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

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...]

Cheryl’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

Jan
28
2012
Cheryl's Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

I remember my Mom telling me how lucky "we" were that we didn't get painful periods. Heavy, yes. Painful, no. Well, at least according to her. And for some reason I can't pinpoint, this made me unwilling to speak up and say that I DID have pain. In the early womanhood years, the pain was bearable. The heavy flow (had to get up every two hours the first couple nights to change) was a tougher battle. But, over time and bit-by-bit, the pain came. At first, it was pretty minor but it steadily got worse. In college, I'd occasionally lie down to escape it. By grad school, I'd curl up to cry and lose a few days of studying. Within a year after finishing school (24 yo), it was at the "just hope to die" level. I still didn't speak up. I don't know why. I'd never been healthy. Two prior ENT surgeries, hives from nowhere, migraines…I was used to docs and talking but there was a block here. I went on the Pill for the heavy flow (and, well, the birth control side) and STILL didn't speak up … [Read more...]

”Living” with Endometriosis

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...]

Laura’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Lupus)

Dec
31
2011
Laura's Story (Lupus)

I was diagnosed with lupus a week before Christmas Eve. I'd had psoriasis all my life - until 2006. My skin had cleared up everywhere, except my forehead. Anyway, in Summer 2010, I had high blood pressure so last August I went to the doctor. He said it wasn't high so he ran some tests on me and told me to come back the next month. Well, I went back in September and the doctor said that my cholesterol and ANA were high so he told me to come back in 3 months to test for lupus and it came back positive on 12/17/10. Now, the mini symptoms are here and my blood pressure goes up every Summer but it is normal when I go to the doctor. Laura Oklahoma Submitted 9-5-11 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...]

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

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...]

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

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...]

Joan’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Lupus, Raynaud’s, Sjogren’s)

Dec
21
2011
Joan's Story (Lupus) LR

It was suspected about 24 years ago that I had Lupus when I went to the ER for a horrible sinus infection. I blew it off until 17 years ago when I got terrible pain and was finally diagnosed with 3 co-morbidities: Systemic Lupus, Sjogren's, and Raynaud's. It was scary when they told me I have a disease that has no cure and was considered a death sentence. As the problems progressed, I lost my ability to swallow solid food and can only have a liquid diet for fear of choking. I decided this disease was not going to get to me because we had just adopted a baby and my plans were to dance at his wedding. I also had to help my husband who had a brain stem stroke at the age of 37. I had my goal set that I was going to beat the terrible trio. I have been fighting ever since. About 4 years ago, I had a set back when we were in a car accident leaving me with herniated discs and stenosis of the C spine. It is causing some paralysis in my left arm, but I cannot let that slow me down. Our son … [Read more...]

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

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...]

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

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...]

Marcia’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

Nov
30
2011
Marcia's Story (Fibromyalgia) LR

I always felt like I was in pain. My muscles and bones hurt. I would go from doctor to doctor - all telling me that there was nothing wrong with me. I was really getting frustrated. I knew that there was something wrong with me and that I wasn't just crazy. Finally, when I was 28, I found a doctor who listened to me and then he told me that I had Fibromyalgia. Finally, somebody believed that there was something wrong with me. It can really get frustrating when you know that there is something wrong with you and nobody believes you. You really feel like you are crazy and that you're imagining things. Marcia South Carolina Submitted 8-31-11 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...]