I’ve been getting my period since the age of 12 and I would have never thought I’d be concerned by not having to endure extreme torture for 5+ days but, here we are. Having my period is a blessing and a curse but it has allowed me to learn so much about my flow, things I should be consuming as I menstrate, and deciding what products to use along the way. I quickly learned that I’m never going to be into tampons and that’s perfectly fine but last year, I discovered the Always period panties and it made me anticipate my period more each month. In November of 2022, I experienced my last period at the age of 27. At first, I went into panic mode and ran to the nearest clinic to later find out that I wasn’t expecting, I just happened to be extremely late.
After 2 full cycles not showing up, I decided to look for a local gynocologist being that I’m in a new state, and I haven’t seen my former gyno since 2018. After paying $200 out of pocket to see the doctor, I sat in the waiting room with my boyfriend anxiously. The nurse called me in to do a urine sample to see if I happened to be pregnant but of course, it was negative. At this point, I’m thrilled to hear a solution or some kind of reassurance about my extremely tardy period, but my doctor didn’t seem to know what was going on either. He kept mentioning the fact that he’s shocked that this is happening to me at such a young age, and proceeded to do a pap smear which is a process that has not evolved since the beginning of time. After collecting a sample of whatever from down there, he proceeded to tell me that the leading causes of not seeing your period consistently can be caused by fibroids, PCOS, or simply needing to be induced with some kind of pill ( which I’m tired of resorting to Everytime there’s an issue with my body).
The following day I completed bloodwork downstairs at Labcorp which was a whopping $115 for me to donate my own blood. After this process, I had no choice but to wait and wander what’s really going on with my body. Unfortunately, even with the knowledge that doctors have, they still can be very unsure of what’s going on with your body which causes you to worry as well. Although I’m alive, I’m nervous about what the real issue is at this time. Having the reassurance of knowing that your body is working and flowing in a way that it needs to be, it one of the best feelings but in reality, that’s not always up to you. My only issue is with health care providers is that they’re very impersonal during very personable interactions, it seems like money is the most important factor for them not the patient.
One of the reasons why I’ve been content with not going to the doctor as often as I should is because of the lack of integrity that doctors embody. As a black woman that is currently uninsured, I am always hesitant to go to the doctor because of the lack of thorough information and reassurance that’s needed in such a vulnerable environment. Every dollar counts and so are the days that I’m being given to uphold a healthy body to live and to one day carry my children. I’ve been to various gynocologist and I’ve only had one that I truly trusted but he was hard to book because he happens to be highly requested. Since I’ve moved to Texas, I’ve been hesitant to book with anyone until I was sure about their business practices. After shifting through google reviews, I found this GYN and I still felt like I should have taken my ass to a holistic doctor initially. My goal is to find someone that’s patient, kind, and very detailed in how they conduct business so I’m not left to feel confused and bamboozled leaving the doctors office.
As I get older, I begin to get more serious about my health. When I was younger, I can admit, I took it for granted because there we’re more distractions taking up space in my life. I’m now considering going the holistic route and finding a health care professional in that industry that I trust and I can rely on for knowledge and an understanding that being unsure about your health isn’t easy. Between being scammed by insurance companies and doctors not providing you with helpful information, I’m ready to embark on a more natural way of improving my wellness. Holistic wellness encourages individuals to take an active role in their health and well-being by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, practicing stress-reduction techniques, and engaging in activities that promote emotional and spiritual growth.
By adopting a holistic approach to wellness, individuals can achieve a greater sense of balance, harmony, and overall well-being in their lives. You can also become more resilient in the face of stress and adversity, and better equipped to manage the challenges that life throws your way. Ultimately, the goal of holistic wellness is to help you live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives in all aspects of your being. It also recognizes the role of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and herbal medicine, in promoting wellness.
I recently shared this story with my Instagram community and here are some of their stories + responses:
What has your experience been with traditional doctors ? Have you ever considered holistic wellness instead ? I’d love to hear from you in the comments ⬇️
If you enjoyed this blog post follow this blog 𝕯𝖊𝕱𝖎𝖓𝖊 𝕱𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖊, and follow us on
Leave a Reply