Endometriosis Stories Page 23

Name: Karla St Pierre
E mail: snuggles_7717@hotmail.com
Location: Canada
Date: Jan 2009

Hello my name is Karla. I am 30 years old. I was diagnosed with Endometriosis (finally) approximately 5 years ago. At age 21 I had a partial hysterectomy done (uterus and tubes) they had left the ovaries so that I wouldn’t go through menopause. They had told me that with the partial hysterectomy that it would cure all the pain and all the symptoms. What a surprise didn't help. 3 years later I ended up getting an ovary removed. Which once again they told me would relieve my pain. Well guess what? didn't work again! At this point I was more than frustrated with the situation. I had went back to the Dr for them to tell me that it was basically all in my head, here are some meds go home and rest. I had finally went back fed up with the entire situation and told them that something needed to be done. So they took me in for a laparoscopy and told me that they had removed it and everything was going to be fine. Well Surprise..It didn't work. Here I was going through this process yet again. However this time was a little different, not only was I suffering in pain with no offer of any help medically, but I was also slipping into depression. I was hurting in more ways than one. I had went back to the Dr and told him that on top of the pain of the Endo I was slipping into a depression and that I was scared about how I was feeling. Part of the depression had a lot to do with the disease but it also had alot to do with feeling like less of a woman due to the hysterectomy. But it also had to do with suffering and having no help medically what so ever. So here I am today with just recently having my 8th surgery for endo. There are no support groups, specialists or nothing in Canada to offer any help of any kind. I have lost jobs, time off work, and have been robbed not only of my female parts but robbed from enjoying life with my family. I have now made it my mission to do everything and anything that I can to make more awareness in Canada as well as doing everything I can to set up some means of support. Such as a help line to call, A friend who has went through the same thing as the other wonderful lady suffering on the other end of the phone. I am currently working with the Ministry of Health in Canada to see what I can do so hopefully all works out. Since my 8th surgery I am once again back at square one and am currently seeking out an Endo specialist. By the looks of things I am going out of country to do this and I think that this is ridiculous. There should be more services. Government grants ( for loss of income), Support as well as specialists that specialize in only this.. I strongly believe that my calling in life is to bring awareness, and help other Endo sufferers to come up with way more than what we are offered as far as care etc. If anyone has any ideas as to where else I could turn to get some kind of relief (not for pain) but for awareness etc please do notify me. I am very interested in hearing any ideas or suggestions. My email is snuggles_7717@hotmail.com Thank you for reading my story.(This is the small cut down version but it is a story as well as a reach out for suggestions or help). To all of you fellow Endo sufferers my hat is off to all you ladies as well as your partners who are going through this process as well. I think that sometimes our partners are forgot about, they are going through the process as well, just not as extreme as the ladies are. My hat is off to all of you going through this horrendous disease. I wish nothing but the best to all of you. And if I can be of any support to anyone please do not hesitate to email me. I am more than willing to listen and offer a shoulder of support.


Name: Allison Baxter
E mail: ardentluma@aol.com
Location: United States
Date: Jan 2009

Since I became of menstruating age at 12, I?ve always suffered from heavy and irregular periods. I was relatively pain free and generally had no problems associated with menses until about 17. My immune system took a big crash during that time and I suffered from many illnesses at once. Bacterial infections, gallbladder attacks, jaundice, and multiple colds and flues. I was hospitalized twice with the gallbladder and had it removed. During this time, I suffered from agonizing stomach problems and after my gallbladder removal I never got better. As I progressed further along the years, I always chalked up my constant discomfort to issues from my gallbladder/GI problems. See, I was never really in major pain but I was constantly having to deal with IBS symptoms, nausea, bloating, ect. It finally began to get worse and I started going through Gastrointestinal Doctors, going through GI testing, and of course, coming up empty with results or any diagnosis. I was told to try specific diets, go through allergy testing, and tried multiple medications for GI related disorders with no effectiveness (of course) and was, by my last GI, told that I was crazy. By this time I was begging for them (my GI office) to look on the outside of my bowel as opposed to the inside and they wouldn?t listen. I just knew my problems were on the outside. I finally, after doing some research and paying attention to my own body, went to the Gynecologist. By this time my pain was getting worse and worse every month. My periods were unusually long, the blood a blackish brown (which I called old blood). My life was basically revolved around my menstrual cycle and I would feel ?good? only about one week of the month if I was lucky. I was sick all the time. All the time! So to the Doctor I went and after my ultrasound, I was given a laparoscopy to confirm what I already suspected. Stage 4. The endometriosis was attached all over the ligament of my uterus and my uterus is completely deviated to the right side of my body. I had many implants in the Pouch of Douglas, on the outside of my uterus, bowels, colon, and muscle tissue. Unfortunately my surgeon could not laser most of my implants. She said many of mine are deeply implanted in my tissue and removal was impossible. From there I went to Depo Lupron. Now, my pain was never completely removed and I was still having problems but they were less severe and I was able to go on with life. Depo Lupron helped move my uterus back to a more central position, but you can only take it for 6 months. I had side effects but generally went unscathed through the whole Lupron regiment. From there I went to Seasonique which made me so crazy, evil, nasty, and mean that I couldn?t take it any more. I?m on YAz now, but all regular BC does is make sure to keep the bleeding controlled. It has been just a year since my surgery and I called my Doctor?s office just a few minutes ago because I am back into living my life in agony. More surgery, I bet. I just want this over with, but there?s no answer and no cure. The depression that comes with such hopelessness is beginning to get to me to. I?m glad that I am not alone in this, but I wish I was and that no one else had to suffer as we suffer. The reason why I?m posting this story is so that other women going through prominent GI symptoms should get checked out by a GYN who is familiar with Endometriosis. Get checked, speak up, and be aware! Bless you all.


Name: Katie
E mail: mlakovic@aol.com
Location: United States
Date: Jan 2009

I am writing this because words cannot express the love and the respect that I have for Dr. Masahide Kanayama (an endometriosis specialist in new York). My story is long and painful i was at the bottom .. I have literally givenup all hope when I was sitting at starbucks of all places and was listened to some women talk about her newborn and what a miracle and blessing. I have been desperate for a child for years so I decided to be bold and ask her since i have had 5 failed IVF treatments. She then proceeded to discuss her endometriosis and since I have never been diagnosed I automatically knew that the symptoms i have been experiencing were the same.I finally contacted the office and was greeted by a vey compassionate women named sabrina who listened and understood. She gave me an appt right away. Within the first visit I was diagnosed with Stage IV endometriosis with my uterus being pulled to the left. I was scheduled for surgery almost immediately. All of this came as a great shock to me and was alittle overwhelming. I had alot of anger towards he IVF center knowing i had endometriosis and continuing to take my money without notifying me that the chances of getting pregnant where lower and the chances of holding on to the pregnancy was lower than that. I decided to go ahead with the surgery i am not 6 months post op and 3 months pregnant naturally... Thanks to Dr. Masahide Kanayama and his amazing team. God Blessssss


Name: Nirvana
E mail: suneetam@medemass.com
Location. South Africa
Date: Jan 2009

Hi Ladies I have been to my gynae who recommended i take the zoladex injection for 3 months, has anyone been on that injection? i am going for a second opinion next week but need to know if anyone can give me some advice on it. i have had endo from the age of 23, now i am 30yrs old. i want to have kids but dr says i need the injection. i have a stage 4 endo. my periods aren't as painful as before and the pain only lasts for 1 day. and it's manageable. intercourse is painful at times as well. i have only recently gotten married, Nov 08 and saddled with so my problems. so, any advice for me ??


Name: Stephanie
Email: scottishfire69@hotmail.com
Location: United States
Date: Feb 2009

Stephanie, I was 26 and just married when I started getting clearly ill. I had extreme bowl problems and abdominal cramps. They became so bad that I had to quit work and school. Every time I ate any food at all I would have abdominal pains. I went to many doctors and had many tests done. They came back and told me it was my gal bladder that must be the problem. In my hurry for some kind of relief I signed away a part of my body and had it removed. After the surgery healing I was not better. I went to more and more doctors and FINALLY I found an OBGYN doctor that subjected Endometriosis. I had the Lapo procedure done and they found Endo?s all over my insides. On my bladder outside my womb and possibly in my bowls. He zapped the ones he could and then told me the only way to get rid of the problem was to take hormones they simulated menopause or to have a complete hysterectomy, ovaries and all. I have read so much about this and I can not see how a complete hysterectomy can help. If you have to take estrogen pills, then what is the difference from that and the ovaries being there? So I have been trying many different lifestyle changes and I have not found any that have lasted very long. I had given up dairy once, as well as greasy foods. I was eating veggies and exercising whenever the pain would let me. This would work for a month and then I would have three weeks of complete pain and immobility. Fatigue and bowl issues would come back as strong as ever. It has now been two years since I have been diagnosed with Endometriosis and I am ready to give up hope and have it all taken out just on the off chance I might find peace that way. I am barley human as I am now, and not even able to contribute to my family. I am 29 turning 30 this year and I have lost so many years to this. I was strong in the beginning but now I feel lost in a depression with every disappointing attempt to feel better. I found this site while I was browsing this evening. I was looking into having the surgery and wanted to hear from other real people like myself. Maybe I can find a new direction. This is my story. Stephie


Name: Amrit Matharoo
E mail: apghataaura@yahoo.co.in
Location: Canada
Date: Feb 2009

Hello everyone,, My Name is Amrit. I am 32 years old. I was diagnosed with Endometriosis in April 2007 when I had my first laparoscopy surgery. I was on infertility treatment for last 2 years. My Dr. did all the tests but he didn't find anything worng with me or my husband. Seven/eight months before my surgery I had a lot of pain in my lower abdominal and had a lot of bleeding during periods. I had pain during intercourse, washroom and ovulation times.. I never thought that I am suffer with a disease. After my surgery I found that I have Endo and my right tube is more affected than the left side. My Dr. said that your case {condition} is severe. He said that I try to remove as much as I could. Dr. also said that if we want a child, we need to go for an IVF, otherwise I never get pregnant.. I was desperate and cried a lot for many days. Then one day I was searching on web and found endo-resolved site. This site changes my life. It was hard to change diet because I like milk, cheese, sweets and wheat is my basic food {i am from India}. I had my surgery in April 2007 and I have had change my diet in July 2008. I also start walk {but not in winters} and yoga. After that I never feel pain. Now I am 5 months pregnant without IVF. My husband been very supportive in all those months. He always helps me to change my diet and improve my health. When first time I went to my obstetrician he could not believe that I got pregnant without IVF. I wanted to say million thanks to the person who started this site. It gives me a new and pain free life. Thanks everyone,, and good luck.....A


Name: Jessenia Sanchez
E mail: nene1self@yahoo.com
Location: United States
Date: Feb 2009

Well I went through a long three years at the age of 13 to find out why i had so much pain. They kept telling me that is was constipation and nothing else I went through a laparoscopy in 2006 and my doctor said I did not have endo. Well a year later I went to another place and he read the tests results wrong I did have the disease and it just seem to get worst. Because the same year I went through another surgery and I found out that I have Interstitial Cystitis that many women get due to Endometriosis, basically your bladder attacks itself. I am in so much pain in less than a year I have had 8 ovarian cysts, at one time 3 on one side 2 on the other. I was off birth control for one month and i got 5 cysts, so i need help out there because it seems to get worst and I was diagnosed in 2007, I am only 19 years old and I feel horrible. PLEASE contact me if you need to talk.xoxox.


Name: Amanda Johnson
E mail: agjohnson07@aol.com
Location: United States
Date: Feb 2009

Hello, Two months ago, I purchased the book for the Endometriosis Diet on this website. I took it very seriously as I needed to find some relief from my severe menstrual cramps. I was at the end of my rope. Doctor's told me that my cramps were normal. They told me I might have endometriosis, but that I should get pregnant to cure the disease. The amount of ignorance out there had me feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. The diet book gave me the opportunity to put the healing back into my own hands. I started to feel like I had some control over my own body again. Because I was feeling good, and I had energy from eating the healthy foods, I started to exercise and lost 10lbs. Exercising really helped my mood and kept me feeling positive. I thought maybe some of the excess estrogen was being stored in my fat cells. I wanted to minimize places for it to hide. Through this, my husband and I have been TTC. We had been trying for 1.5 years with no luck. The second full month after following the Endometriosis Diet perfectly, I started my period - and to my amazement, I had bearable cramping - nothing like I'd been experiencing for the past two years. I couldn't believe it! I didn't take any painkillers just to see if it could really be true and I was fine! Usually, I am in tears and popping painkillers every two hours. It's awful. This month, I am walking around, feeling fine, a little crampy but THESE are normal cramps. I wanted to say thank you. I am healthier than I have ever been. I still eat organic chicken and some fish, but overall it has been very easy and enjoyable to follow this diet. I hope the healthier lifestyle will help with our infertility as much as it has helped with my pain. Thank you so much. Amanda Johnson * I also began drinking Noni juice and taking extra multivitamins, especially vitamins E, C, and B


Name: Heather Reilly
Email: huggablehez@hotmail.co.uk
Location: United Kingdom
Date: Feb 2009

Hey all. I am 20 years old and have been getting pains ever since I started my periods. My periods were never regular from the start, coming every couple of months and lasting for weeks. I remember every couple of months I would get these pains that would creep up on me for days then I would end up at the docs or in hosp as they got so bad. They could never find anything wrong. Then last year my big sister was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, after reading up on it I learned it was hereditary so I decided to get tested for this. The previous year I was sent to the hosp for tests as I was getting pains and bleeding during sex, they told me I had 1 ovary bigger than the other and this was causing the pain. When I spoke to my doc about being tested for PCOS he said he knew I had it. I had been diagnosed with it the previous year!! Why didnt they tell me?? :( Still the pains kept coming and the periods getting heavier and more severe pains. I ended up in hosp again December last year (2008) again they gave me the internal scans (sooo uncomfortable) and again nothing. The only thing they said to me was we THINK your cysts may be leaking and this is causing the pain. Last week my friend told me about endometriosis, after reading up on this I learned I have been suffering with so many of these symptoms. I had previously been on antibiotics for a urine and kidney infection but decided to go back as the pain had persisted. I spoke to my doc about my findings on endo. He said I had been to the gyny ward before and should already have been tested for it. I have not!! He has put me on more antibiotics and pain killers to see if this helps the pain. I am near the end of my course and still the pain is there. I know my doc will not listen to me as I have been back so many times with pain, I dont think he believes me. I am convinced I have this disease but how can I get him to listen? Please can anyone help me??? I am in so much pain and am getting rather depressed about it now. Please help me.


Name: Stacie
E mail: ssourasin@comcas.net
Location: United States
Date: Feb 2009

I'm still living with Endometriosis but managing very well at age 40. When I was diagnosed 9 months before my wedding day, I not only thought my fianc? would run for the hills but also I thought that I wouldn't have any children. I am a now happily married for 10 years and I have two beautiful children. I was told to plan to adopt or expect to be childless but things don't always work out as you expect. When I was young and learning about the birds and bees I thought the world would come to an end when I would start getting my period. How somewhat true that story was. I had to drop out of sports. I had to basically live hidden in my home from the 7th grade on. From the very start my periods were terribly heavy and extremely painful. I had no idea what was going on. I wondered was I just weak. How did everyone else deal with this pain every month. No doctor ever asked me "Are you experiencing pain when you have your period?" That simple question would have solved the whole situation but to this day many doctors believe that isn't possible in the early teen years. At least from my experience it is true. I waited until I was 28 to insist it might be something beside some minimal abdominal pain. I could no longer leave the toilet. It was so painful. Within weeks my obgyn was doing a laparoscopy. When I woke up from the surgery I can remember the nurse saying she had never seen any woman with Endometriosis like me. I know there are others out there. I'm not alone here. The doctor said my bladder was attached by scare tissue to my uterus. My ovaries were covered and my bowels weren't much better. Well, I had finally had the answer to my pain. It was relieving but I was still scared that I wouldn't have any children. My doctor had suggested Lupron to hold off the tissue from growing back. I ended up trying it but it caused terrible mental problems that I was not ready to handle. I had to go on high doses of Zoloft to handle the severe depression. Though the shot should have only lasted a couple months it was more like 5 months. I never tried the Lupron again. A week after my wedding day I had found out I was expecting. I was elated. She will turn 10 this next week. During the pregnancy, the pain of the endometriosis continued. This was due to the remaining scare tissue and the additional scare tissue that formed from the surgery. As the uterus expanded the tissue would tear. It was like 9 months of pain. I kept thinking that after the baby would be born the pain would go away. Unfortunately, that was not the case either. For over a year, I suffered from limited mobility and severe pain. My obgyn didn't think it was endometriosis but I insisted to try some other medication. I ended up taking progesterone. This worked extremely well for me except it caused depression. So, I had to return to the Zoloft. After a few months of the hormones I decided to seek another obgyn who would do another laparoscopy. The 2nd surgery helped for a couple years but I still could not live without the hormones. So, the same dr. had learned of a procedure where they disconnect some nerves from the uterus. That was a God Send! It did the trick and I could get off the hormones and try for another child. After a couple years of no success, I was finally pregnant again to later find out it was a tubular pregnancy. But my husband and I continued to try. After another year of no success, I opted for the 4th surgery. Finally, we had success a few months later. After the birth of the 2nd child I am finally off all hormones and my pain is much less than before. When turning 40 this year, I thought I made it. Yes, I made it to 40 without a hysterectomy. No more hormones and I'm finally free at least free enough to function normal enough for me. I can tell now that my body is aging and the endometriosis is diminishing. The advice I can give to others is keep searching for the dr. who listens to you and to help you find the treatment that works for you. The surgery I had and the drugs I took might not work for you but by being in control of your treatment you will get the solution you need. As a side note I do suffer from other autoimmune disorders and so do other members of my family. I don't know if there is a connection but I would rather have endometriosis than some of the life threatening illnesses. So, there is a bright side of this disease. It won't kill you so don't let it kill your spirit.


Name: ANNETTE NEAL
E mail: savethekids924@yahoo.com
Location: United States
Date: Feb 2009

I AM A 48 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE WHO WAS ALWAYS HEALTHY AND ENERGETIC UNTIL FOUR YEARS AGO. I STARTED GETTING SEVERE FATIGUE WEAKNESS AND STAYED SO TIRED THAT I COULDN'T DRIVE MY CAR FROM WORK. WHEN I VISIT A DOCTOR, THEY TREATED AS IF I HAD THE FLU.MY WEAKNESS SPELLS CONTINUE UNTIL ONE DAY, I FOUND MYSELF IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THEN THEY HOSPITALIZED ME. THEY SAID MY WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT WAS EXTREMLY HIGH AND I HAD AN INFECTION. AFTER MANY TEST,THE DOCTOR'S STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO EXPLORATORY SURGERY. THEY CALLED IT THE "WHIPPLE". THEY TOOK MY GALL BLADDER AND ROTATED MY INTESTINES AND CHECK THE PANCREAS AND THE LIVER BUT COULDN'T FIND NO SIGNS OF CANCER OR TUMORS.IN THE BEGINING, I HAD TROUBLE DIGESTING ANY FOODS THEN THEY DECIDED TO PUT ME ON STEROIDS. I WAS DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL BUT WITHIN TWO DAYS STARTED HAVING ABDOMINAL PAINS AND VOMITING. THIS CYCLE CONTINUE ON AND ON FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THE DOCTOR'S KEEP ME ON AN ANTIBIOTIC MEDICINE, BUT I DON'T FEEL THIS IS HELPING ME ANYMORE. I CAN FEEL MY IMMUNE SYSTEM DETERIORATNG AND I'M SO TIRED OF FEELING TIRED. I BEGAN SEARING THE INTERNET FOR RESEARCH STUDIES ABOUT ABNORMAL IMMUNE SYTEMS AND THAT WHEN I DISCOVERED INFORMATION ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS. I HAVE HAD FIBROID TUMORS IN MY UTERUS AND WENT THROUGH A PARTIAL HYSTEROCTOMY. I REALLY AM SEARCHING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME, I HAVE BECOME A MYSTERY TO THE CURRENT DOCTOR'S I SEE. THANK YOU ANNETTE NEAL 615-443-1847 615-967-5247SH


Name: Rebecca Wallace
E mail: Picture_of_no_one@yahoo.com
Location: United States
Date: Feb 2009

I am 18 years old. I started my period at a very young age, i was 9 going on 10 in a couple weeks. I always had pain in my lower area. Constant side pains, pains where my left ovary is. Just unbearable. I always told my mother and my brother (he raised me like a dad)and both of them just told me it was all in my head because i don’t have a good immune system so I am always sick. I have been living with this pain for 8 years now as it progressively got worse. I finally went and talked to my doctor about it and he decided after trying to convince him i wasn’t just faking it, (took 4-5 visits) he decided to do a laparoscopy. I just had the procedure down about a month ago. Right before I went in the OR my mother asked him to look for Endometriosis, i had no idea what that was never heard of it in my life. Then I came out of surgery and they tell me i have it. I was set on having kids since I was 10yrs old. Since I was old enough to know. I have been with the same guy for almost 3 years and we are getting married in August. We have not been trying for a baby but we do not use protection either we have used protection maybe 2 times out of our whole relationship , I knew that was another way something was wrong. I see my brother (23)who now has 3 kids and one on the way and my sister (21)that has 3 kids and is due any day now (waiting on the phone call lol). Something had to be wrong. Since I have been told I have endometriosis, I have been nothing but depressed and not fun to be around anymore. No one in my family understands what it is like to be in the pain I have EVERYDAY and to know there is a chance I will never have my own kids. I cry every night my fiancé is sleeping. My obgyn told me to take my Ortho-tricyclen to stop the growth but after reading some of these stories, i was not told that estrogen makes it grow more. I didn't have anymore pain for about 2 or so weeks after my surgery and now it is back again and it is unbearable. I just feel so alone with no one to talk to, not even my docotor, My post-op appointment is next Tuesday and i think he is going to want to start me on the Lupron and im not so sure i want to do that. I read these stories about people loosing their lovers and family and friends over this, I don’t think I could handle that either. I wish there was a cure. A reason.. some kind of explanation of what I did wrong, or what i could have done to prevent this. but no one knows. I feel for EVERY single one of the women that has this disease. I know what you are going through and just talking about it now, is helping me cope with this. And for those of you that feel the urge to talk to your docotor about it, please do. It may make you into a different person, but at least you might be able to catch it sooner then most of us have. If you feel you need to talk, don´t hesitate to e-mail me. It is nice to talk to someone about it. Becky



Endometriosis Stories Page 24


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