ARTICLE
Adenomy-WHO-sis?
With Mother’s Day coming up, I would like to share the incredible story of how my mother saved my uterus…
I probably didn’t have the worst menstrual cramps that have ever crippled a girl, nor did I pass out every month with extreme anaemia, but I was most definitely not far from that. I just had to learn how to deal with the agony of menstruation and ovulation and still try to get through each day. Unfortunately, the only painkillers that made any difference rendered me catatonic for hours afterwards. Basically, I enjoyed about one week in a month of being relatively comfortable.
At 24 I fell pregnant and oh, how blissful those nine months were without the monthly misery.
After many hours of active labour, I was informed it was time to push. I was in disbelief, because after years of agonising menstrual cramps, I thought labour pains would surely kill me, but they were a piece of cake in comparison.
Sadly, breastfeeding only kept my menses away for 3 months, after which more years of suffering followed. I saw one gynaecologist after another but was never properly examined and they all said the same thing – get a hormonal IUD or take a contraceptive pill. Both of which I was not keen on doing up to that point.
I opted for the pill and tried a few different kinds with no success, before I stumbled upon the one that worked for me… It took 6 months before I noticed any difference, but if I strayed only one hour from the exact 24-hour gap between tablets, the cramps would immediately start. Also, I had to skip the placebo tablets for years to reap any real benefits. But after another check-up, I was told that I’d have to give my uterus a chance to complete a few cycles.
Six months later I was back to square one. With tears in my eyes, I desperately started considering a hysterectomy. But there was another hurdle to jump: I had to be off the pill for 6 months so that all my problems can properly manifest again and then return for another sonar. Six more months of moods, fatigue, bloating, insane skin problems, exploding ovaries and crippling pain finally led to a proper diagnosis – a severely enlarged uterus riddled with adenomyosis.
We’ve all heard of endometriosis and PCOS, but I’ve never even heard of adenomyosis before that day. It’s very similar to endometriosis (where the uterine lining we shed every month grows outside of the uterus as well) but with adenomyosis, this tissue grows inside the muscle layer of the uterus.
Even though I was very relieved to have a diagnosis after almost two decades, the prognosis was bleak. During the same consultation the gynaecologist suggested a hysterectomy and I eagerly accepted.
I went home with joy in my heart, completed the paperwork and asked my mother to sign as a witness. After all, she knew my struggles better than anyone, and she would have to assist during my recovery period. To my surprise, she gently refused. She asked me to try a different route before taking such a drastic step at the age of 34. She had looked at my blood test results and went on a fact-finding mission, which convinced her there was still hope.
The first thing I had to do was to quit smoking. It really wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. Then I needed to address any nutritional deficiencies. In my case I had to take iron and vitamin B supplements, as well as micro minerals and L-Tyrosine for my thyroid. My thyroid function was normal, but very close to low, and, as it turns out, this plays a crucial role in reproductive health.
I learnt about clean eating and made exercising a priority. I also had to keep a journal in which I had to write messages to my uterus, because, well, because my mother said so.
Most importantly, I must emphasise reducing stress in your life! I know it’s hard, but we weren’t meant to live such stressful lives and then expect our bodies not to suffer the consequences.
Within weeks I started noticing a difference. My PMS improved and the menstrual cramps were much more bearable. I slept better and just felt more positive about myself.
Basically, it boiled down to putting myself first for a change. The benefits of that is life changing! And life giving… If it wasn’t for my mother, I would not have had the privilege of being pregnant again.
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