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Gina’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

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Feb
28
2012
Gina's Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

To all my friends and supporters in my fight for survival, As you know, we have one heck of a fight ahead to get people closer to awareness and  possibly even benefits. It has been a longtime dream of mine to leave behind a legacy for those who truly love me, would be proud of me and would remember that I did all I could with what little I had left. With the help of friends and strangers to fight this battle. So that long after I am gone girls will have a chance at a life they dream of, whatever that may be.  A foundation that educates and gives hope and understanding for a disease that can cause you to lose yourself completely, dreams and all. Before I begin this, those of you who know me know I love the outdoors and was a runner when I lived in Florida. I would ride a mountain bike almost 30 miles a day. Work, camp, hike, climb mountains, outlast most of the men in my life and was up for anything active. I was a lot of fun, with plenty of stamina, swim team in school, danced … [Read more...]

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Anita’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Parkinson’s Disease)

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Feb
20
2012
Anita's Fight Like a Girl Story (Parkinson's Disease)

In November 2009, I was diagnosed with something most would panic and question, ”Why me?” I have Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease. I am now 47 years old. I noticed the tremor in my right hand in May 2009 and I finally decided in October of that year, ”I don't think this is normal.” My physician did several tests including an MRI to rule out certain things. He had already told me he was sending me to a neurologist anyway. On the first visit, my neurologist had me do specific movements and actions while he observed. He noticed that the tremor wasn't the only thing not normal. My right arm has almost no swing when I walk, I get tongue tied and have to hunt for words when I speak, and since the diagnosis other symptoms have appeared confirming that I do have Parkinson's Disease. I have a daughter that is a senior in High School. She plays clarinet and marches in the band. I go on every trip. I help the band members get ready and this year I am in charge of their uniforms. … [Read more...]

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”Living” with Endometriosis

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Jan
27
2012
Living with Endometriosis

Before you go running for the antibacterial wipes I just want to let you know that I’m not contagious. What I have is not catching. What I’m about to relay will not travel through your computer’s innards as a deadly Trojan virus or spread through the air like an uncovered sneeze. It’s called stage IV endometriosis and according to the information traffic jam, over 70 million women around the world live with it every day and, I’m guessing another 50 million or so women don’t even know they have it. Those women are probably lying on the bathroom floor right now, gritting their teeth, clutching their wombs while saying, “What the F*ck!?” and praying for the strength to live through the next couple of days. So what is endometriosis? I usually tell people, strictly out of exhaustion, that it’s a “girlie” disease. This comes from being raised in a household where you don’t talk about stuff like this. If by some circumstance of extreme horror a particularly cute … [Read more...]

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Judi’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Polycystic Kidney Disease aka PKD)

by 11 Comments
Dec
31
2011
Judi's Story (PKD)

In brief I was born with polycystic kidney disease and began suffering symptoms when I was in my late teens. The cysts are in my kidneys and liver which caused both organs to be enlarged. When a cyst itself enlarged and became engorged with blood or infection they became extremely painful. Eventually they would rupture and cause internal bleeding for which the only "cure" was to lie flat on my back for weeks at a time. I once figured out that if I added my "down time" all together out of 16 years in my twenties and thirties I spent an entire three of those years flat on my back in bed and/or on the sofa trying to get the bleeding to stop. It was disabling and caused me to limit and exclude many activities I wanted to do and it also meant that I couldn't wear many types of clothing that I wanted to wear because I could have nothing touch my waist – ever. It would cause the cysts to act up and bleed if I did. In spite of all of this my husband and I did adopt ( because we didn't … [Read more...]

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Jaymi’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Osteoarthritis, Total Hip Replacement)

by 3 Comments
Dec
31
2011
Blue Ribbon Arthritis

At first, I wasn't going to share my story because my story seemed easy compared to the other stories on Fight Like a Girl Club and to other total hip replacement stories. At the age of 37, I had a left total hip replacement. I had no warning signs that this was coming other than I had had knee surgery at 20 and the doctor told me then that my hip didn't rotate completely and, like my father, I’d need THR someday. My dad was in his mid-forties when he had his first THR so nowhere in my mind did I ever imagine I'd get diagnosed for one at age 36. The summer when I was 35, my nephew came to visit. He was almost a year old and needed to be carried up and down the stairs, put in and out of the stroller and car seat, etc. After a few days, my hip started to hurt from this. I thought that since I had multiple knee surgeries, I was just bending my hip badly to protect my knee. I really didn't think anything of the pain. The pain continued intermittently - only occurring when I exerted … [Read more...]

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

by 7 Comments
Dec
21
2011
Liz's Story (Breast Cancer) LR

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer on May 28, 2010 at the age of 48 after finding my lump as I was boxing at WII’s Gold's gym. Who would have thought a game would have saved my life.  As I was boxing I felt something "pop" and, to make a long story short, the doctors think that when I did an uppercut a cyst popped & the tumor was under the cyst. I had a lumpectomy, Chemo, & 33 rads and, as of right now, am Cancer free. If it wasn't for my family, especially my NEW husband (just got married last week) not sure how I would have gotten through my year of hell! But I did and am now enjoying life to the fullest! Liz New Jersey Submitted 9-3-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. … [Read more...]

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

by 15 Comments
Dec
12
2011
Jill's Story (Breast Cancer) LR

2010….what a GREAT year for me! I had a beautiful family, I started my own photography business, then I heard the words "you have breast cancer". Okay, so that last part wasn't GREAT…but it did change my life for the BETTER. In September 2010, I felt a lump that seemed to be on my rib, so it was hard for me to determine what it was. So, I ignored it for a month. When it didn't go away, I went to the doctors. The doctor felt it, and said, "I really don't think it's anything to worry about" giving me that look as if to say "you are only 37, you can't have breast cancer". Luckily, I went with my gut. What followed was a mammogram, ultrasound, and a biopsy all within a few days. That following Friday I was told that I had breast cancer, DCIS. PHEW…I thought. That is the best type to have…if you have to have any. I was told I would only need sugery to remove the disease, radiation for 6 weeks, and I would have to take Tamoxafin for 5 years. Okay, I can handle that, at least I can … [Read more...]

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Daphne’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma)

by 6 Comments
Dec
11
2011
Lime Ribbon Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

September of 2007 I had finally had enough. My back had been hurting for a few years, just getting worse- this Dr said this, that one said something else. My primary ordered an MRI after countless CT’s with no answer. Two days later I got a call that I needed to see an oncologist- I had some enlarged lymph nodes. Ok, that scared me a good bit, went to see the oncologist. They did a biopsy and a PET- yup, its non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - slow growing but EVERYWHERE - like too many nodes involved to even count. But ya know thats not when I started fighting like a girl. After a few chemos, I could not take the pain I felt all over my body. Somehow this cancer and chemo threw my body into meltdown. The tumor pain was horrid, the vincristine from the chemo was causing nerve and muscle damage. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis so, compounded, I felt like I had been given a life sentence to that firey place below. I had a grandbaby born the following August.  When I heard I was going … [Read more...]

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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...]

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Tonya’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

by 9 Comments
Jul
02
2011
Tonya's Personal Story Chronic Pain

My name is Tonya, I am a 42 year old wife and mother of two grown daughters. I have been in pain since I was about 13, when I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. At that time it only affected my knees. Then in my early twenties I was tested for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, all tests were negative. I was told to get more sleep and to live with it. I have struggled with random pains ever since. Although while I was pregnant with my girls the pain did subside. In 2003 my husband was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer. After 12 weeks of treatment and lots of running around, he was cancer free, and still is. Also, in 2003 I took a hard fall down some slippery steps severely bruising my tail bone. After about three weeks my stomach started to flare and I was diagnosed with IBS which I was told was stress induced. I had to learn how and when to eat to make it thru the day, whether I was staying home or going somewhere. I went to see several more doctors and had … [Read more...]

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