My face was flushed-I couldn't see it, but I could feel it. Even the backs of my hands were moistened with sweat. My entire body felt oddly, uncomfortably and suddenly very warm.
If you're a "woman of a certain age," you'll recognize the telltale signs of a hot flash. But I was 24 and not at all sure what was going on. It was one of many unexpected things happening to my body around that time. By then, I was kind of taking it day by day.
Months before my first hot flash, I'd been feeling unusually bloated and crampy. At times I felt a sharp pain on the right side of my abdomen. Just two years removed from playing competitive college soccer, I was now too uncomfortable for even a slow jog. One doctor diagnosed me with IBS; another thought I had a UTI. None of them seemed all that concerned.
I, however, was. After a morning of particularly bothersome abdominal pain and built-up frustration, I went to urgent care. A doctor there performed an ultrasound, diagnosed me with ovarian cysts and prescribed birth control. Three months later, I was due at my gynecologist's office for a follow-up for the ovarian cyst diagnosis. I told her about my experience-I still felt bloated and had no appetite, and the birth control hadn't done much as far as I could tell - and she shuffled me into an exam room for another ultrasound.
Later, as we sat in her office, she explained that I had a large mass in my abdomen that had enveloped my ovaries-no doubt the cause of my symptoms. At first I felt a strange sense of relief: Finally, someone had acknowledged that something was wrong! But when she looped in an oncologist "as a precaution," my relief shifted mostly to denial: Surely it's nothing.
Less than a week later, doctors removed the mass (the size of a mini Nerf football, I was told), both ovaries and my appendix, which had gotten mixed up in it all. I was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2022-Ausgabe von Good House Keeping - US.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2022-Ausgabe von Good House Keeping - US.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
BLISTERED BITES
Shishitos are delicious all yearand creepy on Halloween!
DRINK if you DARE
Welcome, vampires, skeletons and zombies: This spiritforward duo may be strong enough to wake the dead.
Have a scary-good HALLOWEN
The spookiest day of the year calls for tricks and treats!
More Than a Walk in the Park
Agility training can be a fun and engaging way to get moving and bond with your pet.
Get More From Your Garage
Expert advice on three common conversions
The Mental Health Benefits of CATS
How our feline friends keep our minds purring
THE STRESS-BUSTING HACK THAT'S RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE
Breathwork is more than the wellness trend du jour- it's a science-backed route to relief from multiple modern ailments.
Do Men Really Not See The Mess?
The answer might surprise you. Journalist and author Gemma Hartley pulls back the curtain to reveal the invisible forces that drive this all-too-common cause of marital strife.
At-Home Devices
In this burgeoning category of DIY skin tools, technologies like microcurrent (low-level electrical current), radiofrequency (lowfrequency electromagnetic waves), lasers (pulsating light) and LED light aim to stimulate muscles or collagen production to firm and tighten.
Can Anything Really Firm Your Face?
Countless complexion brands tout skin-tightening solutions like firming skincare products, at-home devices and professional treatments. Here, our experts get real about whether these techniques can actually help skin bounce back once it starts to go lax.