I have been living with endometriosis for roughly 16 years. Like many women, it took a long time for me to get a diagnosis. In fact, it took 14 years to get a surgical diagnosis, 7 years after my first complex cyst was seen during an emergency room visit. I spent years enduring agonizing period pain, chronic pelvic pain, nausea, fatigue, bowel problems, and ovarian cysts. Even after my surgical diagnosis, I had to fight to get the effective treatment and diagnostic care that I deserved. The following video gives you just a snapshot of one year of my life living with endometriosis; a year that I will never forget; a year that will haunt me for years to come.
Living with Endometriosis: a story of struggle and hope
Thanks to a highly skilled excision specialist, I have been given a second chance at a functional life. However, the journey to healing is not yet complete. To read my full story, including my struggle for a diagnosis, two surgeries, infertility, and how I lived through my recent miscarriage, visit:
Bloggers Unite for #EndoMarch2014: Week 2 – What the Endo March Means to Me
Kelsey is an Early Childhood Educator, patient advocate, and blogger from the Boston area. She chronicles her journey using sewing as a positive outlet while living with chronic pain and Stage IV Endometriosis. Unofficially diagnosed at 22, Kelsey has spent seven years learning about her disease, and has recently become active in Endometriosis research and advocacy.She recently founded Endo Sisters Healing Together, a support group for New England-based women with endometriosis. To read more, visit her blog at www.silverrosewing.blogspot.com
I am not sure what stage my endometriosis is at currently, but in Oct 2013, I was at stage II and in March 2013, when they diagnosed me I was at a stage I. The reason I ended up having laproscopic surgery is because I had a 6cm cyst on my right ovary which is why I ended up in the ER. By the time I had surgery in March, the cyst burst but they found endometriosis. I am 20, and have been struggling with this pain since I was 14!! Didn’t know I could get it so young. Birth control didn’t help and neither did Lupron (that is some evil stuff, that shot). So now they are putting me on Depo Provera, a new shot. I daily struggle with it. I have a hard time eating and going to the bathroom, even just emptying my bladder is an issue. I continually have infections. Right now I have a bladder infection that I have to be on a 3 month antibiotic for and vaginitis. I am in so much pain I can’t stand it. I just went to a fertility specialist to see what to do next since nothing is working. The ultrasound looked like my ovaries were sticking to my uterus and I had pockets of fluid, but no chocolate cysts, so that’s a good thing. Nothing has stopped my bleeding, I bleed so much and so sporadically. Your ***story*** has encouraged me greatly!
I am not sure what stage my endometriosis is at currently, but in Oct 2013, I was at stage II and in March 2013, when they diagnosed me I was at a stage I. The reason I ended up having laproscopic surgery is because I had a 6cm cyst on my right ovary which is why I ended up in the ER. By the time I had surgery in March, the cyst burst but they found endometriosis. I am 20, and have been struggling with this pain since I was 14!! Didn’t know I could get it so young. Birth control didn’t help and neither did Lupron (that is some evil stuff, that shot). So now they are putting me on Depo Provera, a new shot. I daily struggle with it. I have a hard time eating and going to the bathroom, even just emptying my bladder is an issue. I continually have infections. Right now I have a bladder infection that I have to be on a 3 month antibiotic for and vaginitis. I am in so much pain I can’t stand it. I just went to a fertility specialist to see what to do next since nothing is working. The ultrasound looked like my ovaries were sticking to my uterus and I had pockets of fluid, but no chocolate cysts, so that’s a good thing. Nothing has stopped my bleeding, I bleed so much and so sporadically. Your surgery has encouraged me greatly!