Day 6 of Endometriosis Awareness Month

Day 6 of #theendophotochallenge2018


Years with Endo.

I've been diagnosed through surgery with Stage IV Endometriosis for almost 15 years now.

However, I've been suffering for 23 years with strong symptoms and have been dismissed along the way, at one point the professionals had me believing that the pain was all "in my head".

Even after I was diagnosed people still didn't believe how badly I was suffering bar one and she knows who she is. She has stuck beside me through every treatment decision, fought hard for Doctors to take me seriously and ultimately get me my diagnosis.

She has been through every up and down with me, talking surgical and treatment options over with me time and time again to make sure that I could live with my choices as over the years the sacrifices have just gotten bigger and not necessarily for the best. But up or down, stormy or calm she's always been there when others have scoffed or simply walked away because my diagnosis was just "too much for them to handle".

You need a support system with this disease, wherever you can find it, but you need one nonetheless.

Stay positive and I'll see you tomorrow for the next challenge.

Andie

Day 5 of Endometriosis Awareness

Day 5 of #theendophotochallenge2018 on Instagram



Listed 👆 are my medications/treatments to date (that I can recall) for the pat 18 years.

Let me tell you the struggle is all to real when you have an invisible illness.

People just don't see past you looking like a regular walking/talking being. They don't see the scars, the pain behind the masks we wear to try look "normal". No one sees the sacrifices we make along the way or allow us to grieve for the girls and women we used to be before Endo.

Well no more 🎭. This is our chance to spread awareness and shout/scream, let our 176 million voices be heard.

#endometriosisawareness #endoflare#endopain #fightlikeagirl #endoaware#ovulation #ovarypain #bowelresection#surgeries #painlevelhigh#1outof10doesntworkforme #1in10#176millionwomen #weneedacure#spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness#invisibleillness #stageivendo #staystrong#positivethinking #mentalhealth#positivevibes #powerofpositivity #healing#respect #bekind #friendship

Day 4 of Endometriosis Awareness

Day 4 #theendophotochallenge2018 on Instagram
Diagnosis;

After seven years of suffering heavy periods, fainting spells and numerous days off from school I was finally diagnosed at age 18 through surgery, laporscopacally, with #stageivendo.

Even though I have a very strong family history of Endometriosis my G.P kept dismissing even the idea of me having it.

I started showing symptoms at age 11. Don't let this happen to your daughter /sister/significant other/family members.

#endometriosisawareness #endoaware#1in10 #176millionwomen #weneedacure#spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness#invisibleillness #endopain#endosymptoms #endodiagnosis
#chroniclife #endolife