Tell us about your experience with/connection to Endometriosis
I suffered from heavy and painful periods starting at age 15. When my grandmother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I started going in for routine trans. vaginal ultra sounds due to my heavy periods and new found family history of ovarian cancer. Years went by and I jumped from one form of birth control to another to try to "lighten the flow". Nothing ever worked and I continued to suffer from what I called my "menstrual demons".
Around age 22, my periods were no longer "acceptable" and I knew in my gut that there was something very wrong. I jumped from gyno to gyno trying to find someone who would finally tell me why I was in such debilitating pain. I finally found one who said I needed to have a laparoscopy. He confirmed the diagnosis of Endometriosis. Unfortunately, he was not skilled in treating Endo and didn't remove much of it at all. He did not tell me how serious is was as a disease and what to expect after surgery.
About 3 months after my lap. I started hemmoraging and ended up in the ER. I was told to follow up w/ my gyn. He told me it was "the nature of the beast" and that I "had to learn to deal". I refused to accept that as an answer and began my mad search for an Endo specialist. I saw one who came highly reccomended. He said that the gyno who performed my lap. removed almost nothing and that I needed to have an emergency lap ASAP or else I would lose my ovary. This doctor happened to be outside of my insurance network and as a result, I was on yet another mad search for someone who could do this surgery in 2 weeks! Then I found my current doctor. He is an Endo. specialist as well as a fertility specialist and I believe he has been my life saver. He started me out on GnRH treatment w/ an add back.
I did not need another surgery and my fertility has been preserved. I am currently 25 and for the most part, pain free. Perhaps one of the most challenging things for me is the constant changing of treatments, not knowing when the pain is going to return etc...But, until then, I just take every day as it comes.
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