Jodie's Endometriosis Story
By Jodie Bird
Sharing your story is an act of both bravery and compassion, it is beneficial to the person sharing the story, as well as to the greater community. At QENDO we are proud to bring you the stories of our community, from anyone affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and infertility. Everyone’s story is unique, but in these stories we find common threads that bring us all together and empower us to move forward - raising awareness, pressing for change and inspiring action that can and will change things for those who come after us. Today on the blog Jodie shares her endometriosis journey to date.
I am 37 years old and have a healthy, happy, energetic 2-year-old son. He was my second pregnancy.
I guess my story starts back when I started using contraception as a teenager. I went on the pill and used this for at least 10-15 years. During my periods over these years I only really had cramps for a day or so, no real heavy bleeds and quite a predictable cycle using the pill. Over the years years, other various symptoms had been present, including painful sex, at times. I did not know anything about endo until 2015 and did not think that I would have it.
In 2015 I decided to start using a contraception again, so went to a local female GP who gave me some options. I opted for the depo provera injection and used this for about 9 months (3 injections) I decided to stop this injection and see what my ‘normal’ cycle would be. Turns out my ‘normal’ cycle was finished. Blood tests were taken, and I was told by the GP that I was basically showing signs of post menopause. My body just stopped ovulating. It was at this point I was referred to a specialist. To get me back into a 'normal cycle' and to become pregnant I had to do ovulation induction, a few months of injections, spent a lot of money, went to a lot of appointments and went through a lot of emotions. I then got my positive pregnancy test and was excited, and relieved.
I first found out I had endo after having a hysteroscopy/laparoscopy in October 2015. The procedures were the result of a ‘miscarriage’ that had me feeling lost and confused, as during an ultrasound after I had some initial spotting the radiologist told me they couldn't see any evidence of pregnancy. During the procedures the specialist found I had an ectopic pregnancy and had to remove one fallopian tube. The specialist decided against removing the endo during the procedure due to the immediate need to remove the tube and from what I remember him saying, save my life. It sounds quite dramatic to say that, save my life, but that’s what he said he did. It was only a day procedure so off I was sent home, in pain, emotionally and physically.
At my follow up appointment, I was still quite numb from the diagnosis I received in the hospital. The specialist advised that I had endo and that I should give myself some time to recover and then look at getting the endo removed. After a few months I decided to look into the endo removal and was to see a different specialist, as mine had moved to another area in QLD. I booked in the procedure for February 2016 and he diagnosed me with stage 4 endo which was growing practically everywhere.
In the month following the removal of the endo I started a new job, and luckily for me, fell pregnant. Fast forward 2 years, my son, work and life keeps me busy, and my contraception journey begins again. I feel at a loss of what to do. Not being on contraception does not seem to be an option. Over the last 2 years my periods have been heavy, painful and ovulation is not exactly a time that I want to ‘try for another baby’, more like, try hide in a dark room due to the pain. Not that I’m ready for another baby, whoa. Suffering post-natal anxiety and depression continues to be challenging, to say the least. I have started the pill again, coming up to the 3rd month and unsure what to do next.
Well now that that’s all off my chest ….. that’s pretty much my endo story to date. As many of you probably know, it’s a story that never quite finishes, bringing new triumphs and challenges with it all the time. I wish you luck on your journey and hope that my story can be helpful in some way.
The materials available on or through the website qendo.org.au [‘QENDO’] are an information source only. Information provided by QENDO does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition.To the maximum extent permitted by law, all contributors of QENDO make no statement, representation, or warranty about the quality, accuracy, context, completeness, availability or suitability for any purpose of, and you should not rely on, any materials available on or through the website qendo.org.au. QENDO disclaims, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you or any other person might incur for any reason including as a result of the materials available on or through this website being in any way inaccurate, out of context, incomplete, unavailable, not up to date or unsuitable for any purpose.