My Endo Fight

Charina Urban
Apr 6, 2018
3 min read

I was eleven the first time I remember my insides turning to rocks and shards of glass.

I was out of town with my family at a volleyball tournament and started feeling sick to my stomach. I tried to sleep it off, but it just got worse. Within a few hours the pain was excruciating and concerning enough that my parents took me to the hospital.

They did several tests, but didn't find much. They sent me on my way with some medicine and suggested I might have developed an allergy to dairy.

Three years later I woke up from a dead sleep clenching my stomach and moaning in pain. My dad took me to the hospital again where I was put through a slew of x-rays, CT scans, MRI's, and ultrasounds. This time the doctors concluded I had an ovarian cyst that had burst, but I should be fine within a few days.

If only that had been the case.

Instead for the next 8 years I battled through daily pain in my lower abdomen, severe cramping, heavy periods, constipation, and fatigue. I always felt like something was wrong with me, I just didn't know what it was.

I visited with several doctors, but they always sent me away saying the same thing; "It's just bad cramps. Take Tylenol and consider birth control pills". I really didn't want to start birth control so young and potentially mess with my hormones even more. So I battled on.

I battled until I couldn't anymore and ended up in the emergency room one night with pain so excruciating I was throwing up and crying uncontrollably. More tests, more needles, more doctors, more misdiagnoses. I went in for emergency surgery to remove my appendix, which ended up being perfectly healthy. Instead, they found blood and fluid in my system proving I had another ovarian cyst that had burst.

I was so tired. Tired of tests that showed nothing. Tired of doctors who wouldn't really listen. Tired of not knowing what was wrong with me and losing hope that I would ever feel well. But then, I met with an OB/GYN to follow up on the cyst that had been found during surgery and he actually LISTENED to me. He BELIEVED me. He promised me we would figure out what was going on together and find a way to help me. He suggested that I might have Endometriosis; (Don't worry if you've never heard of, I hadn't either). And so, just 6 weeks after removing my appendix, I was back on the operating table, this time with real, solid hopes of finding an answer to 11 years of pain and suffering.

And he found it.

Pockets of Endometriosis had grown on both my ovaries, my uterus, and my pelvic lining.

Although it wasn't the best answer, it was an answer. An answer I had wanted for so long and now had.

ENDOMETRIOSIS

The Endometriosis Foundation of America describes endometriosis as "tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium), found in regions outside of the uterus, in other words, where the tissue should not be". Essentially, it's when tissue begins to form together in adhesions outside the uterus. It can weave and grow together and make a spider-like-web across the female organs and other areas of the pelvic region. It can cause horrible cramps, heavy periods, severe pain, and sometimes infertility.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and yet very little is known about the disease and how or why it occurs. In fact, on average it takes 10 years or LONGER to correctly diagnose Endo. Then, once it is diagnosed there are very limited options for treatment and at this point, NO CURE.

When discussing treatment with my doctor, my options were laparoscopic surgery to remove the endo pockets, hormone induced menopause, or pregnancy to subdue the growth at least for a while. I was blessed enough to be pregnant once and have now had two laparoscopic surgeries. I'm finding my own ways of fighting as well...changing my diet, detox baths, vitamins, and I'm planning to start practicing yoga.

While these solutions provide some temporary relief, I know the endo will grow again and the pain will return. But, I am ready. I am ready to fight. I know more about my disease than ever before. I am listening to my body and understand that it's okay to have days where nothing gets accomplished other than allowing it to rest. I can do this. I WILL do this.

I will FIGHT ENDOMETRIOSIS.