Endometriosis, it’s a big word and a big deal
Ladies with Endometriosis, this one is in honour of YOU. Too many women with endo have sat in a consultation with me, and have felt that they have had to fight and claw their way through the health system to finally get their diagnosis and the treatment they are Entitled to.
Now I am not saying that all medical professionals are the same, that would be irresponsible and simply not true, but some GP’s simply don’t know enough about endo to make informed assessments when a women presents with this condition. Why? In most cases the symptoms were dismissed as normal. This is why it is so important for you to know what is normal about our beautiful bodies, and when to stand up for yourself and seek help.
Ladies without endo, or those who think some things not right, here is what you need to know.
Endo is when the tissue that makes up our the wonderful womb grows outside of the uterus. For some it grows on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes or even the bowel, and the rest is some pretty debilitating symptoms including:
- Painful periods. It is normal to feel cramps but sisters IT IS NOT NORMAL to have extensive pain that confines you to bed during your period.
- Painful sex. Sex can be uncomfortable at times, but if love making is painful during and after you need to be talking to a doctor about it.
- Pain pooing or peeing, especially when you have your period.
- Heavy bleeding, either during your period or in between.
- Fatigue, nausea and bloating are other common symptoms.
Gorgeous, you do not have to put up with painful sex, periods that cause you to pop pain killers in order to function or bowel motions that make you want to change your weekend plans because you feel like crap (pun intended). Listen to your body, acknowledge when something isn’t right and respect yourself enough to have the awkward conversation with a health professional.
I am going to talk more about endo later, and about those awkward conversations (first-hand experience) but for now let’s, just start the endo conversation.