My name is Valencia and I am a woman experiencing and grappling with the effects of having Stage 4 Advanced Endometriosis.

Just a little backstory... I feel as though I am racing against time for the sake of my body and health. During my fight I was severely gaslighted by 20+ doctors and told I was "young and healthy", "nothing is wrong with me, it's all in my head", and made to feel as though was symptoms and pain were unreal. Therefore, I had to struggle with severe symptoms while searching for doctors and specialists who would believe me. After 15 years of fighting for a diagnosis, I had my first surgery on 04/2024, however, the physician/surgeon was not well-versed in endometriosis. Upon requesting the surgical report, there was nothing noted about endometriosis, and it seemed as though I was given a band-aid effect with chromopertubation, removal of one of two fibroids, and polyp removal. I was also left with significant and heightened nerve pain and difficulties walking. Although my 9 1/2 years of frequent abnormal bleeding ( bleeding twice a month and for the duration of entire months) stopped with my second surgery on 12/2024, I have experienced:

Significant difficulties eating (I can only eat 1 meal per day; however, I have to force my body to eat),

I have absolutely no hunger cues,

My rib, lower back, and pelvic pain,

My belly/gut experiences significant inflammation to the point where I don't know what I can even eat, even with the already very limited amounts of food I consume,

I have significant weakness and fatigue,

I have difficulties walking due to extreme nerve pain, sensations running down my legs and, guarding of my pelvis due to the pain

I have significant endo-related inflammation in addition to Mast Cell Activation (MCA) to the point where my body feels as though it's attacking itself

I have had many injuries; knee pain, and lower back pain--- due to bulging discs and a hypermobility issue -Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome associated with endometriosis (I just found out about this during a recent visit with a new rheumatologist),

I have anemia due to almost a decade of abnormal, heavy, and persistent bleeding

I am unable to have bowel movements on my own and have to take stool softeners on a regular basis,

I look and feel tired...

I AM EXHAUSTED!!

I am going to some of the top doctors who are well-versed in treating the holism of these conditions. I have ongoing appointments with OB-GYN/ Endometriosis Specialists, Women's Health Supporting Psychologist, Rheumatology, a Neurologist, Pain Management Specialists, Pelvic Physical Therapy, an Endocrinologist, an Endo-focused Nutritionist, and Hematologists. However, this has left me with significant out-of-pocket costs, causing me to fully clear my savings account. I have limited financial support. I have missed many days of work due to the severity of my symptoms and I am currently out of work due to post-surgical recovery (my second surgery was on 12/2024) and severe residual effects from persistent nerve pain to physiological and neurological concerns extending from my long-winded battle with endometriosis. I have recently had a third surgery, bone graft surgery/ joint fusion, on 10/15/2025, due to my significant difficulties walking.

With much of the research, surgeries, and medical care being exploratory, the treatment I need for Advanced Endometriosis alongside Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome- the hypermobility type, becomes even more costly. With very few specialists being able to treat these conditions simultaneously, my specialists, well medical care team are largely out-of-network given the intense care that I need. Thus, I have incurred significant medical expenses and debt given my past surgery, most recent surgery, and ongoing plans of care. ...I hope to one day experience what it means to live a normal life!

The truth is that I struggle every day and have been for over the past 15 years, even now. I have made it this far, however, I realize I cannot do it alone... it truly takes a village.