I did want to let my readers know, with my sincerest apologies why I haven't
been blogging as much as I'd like (which is daily since I love to share cool
things with you). For 10 years I've been dealing with a very painful pelvic
condition that has been flaring up again, since this past August. I'm going to write about my
condition (vestibulodynia or dyspareunia) in the hope that it will help someone
to get the help they need. Writing or speaking about this pain can be uncomfortable for
many people, but one in four women will have a pelvic pain issue, and too often
they're too embarrassed to talk to their doctors. I want you to know
that you're not alone and there is help out there.
Let me explain my pain. Many of my leg and hip muscles have
tightened so badly (from my pain) that sitting for long periods hurts. My vestibule - the vaginal opening - was so sensitive that I couldn't wear pants back when I was diagnosed correctly in 2008. My
specialist, Dr. Richard Marvel in Baltimore, diagnosed me because I jumped off of a table in pain when he touched my vestibule with a Q-tip. Obviously, I
couldn't have sex without pain, either.
I had surgery five years ago to remove some of the most
painful tissue. In August my pain flared up again, badly, and I've been in
physical therapy since October 2012. Right now I have an awesome team of
doctors and physical therapists, including Dr. Lara Burrows and Amy
Senn at Summa Healthcare in Akron. They are doing everything they can to help -
with medicine, physical therapy and mental therapy that have helped me to feel
better and cope with the pain when it flares up. I'll be attending a medical conference
for patients with my condition (and similar conditions) in April. I plan on
telling you all more about this because if those of us with these conditions
don't speak up there won't be money invested for research to help us find
solutions.
You are welcome to ask me questions, though I am not a doctor. And
if you go to a doctor and feel as though your concerns were not addressed you
can look up doctors on the sites listed above. Keep persisting until you find a
doctor that listens to you.
If me speaking out about this helps one person get help for their issues, it was well worth it.
And I will continue to post more art and jewelry.