Health Update - Women's Issues

So, most people that know me are aware that I've been having a very difficult year so far with pain, fatigue and depression. On top of all of this, I've been experiencing some new symptoms of late... (If you don't want to know about periods and women's health issues, you might want to stop reading here!)

    

Anyway, to jump straight to the point, I had my period for three weeks solid - and then kept spotting for another week and a bit after that. This is definitely not normal for me! (I'm on 'the pill' to stop migraines and keep my acne at bay - so it seems especially strange). I kept hoping that the bleeding would stop, but NOPE! Every time I thought the spotting had gone away, I would get a fresh round of period pain, and it would return again.

Apart from the inconvenience of constantly bleeding and having period pain (and the consequences of all that bleeding on my iron deficiency), I became quite concerned. I'd had a normal Pap smear in December, so that made me feel a bit better, but I was still worried. Bleeding for a month really isn't normal...

I went to see a lovely doctor, and she thinks that I could have a bacterial infection. I am now on tablets to stop the bleeding so that I can have some other tests done in a week's time.

Now all I can do is wait!

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Update: 
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So, I ended up having a painful period that lasted for six weeks...

After what felt like a billion tests, the doctors still cannot find the cause of my abnormal bleeding - and it now seems to have stopped (with the help of hormone pills). Luckily, the test results have ruled out most of the scarier possible causes (like tumours and growths). Therefore, at this stage all that the doctors can do is wait and see - and refer me to a specialist for even more invasive tests if the bleeding starts up again (to check for things like surface abnormalities, endometriosis, etc.)

I am really hoping that the bleeding won't start up again, and that my problems were just caused by some kind of transient hiccup that will resolve itself. However, I am still getting abdominal pain from time to time, which doesn't seem like a good sign.

Anyway - for now, the news is good! =)

In other health news, I had a cardiologist appointment this week. Apart from having an even faster heart rate than usual (possibly due to a viral infection on top of POTS and SVT), everything was fine! Now, I just need to have my five-yearly full bone scan to check the progression of my degenerative joint disease (which is caused by EDS), and then I'm (hopefully) done with tests for the next nine months or so! *crosses fingers*

~Ad =)

Adrielle's Adventures in Awesomeville!

So, for the last week and a bit, I have been playing a lot of Terraria! I have created a nice little world called Awesomeville, and one of my favourite things to do in my new little pixel tile world is to dig for gem caves!

My character - with a fish bowl head - finding an amethyst cave!

My character, dressed as a princess, finding a gem cave!

This was the first gem cave I found! I didn't have very nice clothes on at the time lol!

My other favourite thing to do in Terraria is to build! I started with a small and humble abode - made from rock... but then I kept extending and prettifying it... and it has become a castle!

My castle!

I like my castle a lot - but it is becoming a little bit small... I might need to extend it some more...

~Ad =)

A Quick Update!

So far, this year has been an exciting and busy one for me! I've been to the dentist and had my tooth filled (one of the perils of having EDS), I've worked on lots of game art for projects that I found via IndieTeamUp, I've started two new creative projects, and I've started an online programming course to learn C++!

Although I haven't been able to leave the house much and have had to spend a lot of time in bed, I'm so glad that I have my laptop and my iPad - and I've been learning heaps of new things, and getting a lot of stuff done. I finally feel like I'm achieving things again!

~Ad =)

Happy New Year!

I spent new year's eve with my family (as I always do =D). We had snacks and drinks at home, before heading down to the local carnival and fireworks display at around 9pm - with the rest of our town! The fireworks were fantastic, and ended a bit after 10pm (as it is a family night) - then we could come home to relax in front of the tv until midnight.

Working on some game art, and eating snacks!

Me =)

Although I'm still struggling to recover after all the illness and awesomeness I have experienced of late, I am sure this year is going to be way better than last year!

I hope everyone else had an awesome Christmas and New Year, too!

~Adrielle =)

Christmas 2!

In addition to decorating everything and making festive art and craft, in the lead up to Christmas, my family also make festive food! This year, we made a Christmas cake (using the recipe we always use), a pavlova for Christmas day's dessert, an ice-cream plum pudding (my aunty's recipe), and some white Christmas! My mum also made a Christmas lolly tree!

Fruit and spices for the ice-cream plum pudding!

Ice-cream plum pudding mixture!

White Christmas mixture!

Pavlova mixture!

Lolly tree!

A piece of ice-cream plum pudding! 

Having a chocolate advent calendar is also a December tradition for me!

One of our other traditions is that we usually go to Carols by Candlelight each year (unless I am not well enough). This year, it was amazingly awesome! I am so glad I was able to go!

(My family also also usually go to the local Orchid Club's Christmas party together, but this year, I was not well enough to go to that.)

    

Christmas eve is the day that my family exchange gifts. The tradition started when we had to go out early on Christmas day when I was younger, and it was hard to give out presents while trying to get ready to go - but the tradition has remained. It is nice to have presents a little bit early!

A Christmas ice pack for a Christmas eve dislocation! 

A bracelet from Ellenya!

Earrings from my parents (to match my birthday necklace)!

More earrings from my parents!

My present for Ellenya!

Another present for Ellenya!

One of my presents!

Some of the presents I received! 

A bracelet from my parents!

Our cats seemed to like their present, too! It was a cardboard box with ribbons and bows stuck onto it - and with toys inside! 

After exchanging gifts, we spent Christmas eve afternoon making festive outfits to wear on Christmas day!

Jasper and Lily helped!

The skirt my mum made for me!

My decorated shoe!

My bracelet!

We spent Christmas day at my grandmother's house with lots of family, and lots of awesome food! I ended up asleep for several hours in my nana's bed, but enjoyed lunch and tea!

Pavlova!

My arm had glitter tattoos!

Morning tea!

More morning tea!

My anklet!

Me!

My nana's Christmas tree! 

Anyway, I had a fantastic Christmas - I hope everyone else did too!

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