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MY STORY & MY STRUGGLE WITH FIBROIDS: KATHRYN BAILEY

August 2, 2018 by Sheveland Beard Leave a Comment

Fibroid Awareness is Month has passed in the state of Georgia, but sharing your story can provide hope for other women as they fight their fibroids in silence. Featuring Kathryn Bailey and her story -remember no story is the same, every journey is different.

When I was 16 years old, I learned my mother had fibroid tumors growing in her uterus. She had been living with them for years (and all that entails) but by this time they had grown to the size of a 6-month old fetus. So at the age of 46, she opted to have a hysterectomy.

Fast forward 13 years (2010), and I received my own diagnosis of fibroid tumors. I know that fibroid tumors can increase the pain and bleeding during your menstrual cycle. However I have always had really bad cramps and heavy bleeding so I had no reason to believe that I had fibroid tumors. The OBGYN who diagnosed me told me that they were small and as long as they don’t bother me we wouldn’t worry about them.

In 2013 was told by my new OBGYN that my fibroids had grown and that I might want to consider surgery. I told her that they weren’t bothering me and I would just wait until they did. Well about a month later I noticed that I had to urinate often throughout the day and even more so at night. I would wake up 4 times during the night just to use the bathroom. I thought maybe I was drinking too many liquids at night so I tried to limit them before bed time. Nothing seemed to help. I was so exhausted that I began to wonder what could be causing and then it finally hit me. My fibroids were pressing on my bladder. I went to see my OBGYN and told her about the frequent urination and we decided that the fibroids had to go. There were several sonograms and MRIs to determine the approximate size and location of my fibroids. The results from these tests showed two fibroids (one baseball size and one golf ball size) on the outside of my uterus (subserosal). My OBGYN opted for a laproscopic myomectomy that would take 2 hr to complete, followed by an overnight stay at the hospital.

Once they began surgery, my OBGYN found that the sonogram and MRI did not tell the whole story. Instead of only two fibroids there was another massive fibroid (my OBGYN called it a “monster”) on the back side of my uterus that the sonogram and MRI missed. She guessed it was between 10 and 12 inches long as she was not able to measure it during surgery. My 2 hr surgery turned into 5 hr and I was in the hospital for 4 days. During the surgery I lost a lot of blood and my OBGYN was concerned that I was bleeding internally. She ordered another MRI to make sure that I wasn’t bleeding because if I was, she was going to do a hysterectomy. Thankfully, the MRI showed not internal bleeding as I was devastated at the thought of never being able to have children. Although I wasn’t bleeding, my blood count was still really low. I have never been so aware of my own heartbeat before. It felt like my heart was working overtime to circulate the blood through my body and with each heartbeat I had a pounding headache. I felt like I was dying. I was given a blood transfusion (I needed two bags of blood) after which I felt much better. After I was released from the hospital my recovery was pretty smooth and I returned to work after 3 weeks.

Three months after surgery, I had another sonogram done and two small fibroids were found. Over the past 4 years, my OBGYN has monitored their growth but for the most part, they have not gotten much bigger. In addition to exercising more throughout the week, my OBGYN suggested decreasing my dairy intake, with these changes I have avoided surgery and maintained a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

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During the month of April, I asked that women share their journey with fibroids so that other women will know that they are not alone. As different women shared their stories treatments, diets, symptoms, embarrassments, struggles, pregnancies and results varied. As I share the story of Tracie P below, keep in mind there is not cookie cutter answer to shrinking fibroids. Just like a recipe, several people could have the same recipe but add their own individual touch to change the taste, texture or feel and the same applies to your journey. One woman could shrink her fibroids from diet alone, another woman would shrink her fibroids by steaming every day, another woman getting rid of her fibroids by having surgery and another woman could shrink her fibroids from steaming, working out and dietary changes. Same diagnosis of having fibroids (represents the recipe) but different approaches to treating/shrinking fibroids (your spin/touch on the recipe). Let Tracie’s story not be a story of comparison, but a story of hope that you find the recipe that works for your body to shrink fibroids naturally or surgically. Below I present to you the Journey of Tracie P in her words…

To read her story use this link https://www.fibroidology.com/2023/05/09/tracie-ps-journey-with-fibroids/ or click the link in the bio .#browngirlbloggers#changeyourlife#womensupportingwomen#knowyourworth#fibroids#padsandtampons#healthyliving#keeptrying#positivevibes#positiveenergy#designyourlife#fibroidology#healthy#pads#tampons#naturalhealing#changethewayyouthink#wecanwearwhite#uteruspride#heal#nature#dietarychanges

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Before you try vaginal steaming… Repost from @steamychick

I am a steam practitioner and offering mobile steaming services. Call 404-282-5424 for booking.
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Full Interview Link:⁠
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYBIuLEJFrc⁠
#midwife, #doula #nurse #massage #physicaltherapist #acupuncturist #chiropractor #fertilityawareness #integrativemedicine #functionalmedicine #herbalist #healthcoach #naturopath #holistic #esthetician #alternativemedicine⁠
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Estrogen Dominance is one of the causes of fibroids/fibroid growth, but did you know there are several types of estrogen. Follow @fibroidology for the next blog series about estrogen. .#browngirlbloggers#changeyourlife#womensupportingwomen#knowyourworth#fibroids#padsandtampons#healthyliving#keeptrying#positivevibes#positiveenergy#designyourlife#fibroidology#healthy#pads#tampons#naturalhealing#changethewayyouthink#wecanwearwhite#uteruspride#heal#nature#dietarychanges
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Apr 17

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Thank you ladies for sharing your fibroid journey. Your journey can help others! Tracie P is the winner of this patch! #browngirlbloggers#changeyourlife#womensupportingwomen#knowyourworth#fibroids#padsandtampons#healthyliving#keeptrying#positivevibes#positiveenergy#designyourlife#fibroidology#healthy#pads#tampons#naturalhealing#changethewayyouthink#wecanwearwhite#uteruspride#heal#nature#dietarychanges
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Thank you to all the ladies that have shared their journey with fibroids with @fibroidology. There is still time to dm me your story and win this patch and a feature on my blog. The deadline is 4/16/23 at midnight! .#browngirlbloggers#changeyourlife#womensupportingwomen#knowyourworth#fibroids#padsandtampons#healthyliving#keeptrying#positivevibes#positiveenergy#designyourlife#fibroidology#healthy#pads#tampons#naturalhealing#changethewayyouthink#wecanwearwhite#uteruspride#heal#nature#dietarychanges#fibroidsawareness#fibroidjourney#shareyourstory

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Steaming Lotus open this weekend… book with the link in the bio or call 404-282-5424If you have fibroids, vaginal dryness, cramps or any womb issues.  Win the patch in the next pic by sharing your fibroid story.. winner will be chosen on 4/16. #browngirlbloggers#changeyourlife#womensupportingwomen#knowyourworth#fibroids#padsandtampons#healthyliving#keeptrying#positivevibes#positiveenergy#designyourlife#fibroidology#healthy#pads#tampons#naturalhealing#changethewayyouthink#wecanwearwhite#uteruspride#heal#nature#dietarychanges
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