When your body's the lemon & the -ade is red

[grammarwoman]

It seems like nowadays a lot of people are having things go wrong with their bodies. I saw an article recently that the stress of the current political climate is causing psychosomatic reactions for many; it was refreshing to read that far from being dismissed as irrational, the link between mind and body is gaining a lot of scientific backing.

For me, that month-long period turned into a more than 2 month period, with the final two weeks being super monstrous and clotty before tapering off for a week, then starting again. The gyno ordered several blood tests, with the result that she does not believe I'm peri-menopausal, but I am anemic. (Shocker.) The ultrasound this week determined that I have a thick uterine lining (...after two months of bleeding? Still?), so she took a biopsy with results due next week. She thought it could be endometriosis/polyps, or pre-cancerous growths. I'm hoping for something that can be solved simply, quickly, and without multiple return visits to the OB-GYN office, because OB-related stuff is being even harder for me right now.

I hope that I'm racking up good karma points at an exponential rate for not taking it out on everyone in my vicinity. At least for now (fuck those Rs and their AHCA) I still have good insurance? But between the copays and supplies and meds for everything else going on, plus having to take time off work for office visits (when I want to be doing much more fun things with my PTO), this shit is expensive enough. Small blessings that it's not disturbing my sleep like the bronchitis.

In other news, my son is working through a checklist of entering his teen years: defiant about everything ("Why do I have such a stupid bedtime?", "Homework is a waste of my time, and I hate school.", "I already showered two days ago, why do I have to again tonight?"), trying to navigate body awkwardness, processing FEELINGS towards girls, and generally testing my patience every day. This is going to be so much fun!

Also challenging is pulling together clips for my Club Vivid entry. I'm hoping I get an extension, because I don't see being done by the deadline. For a short song, it's taking an extra long time to assemble. I've already had to navigate several cycles of "This sucks, why am I bothering?" self-doubt; I counter with "It's a dance vid, it doesn't have to revolutionize the art, and you're your own worst critic." and move on.

It's not all completely doom and gloom, thankfully. Today my company is providing ice cream and fresh waffle cones. I am loving the crop of springtime flowers currently brightening the landscape. Here's to sweet treats, blue skies, and balmy breezes!

Comments

[kass]

Oh goodie preteen shenanigans! I am so not looking forward to those. :-)

And ugh, I am so sorry about the physical stuff and all of the emotional whatnot that comes with it.

[grammarwoman]

He literally stomped up the stairs last night when I stood firm on bedtime. *eyeroll* I am mostly good at keeping calm and seeing the humor in his shenanigans, and appreciating the hugs and "I love you, Mom"s I get. I remember the hormone storm and do not envy him going through it.

When it's your turn, I'll be here with the virtual wine and hugs. :)

I had thought my reproductive system had screwed with me enough already, you know? BODIES. WHY.

[monanotlisa]

Aw, that sounds awful -- and yes, I suppose it is a little odd that we are exhibiting these physical problems at this very point in time (speaking of TMI, the whole big-clots thing is v. unsettling), so our current Administration exacerbating whatever was slumbering seems like a solid theory, at least.

::fingers crossed::

[grammarwoman]

There is a statistically improbable number of people on my reading list having wonky body things happen. Blaming BLOTUS seems like a safe bet; getting him out of office would be good for our health on a number of levels.

Big clots are a really annoying way for a uterus to throw a hissy (hyssy?) fit. There's only so much that can be absorbed when you have a "water"fall every time you stand up.

[catwalksalone]

I should think ice cream and spring flowers is the least you deserve, Here's to the easiest solution for your health woes and a solid seatbelt to ride the rocky rollercoaster of puberty. Blimey!

[grammarwoman]

Thank you! Judging from your stories, you've seen your share of kids being hit with the hormone stick, poor things. :)

[heresluck]

I hear you on the Club Vivid deadline. My song and source are delightful, and yet the process is frequently a grim slog. Like you, I'm reminding myself that the vid can just be what it is, I am my own worst critic (well, except for renenet), etc. Solidarity, my sister!

Also right there with you on the BODIES: WHY??? front. I hadn't made the connection to the state of our body politic, but -- speaking here as someone with massage therapy training who's worked with people dealing with psychosomatic issues -- it does make a lot of sense.

[grammarwoman]

You should live closer, so we could sit in the same room and slog on togetherly. :) I am still available for whatever feedback/cheerleading you want! I would appreciate the break.

Your case was one of the ones I was thinking of. BODIES! You had ONE job. It takes so much more effort to be broken. Why not, I dunno, work as intended?

[samjohnsson]

As an ex-pre-teen boy who survived in spite of his best efforts, I offer sympathy and a translation service if needed!

[grammarwoman]

:) That is very appreciated, thank you. From what I can tell, he's having a better time of it than I did at his age (tall, nerdy, and bespectacled is still more acceptable for boys than girls), but it's still not easy.

[synecdochic]

Fucking bodies, arrgh. I'm sorry yours is being stupid :(

(I had the hysterectomy done because of three-week-long periods with excessive flow + horrible abdominal pain/cramps that were getting constant even when I wasn't actively menstruating. I felt a little bad about doing it -- like, I was asking myself, is this REALLY bad enough to justify a hysterectomy? -- but I'm SO GLAD I did. Not suggesting you should or anything, just more as a FYI.)

[grammarwoman]

These aging meat bags are not following their proper operating instructions, and require too much tech support!

Data point duly noted - thanks! I am hoping to avoid removal, just because. My cramps have not been as bad since I switched to exclusively using pads, so at least there's that. (Except when a huge clot is passing through. *Sigh*)

BODIES!

[renenet]

Thanks also from me for the data point, as this is something I'm considering myself within the next year.