Wake me up when October ends

What a month. I am glad it's almost over - but I also have a lot to be thankful for.

It's been a long time since I've updated this blog, but I hope to keep it somewhat timely. A lot of people have been asking how I am so I thought this would be the best way to explain what's been going on for the past month or so.

On September 30 - one day after our 3rd anniversary - Michael and I were riding ATVs up north. He was on the three-wheeler and I was on the quad. We just started our ride through the trails when my quad broke down. So I climbed onto the back of Michael's three-wheeler and we headed back to his place to get tow straps. On our way back to pick up the quad, we dropped the tow strap in a ditch. As we were looking for it, Michael headed up a steep hill and realized we didn't have enough power to make it up. I heard him say "jump off" and he was gone. I tried to jump off but the ATV was already tipping backwards down the ditch. I landed on my stomach and the vehicle rolled onto my back.

As it was happening, I had a feeling there would be serious injuries. My back hurt and I was having a hard time breathing. Michael went to his place to get the car and I laid in the ditch waiting for him to come back. Every time I tried to move, the pain ripped through my back, side, shoulder... I finally managed to sit up. Michael helped me to the car and I rested on the bed for about a half hour. Eventually I was able to walk around and sit in a chair - but the pain in my chest was the most mysterious, since the three-wheeler's handlebars landed on the right side of my back, just below the shoulder blades.

We went for a drive to the fish ladder and I tried to enjoy some "pure Michigan" in the fall, but every bump in the road made me wince. Michael went fishing that evening by himself. I tried to go out for dinner but we had to turn around because I was in too much pain. I went to bed, hoping I would feel better in the morning.

The next morning, Michael woke up early to go deer hunting - it was opening day, after all. I woke up and told him that I wanted to go home and that I needed to at least get some pain meds. On the way home, I made an appointment to see a doctor. The doctor ordered a chest X-ray, we picked up some pain pills, and we headed to our kick-ball game. Michael was still trying to get me to play - but since taking a breath caused a sharp pain to shoot up my chest I decided to sit this one out. They lost, by the way!

The next morning I got a call from the doctor. He told me to head to the ER immediately. I had a CAT scan that revealed a pneumothorax (partially collapsed lung), lacerations on my liver, and at least 4-5 rib fractures. I spent three nights in the hospital. The reason I had so much pain in my chest was due to the collapsed lung and some internal bleeding. Thankfully, the pneumothorax slowly healed itself and I did not need a chest tube.

On October 20, I had surgery (which was planned before the accident) for endometriosis. I'm just going to be real candid - not sure who reads this - but I'm just going to tell it like it is. I have been having severe cramps during menstruation for quite a few years. I know that many women complain about cramps, so I wondered if I was being a baby about mine and this is just how it feels for everyone, or if there was something more going on. So I lived with it. I also had some blood in my stool during my period, which was getting progressively worse as time went on. I finally scheduled an appointment with an OBGYN. After trying other treatments that did not work - some because we thought it could be irritable bowel syndrome - he decided to schedule me for surgery to see if I have endometriosis.

I have stage 4 endometriosis - which is the worst stage. For those who do not know (I sure didn't) this is a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in other areas of the body. Every month, this tissue acts like the tissue in the uterus, causing it to bleed, form scar tissue, and sometimes fuse organs together - which was happening in my case. My uterus was attached to my bladder and my bowels. The doctor said that the tubes going from my ovaries to my uterus were in the wrong place and crooked. However, he was surprised that the tubes were not blocked. He removed as much endometrium cells as possible during surgery, but this is a condition that has no real cure. It will come back. He said removing that tissue is similar to mowing grass with dandelions. The seeds have been planted and it will return.

To delay this process, I will have a shot once a month for the next 6 months. This will send my body into temporary menopause, allowing my reproductive organs time to heal. Sounds lovely, huh? This usually comes with side effects like hot flashes, moodiness, increased risk of osteoporosis... I'm getting concerned because I'm hungry right now and it's only 4:30 pm. I wonder if this will also increase my desire to catch all the early bird specials so I can be home in time to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. I'm already driving around my parent's Lincoln Town car because the battery in my car died - but I don't think I've been driving too slow in the left-hand lane or anything like that. At least not yet.

I had my first shot yesterday - I was appalled by how large it was and the fact that it goes in my hip. It was sore yesterday, but it feels fine today. Hopefully the surgery combined with this treatment will help my body heal so I don't have to suffer as much each month. It was getting unbearable. The doctor said the length of time women feel relief varies. Some women go for years until their symptoms return - for others it can return in a matter of months. Let's pray for many years, shall we?

There are still a lot of unknowns. Not sure how my body will respond to treatment, not sure about infertility, not sure how long this will help me... I am thankful that we figured out what was going on, though. Please pray for peace and healing. And a prayer of thanks that my injuries from the accident were not more severe and that I am finally starting to feel better.