When I was in 8th grade and 180 lbs I had an abdomen that looked like I had swallowed a basketball. In art class one day a girl said it looked like I hadn't taken a bath in a long time. I didn't know what to say so I told her it was a suntan. She laughed at me. I was so embarrassed. I also had the dark skin around my armpits and my upper inner thighs.

I went home and scrubbed and scrubbed and my skin never changed. I never had regular periods. I would miss a month here and there. Later around 21 I only got my periods half the year and went on birthcontrol to get regulated. At 29 I got married and wanted to have kids but couldn't. I completely lost my periods for 8 years. During that time I was diagnosed with diabetes, PCOS, Hypothyroidism and high blood pressure (Syndrome X).

I always wished I had a chance to tell that girl I wasn't dirty. It's funny what sticks with you throughout the years.