Monica Day is the former Director of Fund Development for the White Dress Project.
She worked in politics for over a decade, advocating for small businesses and health care.
Remembering your mission statement?
Courtesy of Monica Day
Making sure that your smile is as bright as possible?
Not usually at the top of the list.
Then, in the months leading up to the pageant, my cycles became unmanageable and incredibly painful.
I would wake up at 3:00 a.m., doubled over in pain.
The blood had soaked through a tamponanda pad and covered the black sheets of my bed.
I knew that I had to see someone about the bleeding and pain.
At first, I thought that I just needed to go on birth control to deal with my symptoms.
The scan showed what my doctor had expected to find: a uterine fibroid.
Specifically, a submucosal fibroid that was growing into the uterine cavity and pushing against my right fallopian tube.
My fibroid was the size of a grape.
Monica Day
Even knowing that uterine fibroids are common, its hard not to wonderwhy me?
Why is my body attacking me?
In my naivete, I accepted this and went on.
Now, I know that fibroids are in my genes.
Adding Adenomyosis
Removing my fibroid was a huge relief.
My symptoms immediately got better after the surgery, but over time, they started to come back.
I returned to my doctor, fearful that I had developed another fibroid.
Thats when I found out that I have another conditionadenomyosis.
The condition is when the cells that normally line the uterus start to grow into the uterine wall.
Even though the adenomyosis is unrelated to my uterine fibroids, its had the same effect on my life.
Now, my doctor and I are working together on how were going to address it.
The condition also comes with so much uncertainty.
Will this affect my ability to have children?
Will I have bled through my clothes when I stand up out of a chair?
Its also embarrassing and strips you of the ability to keep your mind on your work.
It makes it so that you cant feel free enough to be yourself in meetings.
I started searching for nonprofits that were working to find a cure for fibroids.
When I found theWhite Dress Project, it was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
Even knowing that uterine fibroids are common, its hard not to wonderwhy me?
Why is my body attacking me?
At the same time, I feel lucky because I only had one fibroid.
Since I started sharing my story, Ive had friends reveal that they have fibroids, too.
One of them has 26 fibroids.
Another is waiting for her health insurance to kick in so that she can have her fibroids removed.
My sister has four fibroids and doesnt have a plan to remove them yet.
Developing an open relationship with my doctor saved me a lot of pain and uncertainty.
I hope that will inspire more women to advocate for themselves.
Dont brush away period pain and heavy flows as just part of a womans curse.
Talk to your doctor and find someone who will listen.
2014;210(3):194-199. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2013.08.008
