Various symptoms of Endometriosis
Pam was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was in her 40s. Today Pam is 59 years old and shares her story with us
Pam’s Journey: Long story short, I have 4 grown children after years of infertility followed by 6 miscarriages. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and opted for partial hysterectomy in 1999 due to the heavy periods. I thought that was that.
Continue reading
Ami was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 47 years old. Now a year later, she shares with us:
Ami’s Journey: One year ago I experienced a worsening pelvic prolapse (following a uterine prolapse years ago) and simultaneous debilitating sciatica. All doctors insisted the two were unrelated. Although muscle atrophy contributed to both. I underwent several months of physical therapy and 2 epidural steroid injections to treat the sciatica and then prolapse repair in December.
Continue reading
Daniela was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 22 years old. Two years later, she shares her Endo journey with us.
Daniela’s Journey: Hi everyone, my name is Daniela and I was raised in a small town near the border in Mexico and I am 24 years old. I had my first period when I was 9 and I remember that day like it was yesterday because it haunts me. I remember the face of my mom and grandma as if I was going to die. My childhood was over at that moment my body started to change drastically.
Continue reading
What the heck am I talking about?
There’s a study published in August of 2018 that I just read, and it threw me for a loop. So I wanted to share it with you.
A 52-year-old woman went to her Primary Care Physician because she had a weird leaking hole near her right hip. It just drained a nasty discharge. He put her on antibiotics for two weeks, but it didn’t resolve. After suffering from the drainage for two months, she went to the emergency room. If you’re curious, you can see a photograph of her little hip-hole.
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
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!
Continue readingOne of our local San Diego EndoSisters, Michelle, had a flair-up of EndoBelly yesterday afternoon. If you suffer from these, you know what we’re talking about. If you’re not sure what it is, I tend to think it’s the disease inside my body inflaming and rearing its ugly head. The bloat is severe. The pain is thick. The skin is stretched to an extreme. The pants must come unbuttoned. People would ask “When’s the baby due,” having NO idea I wasn’t pregnant. When it happens, I must pop a pain pill and find comfort in a bed and a heating pad. And, for me, it can pass after a few hours or a few days.
But what a difference a day makes. Michelle granted me permission to share her image here.
On the left (in the red) is yesterday’s EndoBelly in all it’s swollen glory. And on the right (in the black) is today’s deflated and back-to-normal belly.
What a difference a day makes! And these before & after photographs bring a visible sense to an invisible illness. Thank you, Michelle, for allowing me to share your photograph. And your pain. Love you, woman.
Do you suffer from EndoBelly? Tell us about it in the comments below. Anything help you cope ’til the swelling subsides? Share away!
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.
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
Bloomin' Uterus 