Jan 11 -13, 2017. I had my first menstruation of the year and I felt so relieved that it lasted for only 2 days. I vividly remember it because it was a Friday and I went to Wal-Mart, I felt this jelly-like blood that was not settling in my pads, so I hurriedly went home to change. The following day, I didn't have the bleeding anymore.
(But even after my menstrual period, I had to wear panty liner or pads for light days because of this very watery discharge I have since, maybe the last quarter of 2016. But prior to that, I have been noticing spotting between periods since May of 2015, because I remember, I didn't go swimming that summer because I was scared I would stain the water in the pool, and that continued to this date.)
Jan. 20, 2017. I was surprised that I had my period back after a few days of having them. Okey, I took it like any ordinary menstruating day. It started to concern me when my bleeding didn't seem to wane after the fifth day or so, because my normal period would last for 7 days and on the fifth day, I would be wearing just pantyliner already. So I set an appointment with a walk-in clinic at Wal-Mart for Feb.1.
Jan. 31, 2017. I was in the shower and I was bleeding and passing big blood clots!!! It took me long time to get myself cleaned until I decided to jump off and just wear overnight pads. I was on the skytrain when I felt a warm, gushing sensation and my pants started to feel wet. I realized it was blood when I got off the skytrain and looked at my seat soaked in blood!!! It was a good thing, I didn't have a seatmate or anyone seated next to me. I ran to Safeway toilet and changed my pad. My underwear and pants were all soaked and my pad was draining in blood! As soon as I got to work, I changed into an adult diaper. I felt so sick and cramped in my tummy. I had to lie down on the sofa and rest.
Feb. 1, 2017. I saw Dr. Mei Loke at Viva Care Clinic and she prescribed Tranexamic acid 3 tabs TID x 5 days with the instruction that I have to come back to the clinic should the bleeding continue. She also ordered pelvic ultrasound. During the days I was taking TA until I consumed all, the bleeding didn't stop. I had to wear adult diaper because of profuse bleeding. I made another appointment at Wal-Mart. This time, my US was scheduled for next Friday.
Feb. 9, 2017. I saw Dr. Colleen Dy, an OBGyne. She took me on the stir-up, did IE, endometrial biopsy and ordered blood test all the same time. I was so much in pain but I was able to accomplish all. Dr. Dy was so concerned that she wanted me check myself in the ER right away because I was bleeding in her office, but I protested I was okey. She had me cancel my prior US sked and I should have it at Surrey Memorial. Her clinic made the appointment for me. I walked to the lab across the street and I was huffing and panting. The thought of bleeding was concerning me so all I wanted was to get home, get changed and rest. Passing out and fainting never ever occurred to me because I had always believed I was perfectly fine, that my only problem was the abnormal bleeding. So I got home and checked if I lost so much blood, lo and behold! I only had some staining and it was not even a bloody discharge. I wondered how it happened...
Feb. 10. 2017. I got a call from Dr. Dy asking how I was doing, I answered I was alright. Few minutes later, Surrey Memorial called that US was scheduled for me at 1 PM that day. How convenient! I called in sick so the timing was perfect. I went to the clinic and had my pelvic US. There was some bleeding but it didn't cause me to panic.
Feb. 14. I had MRI Dr. Dy pre-booked for me at Jim Pattison
RE: Annick Pina, VGH Women's Clinic, Feb. 27, 2017
March 24, 2017 Fibristal started
(Created March 12, 2017, 11:43:13 PM)
(Modified April 3, 2017, 2:41:48 AM)
.... Continuation, written today on December 18, 2017 after US at Jim Pattison
RE: Annick Pina (or Piren?).
Dr. Dy referred me to the Women's Clinic at the VGH and I saw Dr. Pina on one snowy day in February. She advised me that I undergo Total hysterectomy bilateral salphingo-ooporectomy because it COULD BE cancer. That's right from her mouth!!! I AGREED TO THE SURGERY. She did IE and rectal exam with another doctor, Dr. Carey. I signed the consent form and she had me booked for the surgery on April 4. However, I asked if there was any alternative treatment aside from surgery and she said, there's none. She added that those who took meds came back to the clinic to have the surgery done because the drug didn't work. So okey. I did pre-op ECG on the same day, the following day I went back for the blood test and chest Xray. I had everything ready in the bag (based on the booklet she handed to me) but this time I had not told my family about it. I just informed them I needed my sister to be off from work first week of April, which she did. My first impression of the doctor upon seeing her, she was way too beautiful for a doctor. She was a looker and quietly in my mind, I immediately questioned her credibility. When I got home, I lurked on the internet for her name. She was an intern at UBC. Maybe after a week or so, I had conflicting thoughts about the surgery. I found it terribly troubling to advise an invasive and aggressive surgery for an unconfirmed sarcoma. That didn't sit well with me and these were my burning questions:
Question 1. Why didn't I have tests to check for cancer cells so the doctor could advise surgery?
Question 2. What was my diagnosis? The doctor said, "it could be ---" That's very careless!
Question 3. Why would she not prescribe the 'not successful drug' to me? Who knows, it would work on me?
March 23 (or March 16), 2017. I decided against the surgery so I went to Dr. Dy's clinic and told her I was not ready for the surgery. She advised me that I give VGH a call and hold off the surgery. I asked for fibroids medication and that I should take the chance if it worked for me or not. I was prescribed Fibristal so I took the first course of Fibristal starting March 24 for 3 months. While taking Fibristal, I had visits to Dr. Dy's office for follow-ups. I also took some time off at my full-time job and worked less hours at my part-time job and took a vacation to Europe and cruise to the Western Mediterranean.
July 27, 2017. I had Ultrasound at Jim Pattison and it was also the first day of my menstruation after the first cycle of Fibristal. Abdominal cramp was unbearably painful but I still went to work at Edmonds and Madison. I would lie down on the sofa to try to relieve the pain but to no avail. The pain was consistent all through the day and night and Midol didn't help at all!!! (It was the very first time in my life to take Midol.) And I was bleeding profusely, too!!! Thursday and Friday went by and Saturday I made up my mind to call my sister to bring me to the hospital.
July 29, 2017. I was brought to Peace Arch and I stayed there until Monday morning. My hospital stay was purely to monitor me. I wasted my time and my blood for nothing!!!
August 1, 2017. Called 911 in the morning due to severe abdominal pain and bleeding. I checked-in at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Blood transfusion upon admission due to severe anemia.
August. 4, 2017. Embolization at the Radiology Dept.
August. 5, 2017. Discharged from the hospital after lunch time by Dr. Tierney.
August 5, 2017. Called 911 at 920 PM due to incapacitating pain. Admitted at SMH in less than 12 hours after being discharged!!!
August 8, 2017. Myomectomy by Dr. Bakhet and Dr. Tierney
Aug. 10, 2017. Finally HOME!!! Discharged by Dr. Bakhet. YEHEY!!! At last, I am smiling again!!!
