Welcome March's IComLeavWe

Happy ICLW! It's my favorite week of the month. I get to find new blogs AND I get to "meet" new women, sometimes men. It's a lot of fun. If you are reading and have never heard of it, click on the icon and sing up for next month. It's really, a lot of fun! Did I mention, it's a lot of fun?...

If this is your first time here, or if you have been here before but all you ever knew about me is that my mom passed away 3 years ago and I'm just NOW starting to accept it and climb my way through it, then click this and start at "Here is my story:" it's a few paragraphs down. That's the "low down". Although, I never really told how I got here. I never said exactly how I got to be a part of this community.

It started in July of last year. I was feeling really sick and run down. I was having pelvic pain and figured it was a bladder infection. When it didn't get any better, with cranberry juice and such, my husband drug me to the ER. He had to convince me to go to the ER, I was sure I was "fine". He had to point out the pain I was having, even though I was trying to hide it. He also, pointed out my bloated belly *thanks babe* and my fatigue. So, off to the ER we went. We got there and they run all their female tests. Which, we all know, are just SO much fun! My nurse asked me all her questions and thought I was going through early menopause. Uhhhh, well OK?

After all my tests came back, it was determined that I had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease AGAIN?! I sat there, completely stunned! I had flashbacks of all the crap I went through when I had this the FIRST time. I panicked a bit. I asked my nurse how I could have gotten this AGAIN, and how can I NOT get it again. Her response was AMAZING! She said "well, honey, you have a vagina". That was the best reply she could have ever given me! The first time I got this, the nurses told me it was an STD. Ummm, hi I'm MARRIED and monogamous, there is NO way I have an STD, and if I do..feel free to kick that guy's ass that's in the waiting room. This nurse told me that, yes it is possible to get PID from an STD, but generally the cause is having a vagina.
I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I was to hear her say that. I, of course, knew I didn't have an STD, but whenever I'd go to a new doctor and tell them my history, I always felt like I was defending myself.

They released me with a bunch of paperwork and 3 prescriptions. 2 antibiotics and a beautiful pain killer. I was put on bed rest by my husband and my friends. I was told NOT to get out of bed, unless I had to use the restroom. He even had someone babysit me when he had to go to work. There was NO way I was getting out of this one. Noway I could pretend I was fine before I was.

Since I was stuck in bed or at my PC, once I could sit up without pain, I had nothing to do but surf the Internet. I went to Redbook and read articles and blogs. I read one article, and that woman had a blog. I read her blog and that blog led me to Mel's blog. I was hooked right away! Seriously, how much do we love Mel?! I sent her an email, making sure I was "welcome". I didn't want anyone to feel bad because I was there. I hadn't told anyone my story and I really didn't want anyone to feel bad. I know it's silly, but it's how I felt at the time. Mel of course said I WAS welcome and I've been here ever since.

Here I am today, giving and receiving more support then I could have ever imagined. I'm not glad I got PID again, but I am glad I was put on bed rest, so I could find this community and ALL of you wonderful strong women!

I look forward to reading new blogs, getting to know other bloggers, getting and receiving a virtual hug.

WELCOME!