Painful Period

Amanda was diagnosed with Endometriosis at 22 and had a hysterectomy at 28. Now 36, she continues to suffer from chronic pain, despite the hysterectomy. Regardless, she fights through it and she and her husband have adopted two lovely children. She is blessed, even with all she has endured. May her story aid others in their journey.

Amanda’s Journey: My story started one summer afternoon when I was twelve. My family had gone on a day trip to a park. My period had started that day and the cramps started as usual. This day was going to be a turning point though as the pain reached a point to where I found myself curled up on the floor of our minivan drenched in a cold sweat, praying that I would not throw up as my family picnicked nearby.

At first, these episodes happened a few times a year. By the time I was seventeen, they became a monthly occurrence. I did not understand the significance of the degree of pain I was in. All of my friends complained about their periods so I figured I was just experiencing what everyone else did. My mom took me to my first gynecologist appointment that year, searching for relief. I was started on an anti-inflammatory and told that it was “normal” to have cramps like that at my age. Hopefully, they would improve with age.

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A woman with brown hair wearing sunglasses

Courtney lives in Canada, and was diagnosed with Endometriosis a year ago, when she was 28 years old. Now 29, Courtney makes beautiful jewelry and donates a portion of her sales to Canadian charities that deal with Endometriosis and other women’s health issues.

Courtney’s Journey: I’m a pretty private person for the most part, and the thought of sharing my personal medical history on the internet was something that took a great deal of careful consideration on my part. But the more research I do, the more I find that the reluctance of women to share their stories is in part due to the fact that they have often spent years repeating their very personal medical details and symptoms to doctor after doctor, without getting the treatment they need. In many cases, these women are told that this is their “burden as a woman” or worse, not having their concerns taken seriously at all and told that – since the doctor can’t see anything wrong – it must be “in their head”. As personal as it is, I think it’s important for women who feel comfortable enough to do so, to share their story; if not online, at least to their family and friends, so that they may help raise awareness about this disease and help women get the care they deserve!

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