The reason why my stomach is not flat.

Listen, no amount of gym time can flatten my stomach. 

Here is why......

One day, I was at work, minding my own business as per usual when I decided to answer the nature call. 

I went to the ladies and lo and behold... there was blood on my panties. Lord, how is this possible if my periods just ended not so long ago? I wondered! Naah,  Not today SATAN! NOT TODAY I whispered to myself.

I pulled out my phone, something I wouldn't normally do because I've had so many incidences where I dropped my phone into the toilet bowl (GROSS!) to verify that I am not on my periods cause I would be so devasted. Anyways, the APP verified that it is definitely not that time yet.

I went to see a Doctor at our workplace's clinic who that referred me to a Gynaecologist. The hospital isn't too far from the office so I walked about 10 minutes which felt like forever. What could be wrong with me? I am not sexually active?( I would've blamed it on a boy right away if I were? What could it be? I wondered. Anyways, I made it to the hospital without getting hit or knocked by a car because the streets here can be quite wild, especially when you are absent-minded. 

The Gynae was friendly but asked so many invasive and personal questions (dude go easy on me, we just met lol) including unsolicited advice "you should make a baby soon", (Sir I paid you to treat me, not to patronize me, OK). He led me to a tiny room with a bed and an ultrasound then he did the very invasive vaginal examination... Grrrrr! He said everything looked good, whatever that means!

Then he rubbed a cold gel on my abdomen & started with what I call witchcraft (ultrasound ) examination. It didn't take him long to find something, he tried to show me on the screen but I couldn't see what he was seeing, everything was black... (absolute witchcraft). Anyways, there is something in my uterus that is not supposed to be there, a FIBROID. At that moment I had no idea what that meant but I got off that bed and went back to the table (unbothered).

He explained what Uterine fibroids are (noncancerous growths of the uterus), where they grow in the uterus, how big they grow, associated complications/symptoms and the location of the fibroid in my uterus. He also explained that there is no treatment but he can treat the symptoms. I couldn't ask questions because of the language barrier and I knew that I will consult Dr Google as soon as I step out of that room. He also sent me to a laboratory for clearer imaging and all that but I was not interested in queuing at the Lab.

I spent hours reading and researching about fibroids, my options and everything including diets and lifestyle. I also found out that Uterine Fibroids are very common in Black women, WOW. 

I went on with my life, without inconveniences until one day when my periods started and blood was flowing like crazy. I was shocked because my flow is usually light to medium but that specific month, it was on 100 km/h and had a companion...CLOTS. I was traumatised ( my palms are sweating). I also bled for 8-10 days compared to 5-6 days. In addition, I could no longer hold pee for long, as soon as there is an urge to pee, I had to go or risk an accident (the ghetto). I consulted Dr Google, went back to the Gynae who prescribed hormonal medication, which I took for 3 days before quitting ( I am a professional quitter when it comes to medication). I quit because I don't believe in hormonal medicine including contraceptives, but that's just me. 

I decided to take control of my lifestyle to alleviate the symptoms. I started exercising because I realized that the heavier I get, the heavier my period flow gets. I've also reduced sugar intake because well,  I don't really have a reason but it works. That really helped because I managed to bring my flow down to medium-heavy and back to 5-6 days. 

In between, I have consulted different gynaecologists and explored available options such surgery, but I don't really want to go that route yet!

So, please, next time when you see me with my "unflat" stomach, it is NOT because I have belly FAT.

It is because I have something as big as a grapefruit in my uterus, plus, it causes stomach bloating sometimes.

And no amount of slimming tea or ABS workouts can burn FIBROIDS away.

Please, be kind to women, we are going through A LOT!