Who Likes Being on Their Cycle for Months at a Time?
Who likes being on their cycle for months at a time? I don’t. But there I was, bleeding and bleeding with no end in sight. It felt endless, and it was exhausting. Thankfully, I had the best gynecologist ever. He was my first male gynecologist, and I’m so grateful it was him. He was patient, genuine, and truly made me feel comfortable during such a vulnerable time.
He ran every test he could, talked me through the process, and provided all the care he possibly could. But eventually, even he ran out of explanations. I’ll never forget him saying, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” I laughed, but deep down, I was frustrated. All my tests came back normal. There was no apparent reason for my extreme bleeding.
He prescribed birth control to regulate my cycles, but it had an entirely different impact. Instead of feeling relief, I sank into a deep depression. I was crying all the time, sleeping too much, and felt completely disconnected from myself. It lasted for about a month before I decided I couldn’t take it anymore. As a single mom juggling school, work, and raising my son, there was no room for depression.
I went back to my gynecologist and asked to be taken off the birth control. I decided that bleeding profusely was better than being mentally paralyzed on the couch. But even then, the fatigue and migraines from constant bleeding made life incredibly challenging. I pushed through because I had no other choice.
The turning point came in the most unexpected way—during an African ritual in Brazil. As part of the ceremony, I felt a shift in my body. Soon after, my cycles normalized, and I’ve never experienced that extreme bleeding again. Yet even then, no one connected my menstrual issues to my thyroid. Once again, every symptom I experienced was treated as an isolated issue rather than part of a larger picture.
I was honest with my doctors about everything. I asked, “Why me, Lord? What have I done to deserve this pain and trauma?” The frustration and unanswered questions piled up. And during this time, as if dealing with my health wasn’t enough, I discovered I had a learning disability.
“Well, isn’t that great,” I thought sarcastically. “At least I’m not dumb like I thought I was. Now I’m legally dumb.” It felt like one thing after another—pain, bleeding, depression, single motherhood, school, work, and hiding my struggles. I was drowning, asking, “When does this let up? Can I catch a break?”
Looking back, it’s clear how much I endured without proper answers or support. It’s also clear how vital it is to look at health holistically. I’ll continue sharing these stories, not just to process my journey but to raise awareness for others experiencing the same silent battles.
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