My endometriosis story starts like this… I remember stepping back into the shimmering heat that day with a rush of nervous excitement.
A few hours prior, I’d walked into the cool, pale grey waiting room of my local Medical Centre with nothing more than a general hope someone could help me with my increasingly difficult cycle.
This was not unfamiliar territory. Over the past 13 years I’d seen many GPs and gynaecologists. I’d been prescribed multiple forms of birth control to “regulate” my cycle and tried an array of medications to stem bleeding, arrest pain and sort my moods.
Nothing had worked.
So as I sat and waited for my name to be called, I wasn’t expecting much. I just didn’t know what else to do or where else to turn.
Endo what? I heard myself say.
I had been rattling off my symptoms spiel as this laser-sharp GP pieced together all I was saying, and for the first time, gave it a name.
I think you have endometriosis. She said, And this is what we’re going to do about it.
This is where my endometriosis story expediates. I took my wide-eyed yet apprehensive-self off to the hospital clinic that Thursday, and found myself the next morning in a hospital gown awaiting surgery. I was in a tailspin.
But I also felt relieved, and validated. Validated that this nightmare that had ruled my life – this endless cycle of flooding and searing pain and spiraling depression and career and relationship disruption – could be an actual “thing” and not simply a series of bad periods.
Yet … I couldn’t get past this niggling whisper in the back of my mind:
What if I was making my endometriosis story up? What if this wasn’t endo?
What if I went through this whole surgery only to find they couldn’t find anything? What if this was normal? What if I was my own biggest fear … just a “weak female” who couldn’t hack what every other woman could – basic PMS?
And so, I much later found out, this is a pretty common experience of 1 in 10 women who suffer this often un- or mis-diagnosed condition, endometriosis, a.k.a endo.
Click Here for Part 2 What is endometriosis? Signs + symptoms; or
Click Here for Part 3 Natural support to nurture your body through endometriosis
Endo what? is also the title of a feature-length documentary about Endometriosis. You can find the trailer on YouTube.
Want to know more? Download my free E-book Beyond PMS – Understanding Endometriosis.
Kate is a qualified naturopath who is passionate about helping women heal from hormonal havoc and inspiring women to know their own power, worth and wisdom.
Kate offers one-on-one Skype consults for irregular cycles, PMS and period pain, endometriosis, PCOS, peri-menopause, mood swings, fatigue and mental and emotional stress.
Simply drop me an email to see how I can help you!
