Where I've Been

Hi readers!

It's been a while and I'm so sorry for not writing for so long. My job took over and with good mental health, I just haven't felt the inspiration to write much recently.

I wanted to start writing again because I'm in the process of being diagnosed with endometriosis and I wanted an outlet to explain how I am feeling and what is going on. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and is caused when cells that are like the lining of the uterus grow outside of the womb and can be found around the body. They react similarly to how the lining of the uterus grows each month, where it builds up and then breaks down and sheds but because it is growing inside the body, there is no way for it to escape. It can cause chronic pain and I've been really struggling over the last year. 

Nearly two years ago, I passed out for the first time. I'd never passed out before and it was horrendously scary. I was sofa bound for a fortnight because I felt so lethargic and horrible. When I then got my period, I was on the floor and my bed writhing in pain. I woke up and needed to use the bathroom to change my tampon. Once everything was done, I collapsed onto the bathroom floor. I was clammy and in absolute agony, fighting throwing up and thought I was dying. I made it back to my bed where I was texting my mum, panicked that I was giving birth even though I knew I wasn't pregnant, but I couldn't justify why else I'd be in that amount of pain. 

Over the next few months things did not improve. I was still finding myself on the bathroom floor each month, passing out and throwing up because of the sheer amount of pain I was in. I was eventually put on the contraceptive pill in order to try and regulate and control my periods in the hopes that it would help. Although it has helped shorten everything, it has not really done anything to combat the pain that I have been in, so the doctor has decided to go down the diagnosis route of endometriosis.

Recently I had an ultrasound and an internal ultrasound to see if they could find anything but it isn't a definitive way to find endometriosis. The only way to actually diagnose endometriosis is through a laparoscopic operation. I plan to talk more about my experience with my ultrasound and tips and tricks I used in a later blog post. They were not able to find any endometriosis through the ultrasound, but with it not being a conclusive way to diagnose, I am not too worried. However, a couple of days after when I got my results back, I was initially extremely upset and frustrated. I felt lost in the pain I was experiencing and I was a little upset that they didn't find anything that could justify that pain. 

I finally have a specialist appointment at the hospital to discuss the next steps in diagnosis and pain management and I'm eager to see what can be done to get some normality back. I really couldn't do this without the amazing support network I have around me. My mum and my boyfriend have been the most incredible, understanding people during this time and I'm grateful that I have people who will just listen to me cry or rant if I need to! 

I know not everyone has this and so if you are suffering with endometriosis and you would like someone to talk to there are several options you have. Here in the UK, Endometriosis UK have phone support (https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/get-support) but there are also several Facebook pages and there's always someone on there that will have similar experiences to you. I've found the Facebook pages to be a great resource for information as well as being able to feel less alone and less worried about things happening with my illness.

For more information on endometriosis then head here: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/

Thanks for reading and hopefully I'll be back with more soon!