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Jennifer

What are your endometriosis symptoms like? At first, pain in my pelvic area. Bloating, bleeding, extremely painful.

What was your journey to diagnosis like? I have endometriosis. I was diagnosed at age 23. It took 8 years of monthly hospital visits to be diagnosed. Age 29, I had a full hysterectomy. I lost a baby just prior to my hysterectomy and never wanted to feel that pain of loss again, so I choose to have the hysterectomy. Nobody took me seriously before being diagnosed, and even after surgery and these years that are now my present struggle. I remember I was told I was in surgery for 5 1/2 hours, because the surgeon couldn’t believe how much endo grew in my body. I remember waking up in my hospital room, which was a semi private room to a nurse waking me up saying “Jennifer you’re going home.” I barley knew what was going on. I signed a waver for a longer hospital stay to recover, but it was never met with the hospital. I struggled from age 29 to now to have hormone replacement as I entered menopause. I am going to be 40 years old this year. I’ve tried so hard to have someone listen to me that I needed help. Now 10 years later I just got referral back to my gynecologist and now I am on hormone replacement. The pain physically and mentally ruined my family, my kids, my marriage, and myself. My gynecologist said that if I ever have another problem getting someone to refill my hormone replacement to call her immediately. When I think about my journey, and others, there’s more women like me who have suffered alone. My experience in the last 10 years has now diagnosed me with severe depression, and unable to work. Recently I was in hospital waiting for a X-ray. I told nurses, and the emergency doctor that no, I wasn’t pregnant when they asked. I explained my hysterectomy . I waited 3 hours because they ordered a pregnancy test because they didn’t believe me nor read my health record. I wrote a letter to the Health Minister about this incident. I received a reply back, but it never generated anything out of it. I should of never of had to do a pregnancy test, and wait additional 3 hours for that result. Now that it’s only been a month since taking hormone replacement, my journey isn’t over.

How does endometriosis affect your day-to-day life? Lost job, lost marriage, lost mental health, lost unborn children. Discriminated when applying for new jobs.

How does endometriosis affect your emotional well-being? I’ve been diagnosed with major depression. Spent time in Hospital in Mental Health Department. Has completely ruined my life .

How has endometriosis shaped turning points in your life up until now and looking toward the future? Just getting help now, 10 years later after hysterectomy with hormone replacement. 

How have you found hope and support in your endometriosis journey? I don’t have anyone to talk to. Nobody understands my situation.

What do you think healthcare for endometriosis in Canada should look like? Very poor in Saskatchewan.