Endometriosis: The Pain that causes our Pain

Thank you for kind, supportive, loving words on my post yesterday.  Sharing about our infertility is difficult, yet I know in my heart I want to spread awareness and help others through this heart breaking journey.

In August I had a surgery to determine whether or not I had Endometriosis because I had symptoms that matched what they typically see in a patient with Endometriosis. My symptoms were {and still are:}

1. Incredible cramping at the beginning of my period
2. Terrible lower back pain that starts before my period and continues 2 or 3 days into the beginning of my cycle 
3. Pain during or after intercourse
4. Pain while having a bowel movement during my period
5. Bloating
6. Fatigue
7. Not being able to get pregnant

Surgery is the only sure way to determine whether or not one has Endometriosis because you cannot see it on an ultrasound or xray.  Endometriosis is when the lining of your uterus makes its way to the outside of your uterus.  Little spots grow and bleed like they would on the inside of your uterus and this results in inflammation and scar tissue and over time causes adhesion which sticks organs together. Sure enough, they found Endometriosis inside my abdomen.  Endometriosis is classified in 4 stages; 4 being the worst.  I was diagnosed with Stage III, which makes it hard to get pregnant on your own.

Endometriosis from Endometriosis.org on Vimeo.

This blogging community is fantastic and can do amazing things and I hope you'll you help me spread the word and awareness about this disease. March is Endometriosis awareness month and I hope you'll help me by linking up next Wednesday....

On Thursday, March 1st I will be hosting a Yellow for Endo link up.  For this link up I am asking that you take photo of something yellow -anything you love-and post it. Why yellow? Well, yellow is the color of the ribbon that represents Endometriosis.

 Along with your image I ask that you post a link to an informative site or copy and paste one of the facts about it under your picture, along with the blog button which will direct bloggers back to me. Below are some links with information about Endometriosis.

Links:
Video: http://vimeo.com/20910143 
Endometriosis.org-About Endometriosis
Endo Resolved-What is Endo?
Bloggers for Hope-Endometriosis Treament Options
Endo the Pain

Endometriosis Facts & Statistics- from Endometriosis Foundation of America

• Most women with endometriosis suffer pain—and present symptoms—up to a full decade prior to diagnosis.
• Approximately 176 million women and girls worldwide suffer from endometriosis; 8.5 million in North America alone.
• Associated costs of the disease are estimated to be a staggering $22 billion annually.
• The average woman is 27 when she is first diagnosed with endometriosis.
• Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of female infertility. While it is one of the most treatable, it remains the least treated.
• Abdominal and bowel symptoms linked to endometriosis are commonly misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is what I thought I had!
• Endometriosis is often misdiagnosed as Pelvic Congestion or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
• Many infertile women with endometriosis experienced debilitating painful periods as teenagers but were misdiagnosed.
• Many women suffer silently because they feel that their pain, especially pain associated with sexual intercourse, is just too personal to discuss with their gynecologist. This is more common in some cultures than others.
• Many cases of endometriosis can be successfully treated with Laparoscopic Excision Surgery. Hysterectomy should only ever be considered as a last resort. There is no oral medication to cure endometriosis.