Stories of Others

Share Your Story: Erika

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Woman smiling with Snapchat filter of cat ears an nose

After suffering from horrible periods and cramps since 13 years old, Erika 18 years old when she diagnosed with Endometriosis.  Living in Ireland, she shares her tale with us just three years later:

Erika’s Journey: This is just a short story of the life and pain I’ve been living in! My name is Erika, I’m 22 and was raised in Dublin.  I still live at home with my mother and brother seeing as its so hard to find a home at this minute in Ireland. It all started when I had my first period, I was in a lot of pain and had no clue of actually what was happening to me? All young girls oh I can’t wait for my periods to come so they would feel more mature ‘grown-up”. Where with me it was a different story completely, from my first periods all I remember was pain, very severe pain and didn’t know how to control it. 

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Share Your Story: T.E.

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T.E. was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 28 years old.  Now 31, she shares her story with us:

T.E.’s Journey: I was diagnosed with Endo around 28. I saw my gynecologist for painful sex and cyst rupture after sex and he recommended me seeing an infertility doctor for possible Endo. I saw the specialist and he said I did have chocolate cysts and suggested surgery to get a good look at what’s going on. I had the surgery; I did have lesions and my chocolate cysts were drained. I also had a low count of eggs at the time so I had to decide if I wanted to have kids now or never so I never started the pill after surgery.

Fast forward six months, I was back in pain and now till this day, I have had new symptoms arise. Hip pain and the bottom of my feet are new symptoms. I walk for a living so it’s been difficult. I still get leg pain, which is not even around the time of my period and mood swings. I also get lower back pain and severe cramps. My infertility doctor says he can’t do anything else for me so I have been trying other ways. I saw a holistic doctor and went that way and it did help, but the pain came back. I’m going to try acupuncture soon. Wish me luck!!

I want to send a special Thank You out to T.E. for being brave enough to share her personal story and struggle with us today.  Wishing you the BEST of luck with acupuncture!! You are a beautiful, brave, and strong woman.  Thank you!!!

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.

Yours, Lisa.

Painting and Endometriosis

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Our friend, Chloe, shared her Endometriosis journey here in an incredibly open and touching way. And how her illness may influence her artwork. Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us, Chloe! ❤

chloe's avatarArt Inspired By Nature And The Cosmos

Some artists are like Bansky. A spectre flitting in and out of the public eye, full of mystery, but empty of identity apart from what their art projects.

And then there’s the other end of the artistic spectrum, the Picassos, the Dalis, those that make it a point to share their personal lives as much as their art. In both cases, these guys create a story around themselves which is rich, complex, often disturbing, sometimes scary, full of emotion.

I never expected to make many stories out of my art that were too much about me, in the most direct sense of the word. I’ve always talked about my art for what it is; my awe and passion for all things nature, my shrewdly optimistic, David Attenborough-narrated view of the world.

But a chronic illness can somewhat change your perspective. Of yourself, which ultimately changes your perspective of your art.

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Share Your Story: Stephany

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After suffering with horrible periods and cramps since 13 years old, Stephany was 31 years old when she finally received answers: her Endometriosis diagnosis.  Two years later, she shares her story with us.

Stephany’s Journey: I was 13 the first time I had a “bad cramp”. From then on they never went away & just got worse. I would double over in pain, movement in general while having a cramp just made it worse like a nerve being shocked in my abdominal area. I would just have to stay still until the cramp passed. I would ask to stay home from school during the first day or 2, and luckily a few times my grandmother let me. I tried things like Midol & other off the shelf pain meds but they didn’t do a damn thing. It was like I just ate a skittle to try to manage my cramps, no relief.

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Question from our Reader, Candace

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Candace needs your help, feedback, and advice!  She writes:

Hello, I have been an “endo” sufferer for MANY years….many, many, MANY surgeries and a hysterectomy with surgeries to follow! I don’t ever pretend to be an expert on the topic and this question certainly has thrown me for a loop….I’m hoping one of you can help!

I have had a “mystery illness” since February. Extreme fatigue, hoarseness, and right side facial pain, numbness. I have had a slew of tests all of which come back “ok”. Just this past weekend, I started with my “typical” “endo” pain. I am just wondering if this all could be related to “endo.” Anyone else ever experience facial issues related to endo?

I am looking forward to any and all responses. I have been debating on calling my specialist…. Thank You in Advance!

If you comment below, I’ll pass it on to Candace. ❤

Share Your Story: Sarah

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text that reads "23 years after first seeking help, I got it

New to San Diego, Sarah was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 38 years old, after seeking help for over 20 years.  Today, a year later, she shares her long and difficult Journey with us.

Sarah’s Journey:  I’m home from this year’s Endo March. I met some lovely people, reconnected with new friends (I’m new to San Diego), and learned a lot. One of those lessons was hard. It’s not as simple as saying Endometriosis changed my life or changed me.

It’s that it, along with other health problems, shaped me and, as all of this runs its course, my identity is changing. Parts of what I value about myself have shifted and this time the change is so deep that it may be irrevocable. I don’t know if I can get those pieces of me back. I used to be strong. I used to be fast. I could paint a painting in a day, code a website so that your head spun, learn a skill and build a 16 hour class around it and teach it inside a week.

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Share Your Story: CS

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Roses and text that reads "I didn't think I could have Endometriosis"

CS was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 34.  Now a year later, she shares the story of her diagnosis with us.

CS’s Journey:  I didn’t think I could have endometriosis because I didn’t have bad menstrual cramps or heavy bleeding. What I did have, were bouts of pretty severe-left-sided pelvic pain. I first started noticing it a few months after I had my child, and I don’t think I have to tell you that I was repeatedly misdiagnosed.

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Share your Story: Nathaly

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Woman standing holding a box that reads "Happy Birthday"

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.

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