What I wish I could tell you about my Endo, part 4

I was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 17. For years, I endured severe pain, convincing myself that I simply had “bad periods” until the discomfort became unbearable.  After many visits to the doctor, it was finally agreed to have an ultrasound to identify the causes of my pain.  The results revealed a 4cm ovarian cyst, which the doctors believed could be contributing to my symptoms and I was immediately referred to a gynaecologist.

My first appointment to the gynaecologist is where I heard the word “endometriosis”, no clue what that was or what it meant for me, I just sat there and nodded. I then consented to a procedure to remove the cyst and to my surprise It wasn’t until I left the operating room that I grasped the severity of my condition—there were four internal bleeding spots that required ablation surgery.  I was very fortunate to have had the healthcare attention I did.  I was listened to and taken seriously, and every woman should.

I guess I haven’t experienced invasive treatments that other women may have, however the prospect of being on the pill for life doesn’t sit well with me either. I’ve been on the pill for six years now, and I can’t help but wonder what my future might look like. I’m very early in my career so I am humbled to be part of a community of empowered, working women with similar experiences to myself that I can admire! It’s communities like this that allow us to share our experiences openly, enabling us to learn from, support, and encourage one another. I am truly grateful to have found the wonderful women in this fantastic group!

written by your Endo Sister, D

Thank you iDAWN for collaborating on these series

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