My name is Rita and I live in Southern California with my husband, Kevin. We are both originally from Upstate New York, where we married in 1985.
We currently live with our 4 cats; Sophie, Smudge, Peace and Quiet (the last two are twins and we found them in our backyard when they were 2 weeks old), and our two cockateils named Peep and Tweety.
I enjoy doing artwork, mostly photography, and scrapbooking (a more recent hobby). I have a big heart for animals and children. I'm very interested in learning about the deaf culture and learning ASL. I'm working towards my certification as an ASL interpreter.
I have been unable to have biological children (a history of anorexia and endo problems prevented me from becoming pregnant) so we’ve begun the process of adoption through the LA county fost/adopt program. We’d like to adopt a child who is deaf.
My journey to hystersisters began years ago…I have always had painful periods since the age of 13, along with heavy bleeding, but each time I mentioned it to a GYN I was told it was normal for periods to be a little painful. They simply didn’t understand what I was dealing with.
My endo problems were masked by an eating disorder. At the age of 17 I started with Bulimia and in time progressed into Anorexia. Because of the Anorexia my periods stopped and any pain I experienced would be dismissed as related to the Anorexia and/or the laxative abuse. I would purposely starve myself to avoid having periods because they were so painful and heavy if I gained enough weight to have them. This is one of many reasons I had for living a life of starvation.
I am proud to say that I have been fully recovered from the eating disorders that I had for 20 years. I’ve been recovered since 2001, during the time of the death of my beloved Daddy from Pancreatic cancer (see note below). It took a lot of hard work and determination, but I survived. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and it nearly killed me, but I came out of it a stronger, more compassionate person.
It wasn’t until I experienced the horrendous pain of having a cyst rupture that I found out about the endo. The doctor in the ER was able to give a quick diagnosis and I had my first laparoscopy a few days later. The GYN surgeon said I had stage 4 endo and it was one of the worst cases he’d seen. As bad as it felt to find out something was wrong, it also helped me understand the years of pain that went undiagnosed for so long. I finally knew what I was dealing with and could educate myself to be proactive in my recovery.
The following year I had a laporotomy because the right ovary was still causing problems and the endo would not cease. Following this lap I was put on BC pills that caused me to get as close to a mental breakdown as I could be without being put in an institution. It was truly that horrific! I went without the BC pills and because of a neck injury shortly thereafter I coped with the pain by using an endless supply of vicodin.
When the vicodin would not longer work and I knew I could not even try to conceive while taking medications (how would I live 9 months without pain meds?) I found another GYN to help me. She insisted that I use BC pills or Lupron (no Lupron for me thank you…I need to be able to stop the hormones at any moment!). I tried the BC pills and ended up in more pain as well as an emotional mess. My attempts at controlling the endo only made my life more unbearable.
So…I asked for another GYN referral and found my current doctor. He talked with me and helped me decide on a treatment plan. I went home feeling confident that I could finally get the help I needed. I did not want to try another laparoscopy because the first 2 did not offer me any relief from the pain of endo and I knew I could no longer follow up with any hormonal treatments to keep the endo from returning. After careful consideration, I returned a week later to the doctor’s office and requested the hyster…and a friend on an endo support board I was directed me to hystersisters!
My recovery from my hyster (SAH) has been challenging. Immediately after being discharged from my hyster I was readmitted to the hospital for a blocked bowel. After 3 more days of treatment I went home and felt much better. My recovery went well for some time, but then sometime around the 5-month mark I started developing severe pain whenever I ate anything. I’m currently following up with a GI doctor to find out what the cause is and how to fix the problem. I’m still thankful for my hyster because it did relieve me of the relentless pain of the endo, adeno and fibroids. I wasn’t prepared for this new complication…but with the support I have here at hystersisters I know I will do just fine.
I cannot begin to tell you how hystersisters helped me through a horrible time in my life. I was devastated by the pain I had endured and terrified of the surgery I was facing. I always feel that knowledge is power, and hystersisters gave me the knowledge I needed to find the best possible solution for me, along with all the love and support a girl could ask for.
Hystersisters kept me sane during a very difficult time. I will be forever grateful for the support and friendships I’ve found here!
You never know what challenges life will give you, and you never know what blessings will come from those challenges. Although I have had a long, hard struggle in dealing with the endo and now some post-op complications, I am forever grateful for the chance to meet each and every wonderful woman I’ve met here at hystersisters.
Rita
*Note: I work with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network because both my Father and my Uncle died from pancreatic cancer in 2001. I'm working hard, with a team of others, to raise awareness of this deadly cancer and I'm always available to answer questions and to guide people towards the latest information regarding current clinical trials and treatment approaches. There is currently no cure for this cancer (the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 3-6 months) and the number of people dying each year is increasing.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and is symbolized by the wearing of a purple ribbon.
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