If Only I Knew

By tinaj

2 min read

After reading this story on hysterectomy and menopause...I realized now how lupus affected my uterus and I nearly lost my son back in 1984. I was told not to get pregnant after my daughter in 1981 but I wanted one more...actually 2 more but was blessed to have my son.

Hysterectomy

After his birth I had alot of bleeding during my periods...so much so I became anemic and doctors became concerned. At this time I knew I had lupus but no doctors would hear me much less listen so was never tested. By December 1984 I was told I needed a hysterectomy which broke my heart...so I got a 2nd opinion...he too said yes a hysterectomy was needed. So I was scheduled in March of 1985 just before my son's first birthday. I couldn't believe how good I felt afterward. Even today at 67 I still take hormones but it took many years to find the one best for me.

Still to this day I would have liked one more baby but it's long past. But I truly had no idea the extra pain I went thru for years and the heavy flow for nearly 10 years was related to lupus...but now seeing how back then lupus had been biting little by little pieces of me away. I wish more had been known and doctors had listened to me.

Lupus diagnosis

I wasn't officially diagnosed until more complications happened that my PCP sent me to a Rheumatologist in late 1993...on top of lupus were Sjogren's, fibro, RA, Raynard's, and IBS-C...now I understood why I was suffering in silence for too many years. But to make things even more exciting...having issues they thought was Sjogren's turned out to be MS! I was in a state of complete shock for nearly a year before I snapped out of it.

I'm a fighter...always have been even as a small child...I will continue to fight each and every battle...and with God's mighty hand fighting beside me...I will win each battle until the Lord takes me home.

Never Give Up...Never...

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Ava Meena Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="tinaj" user-id="2045322"/> Thank for sharing with us, I can only imagine how hard it must have been to have lupus impact your pregnancies and limit you from having more children that you ached for. It must have been especially frustrating since the conditions may not have been fully understood at that time - medical care has come a long way but there are so many women who needed it decades ago. I'm glad that <inline-mention username="Racquel H. Dozier" user-id="2041433"/>'s story could help you process what you went through. It seems like lupus took a great deal from you and caused so much suffering. Unfortunately too many of us can relate to issues like that. But I am glad that you did have pain relief after your hysterectomy, as heartbreaking as it must have been to go through that unwanted surgery. It's unfair that it took you a long time to get a diagnosis, to get doctors to listen to you, and of course it must have been shocking to accumulate many diagnoses after that. In case you haven't seen them, we also have communities for RA, IBS, and MS - I can link them for you if haven't joined them or if that would be helpful. I love to hear about your positivity, fighting spirit, and great faith. Thank you again for sharing with us, and I'm wishing you the very best. -Ava, <a href='http://lupus.net' target='_blank'>lupus.net</a> team member.
Racquel H. Dozier Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="tinaj" user-id="2045322"/> Thanks for sharing. Your story so resonates with me. I too wanted more children but that was not in the cards for me. Lupus has really changed all plans and I am just getting okay with it. My son is now 23 and I can not see myself with anything else other than how it turned out. Hindsight is 20/20 I can see how you looked back and can really pinpoint when things may have started. It's so important to be able to see that. Your positivity is infectious and I agree with you Never Give Up! Thanks for sharing your story. ~Racquel~ <a href='http://lupus.net' target='_blank'>lupus.net</a> team member
1. tinaj Member
 Thanks Racquel, Sorry for the late response. But things just went downhill just before my son's birth n almost had a C-section but thank God, I delivered him. But no more babies. But I'm enjoying grandbabies n great grands...lol Take care

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