PART IV
My very first appointment with my new rheumatologist was like a breath of fresh air. I arrived, had massive amounts of blood drawn, and then waited to see the doctor.
After introductions, he explained that he had spent time going through all of my medical records from the previous hospital and their physicians. He asked if I was taking the hydroxychloroquine, and I said I was not.
His response…
“Good. Because there were numerous tests that were not run, and I do not understand why they would have immediately categorized you as having lupus, much less prescribed the medication.”
Another jaw-drop moment.
The conclusion of that visit was simple: keep doing what I was doing with my diet and return in six months for a recheck.
At that next six-month appointment, my bloodwork showed a negative ANA for the first time since this crazy health journey began. My inflammatory markers were still extremely high, and I was still living in a world of layered pain patches.
Then he said something I’ll never forget.
“I just keep going back to none of this starting until you had that left ovary removed.”
THANK YOU, LORD!
FINALLY!
A DOCTOR THAT GETS IT.
That conversation resulted in a referral to an OB/GYN who specialized in pelvic pain.
First, let me say that I truly believe God placed me specifically with this doctor. I would continue to see His hand through every step that followed.
I called the specialist expecting to wait weeks, maybe months, for an appointment. Instead, he had a cancellation and was able to see me the very next week.
When he walked into the room, he had already reviewed my medical history. He was incredibly kind and compassionate. While he told me to separate the issue of the elevated FLC blood results, he immediately, without hesitation, identified what had been causing my debilitating pain throughout the previous years.
One visit.
After years of searching…
One visit.
The Cliff’s Notes version is this: I was diagnosed with Post Tubal Ablation Syndrome. It affects a small percentage of women who have had both a tubal ligation and an endometrial ablation.
In simple terms, my uterus had not completely ablated and had begun growing back. The tube that had been clamped during my tubal ligation was filling and backing up because there was nowhere for the fluid to go. The very place where my pain always originated was exactly where the problem had been all along.
Because I had been dealing with this pain for so long, and because there was concern the tube could rupture, surgery was scheduled quickly.
Thank God it was.
Again, He continued to reveal His hand.
After surgery, the doctor met with my husband and my mom.
He told them something none of us expected.
My uterus had completely adhered to my colon.
Another jaw-drop moment.
Just imagine what could have happened had that tube ruptured while those organs were adhered together. I assure you the result would have not been in my favor.
Then, a couple months later after follow-up bloodwork; every inflammatory marker that had plagued me for years returned to normal.
I had been living with something rare.
It was silently causing my body to attack itself.
After countless emergency room visits… after ultrasounds… MRIs… CT scans… specialists… and years of unanswered questions…
God placed me in front of one doctor who immediately recognized what everyone else had missed.
Thank You, Lord Almighty.
If sharing my story encourages even one person, let it be this:
Advocate for yourself.
You know your body better than anyone else.
Ask questions.
Do your research.
Do not be afraid to seek another opinion if something doesn’t feel right.
Food is fuel, and for me, making changes helped minimize many of my symptoms while I searched for answers.
But above all…
Hold tightly to your faith.
God is right there beside you, even when you cannot see what He is doing. He is ordering your steps, even when the path feels uncertain.
Do not give up.
Do not lose hope.
Put on your royal coat of armor…
…and FIGHT.
God bless you, friends.
~ Stace
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