endometriosis Archives - Page 14 of 16

Is it Endometriosis or Something Else?

Published on February 10, 2013

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Endometriosis is an often misunderstood disorder affecting an estimated 176 million women and adolescents around the world, during what should be the “prime years of their lives” (Hummelshoj). Commonly characterized by symptoms that may be so severe as to interrupt one’s daily routine, whether with periods or at any time during the month, endometriosis accounts for the leading cause of pelvic pain in women of all ages.

Girls and women who suffer primarily during menses only may think, “Of course everyone’s periods are super painful – that’s how it’s supposed to be, right?” This is actually incorrect. Endometriosis is among the most common of diagnoses in adolescents and women with pelvic pain. Unfortunately, due to widespread lack of awareness and disease education, early symptoms are often dismissed as pelvic inflammatory disease or infection, ovarian cysts, appendicitis, IBS, Interstitial Cystitis, “normal” pain, or worse, an “in your head” diagnosis. This contributes to a near-decade delay in proper diagnosis and intervention. The good news is, accurate diagnoses are increasing as doctors and patients alike become better at recognizing the signs of endometriosis, particularly in younger women and girls. Early intervention combining timely diagnosis with proper treatment is essential towards preventing symptom progression and development of infertility (Sanfilippo et al.).

Though many women and girls may experience some discomfort during menstruation, “killer cramps” are NOT normal – despite what the media, friends and even well-intentioned loved ones may tell us. Pain is the body’s way of saying something is wrong. Symptoms that get in the way of school, work, sports, extracurricular or social life are an indication something is awry, as are persistent symptoms at any time of the month.

So What’s Normal?

minor period discomfort that may even require over the counter medication
occasional irregular or absent periods, particularly if athletic
“functional” ovarian cysts
pain during ovulation

What’s Not Normal?

severe and incapacitating period pain or pelvic pain at any time of the cycle that interrupts normal routine
GI discomfort, often but not necessarily around the time of menstruation
bladder pain or discomfort, during your period or apart from menses
chronic heavy bleeding and long cycles
if active, pain with sexual activity (especially upon penetration)
“chocolate” cysts known as “endometriomas”
subsequent allergies, food insensitivities or intolerances, chemical sensitivities, fatigue, or autoimmune conditions like thyroid disease may also be present in some women and girls with the disease

Time to See a Doctor

Any ongoing, worsening pain that has no obvious explanation should be evaluated further. “The younger the patient, the more valuable the early evaluation.” (Robert B. Albee, Jr., MD).

Sound Familiar?

you have pelvic pain during your period or at any time of the month that causes you to miss school, work or activities
you experience chronic stomach upset such as nausea, diarrhea or constipation
you have painful urination in absence of infection
if sexually active, intercourse or sexual activity are painful
you have family members who have been surgically diagnosed with endometriosis

If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, talk to a trusted nurse or doctor about endometriosis.

Endometriosis is NOT…

An infection or sexually transmitted disease (“STD”)
Contagious or preventable
Caused by abortion
Caused by backflow periods and thus cured by hysterectomy
Untreatable!

You cannot “catch” endometriosis, and it isn’t an infection of any sort. You can’t “give” it to anyone else, and there is no absolute prevention. There are treatments that can help, however; and many women and girls live quite well in spite of the disease and are able to control their symptoms long-term through different options. The cornerstone of any effective treatment regimen is quality surgery; most notably, Laparoendoscopic Excision (LAPEX).

Being aware of signs of endometriosis can help get early diagnosis and treatment – critical to effective management. Pain – menstrual or otherwise – that interrupts one’s life is never normal – being aware of abdominopelvic pain, GI and/or urinary distress, and/or pain with sexual activity are significant indicators of endometriosis. The most important step a young woman can take is not trivializing her body’s signals. Pain is a sign that something isn’t right.

Societal taboos and a culture of menstrual misinformation may lead women and girls to think their pain is “in their head”, or they may even be told by others that they are “faking it” to get out of work or class – or that crippling period cramps are “totally normal” and “part of being a female”, but these outdated notions simply aren’t true. If you are experiencing pain or symptoms that get in the way of your life, see your doctor.

About the Authors: The Center for Endometriosis Care is a COEMIG-Designated Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery which was founded over two decades ago by renowned laparoscopic excision (LAPEX) pioneer Robert B. Albee, Jr., MD, FACOG, ACGE. The Center is run under the leadership of Medical Director Ken R. Sinervo, MD, FRCSC, ACGE along with a caring, compassionate staff. We continue our efforts as architects of the legacy in gold standard endometriosis care.

Medical Disclaimer: All material on this web site is provided for your information only and may not be construed as, nor should it be a substitute for, professional medical advice. To read more about our health policy see Terms of Use.

Drink Tart Cherry Juice

by Jordan Davidson

Published on February 1, 2013

7212 views

You’ll thank me for this one later; perhaps in a day or two after you get over the initial shock of the cost versus volume of the tart cherry juice you just hesitantly purchased based on the advice of some health writer.

Rest assured, tart cherry juice is awesome. Here’s why:

It tastes amazing – especially if you like tart juices or if you like cherries. I equate it to drinking a thin version of pie filling (you can cut it with water if liquid pie isn’t your idea of a good time).
It is great for those suffering from chronic inflammation. I drink it to manage pelvic inflammation as a result of endometriosis. I know others who drink it to help manage arthritic inflammation and reduce gout related inflammation.
Tart cherries have natural pain relieving properties similar to ibuprofen and naproxen.
A pilot study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that tart cherry juice can help beat insomnia. This is due to the high levels of naturally occurring melatonin found in tart cherry juice.
Tart cherries are chock full of antioxidants and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good antioxidant?
Additional research from the University of Michigan, also published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found that tart cherries can help to control weight and prevent some of the symptoms that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

So there you have it, six reasons why you should be drinking cherry juice if you aren’t already.

Lucine Medical Disclaimer: All material on this web site is provided for your information only and may not be construed as, nor should it be a substitute for, professional medical advice. To read more about our health policy see Terms of Use.

Hysterectomy or Not – Angela’s Endometriosis Update

by Angela Wice

Published on January 31, 2013

5881 views

Well the time has come and I will be undergoing my second surgery for Endometriosis and PID damage February 28^th – a hysterectomy.

My health has been alright, all things considering. My husband and I haven’t been intimate for a while as it’s extremely painful to have sex and the medication I am currently on (Cymbalta) has lowered my sex drive almost to nothing. If we do have sex it takes extremely long to orgasm and sometimes I just can’t at all. That is very frustrating.

I haven’t had too much pain lately in my pelvic area and that is making me nervous. It makes me think that I should hold off on the surgery. However my bladder and bowels are bad and I need that looked at for sure. I feel a lot of scar tissue up near my liver and diaphragm where the endometriosis was before, so I am pretty sure the scar tissue is just all over the place.

The surgeon is making me extremely nervous. Her last words to me were “I am going to take your tubes and your left ovary, if there are complications I will open you up and take it all out.” When she said that, I just sat there. I couldn’t get any words out. I have asked for a hysterectomy so many times before, but have been refused. Now I am not prepared if she does one. I am more confused than ever.

I have researched hysterectomies and endometriosis for five years. I told myself that when I turned 35, if my endometriosis and all of the other issues were still here, I would have a hysterectomy. Well, I am 36 in June and no matter how much I have researched having a hysterectomy, I am still on the fence. Should I have a hysterectomy or not? There are so many complications and I wonder if a majority of my endometriosis is on my bladder and bowels what good would the hysterectomy do?

I had high grade cells removed from my cervix last year. Were these endometriosis lesions? Has anyone ever heard of this? All in all, I want my uterus and cervix out. I am not planning on having another baby and at this point it is safe to say I am infertile due to the shape of my uterus and the damage done to my tubes from PID.

I get depressed thinking about how long it will be for me to go into menopause naturally and what if that doesn’t even help then? Yes, at 36 I want to go into menopause. I want the pain to stop.

This disease is terrible. I wonder what would have happened if they caught it when I first started to have symptoms. Would I have this many complications? Would I have the excessive damage of the deep infiltrating endometriosis that they removed with my last surgery? Would I have the nerve damage that I have now? Would my bowels and bladder be in better condition? There are so many questions, but I will never have the answers to them.

I think that if my bowel and bladder symptoms were not as bad, I wouldn’t be in so much pain. I wonder if the excision surgery removed all the endo and if the pain I have is from endometriosis or something else. I will soon find out. I think there is huge damage from the PID along with massive scar tissue that has obstructed or intertwined with my bowels, ureter and bladder. As for now, I can only sit and wait to see what happens. I go for my pre-op on February 20^th so I can ask more questions then.

What do you guys think? What would you do if you were in my shoes? Hysterectomy or not?

A Personal Review of Endometriosis Diets

by Angela Wice

Published on January 11, 2013

4388 views

For me, food has always seemed to control my life in some way or another, let it be my endometriosis, eating disorder, IBS-C or food intolerances. I have grown accustomed to obsessing over food.

As a child I had reflux and can only assume it was from the pablum or baby formula. When I was a teenager, I began having migraines. The doctors told me to stop eating nuts, cheese and chocolate.

For 15 years, I didn’t know that there were some foods I should or shouldn’t eat, because I didn’t know that I had endometriosis until I was 27.

When I was finally diagnosed, I was still struggling with bulimia but in recent years, I have learned to eat better.

Sometimes I sit back and think that I am too obsessive about food, but every time the endo pain strikes, I am brought back to reality. Food matters. Some foods make me feel better, others make me feel worse. Here is what I have learned so far.

The Zone Diet. I lost 5lbs and it really taught me the meaning of healthier foods and portion control. I wasn’t able to stay on it. As a single mom, my focus was on keeping sane while getting everything done by myself.

The Endometriosis Diet. There are many versions of this, but most suggest no red meat (unless it’s organic), no sugar, no wheat, no dairy and no processed foods. I struggle on and off with this diet to this day. I don’t really like meat at all, so avoiding meat is not a problem, but, I have a hard time digesting vegetables especially raw vegetables. In fact, unless the vegetables are juiced or in a soup, my stomach cannot handle eating vegetables; I get severe bowel pain, indigestion, and bloating.

The Brown Rice Diet. I tried the brown rice diet that was suggested by my dietician. It lasted all of one day because I just couldn’t stomach plain rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would gag at the sight of it.

Detox. I tried a lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup detox that was supposed to help heal and clear the bowels. It helped, but there are only so many days that someone can drink that concoction without feeling nauseated.

Yeast Busters. I was told by a naturopathic doctor that I candida, so I tried a yeast busters diet. It meant I couldn’t eat anything that contained yeast, sugar or gluten. Goodbye condiments and just about every other processed food. This diet was okay. I did feel it helped a bit but when the detox period of about 3 weeks was over. Then, I continued on with my life and same old pain returned.

Enemas. In 2010, I was at a crossroad. I just couldn’t handle the pain from my bowels any longer. I began using enemas weekly. After a year it turned into twice sometimes three times a week. I met a Naturopath that did some tests on me and said I had a wheat, dairy and spelt intolerance and that no nutrients were absorbing into my body. She said that was why I wasn’t feeling well. She prescribed about $300+ worth of supplements as well as some yeast herbs called Candicin. She said that I had candida in my large and small bowels. I was yeast and sugar free for one month along with gluten and dairy free for three months. I really felt a change for the better. The bowel pain was still there, so she suggested water enemas instead of what I was presently doing. The pain never left.

Paleo Diet. November 2012 I decided that I was going back on a gluten and dairy free diet because despite the pain in the stomach, my overall health was so much better. I did have a relapse over Christmas. It’s difficult for relatives and other people to understand that I just can’t eat the same foods they eat. Over the holidays, I gave in and ate what was served. I am now back on the diet and don’t plan to go off of it. A couple things I noticed. All that meat in the Paleo Diet was making me feel sick and the thought of eating anymore meat almost turned me off Paleo completely. However I did feel better with no stomach pain. In addition to removing gluten and dairy from my diet, I have also removed sugar, beans and grains. I found that not having beans and grains at all is what helped the most. Since there is no sugar allowed and I am prone to yeast infections, I can’t juice anymore which really upsets me as I really enjoy it.

After the first week, I the stomach pain stopped completely and I felt really good all over. I am not sure how many more diets

I have to try but I feel that I am getting closer to my optimum diet. I think that everyone reacts differently to different foods. My body just seems to not like anything other than soup and protein shakes.

What are some of your endometriosis diet wins and losses? Do certain foods trigger your pain?

Migraines More Common in Women with Endometriosis

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on January 3, 2013

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Endometriosis affects upwards of 176 million women worldwide – approximately 10% of the menstruating population. It is one of the more commonly reported diseases among followers of Hormones Matter, with most women reporting over 10 years of pain and suffering before a proper diagnosis.

Data suggest that at least a third of women with endometriosis may also suffer from migraines. Researchers from Italy found a significantly higher frequency of migraine (38.3%) in women with confirmed endometriosis versus healthy women (15.1%). The onset of migraine was five years earlier (16.4 years versus 21.9) in women with endometriosis and more likely to be a migraine with aura.

The co-occurrence of migraine and endometriosis has only recently begun to be investigated and clues to potential common causes are poorly articulated. There is speculation that migraines cause endometriosis or that endometriosis elicits migraine. Neither has sufficient supporting evidence. The search for clear genetic linkages between migraine and endometriosis is promising but remains in its infancy.

Perhaps we’re looking in the wrong places. As we reported in Endometriosis and Neuropathy, rodent models of endometriosis, suggest a clear neural-uterine connection that initiates endometriotic pain in some but not all. Specifically, some endometriotic tissue sprouts nerve fibers capable of sending pain signals to the brain. Regardless of the cause of the initial endometriotic implants, it is certain that the dynamic hormone biochemistry of the female body would regulate or dysregulate neural firing and pain signaling. The pain of endometriosis though regionally different, could be mechanistically similar to migraine pain. Just a thought.

Endometriosis, Medical and Naturopathic Doctors

by Angela Wice

Published on January 2, 2013

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During my endometriosis journey of the last 22 years, I have seen more than 40 doctors and specialists, including three naturopaths. I have come to realize that I have to be an advocate for my own health. If I don’t agree with the doctor’s suggestion or diagnosis, I get a second or third opinion. Here is my experience with medical and naturopathic physicians.

Early Menstrual Pain and Endometriosis

I began seeing doctors when I was 13 years old. I always went alone to the appointments. I guess I saw too many different doctors for anyone to come with me and support me. They thought I was just a hypochondriac.

For years, test after test showed nothing but mild scoliosis and thoracic outlet syndrome; they told me it was all in my head and that I should accept it and take antidepressants. I had doctors talk to me like I was an idiot and prescribe medications for conditions I clearly did not have. One doctor told me that he couldn’t be my doctor anymore because I cried too much. Several doctors embarrassed me in front of other patients because they were frustrated that my body was in so much pain and couldn’t figure out why. Twenty–two years later, I was diagnosed with stage IV endometriosis, proof that the pain was real.

Alternative Care

Frustrated with medical doctors, I went to a naturopath doctor that was hours away. I just wanted to see if she could find something the other doctors could not. She asked me to lie down on my back and then she walked around me, touched my arms, looked into my eyes. The rest I really can’t remember, it was long ago. The interesting thing was, without any tests, she said I had an overabundance of yeast and that my stomach was out of place. Then she moved it back into place! I swear it was so strange because for the first time I felt that I could breathe. It no longer felt as if someone was sitting on top of my chest. She told me to do a yeast free diet along with eating raw pumpkin seeds and some other items as well. It was an interesting visit. Later I found out that my stomach had been out of place. Scar tissue from the endometriosis pulled it out of place.

In 2009 I went to see a dietician. After a long interview, she said I had hypoglycemia, bone loss, and adrenal fatigue. This again is something that I would remember later on, as I put the pieces of my illness together. Because I was on Lupron, I have osteoporosis in my jaw. It is possible that the Lupron and the suppression of all the estrogens have caused serious bone loss elsewhere in my body. No one had considered sending me to get a recent bone scan. My last one was 12 years ago, so at my next GP appointment I will be asking for one.

In 2011, I went to another naturopath. She said I had food intolerances to wheat, dairy and spelt and that my body was not absorbing any nutrients, minerals or vitamins. She put me on a load of supplements to get my body going and for a time, it was working. While on the diet I had more energy, I was more alert and over all I felt great. Then I was put on Amitriptyline for nerve pain from the endometriosis and everything fell apart. The Amitriptyline made me feel groggy, crave junk food and I didn’t want to do anything. It was almost like the medication was making me depressed. I was on 70mg a night. The one good thing it did was help me sleep, something I have needed for years.

Back to a Medical Doctor

In 2012, I went to one of the best doctors of Canada. He pulled all of my files from all the doctors I had seen over the years. His office sent me a copy of everything. This was the first time I had access to all of my medical records. At least half the information in my file was wrong. (Ladies request your medical files!) Much of the information was new – tests that had not been ordered but that were in my file anyway, notes to disregard anything that anyone other than a medical doctor had told me. From these files, I learned that I must take all of my files with me and make notes. Otherwise, there is no guarantee the information will be accurate. If it hadn’t been for my persistence to research and find one of the best doctors for endometriosis, I wouldn’t be writing this article as we speak.

All in all, the Naturopathic doctors made me feel better and talked to me like a human being, while many of the medical doctors treated me like a piece of garbage, humiliated me and made me feel like I was crazy. I wasn’t crazy. The five hours of surgery to remove and repair the endometriosis damaged organs proved the pain was real. It had a cause.

Where I Stand Now

After years of suffering with endometriosis and being ignored and humiliated by medical doctors, it is difficult for me to listen to their advice. The errors and comments in my medical files showed a blatant disregard for my health. Many of my doctors thought I was crazy or faking it. I feel that I have wasted most of my life in and out of doctors’ offices. It was only through my persistence that I found the one doctor who was able to diagnose my endometriosis.

For now, I have decided to still take my birth control pills for my endometriosis – they seem to work. At least, the pills even out my moods. Eventually, I would like to come off of the pill and my other medications. As for everything else, it’s all natural and clean eating for me. I am also learning how to manage stress. Unless I am dying or I feel it’s 100% needed, I will never see a doctor again.

Have you had a similar experience? How long did it take to find your endometriosis? Share your story so that other women don’t have to suffer.

Lucine Medical Disclaimer: All material on this website is provided for your information and may not be construed as, nor should it be a substitute for, professional medical advice. The opinions reflected in patient posts reflect those of the writer and not necessarily those of the company.

The Soy Connection

by Jordan Davidson

Published on December 31, 2012

3306 views

As a firm believer in natural and holistic health, I believe that the food you eat can have a direct impact on your health. For those dealing with reproductive and or endocrine disorders simple dietary changes may help prevent or relieve a number of troublesome symptoms. For women across the board, especially those with estrogen sensitive diseases (e.g. endometriosis) minimizing soy in one’s diet can provide a lot of relief.

But, isn’t soy good for you? That’s not an easy question to answer. In moderation soy can provide a lot of benefits to one’s diet. However, soy should not be a staple in your day to day meal planning. To better answer the question we need to break it down.

Phytoestrogens

Soy is filled with phytoestrogens also known as “dietary estrogens,” which mimic the hormone estrogen that is naturally produced by the human body. Research has shown that phytoestrogens are beneficial for women going through menopause, since menopause is marked by a reduction in estrogen levels. Some menopausal women say that eating soy products helps relieve some symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. Research has shown that phytoestrogens help maintain cholesterol levels and bone density in post-menopausal women. In addition phytoestrogens also help protect against a number of different cancers, such as prostate and breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and help with cognitive functioning.

However, soy being filled with phytoestrogens, can also be bad for you. Estrogens are female sex hormones – estradiol is the most common. Estradiol promotes the growth of female sex characteristics. Soy is also high in phytic acid which if consumed in high quantities can affect the absorption of other minerals. That is why third world countries that survive on grain and legume based diets have high rates of mineral deficiencies.

Too Much Dietary Estrogen

Increased estrogen consumption can be particularly detrimental to a number of people (i.e. babies, children, men, women sensitive to estrogens). Studies have shown that giving babies/infants soy formula is the estrogenic equivalent to giving them daily birth control pills. Obviously, such small children shouldn’t be on any form of contraception. It has also been suggested that this increased ingestion of estrogen can lead to estrogen sensitivities, earlier onset of puberty and reproductive diseases/disorders such as endometriosis. For older children increased amounts of estrogen also cause pubertal issues. Large quantities of estrogen can delay puberty for boys and lower the age of menarche (first menstruation) for girls. The average age of menarche decreases every year and a lot of researchers and medical professionals hypothesize that is has to do with the environment, toxins and the estrogen that comes from outside sources. Early puberty can also lead to short stature in women.

Estrogen in abundance is also bad for grown men. Men produce both testosterone and estrogen, with testosterone being the predominant hormone by far, and responsible for masculine features. Too much estrogen in males can offset their testosterone to estrogen balance, causing hormonal deficiencies. Lastly, estrogen is bad for women who are sensitive to estrogen, such as women with endometriosis. The endometrium that builds up in endometriosis responds to estrogen. The more estrogen you give your body the more the endometrium can build up, which leads to additional inflammation and bleeding.

Not all Soy Products are Created Equal

If you are still confused as to how soy can be both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ for you consider this: soy products come from a soy bean – however, if you take a good look at your soy-patties or chips made with soy you won’t see mashed up green beans. The invisible soy you eat come from processing the beans. ‘Asian’ soy which is usually quoted as being “good” soy is fermented soy. The process of fermenting soy can reduce a lot of the detrimental qualities of soy, but not entirely. Unfermented soy contains antinutrients such as tripsin inhibitors which can produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and create chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake. When soy is processed and manufactured it isn’t always fermented. There are two popular forms of processed soy:

Soy Lechitin: Soy lecithin is basically a waste product of refining soybean oil. In small amounts it isn’t harmful, but if you look at food labels it is found in a large amount of products. Putting soy products in everyday foods provides a lot of nutritional benefits (lower fat, lower calories, higher protein) while being cost effective to the manufacturers. Unfortunately when you process soy it also increases the levels of estrogens and goitrogenics. Goitrogenics decrease the productivity of the thyroid and are bad for those with thyroid disease. Although ironically enough lecithin by itself (not soy lechitin just plain old lechitin) is good for you, it is a natural product high in choline.

Soy Protein Isolate: Soy Protein Isolate is the key ingredient in most imitation meat and dairy products. It is also found in other manufactured goods and protein powders. To make soy protein isolate, the soy beans must first be mixed with an alkaline solution to remove fiber, then rinsed and separated using an acid wash and, lastly, neutralized in an alkaline solution. The resulting products are finally dried at high temperatures to produce a high-protein powder. A similar process is used to make textured vegetable protein which is a high-temperature, high-pressure extrusion processing of soy protein isolate. With natural almost always being better for you, a process like this is by no means healthy. It doesn’t sound good for you and it isn’t. This process can also increase the amount of trypsin inhibitors.

So… Is soy good for you? Studies show that a glass of red wine at dinner is good for you. But we all know that washing dinner down with a bottle of red wine every night would not be good for us. Approach soy in the same way; some soy products several times per week, especially if it is fermented, organic soy (think tofu cubes and not ‘fake pepperoni’) will provide more benefits than detriments. In general be smart about what you put in your body, be an educated consumer and read your labels. Just because it has soy doesn’t make it good. But, that doesn’t mean you need to take all soy products out of your life.

Reflections on Becoming a Woman

by Jordan Davidson

Published on December 7, 2012

2458 views

Endometriosis Symptoms began with Menstruation

I remember that day perfectly. I was eleven, in the sixth grade, 4’8 with brown frizzy hair – in the midst of that awkward transition from girl to woman. It was the first time that my Dad had taken me to the doctor (the pediatrician to be exact). My dad – a sympathetic and caring man – quite naturally hated seeing his daughter in so much unsubstantiated pain. Usually both he and my mother would accompany me to the doctor, but today that responsibility was left solely to him. As we sat in the examination room, him in a plastic chair and me on the examination table – feet dangling off the side, I remember hoping not for an answer but for validation, validation that my pain was real.

When I was ten I started getting these mysterious ‘stomach aches’ they’d come and go and with each one I’d go to the nurse and the nurse would tell me I had to stop avoiding recess, or gym, or whatever activity I decided to skip that day. To be somewhat fair, I would usually go to the nurse during gym. My doctor sent to the gastroenterologist several times, with no luck. The gastroenterologist suggested that maybe I was lactose intolerant and that I should take lactaid. No tests were ever run – I was told; “take lactaid and if it helps, your problem is solved.” My problem wasn’t solved but I still took the lactaid hoping that eventually it would work.

So there I was – at the doctor, missing yet another day of school, with my Dad in his suit, missing yet another hour of work. The door opened and in walked my pediatrician, disapprovingly muttering my name at the sight of me yet again, in her office. We went through the steps, her feelings my abdomen, asking me about my eating and bathroom habits, the works… Except this time she seemed more exasperated than usual “Jordan” she said emphatically “You are like the little girl who cried wolf, there is no reason for you to be in this much pain. If you keep ‘crying wolf’ one day you might actually be very sick and no one will believe you. Don’t make me send you for a sonogram!”

How I wish I wasn’t 11 years old at the time and absolutely petrified of a sonogram; which I assumed to be some gigantic needle that would be placed through my forehead or some other awful place. Needless to say, I never got that sonogram until about a year later, when I rushed into emergency surgery for a problem that a sonogram could have picked up a year earlier.

Endometriosis

The average endometriosis diagnosis takes 7 years; fortunately, mine only took 2 ½. The day I found out I needed surgery I had an appointment with an endocrinologist to discuss why I was so short. I was born with a Ventral Septal Defect (VSD) – a hole in my heart- which took longer to close than expected. For some reason, unbeknownst to my doctors, I failed to thrive as a child. I was mentally advanced but physically I was in the 1st and 3rd percentiles respectively for height and weight. I was very small.

I had gotten my period for the first time 6 months prior to that appointment. My period would come every 7 days and last for about 11 days. When I did have my period, I would be incapacitated for the first several days, writhing in pain, unable to move from fetal position. My doctor told me “Welcome to being a woman, you must have a very low pain tolerance; it should get better within a year.” Well, it didn’t. So there, at the endocrinologist, I laid on the examination table, curled up in more pain than usual. I was sweating and barely coherent. My mom stood there wiping my forehead with a cold paper towel. The doctor walked in took one look at me and her face contorted with horror. “What’s wrong” she exclaimed as she made her way over to examine me. As she made her way towards me I jumped up and ran across the room, barely making it to throw up in the sink. My mom followed after me; “she has her period” she nonchalantly conveyed to the doctor, since this had become the normal routine in my house. My doctor took another look at me, shook her head at the insistence that I had been lead to believe this much pain was normal and called for an orderly to escort me to the emergency room.

Uterine Didelphys: Two Uteri

Less than three hours and one morphine shot later, I was being prepped for surgery. Turns out my periods were so out of sync because I have uterine didelphys – two uteri (aka the plural of uterus). One of my uteri, was blocked and so when I would get my period, the blood wouldn’t drain, rather it would collect in my uterus. Every time I got my period my uterus would contract and try to push out the 6 months worth of blood that had collected in my uterus – to hold all of this blood and uterine matter my uterus had filled to what was analogized as the equivalent of being 3 months pregnant. They removed the blockage and told me that was it, the pain would be over.

Except the pain wasn’t over and six months later, I was back in the hospital for exploratory surgery to try and find the cause of my pain. After an hour long procedure, it was discovered that I had mild endometriosis. My surgeon told me they removed all of the endometriosis and that was it, the pain would be over.

Except, the pain wasn’t over and still isn’t. There is no cure for endometriosis. While surgery has alleviated some of my pain, it has not cured the disease. I am 21 now; I have had 5 surgeries for what is now stage IV, recto-vaginal endometriosis that is working its way up towards my liver. Altogether I have had 15 surgeries – 9 for my eyes and one to remove a cyst unrelated to my endometriosis. I know pain better than I know my best friend but not once have I let pain get in the way of my life. I went to prom with a 103 degree fever, half delirious from morphine, with my clutch overly stuffed with pads and tampons. In addition to my endometriosis, I have a lot of auto-immune and digestive issues. I am highly sensitive to yeast, I have thyroid disease, glaucoma, and I suffer from migraines.

I have a secret though, a secret for dealing with my pain. Even though on paper, I might not be healthy; I live my life as if I were healthy. I decided that I wasn’t going to let myself (or rather my body) stop me from doing the things I love to do. Some days that is harder than others but it is all about positive thinking and motivation. Your body is your temple; you need to take care of it. I am a vegetarian, I do yoga and I try to love my body, even when it doesn’t love me back. My rough road to womanhood has taught me strength and has given me the ability to stand up for myself and what I know to be right; and for that I am thankful.

Hormones Matter

Where health, hormones, and a whole bunch of other stuff, make sense.