Sometimes, as women, it can be uncomfortable for us to talk about our bodies, especially when it comes to health problems.
Long-standing stigmas against women's health topics have made us squeamish about sharing them, or questioning when we want to know more about them.
But fortunately, more woman are coming forward with stories, personal accounts, and pictures related to their health, like this woman with PCOS bravely did.
Another woman who wasn't afraid to speak up for the sake of her body was Natashjja Heming. She was constantly confused about the pelvic pain that plagued her all throughout her teen years.
Initially, doctors told her that nothing serious was causing the straining feeling, but she wasn't convinced and eventually found another specialist who would run more tests.
Once an ultrasound was conducted, a huge menacing cyst was discovered, which confirmed her fears that something was wrong.
Check below to learn more about this intriguing medical mystery — it will definitely empower you to speak up for your health's sake!
[H/T Mamamia]
Since age 13, Natashjja Heming can remember feeling a “pulling,” cloying pain on the left side of her pelvic region.
She and her mother thought that it could be due to endometriosis and tried to get her diagnosed, but doctors couldn’t detect anything wrong and advised her to continue to take pain medication instead.
But the pain persisted throughout high school and beyond.
Heming suffered silently through it, all the while wondering exactly why the pain felt so severe.
By the time she turned 22, she had gone through enough constant discomfort and switched to a new doctor.
This time, the doctor agreed to begin the exploratory process with an ultrasound.
Almost immediately, the doctor discovered an abnormality and called other specialists into the room to see it.
It turns out that Heming was not overthinking the pain; she actually had a cyst the size of a peach wrapped around her fallopian tube!
The cyst was identified as a dermoid cyst, which had likely been inside her since birth.
Within the cyst, doctors detected hair, three teeth, spinal fluid, and skin tissue.
Some theorize that these cysts develop when one twin absorbs another in utero — and since twins happen to run in Heming’s family, she joked that she must have eaten her twin in the womb.
After receiving the diagnosis, she felt relieved that the suspicion for her pain hadn’t all been in her head.
But the doctors told her that the cyst would grow to the size of a mango if it was not taken care of.
During the difficult procedure, the cyst burst, resulting in a painful, but ultimately successful recovery.
Since her ordeal, Heming has been a vocal advocate for girls to speak up if they are feeling unsure about what is going on in their bodies.
Regardless of what medical professionals may urge, you should never feel uncomfortable about issues that have to do with your health, or getting a second opinion on a diagnosis.
If you believe that all patients should be adamant and vocal about their health, make sure to SHARE with friends and family on Facebook!
