25/03/2023
š So, a few of you have been reaching out the last couple of weeks saying youāve been missing me on social media and asking if Iām ok. Which is bloody lovely and thank you! š
š So, I thought Iād kill two birds with one stone, to reassure yāall that Iām ok but also to raise awareness as March is endometriosis awareness monthš
š Many of you will know Iāve been battling this condition for some time, as my symptoms dramatically worsened over the past 4 years. I was no longer able to walk very far because of the pain, running and dancing were becoming impossible because of pain and bleeding, and every month I would be flooding my clothes and unable to stand up. š
š After having an MRI two years ago, it was finally picked up that I had end stage endometriosis where the disease had started to affect my bowel and bladder function. The only treatment option for me at this point was a total hysterectomy, to separate my uterus from my bowel, and pelvis. As you can imagine this was a huge shock to me as Iām very young and itās a major operation. But I just couldnāt cope with the pain anymore so I went for it. š
š Fast forward to now, and Iām four weeks post op and recovering well, although itās the hardest thing Iāve ever had to do, physically and mentally. Iāve been plunged into a surgical menopause immediately and will have to be on HRT for the foreseeable future to manage menopausal symptoms and prevent the endometriosis coming back. My body feels very strange to me right now and Iām navigating everything that comes with that. I had extensive endometriosis removed from my bowel and the back of my pelvis, and also adenomyosis where endo grows into the muscle wall of the uterus itself. No wonder I was in agony! š
Soā¦why am I telling you this?
So you can educate yourself about it.
So you wonāt be fobbed off with a diagnosis of IBS like I was.
So you can take charge of your health.
āPainful periods arenāt normal.
āFlooding isnāt normal.
āErratic bowel function isnāt normal.
āSwollen bellies arenāt normal
If you have any symptoms that are cyclical in nature or youāre worried about something push for further tests! You KNOW your body better than anyone else. Do NOT be silenced or fobbed off.
šI first sought help for my bowel dysfunction NINE YEARS ago. Which is the average time it takes for women to be diagnosed with endometriosis. I want that to change. š
š I am 1 in 9. Endometriosis is as common as diabetes but is woefully under diagnosed. We need to change this. I spent years in agony and I donāt want that for any other woman. We deserve better. š
Love Shell x
