Invisible illness 30 day challenge: Day 3

Day Three: 

...But I've had symptoms since

 

It’s day three of the 30 day invisible illness challenge. I want to share a big thank you for those who have been regularly checking my blog through the month of March. I’m hoping that by sharing my story, we can raise awareness for endometriosis and find a cure.

I distinctly remember when I first started getting endometriosis symptoms. I was 12 or 13 years old and I started getting “tummy aches.” It was this awful all-consuming pain that compelled me to go to the washroom. While doing my business, the pain got so terrible that my body would break into a cold sweat, I would shake, and the pain- oh god the pain- it was so bad I would claw at my legs and pray for it to go away. I had these mystery tummy aches for a few years, then it magically disappeared for a while. Though I’m sad to report that I now get these same aches on occasion, and I’ve learned that it’s associated with the endometriosis on my sigmoid colon. 

When I was either 14 or 15 I got my period. I was the last out of my group of girlfriends to get my period, and at first I was excited to finally have that in common with my friends. However I soon discovered that I would have an incredibly miserable time with my monthly period. I distinctly remember my very first cycle. I was in gym class, and we were practicing gymnastics routines. I was in absolute agony. My flow was freakishly heavy, and I recall falling over onto the floor, flopping onto my side, and hugging my knees to my chest while I heaved. I grit my teeth and clung to my own legs as if my life depended on it. Every time I got my period, my cramps were so bad I would be overcome with waves of nausea. The cramps were brutal. My flow was always extremely heavy, and my period lasted for over a week every time. My friends all complained about their periods, so I just assumed that what I was experiencing was normal. I refused to moan or complain about my cramps, and just dealt with the hell when my cycle rolled around. 

A photo of me in 2011. My arm is over my pelvis because I was in a lot of pain from hiking. The next day I ended up in the ER in severe pain.

Through my teenage years, the only symptoms I really experienced were the terrible pains while going to the bathroom, and the brutal periods. It was only after I turned 18 and graduated from high school did my pain increase and symptoms worsen. After the onset of new, terrifying symptoms (like fevers, aches, intense pain, and black blood) I saw the doctor to get some answers. It took over a year for me to be diagnosed with endometriosis, though I had been suffering with pain for over 5 years. 

Thank you for reading today's post. Make sure to come back tomorrow for the next day in the 30 Day Invisible Illness Challenge