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No, I’m Not Pregnant!

by 8 Comments
May
06
2012
Controlling Ascites

Yes, I know that "When are you due?" can be extremely painful for anyone who is not pregnant... But to a 30 year old woman who can't have any more children, and has Ascites from a failing liver, it is heartbreaking. Of all of the symptoms I had, from constant bleeds, horrible itching, memory loss, daily vomiting... All of them, the ascites was the one that played with my emotions the most. One time, I sat in front of my mirror for almost an hour staring at my pregnant looking belly imagining "if only..." But really it was something more serious, a symptom of cirrhosis... fluid collecting outside of my organs (in the Peritoneal cavity). At first you really don't notice, but after a little while the pressure builds, the fluid begins to press on your organs, it becomes hard to breathe (and walk) and you can just feel all that fluid sloshing around in there. Ascites is a symptom of an underlying problem, so the only way to truly get rid of it is to fix the cause. In a majority of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Liver Disease Tagged With: , ,

Gina’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

by 14 Comments
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...]

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

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

by 26 Comments
Feb
20
2012
Rachel's Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer) LR

So, one night back in April last year, I was so tired that I fell asleep with my clothes on. I woke up around 4am having some pain in my left breast because the underwire from my bra was poking into it. I started feeling the red spot on my breast and began to panic cause I felt a lump. Two days later, my journey to combat cancer started. I went from feeling a lump, to having a mammogram, to having a biopsy - in a matter of about a week. I fell on my kitchen floor crying when I was told over the phone that I had breast cancer. Next up was a lumpectomy and 33 tiring treatments of radiation. My world got turned upside down. But here I am… cancer free!! I fought like a girl! I fought for me and fought for the memory of my mom who passed away twenty years ago from cancer. Cancer survivor and proud of it!! Rachel Submitted 9-14-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not … [Read more...]

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

Ebony’s Fight Like a Girl Story Part 2 (Chronic Pain)

by 13 Comments
Feb
20
2012
Ebony's Fight Like a Girl Story Part 2 (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

So, I have been here before…sharing my FLAGC story about RA. Since that post, my story has changed. I received a phone call from my doctor that left me in tears, then ready to press on. As of today, I don't have answers as far as my diagnosis, but I'm finding my way back from square one! The following is from a blog post in September; I decided to continue sharing my story so others won't be discouraged by their present situation. " I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders." This was one of the first quotes I clung to when I first made the choice to speak up about my illness. I knew it was going to take a lot of God's guidance, faith, and guts. I have reached many cross roads over the last year: raising my son, getting laid off, losing insurance, my condition getting worse, finding "the right doctor", trying to uncover the best pain management, looking for work, applying for this and that while keeping a smile on my face and saying "I'm okay". This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chronic Pain Stories, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Stories Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cheryl’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

by 4 Comments
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...]

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

Kerry’s Fight Like a Girl Story (RSD aka Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy)

by 15 Comments
Jan
22
2012
Kerry's Story (RSD) LR

In 2000, when I was 13 years old, I was running pre-season for cross country…my FIRST year in high school!!! During a practice, I twisted my ankle, but finished the practice before finding the athletic trainer and talking with him. He told me to get an x-ray and stay off of it for a week before trying to run again. The x-ray came back negative and I began high school on crutches, just as I was told. A week later, the pain was worse, NOT better. I went through a series of MRIs, more x-rays, bone scans, etc. Nothing was coming back with any reason as to why I was in pain. I now felt as though I was on fire, my foot was swollen, and quite discolored. After about 3 months, my pediatrician ran out of ideas and sent me to a pediatric orthopedic about an hour away. After talking with me, my mom, and looking at my foot for about 5 minutes, he diagnosed me: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. That’s quite a mouthful of jumbled words with ZERO meaning for someone so young. He explained it to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: RSD Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

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...]

Filed Under: Osteoarthritis Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

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

by 11 Comments
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...]

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

Eden’s Fight Like a Girl Story (PCOS, Cervical Dysplasia, HPV)

by 6 Comments
Dec
20
2011
Teal Ribbon PCOS Story

I never thought of my experiences as a "story". But then I was introduced to "Fight Like a Girl Club" and started reading all of your stories. I have been touched by so many and encouraged as well. There are stories in here that are proof that I'm not alone and while some days my struggles seem so small and obsolete, they are still there and a reminder that health should not be taken for granted. Let's start during the summer between fourth and fifth grade. That's when my period started. I knew what to expect. My older cousins had explained to me their experiences "growing up" - but I didn't have any other friends or cousins my age going through the same thing. After about a year and a half, my periods were so severe I would miss school or have to go home early. I was so embarrassed. Perfect attendance was important to me and this was messing everything up, even my grades. Eventually, as a teenager, I noticed myself having chronic dull pains where my menstrual cramps would … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cervical Dysplasia Stories, PCOS Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

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...]

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