Gees! What a ride!

What’s next????

Having a brain injury — and whatever else my body seems to be throwing at me — has made figuring out what is actually wrong incredibly difficult.

And now, on top of everything else, I have a structure that has been continuously bleeding.

I had to pay privately for an ultrasound, waited a month to get the “timing” right – just to try to find out what was happening.

Multiple trips to hospital and paying to see doctors followed, but there were still no answers. Meanwhile, my iron and haemoglobin levels continued to drop.

Every medical professional I saw said the same thing:

“You need to see a gynaecologist.”

The problem?

I couldn’t access one. The wait seemed impossible – even with the amount of bleeding!!!!

So there I was, losing blood, taking 18 pills a day in an attempt to stop the bleeding, exhausted beyond anything I can describe — and still bleeding. After asking my GP I was able to access an iron infusion…. Hopeful this would help my body cope….

Then came another trip to Rotorua Emergency after I had bled through my bed. I woke up to what looked like a murder scene!!!

More pills.

Still no real solution.

Finally, the day came when I was able to see the gynaecologist.

YAY!!! FINALLY!!!

One look and he immediately said:

“You need surgery.”

Then he asked me a question that honestly left me stunned:

“Has anyone actually examined you?”

No.

They hadn’t.

His response?

“First rule: ALWAYS EXAMINE THE PATIENT!”

And suddenly, after weeks of bleeding, hospital visits, doctors, blood tests, declining iron and haemoglobin, and an ultrasound I had paid for myself, there was an answer.

I have a prolapsed fibroid, which was easily visible on examination.

The pills weren’t going to work.

I already knew that — because they weren’t working.

The gynaecologist said I needed urgent surgery and they would get me booked in. What does urgent mean actually…. It means more waiting (approximately 6 more weeks)….

So now I’m left wondering…

Why did I have to pay for an ultrasound that I apparently didn’t need?

Why did I have to wait so long?

Why did I have to keep going back for help while continuing to bleed?

And how much sooner could this have been sorted if someone had simply examined me in the first place?

The added complication is my brain injury.

Confusion, memory problems, difficulty explaining symptoms and trying to work out which symptoms belong to which problem has made everything so much harder.

When you already live with a complicated collection of symptoms, it becomes incredibly difficult to recognise when something new is happening — and even harder when those symptoms overlap.

I’m now more exhausted.

I’m more frustrated.

I’m more angry, anxious and worried.

And, honestly, I’m wondering…

What’s next?

Because sometimes it feels like just when you think you’ve got your head above water, something else comes along and pulls you straight back under. ❤️‍🩹