My name is Trish. I was born and raised in North Carolina, but spent many years in Dallas, Texas and on Kauai, Hawaii. I worked in the medical field as a Certified Ophthalmic Technician for 12 years, and also ran a small website design business, but gave this up in July 2002 to return to North Carolina to be close to my folks again. My dear Mom’s health was failing and I felt it most important to be with family.
Nowadays, I spend my time taking care of dear Dad and also working on a nonfiction book. Although I was never able to have children of my own, my fiance has two young teenagers, a boy and a girl, that I love with all my heart. I am also a huge cat lover, and currently have three kitties (or should I say they have me?) I have three older brothers and one older sister, and greatly look forward to the precious time we spend together.
My medical history includes rheumatoid arthritis since age 16, hypothyroidism since age 17, grand mal seizures since 2000, and bilateral pulmonary emboli in 2002. While no clear etiology was determined for the PE’s, it is thought that most of my health issues are autoimmune related.
In February of 2008, a routine mammogram detected suspicious microcalcifications in both breasts, with the right breast being a BIRAD 4. Spot compressions determined that the left breast microcalcifications were of “tea cupping” nature and therefore only needed to be rechecked every six months. I underwent an excisional biopsy of the right breast in March of 2008, which was thankfully benign. The follow-up mammo in September 2008 revealed a new area of concern in the right breast, but it will be re-checked in 4-6 months.
My gyn issues did not flare up until I started having recurrent, suspicious ovarian cystic masses in early 2006. Oddly, my pain always presented as severe low back pain rather than pelvic pain, and I could always tell when a large cyst was forming/rupturing. Due to the suspicious nature of these hemorrhagic cysts, I was referred out to a gyn oncology surgeon--she chose to take a “wait and see” approach at first, and in time, the body did reabsorb them on its own. After much persistent pain in the lower back and painful periods, however, she did do an exploratory laparoscopy in September of 2007 to examine the ovaries and look for endometriosis. At that time everything appeared okay and I was referred back to my regular gyn.
My menstrual cycle after that time took a turn for the worse, as I had heavy, painful cycles lasting 17-20 days. My Coumadin was immediately discontinued in light of this, but did not resolve the problem. I always felt like I had a swollen, bloated abdomen, and in the few months prior to my hysterectomy I began having two cycles each month, with only about three days relief in between. My gyn and I had discussed possible adenomyosis, and the need for a hysterectomy, but it all got scheduled rather quickly when I presented in his office in late June of 2008 with some pretty bad right quadrant pain. He suspected that my appendix was involved, and I was scheduled for and had surgery within a week. I had a LSH/BSO with appendectomy on 6-24-08 at age 43. My appendix was indeed adhered to my pelvic region, as were the intestines on my left side. My pathology report did confirm adenomyosis. My recovery went fairly well, save one internal infection which required hospitalization at the two week mark. I am unable to take HRT due to the history of pulmonary emboli.
I found HysterSisters in that week before my surgery, and am ever-so grateful to the online friend who referred me here. I received so much info, support and encouragement throughout my journey both pre-and post-op. I would have been completely lost without everyone here! Once I began feeling better, I really felt compelled to spend time posting in the pre-op forum, as I truly relate to all of the wonderful ladies going through the same fears and anxieties that I did, and asking the kind of questions that I did also. I was absolutely delighted and honored when Kathy extended an invitation for me to become a hostess in that forum. I also continue to find support myself in the Desert Oasis and Breast Health forums, among others.
This website is a gift for all of us seeking info, support, hugs unlimited, and the encouragement that we need to calm our fears and nurture us throughout our journey. I feel strongly that HysterSisters is dedicated not only to nurturing our physical health, but our emotional well-being. It is an open, yet intimate, environment to address all of our concerns that we may not be able to discuss elsewhere. I cannot begin to thank Kathy enough for creating the site, and also everyone involved for continuing to develop it day by day, year by year, into the amazing resource that it has become.
Please take care, and I wish you all the very best
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(or should I say they have me?) 
I have three older brothers and one older sister, and greatly look forward to the precious time we spend together.
