

Within 16 months, I lost 20 lbs., dropped 4-5 pant sizes and never felt healthier in my life. Keep in mind; I was still dealing with a monstrous emotion loss. Even after the physical changes, I still wasn’t emotional 100% but was accepting my decision through diet and exercise.

Hysterectomy – 2010

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We choose to aim for three children. Two years later, after a third attempt at getting pregnant without success, I went to my OB to discuss several problems. First, I had heavy periods (week long and heavy every day); it was becoming very painful to have intercourse (felt like razor blades), cramping, low back pain and fatigue. My OB determined I likely had Adenomyosis (when the inner lining of the uterus breaks through the muscle wall of the uterus.) After much thought and consideration, many tears shed, and many dreams shattered of having a larger family, I decided to have a partial hysterectomy (left my ovaries). My hopes were to have a normal, functioning life again.

With a heavy heart, I had the surgery. My OB confirmed I had Adenomyosis. He said my uterus was “flabby” when he removed it. He also indicated I would never had gotten pregnant again! Shortly after surgery I developed a massive infection so started antibiotics. Boy did I feel better after taking some antibiotics! After week 4, I felt like a new woman! I could conquer the world!! My problems were solved.