An opioid used to treat pain. Manufactured by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
As you may know, I like to take extensive notes during my recovery from my Endo surgeries. This helps me better be prepared in case I have another one – just to get a sense of what was normal and what I can expect next time. And who knows – it may help you…or someone you know.
A good friend of mine, Brandie, typed up my chicken-scratch notes. (Thank you BRANDIE!) BUT, the “cliff notes” version is below:
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Michelle was diagnosed with Endometriosis when 20. Now 35, and living in La Mesa, California, Michelle shares her Endo story with us.
Michelle’s Journey: My endo story I first got my period at 10 years old. I remember I was still in elementary school, playing in PE when I got my first one. From there, my periods became increasingly more and more painful.
By 15 years old I remember rolling around on the ground in the bathroom, sometimes in so much pain that it made me throw up. I would miss school sometimes but most of the time tried to tough it out. My periods were always at least 7 days long, super heavy and lots of huge clots. I thought that was normal…..I was taught to believe this was all normal.
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So, September 21, 2016, was my second Endometriosis excision surgery. It was done by robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery. What does that mean? My surgeon sat at the controls of console and directed teeny tiny robot hands inside my belly. I had forgotten a lot of the recovery process from my 2014 surgery, so decided to take notes every day…so that way if I ever go back in, I sort of know a timeline!
I meant to publish this a long time ago…but, well…the dog ate my homework?
A “brief” little note – I tracked my pain, symptoms, diet, milestones, and whatever for a week, but as of today (8/16/17) I could not find the rest of my notes. So, we get four days. And I’m most certainly going to refer to this if I ever have to go back in for another surgery…
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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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Bloomin' Uterus 