Thursday Sep 2

Posts Tagged ‘Mirena removal’

Feb
26/10
Tisk, Task
Last Updated on Friday, 26 February 2010 11:02
Written by Melinda
Friday, February 26th, 2010

My mother must have read the post from yesterday about The Million $ Question.  This morning, she said, “Now you need to remember that surgery changed your life.”  So, just want to let you all know today that I’m not unhappy with my RNY.  I guess the word is concerned.  Concerned about future problems.  Yet I also know that it’s not healthy to live a life of fear, so I will continue to read, research, take my vitamins (which I am adamant in doing) and hope my labs remain good (and that we can get those low numbers up).  ‘Nuff said!  Next subject.

I am a little more joyful today than this time last week.  And, happy.  My scales have gone down 3 lbs.  Count them, ONE, TWO, THREE!  Yesterday it appeared that my stomach didn’t feel as bloated or bulgy.  I had a THIN DAY.  This morning I looked in the mirror sideways like every morning, and oh my!  ANOTHER THIN DAY!  I felt skinny.  I weighed, and I was down another pound.  This makes me so incredibly elated.  For feeling 3 months preggo for over a year…  (thanks, Mirena) I now am beginning to lose some weight AND feel thin again.

I was to the point where I felt very fat.  I was bloated, my stomach distended, people probably thought “Yeah, there she goes…  gaining weight!  I knew it would happen!”  Sorry folks.  Melinda hasn’t been eating hot fudge cakes and big macs.  It’s just those daggone 5-7 lbs that my gyn assured me would be present as long as the Mirena was in.  I didn’t have it removed because of the weight gain, however.  Let that be a stated fact.  I had forced/resigned myself to being fluffy in my tummy IF IT WAS GOING TO WORK on other issues.  It did not.  OK.  Now that I clarified…  next subject.

Last night I bought myself some new skinny jeans and brown boots.  I can’t wait to wear them.  My friend BerriGirl (Heather) told me to stop wearing baggy clothes.  I had just gotten so distraught, and physically felt the same because of depression that I did at 251 lbs that I associated it with fat.  I took her advice, and dragged out my mini skirts, boots and clingy sweaters.  Its working – - I’m feeling better about myself.  Thanks, Heather!

I am planning on a wonderful weekend (hope you have one, too wherever you are)!  The sun is shining bright here in Tennessee today, and it makes me want to go out and DO something! Plus, I want to wear my new outfit.

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Feb
24/10
My Journey to Vegas
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 12:47
Written by Melinda
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

I need to tell the story in chronological order to get the real effect of what happened in my getting TO Vegas.  Originally, I thought that I would not be visited by Mother Nature as I calculated having one more patch left.  I was WRONG.  Keep in mind that this is just the second menstrual period since having Mirena IUD removed, and I was told that the “Mirena crash” could happen for a few months.  I didn’t think I had anything to worry about since last month it hit pretty hard.

Along about Tuesday, I started feeling a little bit stressed.  And, I developed a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach.  I also was suffering from depression but knew that I had an appointment with my therapist on Weds afternoon.  Then, Weds. came and I was working on items for the Meet & Greet (freebies).  A situation occurred with the hotel that brought lots of frustration, and I started to feel the anger at the pit of my stomach.  Suddenly, before I knew it, it had grown and reached my vocal cords.  In other words, that anger rose up inside like the building of a volcano, until finally it just erupted!  Afterward, I felt so ashamed of my actions because that just isn’t the way I used to be (pre wls, that is).   By the time my afternoon appointment with the therapist came, I had calmed down some.  Thankfully it was still “raw” enough that I could tell him about how I was feeling. But, as I sat outside his waiting room, another patient and two family members came out and were talking in the hall.  It just about set me off.  I was angry.  I wanted to yell “WOULD YOU SHUT UP?”  I sat moving my leg up and down, just waiting impatiently to be seen.  I even talked to the therapist about this, and how I had felt like that last month near my period.

Thursday came, and I tried my best to steer clear of all anxiety.  That ball of nerves was still present, and I was nervous and jumpy at every little noise.  And, exhaustion set in along with OCD tendencies that drove me…  by that, I’m talking about what happened Thursday evening.  Tim & I had gone out to supper, and I was so upset that I didn’t have clothes for the event.  I was crying because I didn’t know what to pack, felt like I needed a new outfit, and made him take me to two different stores to find outfits.  I left with nothing in my hands, which made me all the more frustrated.  WHAT WAS I GOING TO WEAR?  Tim steered me along until finally, I had my stuff together.  I am so thankful that HE packed the luggage up.  I don’t know how he did it, but our two suitcases had so much stuff in them… including my large magnification lighted mirror that I love so much.  So we went on to bed, and around 3 am I woke up and had a revelation:  I had not put my birth control patch on after my morning shower.  I ran into the kitchen to put it on, (yes, at 3 am so I wouldn’t start my period while we were in Vegas) and guess what?  The box:  EMPTY.  I had calculated incorrectly.  S&$#!  That meant I was going to be menstrual.  And, it also explained the reason I had been so upset all week long!!

Friday morning, I was in a daze of confusion.  I followed him around…  where he went, I followed.  I didn’t want him away from my side for one minute.  The people at the airport were all loud, busy, making me all the more anxious.  I had only slept three hours per night since Tuesday, so I was dead dog tired.  My eyes were hanging so heavy that they hurt, yet I couldn’t rest.  Going through Security, I yelled at Tim to please tell me what to do because I didn’t know.  Did I need to take my coat off?  My shoes?  My jewelry?  Please tell me because, I’m standing here looking like an idiot.  I was lost.  He had to step through the metal detector three times cause he forgot to take his keys out of his pocket, then had to take his belt off.  I was getting agitated and fearful that if they made me go on by myself ahead of the line, I would get separated from him.

Let’s talk on the flight.  Tammy (T2Nashville) flew beside me.  We talked much of the way.  She & I talked about the Lord, and it didn’t take much to get me to squalling and crying.  It’s hard to tell PMS emotion from conviction cause they both lead you to tears!  Once we got in to our hotel room, I wanted to rest but we met a group from BTV for lunch.  It required a lot of walking to the buffet, and I am not kidding you…  by the time we arrived, the confusion was so bad that I could hardly put two sentences together.  The music overhead was loud, plates clanging, people talking…  it just all seemed to blur together so that I simply nodded my head a lot to what everyone said, and can’t recall much of the conversations from that day.  I do remember on our way back, I was feeling horribly tired, then the next minute I was so mad.  I held Tim’s hand cause I needed him there, then let go cause I didn’t want to be touched.  This continued all the way home.  Poor guy.

Friday night, we met BTV in the suite for our get together.  I was still not feeling to well, but had food in my stomach and at least was functionable.  I enjoyed everyone’s company but…  things were still not quite right.  Big Mickey asked me into the confessional room (think “Big Brother”) but I couldn’t put two thoughts together.  I finally just asked him to turn it off, and not use any of my tapings because I just wasn’t in the mental state to do anything worthwhile.  We talked awhile, and I also chatted with Toni and Lynnda about this.

The first day was ruined because of hormones.  I felt so terrible, and also a bit embarrassed.  Only Tim has seen me at my worst, when these periods of PMS/PMDD hit.  And I am just hoping that the worst of this “Mirena crash” is over and it will not be the same next month.  I did not ever want anyone to see the worst part of Melinda, but thankfully these precious people are friends and they were very supportive.

Now…  Saturday rolled around.  And, I started my period.  I was laughing, and talking, and having fun.  I was MYSELF again!  HALLELUJAH!  I was able to enjoy the rest of the trip.  More to come later on the actual event itself (Saturday).

Jan
26/10
Last Tuesday
Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 January 2010 08:12
Written by Melinda
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

I liked this picture; it explained how I feel sometimes.  Especially given the past few months when daily life consisted of bitchiness, moaning and groaning because of cramps, depression, feelings of despair.  That Mirena really did some numbers on me!

It was exactly one month ago tomorrow that I had Mirena removed.  Last Tuesday, I started getting a little anxious AND  biotchy again.  I was in the living room working on the internet, Tim asked me something, I jumped through my teeth at him.  And, I immediately thought, “Gosh, where did that come from?”  I had to apologize to him because the truth was, I just felt so daggone jittery, irritable.  I had been feeling so much better!   It was getting close to my period, so I decided to take the advice of my PCP.  I snatched the Lexapro bottle out of the closet (I no longer take it, but am on Wellbutrin) and took half a pill before going to bed (5 mg).  The next morning, I took another half.  For the next three days, I took half a pill in the morning, half at night.  It seemed to help my anxiety.  This is how I was originally told several years ago to take the Lexapro to help symptoms of PMDD.

Friday came.  I felt crampy.  Saturday, oh garsh!  It was even worse.  Sunday, and I was in the bed until 2:00.  Monday came, and I was STILL cramping!  This period seemed to be the worst I’ve experienced in quite awhile, perhaps a year and a half.  I hardly had a flow while on Mirena.  Oh yes, I had cramps but not for four days!!  From what I have read, the first period after Mirena removal is the worst.  I’m feeling more like myself today.  I am noticing a huge change in  my behavior and personality.

This is no lie…  or exaggeration.  But, my tolerance to stress was horrible.  Anything & everything just set me off, sometimes to the point of swearing/profanity.  I hate to admit that, but PMS/PMDD sure changed my behavior.  I could not handle frustration or stress at all.  My nerves were on edge 24/7.  I felt a knot in my gut all the time, and sometimes I felt as if I couldn’t fully catch my breath.  Those feelings appear to be gone.  I still have a residual headache, but it has decreased by 98%.

Life seems to becoming a little more “normal” for this PCOS’er.

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Jan
12/10
Is It Hot In Here, or…
Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 January 2010 12:10
Written by Melinda
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

I’m telling ya…  I’ve been hot lately!  Sitting in my office, suddenly it just feels like a fire comes from deep within my flesh…  until I’m so stifled that I have to take a walk.  Or turn on my fan.  Or go outside (and it’s winter time!).

This afternoon, I was in our department break room.  It’s never hot or even warm in there as it’s a fairly large room with only one operating wall heater.  I turned the heater off, pulled the ceiling fan switch, and tried to maintain my composure to not stick my head out the window!

Is it hormones?  It could be.  The past year, my inner thermostat hasn’t been in tune with anything.  Everyone else is hot, I’m cold (which after wls is a given).  Everyone else is comfortable, I’m burning up like a blazing inferno!  It reminds me of when my mother was going through the change.  She would run to the hallway thermostat, turn it from heat to air conditioning, and have it about 60 degrees.  And, all the while doing this little routine, she’d holler, “IS IT HOT IN HERE, OR IS IT JUST ME?”  Almost in unison, all of us kids would shout, “IT’S JUST YOU!”   For some reason, however, I don’t think that was a question she really wanted the answer to…  or at least our answer never changed the outcome.

I think it all goes back to Mirena.  And, by the way, it’s time for a post-Mirena update.  Tomorrow makes 2 weeks since the gyn took it out.  My thinking is not as foggy, yesterday at day’s end I actually felt energetic and not quite a stressed.  And, the “almost migraine” that I’ve been living with for at least 2 months is an “almost gone” headache.

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