My IUD Story

Old news - but still an important part of my medical history when it comes to women's health. 

Check out my vid here. 

Medical Episodes Worthy of a TV Show Plot

Have you ever endured some medical situation or crisis that you thought could encompass an episode of one of the various medical shows on tv? 

I've had quite a few 'stranger-than-fiction' moments, but I think the most odd one happened about 10 years ago. I always had a lot of pelvic pain and a ton of really serious and severe issues surrounding my menstrual cycle. In 2010 I got my first IUD by a doctor in my hometown, and it was recommended to replace it in 2012 where I live now. My pelvic pain was quite a bit worse after this IUD replacement, so only a few months later, it was removed and I was placed on Lupron instead... A year later, I was having other issues in my abdomen and a CT and MRI were ordered. In the surgical notes of this imaging, it said "IUD is in place". 

So I went to see my surgeon, and he showed me the imaging. I went white - there was still an IUD in my uterus! 

Apparently, they couldn't find the IUD that was supposed to be replaced. And since the surgeon wasn't the one who placed it, and I was under anesthesia, the surgeon believed that I had had the first one taken out prior to the surgery. 

So, for about 6 months, I had TWO IUDs in my uterus. 

The final IUD was removed with less struggle than expected and in 2017 I underwent a full hysterectomy due to all of the problems associated with those organs in my system. 

No wonder my pain was so additionally bad for those 6 months! 

Morbid Bright Side

Sometimes, if the bright side of situations is difficult to find, you may have to dive into the depths of morbid humour.

While I can feel quite frustrated, once in a while, if I start to think about all of the illness, all of the pain and surgery, all of the modifications I have made to accommodate my body, it helps to think of really strange 'light sides' of my situation.
It can get a little dark though.

I had a thought the other day.
In order to have a plan for when to have a family, or if a couple decides not to have children, or when a family is complete, most couples have to take specific measures to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Couples may rely on birth control pills, on latex goalies, or one may decide to make a permanent alteration. To have a more reliable type of birth control, some women have their tubes tied, and some men may have vasectomies.

Now that I have had a full hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (done out of medical necessity), some of those other forms of birth control are not required.
I never have to subject my body to birth control pills or injections. I do not have any organs to place an IUD or have my tubes tied. There is no reason for my husband to ever get a vasectomy, and with those risks removed, no latex goalies either. Plus, my surgery did exactly what it was meant to do: help ease some of the pelvic pain that I have experienced for years.

While I do not advocate for women to jump in line for elective hysterectomies, I do find it comforting to make lists of all of the benefits that come with such a drastic and necessary surgery.

If you must go through something, you may as well try to make the best of it.

So I said to my hubby the other day:

"You know what's great about being with me? I will never ask you to get a vasectomy!"
He looked at me very strangely.
:)