I’m happy to share because it’s actually a frustrating story and I’m one of millions of women.

About 6 months ago, I basically woke up in excruciating back and side pain, went to the E.R., was told it was nothing. 

Pain didn’t go away so I kept going back to the hospital or primary care where I was diagnosed with sciatica, muscle strain, kidney stones, etc. 

I did happen to have a kidney stone, but when it passed the pain didn’t go away. 

I kept going back to the Dr… He didn’t know what to do so he prescribed physical therapy.

I did that for two months and that didn’t help. 

Finally I started researching my own symptoms and reading up on different diagnoses. 

Every single symptom listed for endometriosis, I had. I asked my doctor, he said he didn’t think so. 

I went home/still in pain and called to self-refer for an OBGYN evaluation for endometriosis. 

The wait to be seen for endometriosis? At least 3 months. 

Got there. She wasn’t sure if I had it, then she did an exam and changed her mind/referred me for surgery.

Endometriosis is when the tissue inside the uterus grows outside and around surrounding organs. It can be very painful, but since it’s uterine tissue, when the menstrual cycle happens, this tissue bleeds too, but has nowhere to go. It causes internal bleeding. 

Anyways, she found the endometriosis growing on my back and was able to remove it so I should get to return to a pain-free life, finally.