Living With Endometriosis
I had never given much thought as to why I was on the birth control pill since starting my period at the age of 11. I was told it was to manage my period and that was all I understood. At the age of 25, I decided to try life without the pill, only to be hit with severe, sharp, shooting cramps out of nowhere. I was told I might have Endometriosis, for which I could have surgery or go back on the pill. For 5 years I remained on the pill until I could no longer bear the pain.
There wasn't a lot of information about endometriosis available at that time so not knowing there were specialists for endometriosis, I saw an ObGyn for my first, and then second, surgery. He performed surgery using a technique called ablation, which does not remove Endometriosis. When I complained of my pain being worse than it had been prior to the surgeries, I was told that nothing more could be done and to manage my symptoms with pain medications.
Eventually, I was unable to work, walk, eat, or enjoy almost any aspect of my life without endometriosis making it extremely difficult. I finally learned about excision surgery and was told about an endometriosis specialist, who diagnosed me with stage 4 Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis and Adenomyosis.
My journey with these illnesses has resulted in living with chronic pain, infertility, bowel, and digestive issues, a back condition, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. I have been unable to work for 4 years as a registered nurse and now spend most of my days working on my health.
I have experienced some extremely hard times, times I didn't know if I was physically or mentally going to make it through, but somehow I did. Although my battle with endometriosis is not over, knowing that I have gotten through some of my darkest days is what gives me the strength to continue on.
Illness has changed my life, made me physically and mentally weaker but it has also shown me a strength that resides in me that I didn't think existed. It has allowed me to learn more about myself & really know what makes me happy in life.
