As many of you may already be aware, menstruation comes with cramping pains of its own. In endometriosis the pain can be quite the horrifying experience and many females across the globe experience this regularly. As mentioned above, the symptoms of this condition vary across a wide range from minimal to significantly severe. Often individuals are diagnosed based off of their pain history and physical exam. Imaging may indicate other features of the condition but often does not offer a definitive diagnosis. Due to the estrogen dependent nature of endometriosis, many females choose to consider hormonal contraceptives (birth control) or pain medications such as ibuprofen as a way to deal with the pain. Moreover, surgical management has been reserved for extremely severe cases due to the complications that surgery imposes to patients. For this reason, many individuals continue to struggle with this condition.
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I’ve had endometriosis since I started menstruating at the age of 11 years old. I had the most debilitating periods filled with extreme pain, constant vomiting, and being bed ridden for at least 1-2 days a month. I missed out on school, extracurricular activities, friend and family events, and celebrations because of my condition. However every time we sought a professional opinion, my mom and I faced a dismissal with “it’s normal”.
Really? Your body being in undeniable pain for days on end, month after month, year after year…is normal? I could not rest not knowing what was wrong with me and something was wrong, I was certain.
Around the time I was 13 or 14 I was reading a women’s magazine my mom had laying around and one article was talking about something called endometriosis. I hardly knew how to pronounce the word so having heard about it was out of the question. As I read the article, my heart started beating quicker and my palms began sweating. They were explaining each and every symptom that I suffered with for the last few years. I wanted to cry with relief. There was finally an answer to what was wrong with me.
But there was no cure. To this day it is a very misunderstood and understudied disease despite it affecting millions of women worldwide. Statistics show that 1 in 10 women have some form or stage of endometriosis. That is 10% of women worldwide. And yet we don’t have many answers. It takes a women easily 10-15 years to be diagnosed.
The same was true for me. Despite having an inkling that I had this disease, I received no confirmation. If anything I faced denial of acknowledgement of my complaints and pain. They said the only medication was birth control.
So time went on. I got older, I graduated university and got a job but my monthly visitor brought pain and tears every single time. I continued to miss out on classes, exams, extracurriculars and everything else. One time I was even bedridden on my 20th birthday. I was so internally upset that my body was failing me like this and no one could help me. I was missing out on life.
I am still working hard to understand my body and work slowly on changes to better myself. It has been a long and very turning journey and the finish line is still not in sight. I try to remain as positive as I can and lean on the people that can understand me, my pain and how’s it’s shaped my life. In a way I’m also thankful to this disease. It’s taught me patience and empathy and blessed me with a never give up attitude. Yes, I still don’t have my disease under control but I try every single month again and again in hope of relieving myself. And the day will definitely come.
I don’t just hope it will, I know it will!
- Anonymous
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Interested in more information. Check out this website with detailed information on endometriosis, symptoms, diagnosis, and management: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/endometriosis-beyond-the-basics
- D & R
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