My Diagnosis

I found out that I had Endometriosis almost six years ago, and honestly I had no idea what Endo was at the time. All I knew was that since I was in high school I was in constant pain when "that time of the month" came around. I would have to leave school and just lay in the bed with my heating pad. I participated in sports and I even had to miss track meets because of the amount of practices and workouts I had missed during the week. I thought that this was normal. 

Once I got to college my mom and I went to the doctor and I was prescribed some pain medicine that would help me deal with the pain when I "came on." The only thing that this medicine was successful at doing was putting me to sleep. I would probably miss 2 days of classes each time I came on. For anyone who knows about the demands of college academics knows that missing class is definitely not a good thing! 

During the summer of 2008 I went to the doctor because of the constant bleeding between cycles, but I knew it was not a period. For as long as I can remember my cycles have ALWAYS been regular...long but regular. So that's how I knew it was not a period. The doctor who I saw immediately informed me that she thought it was endometriosis. I was referred to have an ultrasound of my uterus and ovaries. Once the results from the ultrasound came back, my doctor threw around so many terms that made my head spin and I was a googling machine for the next few days!!!

Chocolate cysts

Endometriomas

Scar Tissue

My first surgery was scheduled for October 2008 and I was terrified. My family and friends were so supportive. More than anything I was concerned about my fertility and my ability to have children in the future. I was 22 and the thought of not being able to conceive was scary. Surgery went well, but I woke up with one less ovary and tube. Great, right? I immediately burst into tears once the nurses told me. They told me that they was no way they could excise the Endo from my ovary and/or tube...it had to go. The cyst on my ovary was the size of a large grapefruit. No wonder I had always been in pain, no wonder I had always been so bloated. During my post-op appointment my doctor told me that I had the worst case of Endometriosis that she had ever seen in someone my age. WHAT??? 

How did I skip all the stages of Endo and be in Stage IV? How did I not know about this horrible disease? I fell into a depression for so long. I did not know how I could love myself. How would anyone genuinely love me with Endo knowing the prognosis? What was next for this young girl with an incurable disease?

Well, three surgeries, two degrees, one fertility specialist, and a fiancee later, I am still fighting! A few months ago I decided that aside from all of the surgeries and medications, I would begin the Endometriosis diet! I have started this blog to chronicle my journey towards becoming gluten, dairy, and soy free. Since we are ultimately what we eat, I will not be feeding a body that already has too much estrogen, foods that will trigger growth of Endo in my body.

I love to learn so this has actually been really fun for me. As an Endometriosis Warrior I will not let this disease have me. Check out my recipes and flood my posts with questions, comments, and suggestions!! 

This should be fun - XO Andrea