Thank God, thank God, thank God–for now, anyhow

As an update to this:

Tamoxifen & pelvic pain

I’ve been in pain for days and days. Google served up this breastcancer.org dicussion thread on Tamoxifen & Pelvic Pain & Pressure. Terrified of endometrial thickening, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids. And cancer of course.

Won’t be scheduling any more trips to the gynecologist any time soon, however–not even Pap Redux–having been served out of the blue with an OB/GYN bill for $230. I’m on medical assistance and my co-pay at the time of appointment was $1. I don’t know where the bill came from all of a sudden; what is itemized on it is “additional diagnosis.”

And I still don’t know what it is I’ve been diagnosed with.

abnormalities

I thought I was in the all-clear for the moment as far as tests go, but April 30th’s pap smear–I’d assumed hearing nothing for so long was a good thing–apparently turned up abnormalities. This is not the first time this has happened, but it is the first time I have reason to be worried. They ask for a retest in six months. The waiting will never be over, or the worry.

Pelvic pains too, and waiting for my period, perhaps? Having had more or less regular periods since their return six months ago, last month was marked by a light period as predicted, then a hard sudden hemmorhage two weeks later. I don’t know what to expect now. Handy that the possible side effects of Tamoxifen include both irregular periods and uterine cancer, the hallmarks of both being vaginal bleeding.

Holding the gynecologist’s letter in my hand–Your pap results showed signs of cellular abnormalities–I could not escape the sickness and anger and the why me, why now. “I hate my life right now,” I texted–though predictive text first suggested the phrase, “I have my life right now,” which seemed somehow significant. 

I have my life right now.  

I’d like to ride that out awhile.