I was diagnosed in 2006 at the age of 22. But the pain started years before.
This is going to go in depth so if you are squeamish this might not be the blog for you.
It all started at 14 when I got my period. The pain was horrendous and the bleeding was scary. I bleed for 11 days and went through 3 backs of pads. I was worried and scared but was told it was normal.
The periods carried on this way to the extent I was in a lesson and waited til everyone had left because I had bleed through onto the seat enough to make a puddle. But once again I was told this was normal.
I was a shy girl and did not know how to talk about things and even though I had 5 sisters was not close to any of them, so didn’t discuss anything with them. I was a lonely child.
At 16 I got pregnant and lost my baby at 4 months. It was devastating but was told it happens to everyone. Since then I have misscarragied 5 more babies due to endometriosis. They were all bad and scary.
Although one stands out. I got cramps and it wasn’t endo didn’t think nothing of it and didn’t know I was pregnant at the time. Then the bleeding started but this time it was different. I had misscarriaged before so I kinda knew. I went to the doctors and they confirmed the miscarriage although I had not passed all the tissue so was give a pill to help me pass the rest. The second pill i had to take at the hospital. It was heart breaking.
I arrived at the hospital and was taken to the maternity ward and put in a side room. I could hear women in labour and babies crying. The pain got worse and worse and I was alone. I passed the baby and the nurse asked me if I wanted to look. Who asks that question I was not far gone so my baby was more blood then anything else. I told her something didn’t feel right. But 10 mins after I miscarried she sent me home. I walked home alone that night. It was around 10 at night.
I was going to a car show and felt fine just slight back ache. Whilst there the craps started again, I managed to hide it and on the way home I asked the friend drive to take it easy as pain was bad. he was a dick and thought it was funny to go the route with all the speed bumps. By the time I got back to my area I asked him to drop me off at the hospital. I was in agony but no one came with me. I told the receptionist what was happening, by this time I was bleeding all down my legs and informed them this and told to just sit down. I called a friend to bring me pads and I was changing all the time. The waiting room was packed and there was blood all over me. I finally got taken in and was told until they confirm I was actually miscarriaging they would not give me pain meds. I was made to walk to the toilets every time I felt I was bleeding or passing my baby. They even brought in gas and air for me as soon as it was confirmed. The pain stopped after I passed large tissue. I had a scan to reveal that it still wasn’t over. A week later they called me in for a DNC.
Although all miscarriages are bad that’s the one that haunts me the most.
There are so many lies about endometriosis. I fell for one of them. The one that says a hysterectomy cures Endo. I had a total hysterectomy 2 years ago yesterday and its been my biggest regret. I have 2 gorgeous babies and would not change them for the world. But having the choice taken away to have more is devastating.
I have had 11 operations due to endometriosis.
When I had my first operation to diagnose me my partner at the time did not believe me and told me if they find nothing he is leaving me.
Everything is worse now. Sex is painful, shitting is painful, I swell up 2 dress sizes in minutes, I cant exercise much, lost multiple jobs, have more operations coming. The pain is unbearable some days to the point I throw up and pass out.
The part that is the worse is that people don’t believe you. They don’t understand that you are in agony but have to carry on your day anyway. I have had people not believe I have had operations cause I bounce back fast. What they don’t understand is the pain from the operations including the hysterectomy is nothing compared to endometriosis pain.
I have had doctors say I go to hospital to get meds. I go to hospital when its got to the point that the morphine I have at home is not working anymore and im in so much pain I cant cope. I have had ambulances refuse to take me to hospital because its an on going condition I should know the signs.
That’s a picture of my belly swollen leaving me in pain and unable to move much.
Endometriosis is a terrible disease and barely anyone knows about it
