Nathaly was diagnosed with Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and fibroids when she was 26 years old. A year later, she shares her story with us. And, Nathaly will be walking on March 25th with friends and family at our Endometriosis Awareness walk! Looking forward to meeting her ❤
Nathaly’s Journey: My story starts when I was only 11 years old. I often found myself curled up in a ball waiting until I would finally pass out so the pain could be over. My mother was very strict growing up so birth control was out of the question, even if it was for medical purposes.
I was rushed to the ER once when I was 19, one of the responders said his daughter was on birth control to help with pain. Being an adult now I had the ability to seek medical advice but being on my moms insurance meant I would have to go to Planned Parenthood to get birth control. Being on birth control made it not necessarily easier, but more predictable.
I also started going to an allergy specialist as I noticed certain foods were contributing to making me feel ill. After I went wheat and dairy free I began feeling better. By 25 I started to eat all food again and the pain and exhaustion came right back.
While working at the barn one day I felt lightheaded and my vision went black while I had shooting pains down my legs. Later that day a coworker overheard what happened and told me it sounds like Endometriosis. I began researching it and I had every symptom of Endo. I went to visit my doctor and she called it painful cramps and told me to take ibuprofen. Feeling discouraged I decided to hold off on seeking anymore medical advice.
In 2015 my mom had a partial hysterectomy and told her doctor about me. Dr. Mackovic-Basic, the founder of Complete Women Care specializes in reproductive disorders and could tell me on my first visit it was most likely Endo. After my ultrasound she said it also looks like Adenomyosis because of the enlarged thick shape of my uterus.
I had my first laparoscopic surgery Nov 2016 where they confirmed stage 2 Endo and Adenomyosis but they also removed large fibroids that had necrotic tissue from being hidden so well for such a long time. After two weeks I knew something was wrong and it wasn’t just healing pains. I had sharp belly button pain and my right side was throbbing. My doctors all agreed it may be time to see a GI specialist.
December 2016, almost exactly a month after my surgery I was rushed to the hospital. There was a lot of fluid in my stomach and my white cell count was concerning. I had appendicitis and it was stuck to my adhesion removal site causing widespread infection in my uterus. Following surgery I have been put on a strict diet, no red meat, no soy, no artificial sugars, limited dairy, and some veggies and fruits are restricted. I currently take whole food based prenatal, DHA, B complex, and Tumeric for inflammation. I had to do pelvic training therapy for six weeks.
February 2017 I had my eight week post op check up and my inflammation has not gone down yet. Fibroids have already grown back but are only at 1cm currently. I am going on round two of six week pelvic therapy and once this is done I can hopefully complete testing with a GI. Next year I’m going to do a Hysterosalpingogram so we can try for a baby. I’m feeling hopeful that all the steps I’m doing now will greater my fertility chances and lessen my chances of miscarriages. After my first child my doctors and I think a hysterectomy is my best bet to tackle the Adenomyosis as well as any GI issues I may have. As for now it’s all a waiting game.
Words of Advice: Never give up finding your answers, especially when your body is trying to tell you something.
The Last Word: I love reading stories on Bloomin’ Uterus, I feel this is a special place we can all connect and learn from each other.
If you wish to contact with Nathaly, you may email her.
I want to send a special Thank You out to Heather for being brave enough to share her personal story, struggle, and victories with us today. I am glad that you pursued your medical diagnosis, understanding something wasn’t normal! And hoping that you continue to heal up from your surgery and the inflammation and fibroids dissipate. Thank you for sharing your Journey!!! Hoping it helps others going through similar issues.
And if YOU would like to share your story, please let me know. The best part about this disease is the strong network of love and support from our fellow EndoWariors, and our friends and family, too.
Yours, Lisa.
Bloomin' Uterus 