Stories of Others

Share Your Story: Aly

| Bloomin' Uterus
Aly standing in front of a block wall

Aly was diagnosed when she was 15 years old.  Now 21, she shares her Journey with us, and she has been through so much.  She does, however, continue to fight and push ahead and raise awareness.  She’s an incredible woman.  And one hell of a Warrior.

Aly’s Journey: I have been a runner since I was four years old. It has always been my passion, but it was also where my pain began. In the spring of my junior year, I was running on the track as usual when I suddenly I fell to my hands and knees in severe pain. I vomited when I tried to get up. It was the beginning of a life-changing injury in which I would endure unbearable stomach pain that I still experience even though it has been 7 years since I was diagnosed.

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Endometriosis Excision Surgery 3.0

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Pre-surgery photograph of Dr. Mel Kurtulus and Lisa Howard taken by Brandy Sebastian, titled Resilience.
Dr. Mel Kurtulus and I before heading in. Photo courtesy of Brandy Sebastian; used with her permission

On July 18, 2018, I underwent my third robotic-assisted laparoscopic excision of Endometriosis by Dr. Mel Kurtulus ( of San Diego Womens Health).  As always, I love to share my experiences with you – not only to create awareness of this illness, but in the hopes that the process of my surgery (and later recovery) may help you, or others.

Before I go on, I just want to take a moment to express my joy in the above-photograph.  I am a detached head, floating beneath a fluffy warm-air blanket in the pre-op area, enjoying a wonderful moment with an incredible surgeon and man.  Thank you, Brandy, for capturing this.  And thank you, Dr. Kurtulus, for being so marvelous!

Okay, on with the nitty-gritty!

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Share Your Story: Janis

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Black and white photograph of blonde, smiling Janis

Janis was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 35.  Now 39, she shares her Journey with us:

Janis Oenbrink;  August 1, 2018

Endometriosis changes the lives of many, and in multiple ways.  Infertility, pain, fatigue, depression, and a multitude of other miserable symptoms encompass the disease of endometriosis.  I have dealt with this disease for years, and along the way, been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, anxiety, depression, ruptured cysts, etc.…. as well as been called crazy, lazy, and a hypochondriac.

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Share Your Story: Coby-Lea

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Photo of Coby-Lea sitting on a bench in front of a tree

Coby-Lea was recently diagnosed with Endometriosis at 22 years old.  Living in Northern Rivers, New South Wales, she wanted to share her story with others today.

Coby-Lea’s Journey: My story. Coby-Lea, 22 years old, diagnosed with endometriosis. Since I was 13, I’ve struggled with really extreme ‘period pain’ and abnormal cycles. They’d last for nearly 7 days! They’d be heavy. They’d sometimes have some tissue/clotty stuff. I was 13, I didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, my mum took me to the Dr who then put me on the pill to regulate my cycle and hopefully ease the pain. Fast forward 9 years, I cannot take the unbearable pain anymore. I know myself I am not exaggerating every time I say ‘this is the worst pain I’ve ever had!’. And so, this is where it all begins.

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Share Your Story: Michelle

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Photograph of Michelle and a man in the hospital

Michelle from Virginia was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 36.  Now a year later, she shares her Endo story with us.

Michelle’s Journey:  Hi. My name is Michelle. I am sharing this story to help others with endometriosis. I have a very unique story.

In 2003 I came out of the military with a rare bone tumor called fibrous dysplasia. This was and still is in my pelvis. It’s something I went through many years and it took having my third son to put me in a state of barely walking, getting infusions, many rare surgeries at John Hopkins to get the help I needed to walk day-to-day.

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Share Your Story: Michelle

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Photo of Michelle

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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Share Your Story: MfrBeth

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Words on a black and white background: All Endo that had been removed 5 months earlier was back!!!

MfrBeth is a bit tough to type, so I’ll call her “Beth.”  Beth’s daughter started showing symptoms of Endometriosis when she was 12 and was diagnosed with Endo when she was 15 years old.  Now 16, Beth has questions pertaining to her daughter, and shares her journey today.

Beth’s Daughter’s Journey: My daughter started having what we now know as endo symptoms at age 12, not long after her periods started. We did hormone check to see if they were not in parameters and she went on natural hormones-estrofactors and progesterone cream. This helped for a while, but she always had to go to nurse office at school for Midol for 1-2 days of her period, would be nauseous and have a headache and cramping.

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