Eliza's Endometriosis Excision Surgery

I have struggled with debilitating menstrual pain since my first period. Over the past year, and especially the past 6 months, my symptoms have gotten increasingly worse with each period. What used to be a week stuck in bed wrapped in heating pads, has turned into constant pelvic pain, fluctuating from moderate cramping to debilitating pain, through most days of the month.

Each time I have told a new doctor the story of my pain over the past 17 years, they have mostly shrugged and said “womanhood is tough, isn’t it?”

Finally, in January of this year, I met a doctor who asked if I had ever heard of endometriosis.

Since then I have met with 3 highly specialized endometriosis surgeons who believe endometriosis to be the explanation for my pelvic pain.

In two weeks I will finally undergo laparoscopic endometriosis excision surgery, which is the next step in the diagnostics and treatment of endometriosis. It will be an uphill battle for months to come, but it is certainly a leap forward from where I’ve been.

For those who are unfamiliar, endometriosis is considered one of the ten most painful diseases. While pain is subjective, it is ranked amongst conditions including heart attacks, kidney stones, bone cancer, and shingles. If you’d like to learn more, you can find thorough explanations of endometriosis here and here .

While I am fortunate to have insurance coverage, the costs associated with the surgery and recovery are substantial. With a high deductible and copay on surgery, as well as pre and post-op physical therapy, there are many associated expenses that are quickly adding up. After the baseline estimate I am fundraising for, there may also be unexpected costs that arise throughout the process from complications.

With a handful of additional chronic pain and chronic health conditions, it is projected that my recovery time will be significant - at minimum 6-8 weeks. Because I am self employed as a chef and food stylist and my work is physically intensive, it will likely be months before I can return to work. As such, I am also raising funds to support my cost of living while I recover.

As hard as it is to do, I'm turning to the generosity of others to help me raise the funds necessary to undergo what will hopefully be a life-changing surgery. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a tangible difference in my journey towards healing.

If you've ever experienced chronic pain or watched a loved one struggle, you understand the toll it can take on every aspect of life. By donating to my surgery and recovery, you're not just helping me; you're joining me in raising awareness of an insidious disease that affects an estimated 1 in 10 people born with a uterus.

It is hard to be this vulnerable with the people closest to me, let alone my entire community and the vast internet.

Your contributions, whether monetary or through spreading the word by sharing this link, would mean the world to me and my family.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.

With gratitude,

Eliza