Stories of Others

Share Your Story: Melissa Turner

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Woman sitting on couch outside

Melissa is from New Zealand and was 19 years old when she was diagnosed with Endometriosis. She shares her story with us today. As well as tips that have helped her cope and overcome.

Melissa’s Journey: It all began with a dreadful case of a bladder infection. I remember the pain like it was yesterday. Intense swelling and no amount of going to the toilet alleviated the pain.

Worst part about it was that I was on holiday and there was no way I could get treatment without the long drive home. I had never experienced such intense pain while driving over a road bump in my life. I knew something else was going on.

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Share Your Story: Leidy

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A woman standing in front of a grassy lawn wearing a pink sweater, gray hat, and sunglasses

Leidy lives in Germany and was 35 years old when she was told she had Endometriosis. Now 42, she would like to share her story with everyone cares to read it. A battle which literally spans the globe in search of answers, a series of numerous misdiagnoses, and Leidy is one hell of a Warrior.

Leidy’s Journey:   I am now 42 years old but since my first period, I have had problems. 

My main problem is in my bowels. Which misled my specialists to find the correct diagnosis. The only issue I had, related to my period, was irregular bleeding. 

Each month I bled during my ovulation. My period lasts sometimes more than a week. And I bled during sexual intercourse. The pain during the period was not severe and Ibuprofen usually was enough to alleviate the pain.

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Share Your Story: Tharini

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blank journal
Photo by MESSALA CIULLA on Pexels.com

Tharini is 24 years old and was diagnosed with Endometriosis in 2020 and lives in Epsom in the United Kingdom. She wanted to stress with us the importance of tracking your symptoms.

Tharini’s Journey:   I was diagnosed with endo last year after suspecting for months. My symptoms include lower back pain and foot pain that really is bad. I also have classic endo symptoms like aching stomach and loss of blood each month too. I would sum up this by saying do not lose hope but merely insist on a appointment and then tests to check for symptoms that are indicative of endo.

It also helps to keep a diary of symptoms pertaining to your specific type of endo, what time of the month they occur etc as well. Never give up in other words, find a doctor who is really smart and caring at the same time.

I want to send a special Thank You out to Tharini for being brave enough to share her journey with us today!  And I agree: tracking and sharing symptoms is OH SO IMPORTANT!!    ❤ Yours, Lisa.

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 EndoWarriors, and our friends and family, too.

Share Your Story: Jazz

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text that reads: "don't be afraid to ask for help. Always trust your gut. Don't be afraid to ask stupid questions."

Diagnosed in 2017, Jazz shares her Endometriosis story with us today.

Jazz’s Journey:   I am 23 and was born in Northampton, UK where I continue to live with Cerebral Palsy and Stage 1 Endometriosis. I was born with my disability and I was diagnosed with Endo in November 2017. At 16 I started the pill, Femodette, because my periods were really heavy and really painful. I was given Mefanamic Acid to help relieve the pain and it did nothing. I was taking Paracetamol and Ibruprofen and was even told to stop crying in school because “it sounded like I was giving birth.” I was given another pill to take after Femodette failed to work called Regevidon.

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Share Your Story: L. George

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Text that reads "I am not sure what to do next."

L. George was diagnosed when they were 25 years old. Today, at 52, they share their arduous journey with us.

L.’s Journey:   This is really tough to tell, as I have suffered with this awful disease for so long. I barely used to notice my periods in high school. Then, around age 21, the pain became so unbearable, but I just thought it was normal period pain. I never believed in going to doctors or taking any kind of pharmaceutical medication for pain. My mom raised me to never take aspirin or go to the hospital, no antibiotics for the frequent ear infections and bronchial infections I seemed to get a lot growing up. It was not uncommon for me to have a high fever (over 105F) as a child and ‘sweat’ it out, after dealing with it for at least a week wrapped in thick blankets to make me sweat. I never took any aspirin, or other OTC for the pain I felt at age 21.

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Share Your Story: Kat

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An IUD and scalpel with text that reads: "I have a decision to make: mirena or hysterectomy?"

Kat was diagnosed this year with Endometriosis at 47 years old.

Kat’s Journey:   Over the last 2 years my cycles that were getting very light and very spread out (I almost went 11 months) have been getting worse. My cycle is never the same… it will go 50 days one month and 35 the next. Sometimes I get the incredible cramping but no bleeding. When I do bleed I soak a tampon in 30 minutes. It has been like this for the last 6 months.

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Share Your Story: TR

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They say sciatic Endometriosis is very rare, but TR has it. Diagnosed this year, at the young age of 24, she shares her story with us.

TRs’ Journey:   For several months I have had endometriosis in my legs and feet as well as in my bladder and lower back. My particular type of endo is the sciatica type. Every month I started feeling warm tingly pain especially in my stomach, legs and feet. Even on normal days I still had pain in my thighs. Sciatica endo is not the most commonest type of endo so answers were kind of hard to find online etc.

Words of Advice:  Persist in diagnoses.

If you would like to reach out to TR for more information about her sciatica Endo, or her journey, she’s allowed me to share her email with you today.

I want to send a special Thank You out to TR for being brave enough to share her journey with us today!!  Know that you’re not alone with your sciatic-Endo. Although rare, it does happen. I hope you’re able to find relief.  Yours, Lisa.

Paper with "tell your story" written on it

And if YOU would like to share your story,  I would love to share it on our blog.  The best part about this disease is the strong network of love and support from our fellow EndoWarriors, and our friends and family, too.

Yours, Lisa.

Share Your Story: Christine

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Ahhh, France. I haven’t been there in years, and I do love the countryside, the people, the food, and the wine! Today, Christine shares her journey from France. Diagnosed at 46 years old, today it’s a decaded later.

Note: Christine’s story was submitted to us in French, which I don’t speak…so I’ve employed Google Translate to help (I apologize for any misinterperations)! I know it won’t be perfect. AND I’ll include her original submission, too.

Christine’s Journey:   When I was young I often had a stomach ache but we didn’t talk about endometriosis. In 2010, following crushing pains and severe inflammation, an operation was scheduled for torsion of the ovary. When I wake up I am told of a diffuse endometriosis. In 2013 recurrence with sigmoid attack. Years of hell. Late menopause at 56, I am finally released and I live again. This illness did not lead to a true initiatory journey which brought me back to basics and opened other doors for me.

(Original: Quand j étais jeune j avais souvent mal au ventre mais on ne parlais pas d endometriose. En 2010, suite a des douleurs terrassantes et une forte inflammation, une opération est programmée pour torsion de l ovaire. Au réveil on m annonce une endometriose diffuse. En 2013 recidive avec atteinte au sigmoide. Des années d enfer. Ménopausée tardivement à 56 ans, je suis enfin libérée et je revis. Cette maladie n a fait vivre un veritable parcours initiatique qui m a ramené à l essentiel et m’a ouvert d autres portes.)

Words of Advice:  Courage. With all of my love. (Original: Courage. Avec tout mon amour.)

I want to send a special Thank You out to Christine for being brave enough to share her journey with us today!!  And I absolutely love your words of advice. Courage, indeed. I’m so grateful menopause has granted you relief! ❤    Yours, Lisa.

Paper with "tell your story" written on it

And if YOU would like to share your story,  I would love to share it on our blog.  The best part about this disease is the strong network of love and support from our fellow EndoWarriors, and our friends and family, too.

Yours, Lisa.

Share Your Story: Melissa

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Man and woman standing side by side

A year ago, Melissa was diagnosed with Endometriosis (at 37 years old), but her symptoms became noticeable in her 20s. It took a decade to get answers…

Melissa’s Journey:   I first noticed that something was wrong when I was in my mid 20’s. I would have extreme pain in my lower back, lots of gas, and lots of pain when going to the bathroom. I noticed that a week before my periods it would burn when I peed and that would last until a week after my period (total of 3 weeks). I also dealt with bouts of constipation and diarrhea.

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