Invisible Illness 30 Day Challenge: Day 1

Day One: 

The illness I live with is... 

It's day 1 of the 30 day challenge, and the first statement is "the illness I live with is" and the answer is Endometriosis. 

Endometriosis is a disorder of the pelvis that affects millions of women worldwide. Endometriosis is characterized by the lining of the uterus- called the endometrium- growing outside of the uterus on other abdominal structures.  Endometriosis is in the top three reasons for infertility in women. It is commonly misdiagnosed and left untreated, often resulting in chronic pain, infertility, and digestive problems.  Endometriosis responds to menses just like the lining of the uterus does. So when a woman gets her period, the endometrial implants swell and bleed, causing severe pain and discomfort. Pain during menses is common with endometriosis patients, but pain can also be experienced throughout the month. Endometriosis can cause a number of co-morbid disorders in more advanced stages. Common co-morbid conditions include
Pelvic adhesions (the binding of internal organs), a weakened immune system, digestive disorders, infertility, anxiety, fibromyalgia, and depression, to name a few.

Endometriosis can only be diagnosed during a pelvic laparoscopy. Ultrasounds and physical exams cannot determine wether or not a woman is suffering from endometriosis. Because the disease can only be diagnosed in surgery, it is often left undiagnosed and untreated.  Endometriosis can sometimes lead to the formation of "endometriomas"- large, blood filled cysts in the pelvis. These cysts can be seen in ultrasound examinations, and if large enough, will often be removed surgically. 

Image of an endometrioma, courtesy of medcorelifestyle.blogspot.com

It is important to note that there is no known cause for endometriosis, and there is no cure for endometriosis. Treatment for this disease is a hit and miss process, and doctors often prescribe pain killers and NSAIDs as a band-aid, rather than treating the cause of the problem. The best form of treatment for endometriosis is excision surgery. 

For more information, I recommend visiting endofound.org.

Thank you for visiting my blog and reading Day 1 of the invisible illness challenge!