Health Issues: Facing my own personal SHTF

First, I have to THANK everyone who has contacted me to find out just where the heck I've been! For a number of months now, I been laying low a bit and for good reason: My Health.

My family and many of my friends are "in the know", but I felt that it might also be encouraging to some of my readers to share with you this information. My hope is that my experience might help some of you ladies and also for you men, who have ladies in your lives too.

Where it all Began...

Out of ...pretty much the blue, I began having a lot of pain in my lower back and stomach. Then I began having excessive bleeding (sorry guys) for a few days. I tried to remain calm and even went to work despite the situation. One day after only a couple of hours of being at work, I was in so much pain that I had to immediately leave and go to the doctor. After a few tests, the doctor walked in, sat down and told me I was having a miscarriage. My reaction? Shock! After 37 years of infertility, a miscarriage? ...I was devastated to say the least.

I was given medicine, put on bed rest for a few days and was told I needed a follow-up to make sure everything was okay. Twelve days later I went to my appointment and had to do a few tests.

A New Issue...

After completing many rounds of tests the doctor said everything looked fine, but that if any issues came up they would call within a week. Nearly a week had went by and since I hadn't heard anything, I began to feel relieved. I shouldn't have celebrated so soon because on the seventh day, I received the call. The results of my pap came back showing serious abnormalities in my cervix. I could definitely hear it in the doctors voice, she was very concerned. Apparently, this was serious....

One of the most influencing factors that concerned her, is that cancer runs through my mother's side of the family. She explained that my results showed that I have something called ASC-H, which is atypical squamous cells, that cannot exclude HSIL which is a high-grade type of squamous intraepithelial lesion. What does all this mean? Basically from what she found, I have 14 indicators that point to the possibility of having cervical cancer.

The next step is to have a procedure done called a colposcopy. They go in and take a biopsy of the cervix, and then we wait. Did I mention, I hate waiting! Due to the fact that I am one of the millions of people without insurance, I've already had to wait months to have this procedure done. Thankfully though, the company I work for was just bought out and we will now be offered insurance beginning February 1st. You already know I did not waste any time, I scheduled mine for February 3rd!

 But until then, we wait...

What I want you to do, Now....

Ladies and Gentlemen (with ladies): I can not stress to you enough the importance, of making sure you are having your womanly check-ups done regularly. Please, DO NOT be like me. I ignored having it done for ten years, ten years people! I could have dropped dead and no one would have known why. Don't do that to your family and those you love. You are loved and needed, I mean it.

Are they a bit uncomfortable? Yes.  Is it even a little embarrassing? Yes.

But more importantly, it Can SAVE your life!

I want you all to learn from my mistake and please do not wait. Get checked out. If you don't have insurance, no problem. You can be seen at your local health department, usually without any out of pocket expense. If you have young ladies in your life, daughters, granddaughters, nieces..etc, please encourage them to get examined regularly.

My Hope...

My hope, of course, is that this turns out to be simply nothing and everything is fine. However, I do know that I will never take getting regular health exams for granted again. Whatever will come, I will make it through and probably post about it for anyone interested in following along. In the meantime, please heed my warnings though and do not take your own health for granted either.

Much Love,

Sharon