A Year with Endo

A year ago, I woke up from surgery and the first thing I asked was "was it Endo" and I clearly remember my family saying "yes, yes it was exactly what you thought it was". A journey that started over 11 years ago to find answers had come to a close. But now what?

I had researched Endometriosis (Endo) for years and used the research to prolong the need for surgery. See with Endo once you begin surgeries you typically need them every 3 to 5 years. However, you also do not know if it is actually Endometriosis unless you have surgery and they perform a biopsy.

I'm not going to go into details about the surgery itself but want to share how the past year has been since my diagnosis. Some things I continue to do post-surgery to help I actually started pre surgery based on my research prior to surgery include using multiple methods of birth control, ibuprofen, my tens unit (I use the brand "My Livia"), and eating a mainly dairy and gluten free diet. All of these things helped/help me manage my pain and symptoms from Endo. I still work every day to learn more about my body and what it needs to function the best I can!

In the last year I really haven't noticed much change physically. I still find myself using medication, heating pads and my tens unit to help with pain over a week each month. Unfortunately for me I have Endometriosis in a couple areas they cannot remove from. However, it has been comforting to know what cause the pain I have had for over 11 years and for that I am thankful! I now don't have to wonder or contemplate going into the ER because I know pain and the reasoning behind it. Therefore, pain management is important and that I am still working on and learning about with by OBGYN to find the best method(s) to help my pain. My OB is amazing and has been working with my insurance for me over the past two months to get me started on the Endometriosis pill to help my right-side pain. When I met with her in May it was either try the pill or be referred to a specialist for a more invasive surgery with most likely the removal of my right fallopian tube. That is scary to here as a single woman in her 20s. Thankfully I have been working on pain management with my OB and she understands my concerns and has been a amazing advocate! I also had my allergist tell me that she is surprised they haven't suggested a hysterectomy yet...Just a reminder that is NOT a way to stop Endometriosis. This also made me even more thankfully for finding my OBGYN.

Mentally Endometriosis can take a lot out of you and the last two months have been extra hard. However, I choose to use it to help others and to help support and try to educate others just based on years of researching the diagnosis and trying different things I have found that have helped me manage. I sometimes feel like I talk and share about Endo too much but in reality, any medical condition these days isn't shared enough and I feel like no one should ever feel alone especially when dealing with the health of their body! Thankfully I have an amazing support system that is there for me and willing to let me talk about my concerns and I also have a great friend to share ideas with on how to manage the diagnosis! Endometriosis can lead to losing organs, infertility, and losing quality of life. Thankfully I have been able to manage mine and am very lucky!

Overall, this year has been a year of learning and making adjustments to figure out the best way to manage my diagnosis of Endometriosis. I do not have all the answers and am still learning but if I can help anyone, even just one person, by sharing my experience that is what I want to do and exactly why I started this blog a year ago! I hope you learned some new information about Endometriosis and some hope through this post if you are someone who also has Endo or is debating surgery! I debated for years but honestly knowing what I am dealing with has helped me so much over the last year!

~Marissa