Kountry Savings

Health Issues are something that are not NEW for me.
Recently something crazy happened.
(SOME PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS ARE GRAPHIC)
So, I had an IUD, it was my second IUD. One of the main reasons I had an IUD was for Cysts and for PCOS. Brief History:
From Webmd: THIS IS FYI:

(This is not my Ultra Sound)

"What is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? Polycystic ovary syndrome is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS may also cause unwanted changes in the way you look. If it is not treated, over time it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Polycystic ovary syndrome (or PCOS) is common, affecting as many as 1 out of 15 women.

What are hormones, and what happens in PCOS?
Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger many different processes, including growth and energy production. Often, the job of one hormone is to signal the release of another hormone.
For reasons that are not well understood, in PCOS the hormones get out of balance. One hormone change triggers another, which changes another. For example: The sex hormones get out of balance. Normally, the ovaries make a tiny amount of male sex hormones (androgens). In PCOS, they start making slightly more androgens. This may cause you to stop ovulating, get acne, and grow extra facial and body hair.The body may have a problem using insulin, called insulin resistance. When the body doesn't use insulin well, blood sugar levels go up. Over time, this increases your chance of getting diabetes.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms tend to be mild at first. You may have only a few symptoms or a lot of them. The most common symptoms are:
-Acne.

-Weight gain and trouble losing weight.

-Extra hair on the face and body. Often women get thicker and darker facial hair and more hair on the chest, belly, and back.

-Thinning hair on the scalp.

-Irregular periods. Often women with PCOS have fewer than nine periods a year. Some women have no periods. Others have very heavy bleeding.

-Fertility problems. Many women who have PCOS have trouble getting pregnant (infertility).

-Depression.

Most women with PCOS grow many small cysts

on their ovaries. That is why it is called polycystic ovary syndrome. The cysts are not harmful but lead to hormone imbalances.

What causes PCOS? The symptoms of PCOS are caused by changes in hormone levels. There may be one or more causes for the hormone level changes.
PCOS seems to run in families, so your chance of having it is higher if other women in your family have PCOS, irregular periods, or diabetes. PCOS can be passed down from either your mother's or father's side.

How is PCOS diagnosed? To diagnose PCOS, the doctor will:
-Ask questions about your past health, symptoms, and menstrual cycles.

-Do a physical exam to look for signs of PCOS, such as extra body hair and high blood pressure. The doctor will also check your height and weight to see if you have a healthy body mass index (BMI).

-Do a number of lab tests to check your blood sugar, insulin, and other hormone levels. Hormone tests can help rule out thyroid or other gland problems that could cause similar symptoms.

-You may also have a pelvic ultrasound to look for cysts on your ovaries. Your doctor may be able to tell you that you have PCOS without an ultrasound, but this test will help him or her rule out other problems.

How is it treated?

Regular exercise, healthy foods, and weight control are key treatments for PCOS. Medicines to balance hormones may also be used. Getting treatment can reduce unpleasant symptoms and help prevent long-term health problems.
The first step in managing PCOS is to get regular exercise and eat heart-healthy foods. This can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It can also help you lose weight if you need to.
-Try to fit in moderate activity and/or vigorous activity on a regular basis. Walking is a great exercise that most people can do.

-Eat a heart-healthy diet. In general, this diet has lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and whole grains. It also limits foods that are high in saturated fat, such as meats, cheeses, and fried foods. If you have blood sugar problems, try to eat about the same amount of carbohydrate at each meal. A registered dietitian can help you make a meal plan.

-Most women who have PCOS can benefit from losing weight. Even losing 10 lb (4.5 kg) may help get your hormones in balance and regulate your menstrual cycle. PCOS can make it hard to lose weight, so work with your doctor to make a plan that can help you succeed.

-If you smoke, consider quitting. Women who smoke have higher androgen levels that may contribute to PCOS symptoms.¹Smoking also increases the risk for heart disease. A doctor may also prescribe medicines, such as:
-Birth control pills. They can help your periods be regular and can reduce symptoms such as excess facial hair and acne. An androgen-lowering medicine, spironolactone, may be used with birth control pills to help reduce symptoms even more. These medicines are not used if you are trying to get pregnant.

-A diabetes medicine called metformin. It can help restore regular menstrual cycles and fertility.

-Fertility medicines, if you are trying to get pregnant. It is important to see your doctor for follow-up to make sure treatment is working and to adjust it if needed. You may also need regular tests to check for diabetes, high blood pressure, and other possible problems.
It may take a while for treatments to help with symptoms such as facial hair or acne. In the meantime:
-Over-the-counter or prescription acne medicines may help with skin problems.

-Waxing, tweezing, and shaving are easy ways to get rid of unwanted hair. Electrolysis or laser treatments can permanently remove the hair but are more expensive. Your doctor can also prescribe a skin cream that slows hair growth for as long as you use it regularly.

It can be hard to deal with having PCOS. If you are feeling sad or depressed, it may help to talk to a counselor or to other women who have PCOS. Ask your doctor about local support groups, or look for an online group. It can make a big difference to know that you are not alone."

Long story short... In 2006, I had ovarian surgery to removed 5 very BIG cysts off my right ovary.

I have always struggled since with female problems that doesn't help when wanting to have children. Then fast forward over the years and many other surgeries, 1 baby, 2 IUD's and female problems to the end of 2012. I was having some abdominal pains and some bleeding. I just let it go for a couple of weeks then January 14th-15th I was having major bleeding and major cramping.

Went to a NEW Doctor on January 17th and had an ultra sound and found that I have LOTS of cysts!!! I mean LOTS! The Doctor's exact words were "You have strings of pearls of cysts. I can't even see or measure your left ovary." I was shocked when I was watching my ultra sound. Then the Doctor informed my that I have a big cysts in between my right ovary and fallopian tube. He then suggested surgery... BLAH!!! I hate surgeries and being in the hospital!!

Then we talked about another issue I have which is Colitis which is part of the Chrones family.

From Webmd: THIS IS FYI
Ulcerative Colitis

"Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon and rectum. Crohn?s can affect any part of the digestive tract.

What is ulcerative colitis? Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the lining of the large intestine (colon

). It usually affects the lower section (sigmoid colon) and the rectum. But it can affect the entire colon. In general, the more of the colon that?s affected, the worse the symptoms will be.
The disease can affect people of any age. But most people who have it are diagnosed before the age of 30.

What causes ulcerative colitis? Experts aren't sure what causes it. They think it might be caused by the immune system overreacting to normal bacteria in the digestive tract. Or other kinds of bacteria and viruses may cause it.
You are more likely to get ulcerative colitis if other people in your family have it.

What are the symptoms? The main symptoms are:
-Belly pain or cramps.

-Diarrhea.

-Bleeding from the rectum.

Some people also may have a fever, may not feel hungry, and may lose weight. In severe cases, people may have diarrhea 10 to 20 times a day.
The disease can also cause other problems, such as joint pain, eye problems, or liver disease.
In most people, the symptoms come and go. Some people go for months or years without symptoms (remission). Then they will have a flare-up. About 5 to 10 out of 100 people with ulcerative colitis have symptoms all the time.¹

How is ulcerative colitis diagnosed? Doctors ask about the symptoms, do a physical exam, and do a number of tests. Testing can help the doctor rule out other problems that can cause similar symptoms, such as Crohn?s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulitis.
Tests that may be done include:
-A colonoscopy. In this test, a doctor uses a thin, lighted tool to look at the inside of your entire colon. At the same time, the doctor may take a sample (biopsy) of the lining of the colon.

-Blood tests, which look for infection or inflammation.

-Stool sample testing to look for blood, infection, and white blood cells.

How is it treated? Ulcerative colitis affects everyone differently. Your doctor will help you find treatments that reduce your symptoms and help you avoid new flare-ups.
If your symptoms are mild, you may only need to use over-the-counter medicines for diarrhea (such as Imodium). Talk to your doctor before you take these medicines.
Many people need prescription medicines, such as aminosalicylates, steroid medicines, or other medicines that reduce the body's immune response. These medicines can stop or reduce symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Some people find that certain foods make their symptoms worse. If this happens to you, it makes sense to not eat those foods. But be sure to eat a healthy, varied diet to keep your weight up and to stay strong.
If you have severe symptoms and medicines don't help, you may need surgery to remove your colon. Removing the colon cures ulcerative colitis. It also prevents colon cancer.

How will ulcerative colitis affect your life? People who have ulcerative colitis for 8 years or longer also have a greater chance of getting colon cancer. The longer you have had ulcerative colitis, the greater your risk.² Talk to your doctor about your need for cancer screening. These tests help find cancer early, when it is easier to treat.³
Ulcerative colitis can be hard to live with. During a flare-up, it may seem like you are always running to the bathroom. This can be embarrassing. And it can take a toll on how you feel about yourself. Not knowing when the disease will strike next can be stressful.

The most important thing you can do is to get active ulcerative colitis under control and into remission before trying to get pregnant.
If you get pregnant while the disease is still active, there's a good chance symptoms will continue or get worse during pregnancy.
Active flare-ups of UC can leave you underweight and without the nutrients you need to get pregnant and carry a baby to term. Being underweight may significantly increase the risk of having a miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy. It also increases the chances that you’ll deliver a baby who is premature or underweight.
As soon as you start thinking about getting pregnant, make an appointment to see your gastrointestinal doctor or primary care physician, as well as your ob-gyn. Talk with them about how to make sure you're getting the care you need to have a healthy pregnancy.
You might also want to get the help of a dietitian to make sure you're eating a well-balanced diet.
If you are having a hard time, seek support from family, friends, or a counselor. Or look for a support group. It can be a big help to talk to others who are coping with this disease."

SO... Doctor tells me that I can't have surgery or remove the IUD. I will have to find out how my colitis is doing. Which means I need to have a colonoscopy. Even BETTER!!! So, after my Doctors appointment on January 17th, the Doctor and I decided to just have me deal with the pain and have my colonoscopy which is schedule Monday January 28th. So, a couple of days go by and then on the 22nd I was having such bad pain so bad that I couldn't sleep or even sit. Then the next day the pain was so bad I THREW UP. I have had some bad cramps but these were the WORST! Then on the 24th I went to the Doctor again and SURPRISE there was something REALLY wrong. The Doctor told me I needed to have my IUD removed. So, we decided to remove it. While trying to remove it there was problem. It was STUCK in the lining of my uterus. They had to PULL or JERK out my IUD and it was the most painful thing ever! It was close to CHILD BIRTH.

It was seriously the worst thing! On the plus side I found out early that it was stuck because I have heard of horrible stories of the IUD going through the uterine wall. So, then the Doctor told me if I could still deal with any cramps or pain I feel for the next couple of days so I could still have my colonoscopy on Monday. OH MAN.

Finally though... the horrible pain left though, NO more sharp pain. It was the IUD. Now, I am IUD free. Crazy to think about it that way.

So what now... Now we wait for my colonoscopy to see if my colitis is in remission or not inflamed. Then if all is well the Doctor will then talk to me about surgery or getting on metformin. Right now is just the waiting game...

I just felt like I needed to write this... Don't know who will read this but I love blogging. It's cheaper than therapy.

Julie

It's been along time... I have been working at a very busy and stressful full time job this past year and recently have given my notice. I really loved working there. I HONESTLY did. I loved all that I learned and all that I was able to experience. I just had a hard time juggling my family and the stress from my current position there. One thing I really didn't like was losing friends. I hated that. (There was one person specifically who still avoids me... If she ever reads this she will know who she is... I was doing my job. I miss seeing your face!)
On the bright side...I recently was offered a new position where I will be working part time from home. Amazing! I know. I will be working for a mortgage company. I can't wait. I am currently working on my classes to become a Mortgage Loan Officer. I have very high hopes and I hope that this new position or adventure in my life will bless my family. More about this new job will come in further posts.

So here is some insight to my OCD or Crazy brain about finances. I absolutely love working on finances. I really enjoy paying my bills. Not the fact that I am giving my hard earn money to someone else but I love trying to figure out how to make it all balance and so that we have something to live off of. I have really enjoyed helping others with some of the same issues. I love to help people save money and improve their lives. I love being able to see the money being put back in their pocket or savings account! It really does make me get giddy or excited about saving money or balancing my check book to the penny! Weird. I know! Something about looking at a receipt with a low balance or my account and seeing a safety net of finances or a cushion makes me feel all warm inside!

I have decided this blog isn't going to just be about MONEY, COUPONS, or FINANCES...but my life and things that come up and things that I have learned about those areas in my life. I have also decided to just write from the heart and share stuff on here like a journal.
I also wanted to just add... for those people who have told me I just can't do "THIS" working from home or live the way I live. I just want you to know. I can do "THIS" and I will do "THIS". "Look what I can do!" You better keep an eye on me because if you don't watch closely you might miss all the amazing things I am about to do! I tell my husband all the time "ONE DAY... MARK MY WORDS..."

Julie