Reminded of the Past - A journal story

I read something that reminded me of what I went through years ago. Pain/surgeries/and no answers until the day I almost died. During a ten year span, I had 14 surgeries; mostly laps. They would go in and drain and/or remove cysts and fibroids that were painful. This finally ended with the diagnosis of endometriosis and and emergency hysterectomy in 1994.I had 12 cysts  on my left ovary and 9 on the right. Here's what happened.

I was under a great deal of stress. I had to move back to Vancouver,Wa. and leave Palm, Springs because I was being sued for custody of my oldest son. I had a great life. I worked as a controller of a chain of mexican restaurants. I also sang at the local clubs with a back-up band. I had my own talk show on a local radio station and had just gotten a call back for the tv show that i auditioned for. It was gonna be on fox. I would of had a male co-host and it would've been awesome. On top of that...my manager had talked Calvin Wonder and Ray Charles to come hear me sing. My manager made me sing over the phone to Calvin. He and Ray came out to Palm Springs to watch me perform. They were interested in making a project out of me. The offers were ALL within a matter of days. Then I get the phone call from my lawyer that I have to move back to Vancouver to fight for my son. You see I had let my husband have temporary custody for the summer while I went to Palm Springs to further my career. BIG mistake! He used it against me. Imagine that!

So I packed up what I could and immediately moved back to Vancouver, I took a job with Red Lion as a promotion's coordinator so I would have something to show the courts. Within 2 weeks, I was in court. That day was horrific. I was bleeding soo bad that my mother was running up and down the floors of the court house gathering tampons and pads for me. I remember being on the stand and my ex's lawyer drilling me. I started to feel week and evidently my face went white. My mother stood up and said, "Your honor!". The judge threw everyone out of the court room except for me and my ex. He then said that he was giving him 60% custody and giving me a year to get my health issues in order. That it was clear to him that I was very sick and needed to get that taken care of.

With all of that said and done. I had lunch with my ex and his wife as a flag waving gesture. Then I drove myself back to work at Llyod Center Red Lion.  I walked into the building and started to feel woozy. Then I had this sensation that I was loosing more blood. I went downstairs to the employee bathroom made it to a stall and woosh! It looked like a bucket of blood everywhere. I didn't realize I had said, "Oh my God!". The gal in charge of human resources just happened to be in the bathroom at the time. She saw the blood kinda yelped and ran out. She came running back in a couple of seconds later asking me if I needed anything and was I ok. I told her that I was ok.  Could she get me a couple of towels and a change of clothes. She told me she had called the ambulance and I was soo embarrassed I told her to cancel that I would take myself to the hospital after I told my boss.

She helped me clean up the mess and I immediately went to my boss's office. He could see I was not doing well and had already received a call from HR that I was coming and why. He stood up and said his secretary was gonna drive me to the hospital. I graciously declined and told him I was more concerned about losing my job as I had only been there 2 weeks. He told me my job was secure and to go to the hospital.

I made it to my car and drove all the way to the Vancouver bridge and started getting really woozy. I saw the Chevron and pulled in. I honked at the attendant and told him to call 911. Then I guess I passed out on my steering wheel with the horn honking. What a sight for the attendant!  Poor guy!

I remember waking once in the ambulance and hearing the fear in the paramedic's voice. He said, "Her systolic is 80 and dropping!" Then I passed out again and woke up the next day with my doctor standing over me. She told me that I was lucky to be alive. A minute later and I'd be dead. She had performed a total emergency hysterectomy.

Lucky for me...I was able to give birth to 2 healthy sons. I had to stay bed ridden/hospitalized throughout most of the pregnancies. But boy was it worth it!  :)

[margypops]

another story of your life .. wow what a lot you have been through mote than most of us in a life time ...well done for surviving to tell the tale..you are a survivor and a success ...

[bluebird777]

thank you  :-)

[crackerjack4u2]

Theresa, thanks for sharing your story with us. You have been through so much and it does definitely sound like you are lucky to be here today, but I am certainly glad you are.  
Our stories regarding the endometriosis, cysts, multiple laps, and hysterectomy are very similar.  So I know first hand, that you went through many years of pain and suffering before your hysterectomy was done.    

Also, if you don't mind,  Please remind me to never ever follow you singing Karaoke, or shot pool against you because I bite at both and you're an ole Pro. :-). LOL

Huggs and God Bless Brenda    

[bluebird777]

thank you!

LOL! You crack me up!  still laughing!   :-)