My fibroid journey.

Ah yes my fibroid journey!….

My name is Dr Chichi and I have multiple large fibroids. This is obviously a forced journey and it’s not over yet!

Fibroid aka uterine myoma aka leiomyoma is a non cancerous tumour that grows in or around the uterus ( womb). It can present with symptoms or without symptoms resulting in either being fully aware of it or not knowing you have it. In my own case I had no symptoms until recently.

The most common symptoms are:-

• Painful/heavy periods

• Pain - lower back pain/ abdominal pain

• Constipation

• Frequent need to urinate

• Discomfort/pain during sex

This forced fibroid journey of mine started in 2015 while I was in Romania. Like I said, I had no symptoms so I wasn’t looking for anything, I was just doing my routine gynaecological check up which as it turns out did not go according to plan. That appointment turned out to be my last routine gynaecological checkup.

I remember sitting there in the doctor’s office on a cold winter evening being told in Romanian language that I had non cancerous tumours! I thought my translation and comprehension was wrong, I couldn’t believe my ears, I froze in shock and tears fell down my eyes and before I knew it, I was wailing. I was inconsolable and shaking, my brain was working overtime and my stomach was in knots.

At that moment I got crippled by fear and I felt like my whole world was falling apart. I kept on thinking how this was not the plan, this was not how my story was supposed to go.

You see, I grew up with the mindset that having a fibroid meant you will not be able to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term especially after seeing my aunty struggle with fibroids and infertility. Going through medical school changed that mindset a bit while providing hope to it. My medical doctor brain understood it became a game of chance as fibroid can lead to infertility but at the same time there was a chance of conceiving.

In 2019 my mindset shifted again, from the 50:50 chance to a strong belief that what God can not do does not exist especially after hearing people’s testimonies on NSPPD, fibroid disappearing testimonies that challenged my medical knowledge and brought down my 50:50 mindset.

Below is a picture of my abdomen in 2020, when the fibroid started getting bigger leading to frequent need to urinate, abdominal pressure, abdominal pain, lower back pain and no hope for dash board abs!

Though my journey is not over yet, I get to say that what I was afraid of did not happen, in September 2021 I found out I was pregnant and that became a game changer.

Below is a picture of my fibroids and I at the beach. I am not pregnant in this picture, I just have fibroids!!

As I posed for this picture in 2021, I posed with a smile and assurance that the next time I would pose like this, I will be pregnant and happy! 🙏🏽

Below is a picture of me in 2022 with fibroids, pregnant and happy. 🙏🏽