My History - 12/15/14

My History - 12/15/14

I'm a 29 year old woman who just moved from Alaska to Las Vegas in May of 2014. I have a variety of chronic autoimmune diseases. Here's my history: 

When I was 12, I was diagnosed with chronic plaque psoriasis. This isn't the kind of dry skin that goes away with any sort of lotion or medication. This is there. Always there. At my worst, I was 95% covered by the scales and dry skin. My face, my feet, my fingers and hands. Nearly EVERY inch of my body was covered in psoriasis. It was miserable, and for many years, I gave up on trying new medications. I was sick of being a guinea pig.

When I was 22, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Again, miserable. Every single joint in my body pops, crack, creaks, strains and stiffens. There are days I cannot walk. I can't wear "regular" shoes because of the bones and joints in my feet.

When I was 28, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Endometriosis. This is the big one. I was having issues with every sort of birth control I've ever had. Finally, my primary care doctor recommended sterilization (I've only been asking since I was 14!). I have never wanted children. Never wanted to pass along to another generation. Primary care doctor wrote the surgeon referral immediately. Surgeon agreed to tubal ligation immediately. I was scheduled for surgery less than a month later.

Tubal ligation surgery went well. Within 15 minutes of waking up from anesthesia, Dr. D (surgeon) tells me "the news". During my tubal, she found a lot (A LOT) of endometriosis lesions on my uterus, tubes, cervix, ovaries, and potentially even other places. Dr. D asks me if I would like to schedule another surgery after I recover for a total hysterectomy. 

Less than two months later, there I was... 28 years old, having a total hysterectomy that will send me into menopause. 

Little did I know, that this endometriosis diagnosis will answer so many other questions about my life and the pain I've experienced every day, aside from the arthritis.