lifestyle

My Zoladex Experience

Endometriosis

I can’t even remember the last time I wrote about my health on this site, which is a huge indication of a lot of time having passed, along with various health hurdles along the way to discuss. First and foremost, this post is solely discussing my experience with the Zoladex Implant (3.6mg) as a form of treating endometriosis. I’ll be discussing more in-depth about my endometriosis journey, from diagnosis to where I am now in terms of treatment, general (and mental) wellbeing etc, in another post as I’m still figuring out how to articulate what exactly I’ve been through. Chronic endometriosis pain is incredibly traumatic, and re-visiting some suppressed memories of a&e visits/flare-ups is taking its toll on me. Bare with, it will be live on the site as soon as I can bring myself to compartmentalise effectively enough to write coherently.

I was diagnosed as in-between Stage 3 and Stage 4 endometriosis in May 2020, following a very reluctant decision to perform a diagnostic laparoscopy. Here’s a very brief breakdown of what the different stages entail:

Stage I – Minimal (Some deposits of endometriosis, low in frequency)
Stage II – Mild (More deposits of endometriosis, deeper scarring)
Stage III – Moderate (Deeper, more frequent deposits of endometriosis tissue; small ovarian cyst(s) & scar tissue)
Stage IV – Severe (Widespread endometriosis, large ovarian cyst(s) & widespread scar tissue)

Following the removal of widespread endometriosis deposits found across, inside and outside my uterus during my laparoscopy in May, I was fitted with an IUD – the Mirena coil. I was told to wait 6 months to feel the effects of the coil, which would include a significant reduction in severe, acute pain and periods either becoming less painful, less heavy or stopping altogether. Unfortunately, it was found that the Mirena coil isn’t enough by itself treat the endometriosis that still remains in my womb and so, 9 months and 2 different contraceptive pill treatments later, I was given the Zoladex implant injection to be administered once a month for three months. Zoladex induces a chemical menopause, temporarily ceasing the production of oestrogen from the ovaries. When it was suggested in January by the first gynaecologist I’d seen on the NHS who specialises in endometriosis since I was diagnosed, I was desperate to alleviate my symptoms and agreed to give it a go. I explained to the doctor my main concerns – the side effects; weight gain, hot flashes and most importantly, the effect this hormone treatment would have on my mental health. He assured me that this injection, for the majority, causes very few side effects especially concerning the fluctuation of mood and any effects on pre-existing mental health disorders. I subsequently wholeheartedly agreed to give this form of treatment a go, since most of the other treatment options have been exhausted and I’m left with very little alternative other than surgery.

I had my first injection on the 14th January (a lot of people on forums relating to endometriosis complained and feared about the size of the needle, but you won’t feel a thing and if you do, it’s over in a split second). Within two weeks of the injection, I started to notice a few side effects – mostly irritability and general mood swings, but nothing dissimilar to what normally happens during a period. I still got my period at the end of the month, right on cue and I’m sure this is predominately due to the fact that the injection hadn’t fully kicked in yet.

Around three weeks post-injection, I started to feel the full brunt of all the side effects I was dreading. Towards the beginning of the week, my mental health plummeted to an all-time low; I felt constantly upset despite having absolutely no reason to be sad. Normally when I feel my anxiety starting to spiral, I give myself a day to feel everything my brain is forcing me to feel; I don’t instantly try to seek answers and explanations as, for me personally, that results in a vicious cycle of overthinking, overanalysing and subsequently feeling overwhelmed with different possible reasons behind my mental health flare-ups. I followed this exact protocol during the third week post-injection, and on the following day I attempted to begin compartmentalising any stresses or emotions which could potentially become a trigger for my mental health, but I came up empty. It’s a rarity to say this, but at this current point in my life I am absolutely okay and better yet, happy and content (given the situation we’re in), which left no reason for feeling as if my life was falling apart and I couldn’t cope. I decided to keep myself busy and productive – sometimes when I’m having a ‘low’ day, it can be because I’ve felt like I haven’t achieved anything or made use of my day and time. However, even keeping busy was fruitless as I found myself in tears every night that week.

Aside from my deteriorating mental health, the other side effect I struggled with the most was hot flashes. I was told to watch out for this, as it’s the most commonly reported side effect of the injection (1 in 10 women report experiencing it). I didn’t really think much of it to begin with – I thought I could handle getting a little warm every now and then, but nothing really prepares you for sleepless nights with two bedroom windows open to cool you down, when it’s just above freezing outside but your body is convinced it’s the height of summer. My body would be freezing to the touch, yet I’d be sweating constantly through the night until 4am. It would also hit me like a truck out of nowhere – one minute I’d be walking outdoors somewhere, the next I’d be drenched in sweat from head to toe and getting hotter by the second. At times it would be impossible to cool down and I’d just have to ride it out by simply waiting until the hot flash disappeared. The only way I’m managing to combat this side effect is my keeping my windows open from around 11pm when I’m about to get ready to sleep, until I wake up in the morning. Naturally, my room could be mistaken for a fridge when I wake up but I manage to sleep a little easier when the temperature in my room falls below 7 degrees.

Other side effects I experienced to a much lesser degree included fatigue, hair loss and my skin breaking out in spots. Another commonly reported side effect is acne, which I didn’t experience, but I usually keep to a strict skincare regimen and stepped up skincare product game by using certain serums which target skin prone to hormonal acne. That being said, I noticed that despite my best efforts I did break out in spots all across my chin under my lips which is something I’ve never had before. I’ve heard from multiple dermatologists that spots/acne around the chin are reflective of hormonal imbalances, so I’m just sticking to products recommended to target breakouts in that area (Azelaic Acid & Vitamin C) and hoping for the best. Breakouts aren’t the best but I do consider this side effect the lesser of the 3/4/5 evils. I’m also no stranger to fatigue but found myself needing to take a nap in the evenings at around 8-9pm because my energy levels plummeted to the point where I couldn’t physically function – I was unable to hold a conversation, or pay attention to simple things like reading a book or watching Netflix. My body felt heavy and small tasks like walking up the stairs took every ounce of energy I had, where I’d have to sit down once I’d got up the stairs. The hair loss side effect didn’t affect me greatly since I didn’t really notice it in the beginning. I only acknowledged something was different when I was in the shower and strands of it would fall out when I’d wash my hair, but for me personally, this wasn’t even remotely problematic. It is worth noting that Zoladex isn’t known to cause weight gain as a side effect, however everyone responds differently to different treatments so there’s no definitive way of ruling it out as a possibility for some people. I didn’t experience any problems with appetite or weight gain/loss with the injection, as I have done with past contraceptive pills and endometriosis treatments.

Ultimately, I can say with the utmost clarity that the Zoladex injection proved incredibly problematic and in many ways, traumatising for me. The two greatest obstacles I came across whilst my body was adjusting to the drug were the effect on my mental health and the hot flashes. My anxiety is normally incredibly well-controlled – I haven’t had a significantly awful anxiety attack or panic attack for over a year now, so these relatively new feelings of despair took me by surprise and honestly, fear. I have a method of approach when I feel anxiety attacks coming on, or if I’m generally feeling quite low. I try to be as methodical as possible to ensure I feel better as quickly as I can whilst trying to acknowledge any explicit or underlying triggers, so what I went through that week was nothing short of terrifying. There’s no real way of effectively articulating how you’re feeling when you think you’re at rock bottom – in hindsight, I can now say with complete clarity and confidence that I wasn’t actually at rock bottom, the hormones convinced me I was.

I should reiterate that this injection does induce an artificial menopause which, naturally, comes with menopausal symptoms. I have sincere sympathy for people who experience menopause because from the brief glimmer of insight into it that I received, it was horrific and agonising. I’m nearly 25 years old – I think this form of treatment isn’t the best option for me personally for two reasons. Firstly, I don’t think anyone should have to experience menopause at any time of their lives, but especially not young women whose hormones are running wild all day everyday anyway (I understand that some women elect to undergo medical menopause through hysterectomy, I respect and acknowledge that). Secondly, I’ve experienced a lifetime’s worth of pain whilst struggling with endometriosis and whilst this treatment is designed to provide ‘respite’ from the intense pain, it most certainly achieved the opposite for me. On top of endometriosis-related pain and period-related pain, I was experiencing the side effects listed above. This combination effected me in more ways than I can comprehend.

Finally, I cannot stress enough the awareness that every person reacts differently to different treatments and drugs. I am fully aware that not everyone will share the same or similar experiences to mine, but as I start to raise awareness and share my story with the world, I want to be as transparent and honest about my journey as I can. I want people who may think they could have endometriosis, or are considering exploring the possibilities of certain treatments, or who just want some more information, to have access to resources and fundamentally, personal stories and emotional insight from someone who’s been there and wished they had it when they needed it the most. This condition is so common, yet so difficult to diagnose – the in-between stages are close to unbearable and I salute with pride the women who have come through the other side with strength and perseverance in their battle against this horrific disease.

A x

Mental Health Awareness Week: Self-Love

Mental Health Activism & Awareness

As I mentioned in my previous post, my campaign for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is centred around self-love. Today I’m tackling the subject of body positivity.

At 17, I developed a rather unique eating disorder – it was a mixture of starving myself and binge eating. I used to wake up at 5pm just before my parents got home from work, eat 3 packets of crisps and loads chocolate, have a couple cans of fizzy drink and then wait for them to come home. Because I’d be awfully bloated from this binge eating, I never used to be able to eat dinner properly in the evenings with my parents, so I’d normally end up crying at the dinner table because I was sad about the eating junk food earlier in the day. It was a vicious cycle – wake up late, binge eat unhealthy food and then cry about it after. 

I started to lose weight rapidly and my parents delicately suggested it might be time for me to seek help with my weight and food issues. After undergoing intense psychotherapy for about a year, I grew to understand that I was essentially punishing my body for battling against itself after I had my gallbladder taken out at 16. Because I struggled to recover from the surgery in time to sit my a-levels, I performed rather catastrophically in my first year of college. Thus, to retain some sense of control over my life, I decided to limit what I ate in order to control my weight. When I started seeing quick results from this awful diet of mine, I ran with it because it gave me a sense of achievement. The way I looked at it back then was, “maybe I failed my a-levels, but at least I’m one step closer to being a side 8.” I had a terribly unhealthy and negative relationship with my body which in turn affected my mental well-being detrimentally. 

7 years later and I finally have a better relationship with my body. My eating habits have dramatically improved – I’m eating minimum 2 meals a day instead of 1! Breakfast is still a sticking point for me as I hate eating when I wake up in the mornings but I’m always eating something during the day, every other hour or so at least! I’ve learnt to accept that whilst I’m battling health issues with my body at present, and having done so since 16, I shouldn’t be punishing my body for its struggles. I should be celebrating my physical and mental achievements. Going through the pain, the surgeries, the countless procedures that I have over the years has made me a stronger person. It sounds incredibly cliche but it took being sick to appreciate how healthy I am now. 

Since I started personal training in the gym, I’m also painfully aware of the bad habits that can be picked up from excessive and obsessive exercise. My personal trainer kept me in check every now and then, even in lockdown, to keep me motivated to exercise whenever my body allowed me to, and maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle has always been at the heart of our training together. Everyday I’m trying to ensure I don’t go overboard with my exercise routines – I give myself rest days every other day to ensure my body isn’t being worked into overdrive. With my current condition and the painful periods during that time of the month, I’m unable to move from my sofa let alone work out so I make sure I give myself a week’s rest, too. 

My personal training sessions have taught me that it’s not about looking my best, it’s fundamentally about feeling my best. Whatever my reflection shows me in the mirror doesn’t compare to what I think of myself from the inside. In an era defined by social media which essentially only reflects the best moments of people’s lives which they choose to share, we find ourselves subconsciously comparing our progress to one another. With the rise of fitness content creators comes a dangerous need to look as good as they do, to eat as clean as they do, and to work as hard as they do at maintaining a conventionally attractive physique created by society, yet deemed perfect by our own selves. Even I find myself wishing I was as toned as a Gymshark model but I have to remind myself that I am not an athlete – I have not been training rigorously. Any progress I make should be celebrated, not belittled in comparison to that of others online. We spend so much time thinking about how we can improve our appearances when our focus should be on improving our state of mind, our perceptions of ourselves. I have good days and bad days just like everyone else, but I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many people who are such positive sources of light and encouragement in my life. They celebrate my successes, support my achievements and promise me a safe place to land if I ever fall into the trap of feeling low. 

Your self-worth is defined only by how you see yourself, and the relationship you have with your body. If you want to exercise 7 times a week, you can but you don’t have to. If you want to eat healthy food everyday of the week you can, but again, you don’t need to. Listen to your body and work out what’s best for your mind. Our bodies are essentially vessels for the mind and we ought to treat both with simultaneous care, love and respect. 

A x

Mental Health Awareness Week 2020: Self-Love Campaign

Mental Health Activism & Awareness

Happy Mental Health Awareness Week! Every year, I usually come up with my own focus areas within a campaign theme set by the Mental Health Foundation. My campaign last year consisted of eradicating the negative stigmatisation associated with mental health disorders in men. This year, I’m focussing on the fundamental importance of self-love not just as a woman but fundamentally as a person. The Mental Health Foundation’s theme for 2020 is kindness, and I think the two themes are heavily intertwined within one another so complement each other perfectly.

During these unprecedented times, I think it’s imperative now more than ever to highlight the detrimental effect of mental health on one’s frame of mind and their subsequent outlook on daily activities and life in general. Being under lockdown means having our daily routines which I’m sure most of us took for granted being stripped from us without any notice or foresight. For many of us, who suffer from mental health issues or not, being denied the normality of our day-to-day lives naturally results in some level of psychological turmoil, varying in its intensity from person to person.

As someone who has suffered from varying degrees of anxiety since my teenage years, a routine keeps me happy, busy and thus, sane. Working full-time is something I’ve done since I was sixteen, and being denied the opportunity to travel into central London, to see my colleagues and work hard to earn my money has thrown my daily routine into absolute chaos. My relatively new working environment is something I had become incredibly grateful for and proud of since it seemed everything I’d worked so hard for had finally paid off and materialised into this amazing job role. Saying that, however, it appears that now it is important to instead adapt to a ‘new normal’ and to accept wholeheartedly that whilst things might not go back to the way they were pre-COVID-19, that doesn’t mean to say we cannot regain some sense of normalcy in our daily routine, and in the weeks to come. I’ve mentioned in a previous post how I’m coping with my mental health during the lockdown, which you can find here.

Being unable to see extended family and friends unless from a two-metre distance can be overwhelmingly isolating when spending most of the time confined within the same four walls each day. As a result, we naturally have more time to overthink and overanalyse small scenarios in our heads which in turn transform into unbearable mountains we think we’re simply incapable of climbing. But this is entirely okay – once we can identify that we are in fact overanalysing a minor situation, we are essentially one step closer to tackling the foundation of our anxiety/fears and this acknowledgement may prevent further spiralling, an achievement in itself. That being said, it’s not always possible to identify by ourselves when we are overthinking something – sometimes, it just happens without our particular awareness. Whether that be because it’s that time of the month or the weather outside is particularly gloomy, sometimes we as humans have our bad days. And that’s absolutely fine, so long as we can find a way to push through the dark cloud of anxious thoughts no matter how long it might take, and no matter how difficult that push might be.

Over the coming days, the aim of my posts is to draw attention to the existence of mental health, to notice the signs however big or small they might be and how we as a society as well as individuals can do our bit to ease the pain our friends and/or family members may be suffering from, most of the time behind closed doors. It takes little to no effort to be kind to each other, to extend a hand (maybe not literally at the moment) to a friend or family member who feels particularly fragile, and to offer a shoulder to cry on to someone who’s maybe getting slightly overwhelmed by being indoors all the time.

Some of us have to fight a little harder to keep ourselves sane, and there’s no greater strength than that. I used to be incredibly ashamed of my anxiety, and angry at myself for feeling the way I felt sometimes because I knew my thoughts were irrational at the best of times, but I grew to understand that although these waves take a little longer to ride through, they make us absolutely no less ourselves than those who don’t struggle. It just means that sometimes we need some extra love and reassurance around us by those we hold closest – but then again, every single person on this planet will need some additional support every now and then, mental health issues or not!

A x

[Featured Image: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week%5D

Lockdown Update!

Current Affairs, Life Updates

The past few weeks have been filled with the chaos and fear of uncertainty, and an unprecedented lack of control over the events around us. Human nature dictates that the one thing we despise more than anything is being told we cannot do what we want – the element of choice has been inexplicably stripped from us. This is something I think we’re all finding incredibly difficult to wrap our heads around. Routine has been forbidden, our entire way of life temporarily jeopardised. And with that, comes a distinct increase in anxieties over the near and distant future.

For someone that normally thrives off routine and structure, this lockdown as thrown me ever so slightly. Not going to work every day, hitting the gym and not being able to socialise has proven hugely challenging, but here are a few ways I’ve kept myself busy and thus, somewhat sane.

Reading – I used to consume books within a day way back when, so I’ve recently started re-reading some of my favourites which had a profound impact on me either growing up or more recently, from poetry to prose. I find losing myself in a book keeps me centred and acts as a very therapeutic form of escapism.

Fitness – three months ago I began my personal training journey after quitting my job at the last minute (one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!). Having the sessions come to an abrupt halt significantly impacted my mood recently so I’ve decided to start doing home workouts. They take a lot of improvisation, but I was thankfully blessed with an incredible personal trainer who still motivates me every day – I’ve incorporated all of our prior training into these home workouts as best as physically possible, using weights and resistance bands where feasible. Not going into work every day has meant I have much more time to devote to exercise, and since introducing a routine of training every other day, I find myself feeling much healthier and happier, physically and mentally.

Writing – I’ve always considered writing to be my greatest form of therapy since I was a teenager, and during times such as this there is no greater way to comprehend any negative (and positive!) thoughts and feelings than writing them all down. Even if it means keeping a journal, or jotting things down when feeling overwhelmed, expressing them in words rather than keeping it bottled inside has worked wonders.

Spending time with family – I don’t think I’ve ever spent as much time with or even seen my parents as I have done in the past two weeks! But it’s been a blessing to sit with them every day and talk properly. We motivate each other and pick one another up if we’re ever down and I believe in a time like this, that is more important than ever.

Leaving the house once a day – endometriosis has somewhat put a spanner in the works with this one as I do enjoy just going for a simple walk in the park every now and then. When I’m in a lot of pain, or even when I’m not, I sometimes try to distract myself with being around green space and nature, which really does work wonders when you’re stuck inside each day! Being quarantined indoors makes you appreciate nature and all it has to offer.

Stay in touch with friends – I’ve come to appreciate my loved ones even more so now! Even just checking in with each other is so important, but true friends provide stability in times like this. If it’s for a gossip, a vent or just to chat about being bored, it’s nice to have someone on the other end of the phone in the same position, who understands and listens.

As I said before, there is great fear in such uncertainty. Not being able to do what you want can at times take a huge toll on your mental wellbeing. But staying indoors means saving the lives of our loved ones and the vulnerable, so it’s really a no brainer. If we can survive this, we can survive anything. And it makes the future that much more promising.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay positive (and stay INSIDE!).

A x

The Saudi Experience

Travel

Whenever people hear that I’ve come back from Saudi, I’m usually greeted with a raised eyebrow, an uncomfortable side glance or a “really? Saudi?” I thought I’d shed some light on my experience there, culturally, not just spiritually.

Firstly, the strictness people associate with Saudi Arabia is relatively accurate, but this is fundamentally due to a strictness in cultural lifestyle. Additionally, what we in the West may consider to be “strict” is the norm for them. More and more often, I find myself talking to people who condemn the lack of freedom in their dress code; it’s conflicting, because on the one hand, it’s completely irrational to dispute another country’s cultural values when you don’t live there yourself. However, the lack of freedom for women is a growing concern within the East, especially in Saudi Arabia with more women desperately seeking freedom, independence and the desire to become something greater than a daughter, wife and mother. While it’s not exactly desirable being covered from head to toe in black garments in 35 degree heat, it respects the religious values of the kingdom, especially with it being an Islamic country.

Furthermore, it’s also imperative to understand the differentiation between orthodox Muslims and liberal Muslims: the latter of which is increasingly growing in the East. Once girls get their first period, they’re required to ‘veil’ – wear a burqa and niqab (face veil). As this necessity doesn’t extend to all Muslim countries and is not obligatory within Islam, it therefore becomes a cultural aspect of living in Saudi Arabia for the orthodox. Whilst some see the burqa as oppressive, other see it as liberating. This conflict is also very evident with Saudi women. Hearing stories of women’s experiences in Saudi, I’ve come to understand that women breaking the moulds set to confine them to their gender. The age of stay-at-home wives and daughters is slowly coming to an end as young members of the Saudi royal family are seen to be wearing jeans and dresses instead of the traditional burqa. Maybe we’ll see a drastic increase in western clothing becoming a prominent part of Saudi culture in a few years.

Finally, whilst on my travels I noticed the undeniable amount of wealth Arabs are born into. From families of seven travelling in first class on flights around the world to hands and necks adorned with gold, it’s clear that the rich, have a good life out there. Yet, when you pass a shopping centre and turn onto a side road, slums slowly come into view with children sitting outside, begging for money whilst the elders take refuge in the shade. They’re not wealthy enough to afford a fan, or pay electricity bills. This paradox of extreme wealth juxtaposed with extreme deprivation within metres of each other brings to light just how little is being done for the people of Saudi, 15% of which live in poverty. Since the assassination of King Faisal, a King who had great ideas for Saudi in his plans to liberate the country and introduce more freedom and independence as well as financial reform designed to help the people, the country has digressed. The royal family live with an abundance of wealth at their fingertips: the people’s money. Instead of projecting this wealth onto poorer parts of the country, helping eradicate poverty and poor living standards for those who can afford very little, the royal family are seen to be travelling across the world, to their villas in Spain and Cannes or apartments in central London.

My love for Makkah and Medina stems from a spiritual enlightening I gained whilst on my pilgrimage. My love cannot extend to Saudi Arabia as a whole, simply because of the explicit inequality which is grossly overlooked by the country’s wealth as a whole. The people’s money is not being used effectively. Women are awfully restricted in that they still cannot drive; if they don’t hold a valid driving license, they cannot vote. They’re required to travel with a chaperone. They cannot take part in criminal proceedings as they’re considered forgetful and too emotional. Saudi has a long way to go to achieve gender equality and freedom; something which may never be achieved, predominately due to Wahhabi sects exercising their beliefs on how one should live their lives as a true Muslim. It’s the 21st century, but it appears Saudi are still centuries behind.

A x

 

HEALTH UPDATE: MAY 2016

Life Updates

The waiting game.

It appears I spend most of my time waiting for things to happen; currently, I’m waiting to be seen by a specialist in the field of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction at Harley Street. Sadly, the NHS route proved to be an absolute disaster; I spent two months waiting for the appointment to come through to see a consultant who had an “interest” in the field of SOD at a tertiary centre hospital, only for him to tell me there was nothing he could do about my condition due to a substantial “lack of evidence” excluding my pain. It’s safe to say that I was livid after that appointment. His reluctance to do anything about my condition pretty much summed up why I have no faith in doctors – for over a year and a half, my condition has worsened yet they seem to intentionally brush over my three year-long suffering.

Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction is a tricky little condition; for one, the Sphincter muscle in my bile duct is so tiny that the best way to assess whether it’s working properly (or not, in my case) is to go inside and undergo a procedure. The problem is this procedure carries the risk of inducing pancreatitis; having already suffered a bout of it two years ago, I’m not too keen to risk any chances of having it again because the pain is horrendous. Pancreatitis also runs the risk of inflicting life-long damage onto the pancreas, creating furthermore health problems. However, having exhausted many medicinal routes to tackle to pain I’m in daily with SOD, I’m running out of patience and options. Being bombarded with pain relief doesn’t solve the issue and it appears the doctors I’ve seen are almost reluctant to cure it, opting for a safer, non-invasive method of treating the symptoms.

Another problem is the relapses. Whilst I was away, I suffered from an episode of severe pain which landed me in hospital – not ideal when you’re in another country. The relapses occur almost every other month, drastically impacting my life with its unpredictability. Doctors perhaps perceive my desperation for medical intervention as just another kid who comes in with pain in their stomach. They don’t realise how badly this condition has ruined my life for the past three years. They can’t imagine being in pain for a solid 18 months because they’ve never been there.

I know it’s wrong to desperately hope for something when I’ve already been disappointed so many times before, but I sincerely hope this consultant will give me some answers this time. If not surgical intervention then at least another option to consider would be preferable. Being written off has destroyed me, physically and emotionally.

So, hopefully, in ten days I may just get some answers!

A x