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Renee’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

by 14 Comments
Nov
07
2011
Renee's Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

I was one of the lucky girls that got my period before I was even done with grade school and, right off the bat, my experience with it was awful. Unfortunately, I did not have a great support system to lean on. When approaching my Mom about the horrendous cramping and over abundant bleeding (to me it was a very "Carrie-esque" type of experience) she told me that it is what every girl goes thru and that I would learn to adapt. So month after month and year after year, I just convinced myself that this was normal. The phrase "This, too, shall pass" became my mantra to get thru the nightmare that called itself PMS. I had even considered having those words tattooed on me, literally. It seemed to be as I got older instead of adapting, it got worse. So then began the emotional terror of it all. I often wondered what was so wrong with me that I struggled to deal with this while all the girls around me seemed to be fine. I began wearing tampons that very summer of my first period. While … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Endometriosis Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Dianna’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Precancerous Breast Cells)

by 2 Comments
Nov
07
2011
Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer

Hello Everyone. :) My name is Dianna. I'm a 15-year-old girl from Serbia. I wanted to share my story because I'm hoping it will give people a bit more hope. I come from a family with a history of benign and malignant tumors. Both my aunt and grandmother had it twice, but it skipped my mother and older sister. Four years ago, in 2007, when I was 12-years-old, I discovered a lump in my left breast. I kept quiet about it for 9 months because I just thought it was a part of puberty. But then, sometime in August of 2008, reddish liquid began leaking from my nipple on my left breast. I got very scared and told my mother. She took me to the hospital and, finally, after about a month of analysis and tests, they told me, on September 11th (and with my luck, that day was the day of my 13th birthday), that I had benign tumor. The reddish liquid that I noticed was just a substance that was leaking because I had an infection (can't quite remember the name of it). I was on all kinds of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Nikki’s Fight Like a Girl Story

by 10 Comments
Nov
06
2011
Nikki's Fight Like a Girl Story

Well, I am a fairly new fighter although the doctors have explained that I have had this disease for several years. The MRIs and bone scans indicate that the damage to my hips and spine began approximately 4 years ago. I was blessed to spend those first 3 years fairly pain-free. At least, pain-free enough to forego any type of special appointments for pain or mobility issues. My first appointment for joint pain was with my family physician in February of this year, about 4 months after opening our home to the most adorable set of 2 year old (foster) triplets. I honestly thought the knee pain was caused by crawling around on the floor with the babies and forgetting that I am no longer a teenager. Within days of my visit with "Doc", I tripped over one of the triplets and dislocated my knee causing me to have to wear an immobilizer for several weeks. During that time, I developed a DVT behind my injured knee. And that, folks, is where I got onto the craziest ride of my life. I never … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Power Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Lollie’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

by 6 Comments
Nov
06
2011
Yellow Ribbon Endometriosis

My story began only 5 months ago. I was admitted with pain on my left side at our local ED and soon they got me in an ambulance on the way to the bigger hospital where I was diagnosed with appendicitis. So as usual with that type of thing I went in and had it taken out. But when I woke up in recovery, I can still remember those words that the surgeon told me "You have endometriosis and you might be infertile." My world came crushing down. I have never heard of this disease, how I can I have it and never have known about it. But after the surgery the nurses came by and explained to me what it is and what needs to be done. They didn't tell me how bad it was or anything like that. They just said you need to see a gynecologist fast. So they made an appointment for me at the local clinic. Took 3 months to get seen and the pain on my left side continued even after they took out my appendix and I was admitted to ED more then twice because of the pain and was drugged up with pain killers … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Endometriosis Stories Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Increase of Fibromyalgia/CFS in Young People

by 10 Comments
Oct
31
2011
healKick-big-300x98

Is it just me, or are more and more young people getting diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS?? Both have been stereotyped for so long as being illnesses that only afflict older people, but as someone who is active on twitter, I'm finding so many teens that are already diagnosed with these problems! I can relate to this a lot, as I became very sick at the age of 13. I have no idea why this illness is spreading the way it is, but we need so much more research!  If only we could manage to get out of bed long enough to spread the word!  That's why websites like this are so very important.  The Fight Like A Girl Club lets us get these thoughts out there and hopefully more people will read and learn about these illnesses and want to get involved! There is a Facebook page for young people who are suffering with these illnesses right here:  Young People with Fibromyalgia. Also, Healkick, is a new website for people under 40 with neuro-immune illnesses.  I recommend that if … [Read more...]

Filed Under: CFS, Fibromyalgia Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Silli-Shields

by 4 Comments
Oct
27
2011
Retha Buys

It actually all started with wanting to have a baby, and since the normal way is not an option for me, I had to take fertility drugs, which led to irregular menstruation, which led to being prescribed hormone replacement drugs for three months in order to correct the problem. One morning, while getting dressed, I noticed my left breast suddenly grew into this huge balloon on my chest. The difference was definately not subtle. So, knowing that you don’t play around with abnormalities in your breasts, I ran to my GP, who told me he is not worried, but to be on the safe side, let’s do a mammogram. Microcalcifications were found, and I was referred to a specialist, who said he is not too worried but to be safe let’s do a biopsy. So, one biopsy and a terrible scar later I was told that it looks like DCIS, but the specialist thought it safe to leave it for a year and see what happens. Being pro-active by nature, I went for a second opinion, since I read too many scary things regarding … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Tagged With: , , , , ,

Angela’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer)

by 7 Comments
Oct
20
2011
Angela's Story (Breast Cancer)

I found a lump on my right breast on July 5, 2011, had a mammogram on July 11, 2011, a core biopsy on July 13, 2011, and on July 15, 2011 I got the call you never want to get. With my husband by my side, the doctor told us that I had Breast Cancer stage 1A hormone-fed and that we had caught it early. That will be a day I will never forget.  It felt like time stopped right before our very eyes. On July 19, 2011 we met with the oncologist. He suggested we do genetic testing with a family history so we did the BRCA1/BRCA2 test.  Two weeks later we found out that I tested positive for BRCA2.  For me this meant a higher risk of ovarian cancer and a 60% chance of the right breast having cancer.  It was suggested that I have a double mastectomy and that I have my ovaries removed. On August 18th, my life will change forever. I met with the obgyn on Aug 9th - awesome doctor who prayed with us.  I have such a peace about this surgery. I am ready to fight this cancer (I will fight like a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Stories Tagged With: , , , , ,

Strength

by 7 Comments
Oct
15
2011
Strength

Strength is a powerful word. Physical strength is very obvious to the human eye. Internal strength is something different and more difficult to define. Not only is it difficult to define it is hard to determine where one finds their internal strength. It varies from person to person. When I received my diagnosis last July, I did not feel strong, I felt like a weak and helpless child in the face of this disease. An anonymous quote said: “When on the edge of destiny, you must test your strength”. Breast Cancer put me on the edge of a new destiny – to survive at all costs. To ensure my survival I had to find new sources of strength. Since dying was NOT an option, I decided I would need an extraordinary amount of strength to fight the pink ribbon demon. Thank God I did not fight alone. I have the most amazing family and friends who helped me every step of the way. When my strength failed I could rely on them to push me forward. That's right – I am a thief – a strength stealer. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Raven’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Lupus)

by 14 Comments
Oct
14
2011
Raven's Fight Like a Girl Story (Lupus)

I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus in September 2010. I spent the entire weekend in the bed, depressed and throwing myself a pity party. Until I thought about it; I have never been a quitter; and I've always led by example. I was only 27 at the time and, you know, it actually felt good to know WHY my body felt like it was falling apart. I still don't understand and I do sometimes doubt the doctor's diagnosis. I'm scared still. I have young children that I can't even throw a ball with because of my 5 shoulder dislocations (ortho says I'm too young to operate on). I also have bad knees, Raynaud's Phenomenon, degenerative disc disease & hyper-elasticity of the joints…. I think. Or it may all be the Lupus. I have so many questions – but my PCP doesn't want to answer. Just a prescription once a month for narcotics. I only recently began prednisone. I WILL BEAT THIS IF IT KILLS ME!!! What makes me the angriest is that I am unable to do anything. This depresses me. It doesn't help … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lupus Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

LaQuanda’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

by 46 Comments
Oct
04
2011
LaQuanda's Story (Endometriosis)

Greetings ladies. I am LaQuanda Hart. I am a 29-year-old female from Springfield, SC. I was diagnosed with endometriosis well over 15 years ago. I have tirelessly gone through 9 different procedures due to this rare disease. Believe it or not, after all the procedures and surgeries I have had, the pain is STILL here. I dealt with the excruciating pain for so long that I was at the point of throwing in the towel. It felt like I wasn't living a normal life as most young ladies do. When I was in High School I spent a week and 2 days out of school a month because of the excruciating pain that I was experiencing. I was at the hospital the entire time getting morphine or dilaudid injections to try and suppress the pain. In my 15 years of dealing with this I have had recurring cancer cells and a hemorrhagic ovary that bled out into my stomach area. Just recently my urologist told me that the endometriosis had spread to my bladder. I am now suffering back issues that endometriosis may have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Endometriosis Stories Tagged With: , , , , , ,