Symptoms

Various symptoms of Endometriosis

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.

Endometriosis in a Hooded Capuchin

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hooded capuchin eating fruit while sitting in a tree

In January of 2021, the Journal of Medical Primatology published an article about a hooded capuchin (a primate) that developed Endometriosis. They were able to “successfully” treat it with surgery and medical management.

This is only one case of a growing list of cases of spontaneous Endometriosis developing in non-humans: including several other primates and a dog. Animals with Endo break my heart: they cannot fully express any pain they may be in, or offer opinion or consent for medical procedures…and it just makes me want to weep.

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Ovira: A device for menstrual pain

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Ovira device in the box

As you know, from time to time we get offers to review products that manufacturers may feel are useful to our readers. I like to extend those review opportunities from time to time to other Warriors in my local support group. So, today, we’re publishing another review by Nicole. And the one condition I make when accepting a product is our reviews will be unbiased and 100% honest; no sugar-coating anything.

Ovira reached out to use with their new product, a discreet device that may help with menstrual cramps. But without further adieu, I’ll let Nicole take it away:

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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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