This post is mostly inspired by a meme I came across and it perfectly explained the balancing act of time to rest and trying to do things.
There has been a flurry of social activity in recent weeks. All lovely, but there is always a cost. Sometimes you can petition your body for credit, but if you overspend, you'll always end up going into your overdraft.
It was my husband's birthday weekend last week. My brother came to stay with us a couple of days before and on the Saturday we had a house full of people and it was brilliant. It was a fantastic atmosphere, lots of food, drink, and laughter.
We had a couple of friends stay over so all five us went to our local pub on Sunday for lunch. Much needed good times.
I wouldn't trade those good times but there is an acceptance that the credit will need to be paid and sure enough, I went into the red and have had a very rough week. Poor sleep, gnawing pain, and bone tiredness.
The best way to describe the pain on the left side of my pelvis is it's like a large needle threaded with a string made of heat and serrated edges being relentlessly tugged. I have been feeling grouchy and off balance all week.
Today, I was supposed to be going out with my husband for lunch with my brother-in-law. We haven't seen him since before the pandemic, but I have had to pay attention to the large red credit bill and stay at home.
It's not easy to have to turn down things like this but I have to be careful. I need to be on an even keel for work, and I also have some events coming up in the next few weeks that will involve travel so building up credit is what it's all about.
I have an update on the Mirena Coil front. It's taken me a while to get a telephone appointment with my GP surgery as I have been waiting to get one with a GP I have spoken with before. It's just easier for me to speak to one that I've had dealings with before. It just gives me a bit more confidence to speak and feel like I will be heard. It's never a great feeling to be put through to someone and feel like I'm not being listened to.
I explained that I had gone to get my coil replaced a few months ago but they couldn't find the strings so I was sent for an ultrasound to check it was still in situ. It was confirmed that it was but that I should call my GP with the results. It was a bit of a kerfuffle as they hadn't been sent to my GP surgery so he had to log into the hospital system. Anyway, he reiterated that the coil was where it should be and said to get it replaced ASAP as I will now either, be very low on or not receiving any, progesterone. The coil gives some relief for the endometriosis symptoms but it also acts as a counterbalance to the oestrogen I get from my HRT. Without that, the uterus can become overstimulated and can turn cancerous.
I'm booked in to get it replaced later this month so that will be one less thing to worry about. I just hope it won't be too uncomfortable a procedure since they'll probably need to use some kind of suction device to get my current one out in lieu of the absence of the strings.
I also discussed my conditions in general. I explained that I had not seen a gynaecologist since my last laparoscopy back in 2018, that I suffer daily pain and if I should consider a hysterectomy. I get private medical insurance through work so it's something I want to explore or rule out. He said since I have had continuing pain for these last few years it was reasonable to want to see a specialist and talk through options. That's going to be next step once I've had my coil replaced and I have the energy to start the process.
This morning I had a telephone appointment with a consultant at the menopause clinic. My GP put a referral in back in September last year after I raised the possibility of primary ovarian insufficiency/menopause.
We went through my most prominent symptoms, such as severe hot flushes, brain fog, and fatigue but I also made sure they were aware of my current collection of conditions.
In short they said it's difficult to diagnose menopause through blood tests, especially with me already being on HRT but they're going to send me for blood tests in a few weeks to give it time for my coil to be replaced, and they will test my oestrogen, testosterone and thyroid levels, then we'll discuss again after receiving the results.
I'm glad that some investigations are underway. I've been on HRT patches for a few years now and I want to make sure I'm getting the correct dosage.
So, that's the latest!