[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.21.1″ background_color=”#000000″ top_divider_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.21.1″ text_font=”Merriweather||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]
Now I’ve told you what endometriosis is, I guess it’s time to share my endo story.
I was diagnosed when I was 20. I had seen my GP multiple times from age 14 as I was having severe problems with my periods and I had always had problems since I first got my period. I got fobbed off quite a bit at first and I was told that the reason I was having irregular periods was because I was going through puberty. That was at age 16 and I started my period when I was 11. Bloody long time to be going through puberty.
I kept persisting and I think it was when I was 18 that they finally took me seriously. At that point, I was referred for an ultrasound to take a look at my bits and they found something. The something they found was a 7cm dermoid cyst in my right ovary. As the cyst was in my ovary, I was then referred for an MRI and I also had to have a blood test to check my CA125 levels just in case it was cancerous. Fortunately, my blood levels were normal but the time it took for those results to come back were the longest days of my life.
My consultant had already told me that due to the size of the cyst in my ovary, there wouldn’t be any healthy ovarian tissue in it so I would only have one functional ovary.
After I had my scan, I was assured I would hear something soon and I didn’t. And then I kinda forgot about it. I still had my irregular periods but I just put up and got on with it.
In 2007, I received a letter profusely apologising because I had somehow fallen off the NHS list and I should have had surgery to remove the cyst. I was then scheduled for surgery at the local Bupa hospital to get rid of my little ovary destroyer. On the 24th May 2007, I got myself ready and went to hospital for a surgery which was pretty life changing.
I don’t remember much about the surgery itself because I was spark out but the one thing which sticks out vividly in my mind is when two nurses were checking my chart and one of them said “That poor girl, she must have been in so much pain”. To me though, that was normal. As a child I had been conditioned to believe that periods were painful, that it was normal to eat painkillers like smarties, and that it was normal to have such heavy periods, I’d need to change my pad every two hours.
Those first 24 hours were the worst. I was off my face on morphine, my hormones were all over the place, I couldn’t sleep, I felt sick. And apparently, I saw my consultant during that time but I have no recollection of that at all.
I was finally told it was endometriosis by my GP when I went to have a stitch removed which hadn’t dissolved. That was when it all hit me and I started researching what endometriosis was. It literally consumed my every waking thought.
I later found out where the endometriosis was found in my pelvis, and while we don’t stage it in the UK, based on the American staging system, I have stage 4 endometriosis.
Since I was diagnosed with endometriosis, I have tried various treatments to alleviate my symptoms. Although, I think it would be easier to tell you the treatments I haven’t had. I tried the combi pill – it didn’t help. Same with the POP except that had the super fun side effect of making me almost suicidal.
I’ve had multiple rounds of Prostap which actually worked really well, unfortunately, you are limited to the length of time you can have it for and how often. I had two coils, the first one shifted as I lost weight and with the second one, the hormones weren’t as effective.
I’m currently using the Nexplanon implant and I’m on number 2 which at the time wasn’t proven to treat endometriosis (and I’m not sure if that has changed) but it really works for me. As an added bonus, I also gained a new friend in the form of Dan, Dan the implant man.
I’m sure there are parts of my journey I’ve missed and I’ll probably come back to it later but hopefully that gives you some insight into my journey so far.
Take care,
Lis x
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
