So true!

Thank you! I’m sorry you went through all of that. What a nightmare. Tomorrow I see a gynecologist who said “Sure, try the cream. I don’t think it’ll help you but it certainly won’t hurt you.” He’s going to hear all about what happened.

I mention this because I could find NOTHING helpful on this topic when I was looking for it. 10% of women have endometriosis and way more have fibroids. And we’re all getting slammed with fantastical HRT promises everywhere we look. I want to put this out there in case it helps someone.

Imaging showed that my fibroids are now more than twice the size they were, and there’s another set of them growing on the outside of my uterus. Indoor/outdoor fibroids! In addition, my 15 year old c-section scar suddenly appears to have “scar endometriosis.” It’s kid of a nightmare.

I even opted for the supposedly much less intense topical estradiol cream and the effects were swift and surprisingly strong—both good and bad. However, it got really bad a couple of weeks ago when I started hemorrhaging while traveling for work. A very scary experience!

Except if you’re me apparently! If you, like me, have endometriosis or fibroids, be very cautious. I consulted several doctors about safety and possible risks and NONE of them could say anything other than that it would be “probably fine” or “totally fine.” It was not!

This is so interesting. I really love reading your dispatches from Sweden.

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin (audio version is excellent, maybe the best one I’ve tried) and My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh (the audio book held me hostage for a weekend and slapped me around)

Oh no, I bet my anti-bleebleblorp antibodies are abnormal and I’m going to have to see a honkleplonkologist