Guess who’s back? (Unfortunately… so are my fibroids.)

After what might officially qualify as the longest hiatus in blogging history, I am delighted (and mildly horrified) to announce that I’m back!

Unfortunately… my fibroids apparently got the same memo.

Cue sad face. Frustrated face. Eye-roll face. Deep sigh face. Every emoji face imaginable.

I started this blog six years ago to document my journey with fibroids, surgery, recovery, and everything that came after. At the time, I thought I was closing one chapter for good.

Plot twist.

Apparently my uterus enjoys reruns.

So… what has happened since 2020?

Whew.

A lot.

Also… somehow not that much?

For starters, I’m still a student. At this point, I think learning is less of a phase and more of a personality trait. Thankfully, I genuinely love it, and I’m incredibly grateful for a life that allows and somehow funds my endless academic adventures. Fortunately or unfortunately, we have an end date this time and I promise to not extend it!

These days, I’m a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park, where I spend my time thinking, reading, writing, and occasionally staring dramatically into the distance about Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism, and emerging children’s media in the field. If you ask me what I study, prepare to accidentally sign up for a 20-minute lecture. You’ve been warned.

Outside of academia, I’ve been trying to collect passport stamps and restaurant recommendations with equal enthusiasm. I’ve traveled, eaten very well, made memories, and perhaps developed a relationship with desserts that is a little too committed.

Have I been as disciplined with my diet and exercise as I was after surgery?

Absolutely not.

Could I have done better?

Probably.

Am I going to beat myself up about it?

Also no.

Sometimes life gets busy. Sometimes surviving the semester is the workout. Sometimes joy comes in the form of a good meal with people you love. Balance isn’t perfection, and I’m slowly learning that it’s okay to take things one day at a time. Am I making excuses? yes, but who’s gon’ check me boo? I have also picked up American slang…hihihihi

Now… about those fibroids.

When I had my surgery, I truly believed I had defeated them once and for all.

I imagined my fibroid era was over.

The credits had rolled.

Everyone had gone home.

Except… the villain apparently stayed for the sequel.

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed my abdomen changing in ways that feel very familiar. I haven’t gone to the hospital yet to confirm anything, but after living through this before, let’s just say my body and I know each other pretty well. The communication is clear!

Am I pretending not to notice a little?

…Maybe.

Do I currently have approximately seventeen thousand other things demanding my attention?

Definitely.

The good news is that this feels nothing like 2017 or 2018. Back then, my fibroids dominated my life. They dictated what I wore, how much energy I had, and often how I felt about my own body.

This time feels different.

They’re not causing the same level of disruption, and for now, they don’t seem urgent. So I’ve mentally placed them in the folder labeled “We’ll deal with this… but not today.”

And honestly? That’s okay.

Fibroids can come back. So can we.

This post is partly me dusting off this little corner of the internet after five years away.

But it’s also the perfect way to begin Fibroid Awareness Month.

One thing I wish more people knew is that fibroid surgery isn’t always the magical ending we hope for. Fibroids can return. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t. Every body writes its own story.

If you’re reading this because yours came back too, I hope you know this:

You’re not back at square one.

You’re not failing.

You’re not alone.

You’ve survived this before, and whatever comes next, you’ll survive that too.

So here’s to showing up anyway.

Here’s to asking questions.

Here’s to taking care of ourselves—even when life is chaotic.

And here’s to wearing as much white as we can this month.

White isn’t just a color; it’s a little act of defiance.

A reminder that we refuse to let fear dictate our wardrobes or our lives.

Fibroids may be persistent…

…but so are we.

And if my uterus insists on producing unwanted houseguests, then I suppose I’ll continue reminding it that I’m the one paying the rent. (barsss)! Everybody clap for meeee for returning! This might end-up turning into more than a fibroid blog. My life is much more interesting beyond that so expect more of that as well. Until next time, happy to be back!