Nikki is a good friend of Va Va Womb and a true womb-warrior. After years of blood, pain and uncertainty, this power-house Mum went through the emotionally traumatic ordeal of planning her own funeral due to not knowing if the womb cancer would win- but we are so thankful that after a hysterectomy, Nik is cancer free and getting her life back on track with her family and raising beautiful boys (As well as juggling the menopause!). This is Nikki‘s Womb story...
Hi I’m Nikki, I’m 34 and I’m a big supporter of Va Va Womb.
October was gynaecological cancer awareness month and it was also my first full month back to work since Christmas 2019!
Earlier this year I had a Total Abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In brief, I had my whole lady engine whipped out in one, a small price to pay to ensure no cancer but resulting in Surgical Menopause!
I've suffered with gynae troubles since I was in my teens, my periods were always irregular, I was diagnosed with POS at 16 and told that my chances of conception were slim to none.
At 16 this didn't bother me, I wasn't thinking about motherhood, however two years on, I met my now husband, Kev (you won't find better) and started to worry the rumours might be true after all...
They weren't, at 22 we welcomed our now eldest to the world, Ted (best thing l'd ever made)!
Years passed and we'd been unlucky several times, babies became angels.
At 25 I had my first smear. I'd heard all sorts of horror stories, it wasn't particularly nice but after years of people playing puppets with me, I'd become accustomed to the procedure.
I wasn't accustomed with the term, CIN 3, severe abnormalities, Loop Cone biopsy under a general anaesthetic because of pre cancerous cells. Yes that happened, my poor noonie!
No one ever really knew what was going on downstairs.
A few years later, I fell pregnant again, I was bleeding again & had spent so many hours in the EPU (Early Pregnancy Unit) over the years, the staff were almost friends! The nurses were always so lovely & knew exactly what to say to make us feel better.
Only this time, there was still a heart beat, I'd continue to bleed until 16 weeks, when eventually I'd be given a cervical suture, to keep our little boy tucked up safe and well.
At 34 weeks pregnant , Joe (named by his big brother) arrived💙 our miracle baby!
Fast forward 4 years, I've had my op, my body thinks it's in its mid 50's and that's pretty shit TBH! I have the full on hot flushes, I gain weight by looking at a cake, I’ve got insomnia and my memory is worse than Dori's but I'm all fixed and still here, so...
I try not to chew over the past 12 months from diagnosis to op. In truth, it was absolutely no picnic, there were days that I thought, this is too much.
Running when I had the energy was my happy place!
I know I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't take any of what was and now is for granted. I had a fantastic medial team who got me well.
I had and still have the support of my work colleagues, friends and family who keep me both sane or insane, depending on how u see me! 🤪. They will never know how grateful I am to them, for the cuddles, humour and recovery food!!
That was then... This is now...
To anyone going through similar... my advice, talk it out, make a brew, pick up the phone and talk talk talk!
Make yourself a plan, set a realistic goal, know that your track record for getting through tough days is currently 100%