Also over the past few months I have noticed several things that didn't seem to be quite right with my physcial health. I think most of us know when something isn't quite right and I believe it is important for each of us to pay attention to the details and the information our bodies are giving us each day. In my particular case, I noticed that I was suddenly without much energy, very tired. Despite efforts to watch my diet and exercise, I noticed that I seemed to be gaining weight in my mid-section. In addition to these two symptoms, there were others, but I will spare you the details, just trust me when I say it was uncomfortable and at times embarrassing.
At first, I wanted to believe that what I was experiencing was just a part of the aging process for a woman. Perhaps I was about to venture into the unknown territory known as menopause? Perhaps all of these issues could be handled with one doctor's visit and an estrogen patch? So last week I had an appointment with my family doctor.
After visiting with my physician and sharing all of my "issues" with her, and crying my eyes out for no apparent reason, she hugged me and assured me that we would figure out together what was going on with me. She ordered several blood tests, along with an ultrasound, and we agreed I would come back in a week for the results. Today was that day...one week later.
When the doctor walked in she was all smiles, telling me that my bloodwork looked exceptionally good! Cholesterol, blood sugar, iron, etc. all above average. Only issue seemed to be I was a little low on my vitamin D, which is not uncommon for me. A simple fix. I then asked about the results of the ultrasound. She said she had not received those results yet, but would have them shortly and would call me as soon as she got them. I was feeling very good about things, and at this point, we were fairly certain that I was just presenting symptoms of the onset of menopause.
Two hours after I left the doctor's office, my cell phone rang. I saw that it was the doctor's office and quickly answered. Immediately, the doctor asked me if I was in a place where I could talk comfortably. My heart skipped a beat. "Yes, I can talk," I replied. For the next few minutes I just listened. Stunned. An abnormal thickening in the lining of my uterus was visible and cause for concern. There was also a mass within the uterus that could be as simple as a fibroid tumor, but again, it might not be. So another doctor's appointment, this time with a specialist, would have to be made in order to do a biopsy. After the biosy result are in, the specialist will then advise me on what my next choice/step would be. The doctor then asked me if I understood and did I have any questions. I simply answered, "I think I understand, but should I be worried? Could this be cancer?" She simply answered, "I don't think so...but we need to make sure." I hung up the phone.
The rest of the day I spent filling in those around me that I love on the results. Each one asking me, "How do you feel? Are you okay?" My answer each time was "Yes, I think so." I have to be okay, right? I believe for the best and I know God is in control and all the worry in the world won't help the situation. Am I scared? Sure, a little. I want to see my grandchildren grow up. I want to hold my great-grandchild. I want to continue to minister to women and show them the love of Christ, I want to be around to hug their necks, encourage them, and watch them grow in their relationship with Jesus. As a woman, myself, I am also not thrilled about possibly undergoing surgery and being "emptied". Unless you are woman who has gone through something like this I'm not sure you can understand what I am saying here, but there is just something about having your "woman parts" removed that leaves you feeling sad and less feminine. Not as beautiful. Of course, those of you that know me know that I deal with uncomfortable situations many times with humor, so the first thing that crossed my mind, once I got my breath back, was "Hey, I can write another book called: Time to Redecorate Your Womb, with Karen Dye."
Tonight I write this blog, mostly to ask for your prayers as I go forward with this biopsy and further testing. I know God has my back on this and I am believing in His healing power! Please believe with me.
Secondly, I am sharing this publicly in hopes that I may be able to encourage other women to pay attention to their bodies and what it is telling them. I also hope to be encouraged by YOUR stories and journey through similar circumstances. As I have said many, many times in my speaking engagements, we need each other!
I promise to keep posting and keep you up to date on my journey. Just know that I am looking at this as a "bump in the road", a distraction the enemy wants me to focus on in order to keep me from doing what it is God has called me, and equipped me, to do. The enemy will not win...he is already defeated.
My children's book, which is coming out this month, is called "Just Beweeve". I am hanging on to my faith and my Jesus and no matter what comes my way, I will "beweeve"! Funny, how God knew I was going to need this book to remind me that when we cannot see His hand, we trust His heart!
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise.
Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)
Dear Karen
ReplyDeleteI can honestly say that I have been close t where you are now. In 2008, I found out I had a tumor on the outside of my uterus. It was the size of a kumquat at my age of 36 and having been through many years of infertility with no success they wanted to do a hysterectomy. Some where deep with in I was not comfortable with this. God had brought me a beautiful son through adoption but taking my uterus just seemed so final. We opted to find a Dr willing to do the surgery with out doing a hysterectomy or at least trying to avoid it. The tumor was growing quickly and within a month or so it was larger. Finally after much prayers we found a Dr who was willing to attempt what I wanted as a patient. He was also worried about the complications of the surgery. By the time the surgery was scheduled the tumor had grow to over the size of a softball. My Dr was worried about the possibility of too much bleeding and I put my trust in the Lord. The Friday before my surgery he called me at home to tell me the odds were not in my favor of keeping my uterus. Sunday I asked my church to pray for me but mostly for my Dr. The day of the surgery arrived and the Dr informed me that if I started to bleed out he would take my uterus but save my life. I told him that God was in control and that I trusted him to do what was right. I came through the surgery with little to no blood loss (this baffles my Dr) and with my uterus in tack. The surgery was in Aug of 2008 and I found myself growing what I thought was another tumor in the spring of 2009. I was however pregnant for the first time. I now have two beautiful little boys all through the hands of God. There is more details to that story and more to what I would love to tell but why I told you this is that I wanted you to know there are always options. God guides us and you will get through this with him buy your side. When I went into surgery I was a complete peace with God and that he was at this point carrying me through this. May you feel God carrying you through your next journey.
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI thought I would share my story with you. I have had issues with my cycles for years and have had chronic pelvic pain for the last 2.5 years. While trying to find out what was causing all of my problems I ended up having laproscopic surgey to look for a cause in Sept. '09. My OB/GYN also did a D&C. Everything was within normal range, altough my D&C showed some mild thickening of the uterine lining. Biopsies came back showing simple hyperplasia w/o atypia, which basically means nothing bad was going on in there. Fast forward to a few months ago and I missed a few periods. I chalked it up to my hormones and decided to see a Dr. about Bio Identical Hormone Therapy. Before I could see her, I needed my yearly well woman exam. I had not had one since '09. I tried to just see my GP but could not get into see her for a month,so I called my GYN and she got me in that week. I had kind of forgotten about the D&C thing, so if I would have gone to my GP, She wouldn't of known I had one done and I wouldn't of told her about it...because I had forgotten about it! Anyway, my GYN decided to do a uterine biopsy, totally expecting no changes. A few days later I received the call saying that my results were back in and I had significant changes. The biopsy shows no malignacy but it did show precancer cells. The fact that it had changed from Simple Hyperplaysia to Complex Hyperplasia with Atypia in two years was very alarming. My Dr. suggested a total hysterectomy, which I had the next week. Praise God that the cells had not spread and actually the precancer cells were only found where she did the biopsy! So Gods hand was totally involved in this. If I had gone to my GP, she wouldn't of known to do another biopsy. My GYN took the biopsy in just the right place. By having the Hysterectomy, I no longer have "issue" with my cycles...because I don't have cycles anymore! I wondered how I would feel by having some of my woman parts removed. I still have my ovaries, but I will never carry a child again. I am 40 years old,with four children, and I have not experienced any depression or overly sad thoughts about not being able to have anymore. There was the time when I saw a young mother with a newborn who was crying...I had to fight the urge to go over and take the baby out of her arms and tell that poor mother she was doing it all wrong!! But other than that...I feel great! So, my advise is to trust in the Lord. He is the great physican. Choose to beieve in the report of the Lord and His report says you are HEALED!! I will certainly keep you in my prayers!