What are your endometriosis symptoms like?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
My symptoms began when I started menstruating, at 11 yrs old. Symptoms: headache, body\/muscle stiffness, sharp abdominal pains, extremely heavy periods, diarrhea during periods, nausea, abdominal cramping, excessive bloating, exhaustion, anemia.<\/p>\n
What was your journey to diagnosis like?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I started menstruating at 11yrs old. By 13, I knew my long list of extreme symptoms couldn\u2019t possibly be \u201cnormal\u201d. I went to doctors, gynecologist, health clinics and spoke to nurses for almost 7 years. Each one telling me my experience was \u201cnormal\u201d, \u201cthis is what a period is like\u201d, \u201cit\u2019s all in your head just get over it\u201d. Luckily I persevered, and around 19yrs old I found a gynecologist who didn\u2019t dismiss me and actually listened. He diagnosed me almost immediately. And although there\u2019s no cure, only symptom management, it felt validating to know there was actual medical proof of an issue.<\/p>\n What has your experience with treatment for endometriosis been?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I had an operative laparoscopy that removed lesions and abdominal growths. That procedure lessened some of my symptoms for a few years. But over time, the lesions and growths have increased. Otherwise, in my daily life I utilize a combination of diet and herbal supplements to cope with the long list of constant and chronic symptoms.<\/p>\n How does endometriosis affect your day-to-day life?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because of endo, I\u2019ve missed multiple full days of school, I\u2019ve either left or called in sick to work, I\u2019ve cancelled social engagements, I\u2019ve had to plan vacations around my \u201cextremely bad days\u201d. It can be completely and utterly mentally exhausting to force myself to get up and get on with day with constant pain and extremely heavy periods. People tend to not understand. And many many times it\u2019s turned into being labelled as weak, or being whiny or a complainer.<\/p>\n How does endometriosis affect your emotional well-being?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I was very young (13-19), I was told repeatedly and constantly by medical professionals that my symptoms weren\u2019t real, it was all in my head, I had no idea what I was talking about, I was lying to get attention, and \u201cthis is what periods are get over it\u201d. Now, in my early forties, despite being diagnosed and having had lap surgery at 19, I\u2019m still questioned by Dr\u2019s and nurses who refuse to believe that I\u2019m telling the truth, my nearly debilitating symptoms are real, that I\u2019ve even had surgery (despite multiple abdomen scars). It\u2019s been a constant, life long struggle of convincing people that this is in fact a real thing and I\u2019m not seeking attention or making it all up. Being told by multiple gynecologist that\u2019s it\u2019s \u201cimpossible\u201d to experience these symptoms is mentally exhausting and insulting to my intelligence.<\/p>\n How have you found hope and support in your endometriosis journey?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve experienced very little support from any medical system, apart from the ONE gynecologist who initially diagnosed me. I\u2019ve experienced only small amounts of support from loved ones. I cope and survive on a daily\/weekly\/monthly basis 100% on sheer will and extreme stubbornness.<\/p>\n What do you think healthcare for endometriosis in Canada should look like?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Endo health care in Canada NEEDS to include: – medical professionals being taught about endo during training. Very few people seem to think it\u2019s a real and valid medical condition – No girl\/woman should EVER be dismissed, talk down to, made to feel stupid, or told she\u2019s mentally unstable because she\u2019s seeking medical help – We must prioritize women’s\u2019 health in the this country. Menstruation is natural. Let\u2019s talk about it. Women\u2019s sexual health is natural. Let\u2019s talk about it. – We must empower all women to speak up and don\u2019t take no for an answer. Advocate for your own health. Stand for the health of your daughters, family members.<\/p>\n What do you think it is important for people to know about the experience of having endometriosis in Canada?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Being diagnosed with endo is only the very beginning of the life long struggle. Too many women have to literally fight to be heard, to be taken seriously, to receive a basic level of care. The medical system is grossly undereducated concerning most women\u2019s issues and dismissive and uncaring about what it does want to even acknowledge. We need national education from health classes in school, to medical training for professionals.<\/p>\n We need research and data and studies and innovation to learn how to make this disease manageable for the hundreds of thousands of women in this country for suffer from endo. I firmly, 100% believe that if this was a disease that only affected men, huge amounts of money and resources would have been poured into this issue years and years ago. But because it only affects all those pesky women, well tough luck for you gals. Quit your whining and carry on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I started menstruating at 11yrs old. By 13, I knew my long list of extreme symptoms couldn\u2019t possibly be \u201cnormal\u201d. I went to doctors, gynecologist, health clinics and spoke to nurses for almost 7 years. Each one telling me my experience was \u201cnormal\u201d, \u201cthis is what a period is like\u201d, \u201cit\u2019s all in your head just get over it\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,44],"tags":[45],"class_list":["post-2849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-non-classifiee","category-temoignages","tag-english"],"yoast_head":"\n