Endometriosis in Captive Critters?

monkey in a tree
Female Mandrillus Sphinx

So we’ve previously read about a German Shepherd being diagnosed with Endometriosis. Today we’re going to talk about Mandrills (a form of primate that used to be considered a Baboon) who had been diagnosed with Endo. I’ve read a lot of previous studies where Endometriosis was purposely implanted into critters for study and dissection, but these primates weren’t for study.

There was a study from 2012 about a Mandrill that had died after showing signs of weakness and peritoneal bleeding.  Upon autopsy they found her uterus was covered in blood clots and it was stuck to her ovaries and pelvic wall.  The biopsy confirmed she had Endometriosis.  This is considered the first confirmed case of Endo in a Mandrill.

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Shoulders for Sisters : Suicide Prevention

Shoulder for Sisters logo

Suicide and Endometriosis has been a topic heavy on my heart for the past seven months.  Am I suicidal? No.  However, last year there were several EndoWarriors who committed suicide.  And this year a few more have.  Too many.  But can easily understand their hopelessness: pain; no cure; the potential for multiple surgeries; regrowth; Western medicine, alternative medicine, natural supplements, snake oils, relief, recurrence, and the cycle starts all over again.  Not to mention a sense of being completely alone, misunderstood, misdiagnosed, mistreated by physicians, mislabeled as drug-seekers, fakers, and crazies.

I’ve been trying to think of ways that I can help. In a small way.  Or a big way.  And I’ve fallen short on ideas… But today I’ve learned of a group where Warriors with suicidal thoughts can go for help.  An old-fashioned phone-line group.  Yes, that’s right.  You can email, PM, or call someone if you need to talk.  Talk with someone who is in your shoes.  Who knows what you’re going through…because they’re going through it, too.  Understand that you are not alone, and understand that people want to listen. And help.

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Suicide & Endometriosis

Two yellow ribbons coming together for Endometriosis and Suicide Awareness

I find it interesting that both the Endometriosis Awareness ribbon and the Suicide Awareness ribbon are yellow ribbons…

Today while perusing Facebook, I ran across a post where a Virginia Endometriosis Awareness group had posted that there’s been 8 women who committed suicide this year due to their Endometriosis.  Where they got their stats, or if it’s just in VA, or…national…or global…I don’t know.  (For clarification on these statistics, see the Comments Section below). But, I do know that that’s 8 too many…and I was struck dumb, literally frozen in my chair struggling not to cry.

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Dead at 27

A young woman and her dog

A Swedish friend of mind sent me an article about a Swedish gal, Emelia, who died in 2011 due to complications of Endometriosis, and (more importantly) the neglect of her physicians.  Google translate gave me the gist of it.

Emelia was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 21 years old, among the usual places it was also found on her intestines.  In 2010 (she was approx. 26) she had been suffering from severe constipation (sometimes for periods of up to 10 days) which we well know is a symptom of Endometriosis.  Over the next nine months, Emelia saw 32 different doctors. That’s right…thirty-two.  Nobody could resolve her constipation, symptoms, or her pain. She sought referrals to an Endometriosis Clinic at the Uppsala University Hospital in the hopes they could help.  But her referral requests were denied.

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