In November of 2014, I stared my first year of college. During this time, I was experiencing random weight loss. I also began to notice pain in my lower back and belly. struggled to focus through the pain to pay attention in class, study, complete my homework and pass exams. When I was on my menstrual cycle, the pain would get even worse. This pain would cause me not being able to get out of bed some mornings as well as frequent emergency room visits. Later that year, I told my doctor about the pain I was experiencing. I was then scheduled a colonoscopy. In result, the doctor saw something that they were not expecting.
In early 2015, the doctors decided to give me another colonoscopy. Once the imaging came back, it showed a huge mass in between my rectum and pelvic area. A few weeks later, my doctor at the time proceeded with a laparoscopic procedure. This procedure entailed three cuts in my lower belly, where the surgeon used three tubes, one for each incision, to look in my lower stomach. The tubes allowed them to take a piece of the mass so it could be sent to the laboratory. Needing two weeks to heal. I experienced so much pain in my stomach during the healing process. After the lab results came back, the doctors determined it was not cancerous. Using the results from this procedure, the doctors were able to diagnose me with an illness called Endometriosis. This illness causes many issues like, excruciating pain in the lower belly and back as well as causing masses to form. This illness can also cause most women to have infertility issues or to not be able to conceive at all. After this diagnosis, the doctors prescribed a medication to decrease the mass and to reduce the pain. I still continued college and my grades began to improve. There were times that I would struggle to get ready for school because of the pain coming back. At this time in my early 20s, I wasn’t used to the amount of pain I was experiencing or the side effects of being on strong pain medications. There were days it was so hard to focus while in class, but I still stuck that year out.
Through 2015, I stayed on the medications hoping it would help. My weight started to pick back up due to the medication. Ultimately, I decided to put a pause on college for the Fall semester because I noticed my grades were dropping. The pain started to come more frequently causing me to miss classes. Missing class would cause me to miss assignments and fall behind. On the days where I pushed my self to come, I would be in so much pain and would have to leave my classes early. It would be so hard to focus or do regular activities, work my regular jobs while in pain. I began to feel like after so long on the pain medication, it did not have the same effect as it did initially. It seemed that it would wear off quicker and quicker. I knew something was not right. I went back to my doctor and that’s when I found out I needed surgery so that the doctors could remove the tumor. At this point, I decided to switch to a different doctor and hospital. I remember telling my mom many sad things. One time I told her, “I want this out of me” , “I can’t take this pain”. She would always rush me to the hospital when I was in pain. There were many times the hospital would place an IV inside my arm, hands so that I could receive pain medication. I knew my condition was getting worse. I would catch my self in pain Less than an hour later after receiving strong medication. I continued taking the medication they prescribed me.
In 2016, I decided to take some more time off of college. I was still having frequent pain and going to the emergency room faithfully. The doctors decided they perform a procedure to remove some of the tumor. On February 18, 2016, I underwent a huge surgery. The doctors removed most of the tumor that sat between my rectum and pelvic area. The incision was made vertically from right under my belly button all the way down to my pelvic area this concluded in a 7 day stay in the hospital, wearing a cath for three months and mw sitting on bed rest for about 3 months. This was one of the hardest times of my life. I couldn’t do many things on own. Like get out of bed, stand for long, etc. That caused me to become depressed. But I remember all the support I got from loved ones and that helped me get through the healing process.
The doctors did not want to remove the whole mass due to many complications, so they left some of the mass behind. After some time, I had healed pretty good. I noticed that I had to use the rest room more frequently. My new doctor decided to give me injections once a month that would possibly stop the pain and decrease the mass. The doctors recommended I stay on the injections as long as possible.
With no menstrual cycles, I noticed changes in my body. I would have horrible acne, changes in my appetite, headaches, and other issues. I even noticed this injection was affecting me emotionally as well. I did not like how the injections made me feel. I gained a lot of weight in the process. I still would catch my self in pain and running to the emergency room, although it was now a rare occurrence. Even though the pain medications had helped most of the time. There were so many short and long term effects that this medication causes to the human body that scared me. However, I still continued getting the monthly injections. In the Fall semester of 2016, I decided to go back to school. As time passed, my pain wasn’t as bad and I started to do much better in class. I achieved being on the Dean’s List and I was so proud of my self. Unfortunately, a point in time came where my insurance could not cover the injection medication.
In the following years around 2018-2019, I was in my mid 20s. I had started an amazing job alongside the part time job I had as a stylist. I would often feel stressed out as I tried to juggle school, work and my pain flare ups. My doctors decided to put me on a new medication. The medication was a pill. This medication caused me not to be on my menstrual cycles and it also caused me to go into post menopause. The medication was set out to decrease the masses as well, and to lessen the intense pain I would constantly get. I noticed body went into different changes. Some days I would have energy some days I would be sluggish. I would also catch frequent headaches and random stomach cramps. When my pain came this medication would help a little. Still, I would have moments where the pain would be unbearable. I catches my self still in the Emergency room every couple week. Later that year in October, I had an MRI and cat scan where the doctors found another mass and plenty more scar tissue in my lower pelvic area. This is when they acknowledged that I had Stage 4 of Endometriosis. This was alarming news that showed that the medicines were not working how we hoped. Endometriosis feeds off of menstrual cycles causing more pain when a person is on their menstrual cycle. This time around it was different. I started to feel like the pain came more often than the injections. Even though there were benefits to not having periods, I still wanted to have them. I wanted to still feel like a women. I was not okay with how my body felt.
felt.
By 2020, I still would have the same pain that caused frequent emergency room visits, even more so than when I was on the injections years ago. My weight started decreasing unexpectedly. I continued to attend college and keep my grades afloat. I knew I would be done soon if I could just stick it out. May of 2020 came around and I received my Bachelor’s Degree. I was so happy I was able to rest my body from the stress of school and my illness. I even started to put in more hours at my jobs. Soon after, I got into a serious relationship. Having children was something he and I wanted to experience. My boy friend at the time and family started me on a healthy diet. I started eating many foods that helps with inflammation. A co worker of mines suggested I get a yoni steam. I went and got one and I did this about 4 times a month. The herbs I used helped with inflammation and infertility. However, while I was working at my job, and living my regular life. I noticed my pain would still come. I was concerned if I had any more tumors.
In the year of 2021, I remained on the pill medication they gave me. I would not come on my cycle. But I really wanted to try and have children. I had to go to the hospital to get multiple ultra sounds. I also started going to a fertility specialist. Early that year, he recommended that I stop taking the medication so that I can try to get pregnant. I needed to start having cycles the pill did not allow that. Scared that I would get worse, without that medication, I still desired to do what he suggested. He had prescribed me many hormonal medications so that I could conceive a baby. Unfortunately, this did not work a year passed I had no luck. I had problems ovulating. It was determined that having Stage 4 Endometriosis was the cause of this issue. My weight dropped again, I lost almost 25 pounds in 4-5 months. From there as I continued living my daily life working part-time for both jobs. Then the pain would come again. I was in the emergency room frequently like the previous years. During one of my emergency visits, I remember the doctors, my mother and ex boy friend picking me off the floor because of the amount of pain I was in causing me not to be able to walk. The doctors decided to give me a CAT Scan. Immediately the doctors noticed I had a hernia that had bowel in it. I had an emergency surgery that following morning to address the hernia. They tested some of the extra tissue that was In Side the hernia it also built up endometriosis. In almost two months, I returned to living my regular life. At this point, I started to worry more about my condition. I started to encounter many issues with my bowels. Later in the year, I started to go to a colon rectal specialist. He scheduled me another colonoscopy. The doctors noticed my lower bowels were very narrow and that was why I had many bowel complications. He then scheduled MRI. I was so happy because I really wanted to see how my lower belly was looking within the years I did not have a MRI. The results showed another mass in my left ovary. At this time, I had 3 masses inside of me total. I then attended a doctor, I once had the previous years who specializes in Endometriosis. This specialist and my colon doctor recommended that I get back on the pill medication as soon as possible. With my lower bowels and pelvic area being covered with scar tissue and 3 decent size masses. They felt another surgery should be a route I take. They mentioned the tissues were connecting to my organs making them selves connected in a way. The specialist was concerned that the masses may be growing rapidly since I have been off the medication that supposed to help decrease the masses that previous year.
Now 2022, I am still on the pill medication. Yet, I still experience the side effects it gave me the previous years. I am experiencing more intense bowel issues. I am also frequently in pain through out the day and night. While still maintaining my jobs part time, I decided to focus on my physical and mental health. Still attending regular doctors visits and changing my diet. The doctors still tell me often that getting the major surgery is best for me. Which will conclude the removal of the masses with a partial hysterectomy, and small portion removal of my lower colon. The doctors feel this route will make me feel better. I am nervous for this surgery because I know I will have many side effects.
The doctors also plan to store my eggs in the process if I still want to try and conceive a baby. Women who usually have endometriosis choose IVF which will allow me to store my eggs. Due to me having endometriosis it’s harder for me to conceive. Sometimes it works in most women favor but not all. I was very interested in doing the IVF since I’ve had no luck on children in the past. My health insurance can not cover the $12,000 fee.I started saving what ever I can so I can get this procedure.
I am now 28 years old. In December of 2022, one of my masses closed the bottom of my rectum shut. I had to get emergency surgery on my bowel. I have been dealing with this pain and complications of endometriosis for 11+ years. I plan to work full time for a non profit agency helping people who’s struggling with life issues. In the mean time I work part time to reduce stress\ complications, to be able to make the 3+ doctors visits I have monthly, ETC. This has severely affected my everyday living. I am emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted. I wrote my story to inspire and raise awareness. But to also achieve my dream of motherhood through the IVF with the help of donations.
Thank you for your support ❤️