The Society for Women’s Health Research spoke with Sharon Seibel, MD, and her husband Dr. Mache Seibel, about her journey with menopause.
I was 17 when my gynecologist told me I didn’t have a uterus – that I was born without one, in fact. Confused and angry, I wondered how this could have happened.
I wanted to take charge of my health at a young age so I could make important decisions, but I felt like I wasn’t getting all the necessary information I needed from other providers.
Twenty-six years ago, I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease with exophthalmos. Prior to this autoimmune disease diagnosis, I was always struggling with breathing issues and asthma.
I thought that I was perfectly healthy until age 54. I worked full time for 35 years in the technology industry as a programmer analyst, project manager, and system engineer.
On an August afternoon, at the age of 49, without any warning, I became engulfed in a maelstrom of insanity that spanned 17 days and nearly destroyed me.
Just before my 35th birthday, I scheduled egg retrievals as an insurance policy, sure that I would find someone eventually.
I’m a 29-year-old living with three “invisible illnesses:” Crohn’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis.
Like most new moms, I didn’t expect to have problems breastfeeding, especially since my husband and I are primary care providers.
After a few years, I finally have the whole combination of different supportive medications, hormones, and supplements in an ideal place and feel fine.