Just a number

I've been starting my Spring semester at school and I'm taking Diagnostic Coding. After getting into this class a little it doesn't surprise me at all that the healthcare and insurance field can be kind of "cold" and distant. Like everything you can think of and more is down to a number. I am 256.31 (premature menopause...which actually POI doesn't fit the definition in the coding book...YEAH) or 256.2 (if I believe RAI played a role) or 256.39 (if you go by POI definition...I think). I feel like Jean Valjean in Les Miserable where the only thing Javier knows Valjean by is his prison number 24601.

From an informational and organizational standard it's not something you can change. But why expect them to understand the depth of the condition when all they know it by is a number?

New Year...New Leaf

Welcome 2010! I always think it's good to start a new year. I have resolutions this year that I'm hoping I'll stick to. 2009 was horrible for my caffeine and carbonation consumption both of which are horrible on your bones. I broke a 15+ year long habit of not drinking caffeinated drinks (religious preference) and began indulging in regular Dr Pepper (oh how I will miss thee). So first and foremost for my new goals is to stop drinking soda and carbonation (take care of my already-at-risk bones). Next goal is to be happier...not get hung up on how people behave or how I let them influence me...main focus here is my road rage (okay I've never chased anyone down or been crazy) but I will stop yelling or cursing at bad drivers and stop flipping them off. Those are my two main focuses...that and to be organized and do well in school. I also am going to try to go to WSU gym after or before my classes this semester...exercise is always a good goal. I really hope 2010 goes well.

Long Term Outlook

POF has many facets for how it affects your life. Your ovaries basically shut down or stop working. This means that eggs aren't formed and it is the formation process (monthly cylce) and an active ovary that produces most of estrogen in a womans body and also produces some testosterone and other hormones. Without estrogen you run into problems with absorption of calcium and maintaining bone density and also cardiovascular risk. Basically you become prone to the same issues that a menopausal woman becomes susceptible to...but with POF you are at risk 20-30 years sooner. Most women with POF take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in order to counter the risks but even then you are still at risk of osteoperosis and heart disease. It's scary stuff.

I remember when I got over the initial infertility issue enough to worry about my health that I was terrified I'd have osteoperosis and I worried about POF upping my risks of hereditary heart problems. I asked my doctor about getting a DEXA scan (bone scan) for osteoperosis and he said it was unnecessary and I should be fine. That was another reason that Jeff and I went to the NIH in Washington D.C. because they performed standard tests for POF free of charge for their study. They realized that osteoperosis is a risk even in a 27 year old (at the time) woman when it comes to POF. Luckily I tested normal for bone density at the time but I should be retested every few years and take proactive measures like weight bearing exercise.

Anyway enough rambling. Basically this post was just to say that I am doing a research paper for my college course Biomed Core (biology and physiology) and I chose to do this on the long term health risks of Premature Ovarian Failure. I think it will be good for me to get more information and I've researched it before so I already know a lot of the material. I am interested to find out more detail about the risks though.