I am in control. This was my daily mantra. Now, it’s my security blanket, the belief that keeps me going every day. Let me be honest – I am a super duper control freak. More like a control freak on steroids. I was an overachiever and workaholic in every way. Don’t get me wrong – it all paid off. My career was in high gear; I was earning more than I ever thought possible. I never really got the hang of living a balanced lifestyle. Who had the time? I just knew everything would work out to my advantage. Boy, was I wrong.

I couple of years ago, I watched my life crash and burn. My industry took a turn for the worst. I found myself going from a rock star to that person who needs to reinvent herself in order to be more marketable. My health plummeted as well. I was diagnosed with fibroids a few years ago, but they were not much of a concern until the last couple of years, when I finally settled down and decided to start trying for baby. It was so frustrating to have to see a slew of doctors who don’t listen and think they know more about your body than you do. I even went to a fertility specialist who felt the need to run my body through a battery of tests (not covered by my insurance of course) to “make sure” I did not have an underlying issue. Through all these tests I told him that fibroids were my problem, but he ignored me and I underwent three months of testing only to result in fibroids being my only issue. This is my problem with some practioners in the medical industry. They do not listen and they discount your opinions because you are not a medical professional. But guess what, we know our bodies best. Time was wasted going through all this testing – and as a woman in her late 30s, time is of essence if you want to start working on a family. The only positive thing to come from all this was that this guy referred me to a wonderful surgeon that I trust, one who listens.

Now, another problem. I am severely anemic. I always took anemia for granted – I’ve experienced it most of my life and it seems to run rampant with all females on my mother’s side. I was always able to get my levels back up by taking some iron consistently. Unfortunately, my luck ran out. I have not been able to get back into the normal range and my doctor is not only worried we will have to postpone the surgery, but he is worried about me. The scariest thing a doctor can tell you is that he is afraid for you and your health. Aren’t they supposed to fix all our ailments? It’s like when your religious counselor tells you he’s afraid for your soul. Huh? What does that mean??? Then reality set in – this is not an easy fix. I could experience permanent damage or worse. I am now on medication that stops me from menstruating so that I can build my iron levels back up. But, the side effects are killer – hot flashes, night sweats, sleep deprivation, loss of appetite, loss of energy. I’m sure some of these effects are more due to stress than the medication, but who really knows.

The positive to all this is I took back my power. I no longer wait for doctors to tell me what to do or what I have. I researched natural ways of dealing with fibroids, including acupuncture and changing my diet. I am on my way to cutting out all red meat and poultry. I have eliminated caffeine and a good deal of processed foods. I am eating more organic foods. Even more important, my state of mind has changed. No one realizes how detrimental stress, anxiety and depression are to the human body and psyche. I have a new outlook, one that is more positive. I have learned to be just as bold with my personal life and health as I was with my career. At the end of the day, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. My hope is that my story will help and encourage women to empower themselves and take control of their lives. Do not wait for someone to guide you, always ask questions, and always look for answers. Knowledge really is power.
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Caridad Pellot is a corporate executive who looks like she has it all together. In her blog, “Diary Of A Control Freak”, she lets us in on the lessons she’s learning along the way.

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