Hello everyone, I am so pleased to have stumbled across this forum while desperately searching for information and explanations.
I have been suffering for around 6 months with AF. It has completely affected the quality of my life and I at least feel some relief that I am not alone or just being a huge baby about the whole situation! My motivation to do anything is at rock bottom. I can't exercise, used to ride an exercise bike, even walking after 10 minutes makes things really smart down there. Don't really want to go out and socialize.
I have occasional days where I am not in pain and I feel like a weight has been lifted off me, only to be knocked down again by debilitating pain and the frustration that goes along with that.
I find it so difficult at work as I am sitting down and I find office seating to be really uncomfortable. I am a health professional and have long consultations with clients, usually 90 minutes and I find myself gritting my teeth and trying to breathe through the pain on some days.
I am mentally fatigued by the whole situation, I just want to wake up and find myself better. Instead I get glimmers of hope which disappear with each BA or passing of wind. As a result I am quite teary easily, if not about the pain but about trivial issues which don't warrant tears. It wakes me up at night and things are always so much worse if you haven't slept.
The highlight of my "journey" came last week when I developed a discharge which soaked through my clothes all the way into my cloth covered seat at work. At least I don't share an office so was able to clean it up. Things have been dripping, usually starting in the afternoon, ever since, and I thought it couldn't get much worse! I saw my CRS today for a post colonoscopy review and he has decided I must have an infection (didn't examine me though) and put me on antibiotics stating that it was rare for this to happen and to come back in 10 days. Panty liners are a must right now! I feel quite revolting.
I haven't told anyone about this, find it embarrassing to discuss as it is so personal and yucky!
It has really made me feel so much better when I see that others share some of the experiences that I have had.
Thank you all for sharing, good to know that I am not alone.