I have suffered with endometriosis for 20 years, unfortunately,
I have lots of personal experience with this disease and this post is just a little about my experience.
How did I know I had Endometriosis?
I didn't know at first. I know that I had the most painful periods of anyone that I knew.
Tylenol couldn't even begin to touch the pain. I tried all over the
counter medicines, but none helped. I began spending hours in the
doctors office each month,
as well as the Emergency Room.
as well as the Emergency Room.
After
a year of horrid periods, which began directly as soon as my first
cycle, I went to Charlotte NC to meet with a doctor who mentioned that
she thought that I had endometriosis. I was scheduled for emergency surgery
and was diagnosed the following week. I was one of the lucky ones as far
as diagnosis goes because the average time for women to get a diagnosis is 6-10
years.
What did they find?
During
my first "lap" (laproscopic surgery) the found lots of endometriosis
implants. This is where endometriosis is somewhat rooted, for lack
of a better word. It grows and feeds on estrogen. (think of
little shop of horrors- you know, "feed me Seymour") . It feels like I have a monster with a
chainsaw inside of me at times.
I was diagnosed with Stage IV Endometriosis which is when
advanced endometrial tissue is not only on reproductive organs, but is
also on other areas of the body. For more information regarding stages of endo, click here.
It spreads and reaches to other areas and attaches itself on other organs and/or parts of the body. (think of stepping in chewing gum on hot pavement, when you life your foot, it is stringy and attached to both your shoe and the pavement.)
During
my procedure they found endometriosis on my ovaries, uterus,
intestines, bladder, and a many other places. I was also told during my
first lap that I would never be able to conceive a child due to the
damage my reproductive organs had already incurred. Following a test
they do by running dye through your fallopian tubes to see how open they
are, they discovered that mine were sealed shut with scar tissue. I did
later conceive a child. I had two pregnancies actually. I had a
beautiful red headed, blue eyed precious baby girl! She is 13 now. Don't
give up, Miracle babies do happen! I had a miscarriage in 2007
which we feel was due to endometriosis.
How I felt following my diagnosis?
Following
my diagnosis, I was shocked and I didn't know what having
endometriosis meant. I was somewhat sad, but mostly confused. I remember
wondering if it could be fatal? My doctor told me that some women have
it and it just causes painful periods and that I would need to take
hormonal treatments to try to keep it under control. At 16 I began
taking birth control. The doctor said that I would need more surgeries
to "clean up" the endometriosis. Overall the doctor didn't act like it
was much of a big deal at all. I left with little information, other
than I would suffer with this and there is no cure. There were no
support groups at this time, or at least none that I was aware of.
There was also little information about endometriosis. It was looked at
as basically a cut and dry diagnosis. You have it, deal with it, no
cure.
What is life like right now?
Click here to read my other blog post that explains "my now".
If
you have endometriosis, suspect you may have endometriosis, know
someone with endometriosis, need support or have questions, please feel
free to contact me.
You can find contact information in the right column.
I would be thrilled to help you.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
- Severe Pain and Cramps
- Backache
- Painful intercourse
- Painful bowel movements
- Fatigue
- Constipation or Diarrhea
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