Chapter One of Many

Chapter One of Many.

  Hi, My name is Marshea and I am an Endo warrior. I was not diagnosed until 19 years old but the journey to a diagnosis was long and hard. 

When a young lady first gets her cycle she does not know what to expect. She doesn't know when it is coming nor when it will end. The start of this part of life is the start of terror for some of us. Many of us are told having paralyzing cramps and a heavy flow is normal and apart of womanhood. It can take years for us to even hear the words you have endometriosis. That simple line can change your life completely in the blink of an eye. Having paralyzing cramps and an abnormally heavy flow is NOT normal at all. I experienced a heavy flow the first time I had my monthly but I did not have any cramps at all. As time went along and I turned 14 years old that took a turn that I was not expecting to come.

 

      I began having a heavy flow and cramps that stopped me in my tracks and made it hard to even move. It was a struggle to get up and go to school during that time because I would be bent over at my desk in pain. It was a sharp burning sensation I could not get rid of. It would take about four Advil's to even touch my pain. When this started to happen my doctor was concerned and put me on prescription pain medication later on down the line at 15. When that didn't work and I started having to miss school so I was sent to a gynecologist for further evaluation. That is when my journey for help began.

         

    Right before I turned 16 years old my doctor decided to put me on a low dose of birth control to help with my cramping. By far that was the best decision I made in my entire life. The name of the pill is lo Loestrin Fe. The pill completely stopped my menstrual cycles which in turn stopped the pain. Sadly for me, the price of the medicine became too much and I had to switch pills. Once that happened I never got that type of relief again. Later, I started trying new pills. While on them I began having irregular cycles. Then other options became available to me.  

As time passed and I grew older my pain became constant and more debilitating. I have constant pelvic pain, debilitating cramps, stomach and lower abdomen pain, painful bowel movements while on my cycle, a heavy flow, major fatigue and so much more. No pain medication including narcotics helps me to become more mobile and function like a normal human. With this being the case my doctor began thinking more and giving me more frequent ultrasounds. In March 2015 I found out I had a small cyst that had since ruptured. After reviewing my latest ultrasound and listening to my symptoms over the last five years I heard the word endometriosis. I had no idea what it was nor how you get it. I then heard even worse words it causes infertility and there is no cure for the condition. On top of that, the only way to truly diagnose it is through surgery. 

December 2015 I received my very first Lupron Depot injection. What this medicine does is put you into a chemically induced menopause. This medication has a magnitude of cons compared to its low amount of pros but I was desperate. My doctor felt as though it would help me whether I had endo or not. I was on the shot for three months and had my last one January 2016. After this, my life took a turn for the worst. My cycles became heavier, much more painful, and it basically took over my life. Till this very day, I still wish I never did that to myself. 

Once that was over and done with I demanded the surgery. I needed to know for sure if it was endo before I even considered that terrible shot again. I was sent to a fertility doctor who specializes in laparoscopic surgery for the diagnosis and removal of the disease. I had my appointment June 2016 and had my surgery was one week later on June 28, 2016. After surgery, I had to be given five different narcotics because I was still in so much pain. My post-op appointment went differently than I expected I was told I had confirmed endo but it was not the source of my pain. I was then told I have suspected Fibromyalgia…. and that’s where my story of my other health condition diagnosis begins.