First off, what is endometriosis? Endometriosis is when the tissue that is on the inner lining of a women's uterus begins growing in other areas of the body. Essentially, when these women begin their period these other areas that have the inner uterine lining also contract and bleed just like the uterus. These areas are commonly also in the pelvic region: pelvic wall, bladder, colon, rectum, bowel, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. However, it has also been found on the abdomen, in the diaphragm, on the eyes, in the nose, and even the brain. It sounds like a made up disease right? Nope, it affects 1 in 10 women and to be entirely honest, I think the number is much higher. It has ranked as one of the most painful diseases out there as it is a chronic disease. They do not know what causes it which means that there is no conventional medical cure for it.
As you saw, endometriosis can grow in some crazy places! It also doesn't just hurt us during our period while many of us find our periods to be unbearable, the pain can come at anytime during the month. I usually get mine in my luteal phase (second part of my cycle) and I believe this has to do with elevated levels of oestrogen but this is not scientifically proven, just a guess! Here are your most common symptoms of endometriosis (Bowick, 2018):
Pelvic pain
Painful periods
Infertility
Pain with sex
Abdominopelvic pain
Bowel or urinary pain
Allergies, migraines, or fatigue
Coughing up Blood (in some cases)
Leg and lower back pain
Chronic fatigue
Comorbid pain syndromes, mood conditions, and asthma
Endometriomas (endometriosis in forms of chocolate blood filled cysts on the ovaries)
Heavy periods
Irregular Cycles
Bloating
I want to make it clear that some of the most common symptoms that women feel with endometriosis which is pain isn't always there. There are plenty of women that have no symptoms at all and it isn't until they want to start having a baby that they have difficulty with infertility. Then often, not always, a doctor who is educated and trained will perform a laparoscopic surgery where they find proof of the endometriosis.
There are also 4 stages of endometriosis. 1 being the lease severe in terms of growth and 4 meaning there is significant growth and implants within the body. Yet, no matter the stage of endometriosis it does not determine the pain that someone feels. Someone with stage 1 could have debilitating pain while someone with stage 4 could not have any pain at all. My surgeon said she often found this was because women with stage 3 and 4 have plants growing all around their nerves causing nerve damaging, limiting their pain. There is no research to back this but nothing more than an observation.
An endometrioma (another form of endometriosis) or a chocolate cyst is a blood cyst that can grow quite large on the ovary. It can be detected by an ultrasound however, most women discover they have this after going from minimal pain to excruciating pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. They go to the hospital and doctors discover it and go in for laparoscopic surgery to check on the ovaries and clean up with blood in the pelvis. I do not experience this but I have heard they are incredibly painful! Another end of endometriosis is adenomayosis, which is where the uterine lining is growing into the uterine wall rather than other parts of the body. However, a woman with endometriosis can suffer from 1 of these, 2 of these, or all 3 types. The only way that adenomayosis and endometriosis can be officially diagnosed is with laparoscopic surgery.
I was diagnosed with endometriosis in April 2019 and it took me 12 years to get this answer. The most common symptoms I suffered from since I was 10 have been back pain & hip pain that led to unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries, heavy clotting, change of bowel movements when I started my period, painful bowel movements, constipation, bloating, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, leg pain, nerve pain, asthma, and severe pain with sex. I am still wondering after having these symptoms that my doctors never considered endometriosis even when my aunt suffered from it.
I won't say that I am completely alleviated from all of my ailments caused my endometriosis. But I can say that my pain in all areas of my body have improved by 80% which is pretty incredible for someone with this chronic illness! I have decided that I add herbs, diet changes, supplements & vitamins, acupuncture, certain workouts, and being gentle to myself to deal with this. We have to be gentle with ourselves and I know that my pain isn't as bad as some but others pain isn't nearly as bad as mine. I don't know if the conventional medical spectrum will ever find a cure but I have found what works for me and I am so glad that I did.
If you are interested in finding out more about what I do more specifically, definitely let me know!
Xoxo,
Moonli
Bowick, S. (2018) Living with Endometriosis. United States of America: Hatherleigh.
Comments