PreciousPearl (Rita) - Hostess | Hystersisters Article

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PreciousPearl (Rita) - Hostess

PreciousPearl (Rita) - Hostess

Date : 11-21-2004 - 09:42 AM - Readers : 2706

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Hello Dear Sisters,
My name is Rita and I live in beautiful Montana. I'm a stay at home wife and mother of 5. My life is full with caring for my family. In my spare time I lead a Bible study at our church. I love to sew, crochet, cross-stitch and read whenever I get a chance.

The issues that led me to finding Hystersisters began in Jan. of 2004. I was 51 years old and knew that my time was coming for ‘the change’. I expected it to be no big deal, since my mother had had no problems. This didn’t prove to be true. I missed a couple of periods and then came the uncontrollable bleeding. I was against having a hysterectomy and so began my search for another answer to the problem.

My doctor had me try birth control pills first. They slowed it down for a couple of days and then it was back in full force. I was becoming anemic and decided to try a D&C. My Dr said that many women at my age are set right by them, and besides I couldn’t be that far from menopause-right? This was Feb. 2004. Well, it did slow it down, but in a few weeks it was worse than ever. At this point I researched and decided to do an endometrial ablation. This was May 2004. After that I continued to bleed at least 20 days out of every month. I waited to see if it would stop on it's own. In Aug. of 2004 I finally realized that it wasn’t going to and I had run out of options.

In Aug. of 2004 I found myself physically and emotionally drained. I was anemic and really struggling with the decision I had to make. It was very hard for me. When my doctor asked me if I had had enough, I Knew I had and that I needed to go ahead with the hysterectomy.

I had heard about Hystersisters on another message board and decided I needed to check it out. I lurked, like many, reading and thinking before I made my first teary-eyed post asking for the information and support I so desperately needed. I had no idea the blessing and the care I would receive here. It was exactly what I needed. It was amazing how it really felt as if someone had reached out over cyberspace and given me a hug.

My first surgery was scheduled for Aug. 30, 2004 and was canceled by the anesthesiologist just 10 minutes before they were to take me into the OR because my potassium levels were too low. I had to wait two more weeks. Because of this additional time, I also found the answers to many questions my doctor hadn't had time to explain to me. Because of HS I made the decision to keep my ovaries. Without the benefit of more information I would have just had them removed because that was what the doctor suggested.

Hystersisters made that time so much easier. Because of the great support and additional time to read and get more of my questions answered I went in the second time with a peace I hadn’t had before.

I'm grateful for the information,encouragement and support I've received from the wonderful women who have shared with me. It's an honor to be able to give back some of what I've received.

Love and hugs to you all, Preciouspearl

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