Share Your Story : Lindsay

Woman with brown hair sitting on a military tank

Lindsay was 16 years old when she was diagnosed with Endometriosis.  Now 21, she lives in Connecticut.  She is a volunteer Firefighter (thank you!!!) while still enduring several chronic illnesses: Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Bursitis, and Anxiety.  She doesn’t let it stop her from living!

Lindsay’s Journey: Since I’ve had my period I have suffered with horrible pain and bleeding that was far from normal. My pain wasn’t just in my lower abdomen, but also really bad pain in my lower back. I tried multiple birth controls to help control my pain, but nothing seemed to help. In fact, I had horrible adverse effects. I had suicidal thoughts and it made me anxious beyond belief. Part of the issue is due to the fact that I had my thyroid removed and my hormone replacement kind of mixed with the hormones in the birth control.

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Share Your Story : Courtney

A woman with brown hair wearing sunglasses

Courtney lives in Canada, and was diagnosed with Endometriosis a year ago, when she was 28 years old.  Now 29, Courtney makes beautiful jewelry and donates a portion of her sales to Canadian charities that deal with Endometriosis and other women’s health issues.

Courtney’s Journey:  I’m a pretty private person for the most part, and the thought of sharing my personal medical history on the internet was something that took a great deal of careful consideration on my part. But the more research I do, the more I find that the reluctance of women to share their stories is in part due to the fact that they have often spent years repeating their very personal medical details and symptoms to doctor after doctor, without getting the treatment they need. In many cases, these women are told that this is their “burden as a woman” or worse, not having their concerns taken seriously at all and told that – since the doctor can’t see anything wrong – it must be “in their head”. As personal as it is, I think it’s important for women who feel comfortable enough to do so, to share their story; if not online, at least to their family and friends, so that they may help raise awareness about this disease and help women get the care they deserve!

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Reader’s Choice : Enough is ENOUGH!

text that reads "Enough"

A personal choice for every person with Endometriosis : When have I suffered enough pain and when do I step up the treatment?

Some prefer natural methods of controlling their Endometriosis symptoms : supplements, vitamins, diet, and essential oils.  But these methods may not work for everyone. I’ve gone the route of prescription narcotics, surgery, hormonal treatments, eastern medicine, acupuncture, altered diet, etc. Others may have undergone hysterectomies.

When and how do you decide which is right for you?  Only you know the answer to that question.

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Birth Control Pills & Endo

a round white pill that reads The Pill

I’ve been advised that once my Lupron Depot treatments are concluded in January, I will be starting a continuous birth control pill.  This is in the hopes to continue to suppress my monthly period, and theoretically my Endometriosis symptoms.  Endometriosis is “fed” by our Estrogen levels.  Doctors may not know what causes Endo, but they mostly agree that it feeds and reacts to our Estrogen levels, as well as the influence of xenoestrogens (environmental estrogens).

But How & Why is it expected to work?  I totally like to know the science behind things…

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