“I thought that a diagnosis would be freeing.
However, it ended up feeling paralyzing.”
I had been doubled over in pain for the better part of three hours.
I assumed it was just how my body behaved.
The blood, though.
Some time later, a doctor came in.
He, like all the others before him, was unconcerned.
After normal test results, he sent me on my way with a suggestion to see a specialist.
The pain eventually subsided, but the blood didnt right away.
For days, I held my breath whenever I went into the bathroom.
My follow-up with a gastroenterologist wasnt for two months (shout out to the health care system!
), but something was nagging at me, telling me I needed to go sooner.
I am so grateful I listened to that instinct.
This diagnosis was essentially a best guess.
The biopsies, bloodwork and MRI ruled out conditions like Crohns disease, blood vessel problems and ulcerative colitis.
Typically, this issue happens in older people.
An ischemic event occurs whenblood supply is reduced to a certain part of the body.
In my case, it was my sigmoid colon, which is the last part of the bowel.
Its uncommon to see it in a young, otherwise healthy woman.
the birth control pill that contains estrogen.
My doctor couldnt guarantee this was the reason with 100% certainty, since this condition is understudied.
My doctors other theory was that I had an infection of some sort that caused the ulcers.
My doctor told me I was lucky that my trip to the ER didnt reveal something more serious.
It can be fatal.
Until that moment, I thought that a diagnosis would be freeing.
However, it ended up feeling paralyzing.
I had gone on the pill nearly 15 years ago to help with acne and cramping during my periods.
No one gave me any information at the time beyond take it at the same time every day.
Overall, I was happy with it.
My periods became more tolerable.
I didnt experience any of the intense side effects that some of my friends had over the years.
I continued taking the same prescription through college and then when I moved toNew York.
The pill almost felt like a security blanket for me.
Now, here I was over a decade later, and it was leaving me cold.
I cried over the prospect of dealing with painful and unpredictable periods.
I still very much support birth control in any form, including the pill.
If I could still be on it, I would be.
I just wish I knew more about the medicine I had been taking for 15 years.
Luckily, my gastro did as much investigating as he could until he found a logical and satisfactory explanation.
I was shocked he made the connection.
You have to be able to confer with doctors who are willing to think outside of common explanations.
You have to have health care coverage to see specialists in the first place.
I dont know if thats a coincidence or if its because we targeted the issue.
Im hoping my diagnosis is correct, and that changing my contraceptive is the solution to my problem.
Womens health care all the way down tothe research level is still nowhere close to what it should be.
I was fortunate it didnt cost me my life.
One day, someone else might not be so lucky.
