Jude AgbayaniThe biblical account of the bleeding woman spoke to me recently. She received instant healing the moment she touched the hem of Jesus’s cloak. He asked who touched him because he felt power coming out of him.
Oh, no! It’s perimenopause
Perimenopause is the time in a woman’s reproductive journey where we transition to menopause. This marks the end of the end of the reproductive years. Estrogen, the female hormone, rises and falls, and Irregular periods occur. I experienced some symptoms of perimenopause in 2019, which included:
- hot flashes/ night sweats
- sleep problems
- irregular periods
- mood swings (intensified)
The symptoms vary from woman to woman. My mother also had a unique experience, which includes intense mood swings.
I was the bleeding woman
Last year, I thought I was pregnant twice because I had two episodes of missed periods. I knew I was not pregnant, but I took a pregnancy test to confirm. And I was NOT pregnant.
I told my husband that my period was getting weird, and I am working my way through perimenopause. In January of this year, I had prolonged (10 days) and heavy bleeding. It bothered me a little, but I did nothing. The following month, when my period was heavy again, it alarmed me.
When I shared my experience with a friend, she told me she had to go through two D&C’s. I got scared! So the following week, I went to see a new OB-GYNE.
I began praying to the Lord about my condition. Then, I remembered the story of the bleeding woman. She was bleeding for a long time, but the moment she placed her faith in Christ, she received healing.
“Lord, if I could only touch the hem of your garment, I will receive healing.” There was no garment to touch. I only prayed that my bleeding stop immediately. It didn’t stop. I bled some more.
Something is not right
After my initial consultation, my doctor prescribed medicines to stop the bleeding. But I was to take a pregnancy test to confirm I was not pregnant and not having a miscarriage. She also ordered a transvaginal ultrasound to detect the source of bleeding.
I don’t enjoy going to clinics or hospitals because of the virus. But I had to do it. So the fear of contracting the virus and the fear of not knowing what was wrong with me was not a delightful combination. My prayers for healing continued.
After doing my ultrasound, the sonologist suggested I go through a D&C procedure. She said that my endometrial lining was too thick, and I had myomas too. I never had D&C before, so I don’t know how that is like.
According to my doctor, the size and location of the myomas were too small to cause the bleeding. She was not happy with the thickness of my endometrial lining. And she ordered immediate curettage and biopsy. I thought it was an outpatient procedure, but she opted for admission to the hospital.
There are a few reasons I had uterine bleeding. It could be a hormonal imbalance, a cyst or polyp, or a malignancy. The doctor was very gentle as she laid down all these reasons for me. So I assured her I was ready for the worst-case scenario.
Jesus Heals the Bleeding Woman
Luke 8: 42-48
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Hospitalization While in Pandemic
I mentioned to my doctor I didn’t feel comfortable going to clinics and hospitals during this time. But I’d rather not argue, I trust my doctor. Because I will be under general anesthesia, I need clearance from a cardiologist. I also need more blood tests and a negative SWAB test.
Fast forward to the day of the procedure. All went well according to my doctor, and I felt minimal post procedure pain. I didn’t want to stay long in the hospital, so she sent me home the next day. I had to rest and avoided heavy lifting. And my doctor advised me to wait for the histopathology report after two weeks.
The waiting time was nerve-wracking. I remember crying one morning and asking God to spare me of any malignancies. And that I want to see my children grow up, get married, and have children. The Lord comforted me personally. So I stopped thinking about the biopsy for a while.
After two weeks, I got the results. Diagnosis: Fragments of Endometrial Polyp. I shared the result with the doctor and she was happy to say it’s benign. What a relief! Praise God, indeed!
Self-Care for Women in her 40’s
Even before all this, I got serious about my health. I know I am not getting any younger and I don’t want my family to worry about my health. I want to age well too.
I changed the way I live by:
- Doing yoga and pilates at least 3 times a week.
- Adding more veggies and fruits in our diet.
- Setting emotional and mental boundaries
- Avoiding stressful conversations and people
- Listening to podcasts to uplift my soul
- Being mindful of my thought process
- Not sweating the small stuff (trying)
Perimenopause is a sign that we are ending a chapter in our life. We can no longer bear children, and that’s okay (for me). It is time to think about how else can we care and nurture our children. But it is also a time to focus on our well-being. If you are mom doing through the same season in life, take heart. We have dedicated half our lives to our families. Now, as we go through perimenopause together, let us give time for ourselves… that is not selfish. That is self-care.
