Dear mummy, I’ve known for sometime that you suffer from endometriosis. I can tell when you’re in pain or in a low mood.
So what is endometriosis or ‘endo’ as you like to call it?
It’s a condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. Each month these cells react in the same way to those in the womb, building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape causing pain and discomfort. These cells react to the menstrual cycle each month and also bleed. However, there is no way for this blood to leave the body. This can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue.
You shut yourself away in your bedroom with a hot water bottle and cry. It’s much better that you try to find some relief to the pain. It strikes you worse during your periods and mid cycle. Just like bad period pains and cramping some days you can’t even think or function. It is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes painful and heavy periods. The pain is like wearing a waistband of knives around your midriff.
I hate to see you in pain and I know you’ve suffered with Endo all your life, being diagnosed in 2008 was a real weight off your mind knowing you weren’t just imagining it.
You struggled for 3 years to get pregnant with me, endo had a lot to blame for that. As the condition can also lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems. You had a Laparoscopy to help clear the build up of Endometriosis around your ovaries to help you conceive and it worked because 8 months later you fell pregnant with me.
Fast forward 5 years and your back again having surgery to clear your endo and help relieve your symptoms. Being pregnant was a blessing and the pain stopped, breastfeeding also helped delay the onslaught of endometriosis rearing its ugly head. But for the past year it’s slowly crept back like an old friend that ditched you when you had kids but now wants to be involved in your life again.
However, this time there is no room in your life for endo, the pain, the hurt needs to stop. You can’t live like this anymore, hiding away to cry from the pain, trying to shield me from your mood swings, low iron count and irritability. You have a family to look out for and can’t afford time off work or locking yourself away in your room.
So, here we are again. Me at home with Daddy, you in hospital having another Laparoscopy to help. 3 options have been placed in front of you, going back on the concentraption pill (which you haven’t been on since you were sixteen), having a Laparoscopy to laser off the tissue or a full hysterectomy. My mummy opted for the operation and pain management as the thought of her hormones being screwed up at 36 doesn’t really sound appealing.
So watch this space. A huge amount of women suffer from endo, some don’t even know they have it and just think it’s bad period pains. Around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with the condition. Endometriosis can affect all women and girls of a childbearing age, regardless of race or ethnicity. It might be worth getting yourself checked out. You needn’t live in pain and embarrassment around your periods.
Love Bella (mummy’s little doctor) x
Dear Mummy Blog 
Poor you – I hope it all goes well for you as it must be a nightmare every month!
My friend and Grandma have this. It’s an awful thing to be going through x
I hope that you do get this sorted so that you are not suffering so badly.
Sorry to hear this, I have a friend who has this – poor ladies !
So sorry lovely. Hope it gets sorted soon and you feel a bit better x
*hug* Poor you, sorry to hear this. My sister suffered for this so I know how you feel. xx
http://www.annanuttall.com
So sorry to hear this, Hope it all goes well and feel better soon! xo
What a deep post. Thank you for talking about this issue.
Oh goodness! I’m sorry you’re going through this hun. Keep your head up and I hope things get better for you. Thinking of you
Charlotte x
I totally understand this!! I had suspected endo for years, doctors only decided to book me in for an opp to inspect when they deemed I was old enough after years of complaining about the pain I was in!! Fortunatley I became pregnant before the opp so it was cancelled. I stopped having pains but now after my second I’m havin similar pains and symptoms as before!! Hope this time it doesn’t come back for you and you can enjoy life!!
I hope so too xx Hope your pain eases too x
It’s not easy to live with and the pain can be awful. Sorry to hear that you have endometriosis.
I really hope you feel better soon, it is another of those invisible illnesses with no real answers.
Poor you, I hope you manage to get something sorted
How horrible for you! I have know idea what you’re going through, but thank you for sharing your story.
My best friend has this and she is similar to you. I hope it gets better for you soon.
Thanks Annie xx
I can’t even imagine how horrible this must be. I hope it gets better!
Oh this sounds awful. You poor thing! I hope you manage to find a way to control it that suits you. #TwinklyTuesday
Bless I have a work colleague who has really suffered so I can imagine how hard it must be for you, especially with a little one now. I hope the surgery helps and brings you some relief. xx #twinklytuesdays
My partner suffers similarly, and didn’t think she was able to have kids (our 7 year old proved her wrong of course), it is horrible to witness once a month.
Oh wow bless you! I really hope it gets sorted asap for you
Hope the op helps, it’s such a horrible condition #sharingthebloglove
I have a few friends who’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, it really is a horrible condition, and so sad that sufferers have to battle so hard to get a diagnosis. I hope that the operation brings you relief from the symptoms soon, and that it’s more long lasting this time. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at #SharingtheBlogLove
My SIL has endometriosis and like you the pain relived when she was pregnant and for a while afterwards. She is deciding what to do as a long term solution. I hope the operation gives you some relief. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove x
It’s awful what you’re going through. I hope the operation helps lovely.