Predictably Unpredictable: My Experience with a Rare Bleeding Disorder

It's not a secret that one of the less glamorous symptoms of bleeding disorders in women is menorrhagia. *Menorrhagia is described as heavy periods, lasting upwards of 7 days with the presence of large clots for more than one day of your period. For women, it's often taboo to talk about our cycles and what our bodies go through every month. But having a bleeding disorder complicates the secrecy that so many women strive for. For me, my periods have always been the most challenging aspect of my bleeding disorder. Like most females with BD's, I've been placed on vigorous courses of hormones to attempt to place a band aid on my body's 'normal' physiology. My last round of oral contraceptives was a low dose estrogen tablet that was used as a last ditch effort before deciding to place a Mirena IUD. I was 14, so in addition to my already (naturally) imbalanced hormones, my body was shocked by this new influx of estrogen. I immediately recognized that what was...

It's been over a year since my last update, and it's been interesting to say the least. Prompted by a variety of situations, I found myself in a position where I needed to step back from the bleeder world and focus on myself. First tour: University of Alabama. Roll Tide! I was facing my first semester back in brick and mortar school after finally working out a solid(ish) treatment plan. I was riddled with anxiety and fear that things would spiral out of control again, thus requiring me to medically withdraw. It had become the 'normal' for me where school was concerned, so I was cautious to place any expectations on my return. To everyone's surprise, my treatment plan held up and I was able to get through my first semester with it being relatively uneventful. It was great to be back with my friends and I found my groove. I also started touring colleges, something that blew my mind! There were times I doubted I would ever finish high school, let alone go on to c...