My Story - Ileana

I believe endometriosis has been a big part of my life healing journey. In my early 20’s I found out that I had Stage 3 endometriosis, something that runs in the maternal side of my family. I remember the nightmare of bleeding every month, I would be doubled over in bed, no relief, pain like a knife was twisting through every part of my abdomen, nausea, vomiting, aches in all the muscles of my body, fatigue and numbing in my limbs. My bowels would go crazy and I’d have diarrhoea. It was like my whole body was trying to expel something out of me through every orifice. When I was older and in relationships, I would be writhing on the floor of my boyfriends bathroom at 3am, barely able to crawl to tell him I needed help. At work I could be found in foetal position on the floor each month. Someone would have to assist me out to my car and I’d drive home bent double over the steering wheel.

From the beginning of having symptoms I was clear that I didn’t want to go down the road of using hormonal aids to “solve” this problem. I never took any contraceptive pill and I noticed that even the pain killers I was using didn’t really offer total relief and I was using more and more leading to side effects like stomach issues. In 2003 when I was 21yrs old, I agreed to try a laparoscopy to see if surgery could reduce the pain. The pain relief lasted 3 months before it was back. So at the end of my tether and trying to complete university I decided to try a naturopath close recommended by a friend and it was the best decision I ever made. 

With the help of Chinese and western herbs, taken 5 times daily and with horrible taste, my pain started to reduce. The naturopath stopped practising but she referred me to a colleague, who probably saved my life and my reproductive health. With her help, diet changes and herbs, my pain reduced further but didn’t subside. Being a practising psychologist by now I turned to mental/ emotional strategies and I found that with the help of visualisation and loving conversation with my womb, I was almost down to consistently lower levels of pain, 4/10 rather than 10/10.

In 2011, I went overseas on a humanitarian mission for MSF to the Occupied Palestinian territories. The work was exciting but fast and stressful and during my project there, I developed problems again. I went to see an Arab gynaecologist in Hebron (an interesting experience ;) and then one at an Israeli hospital who confirmed that I had grown an endometrial cyst on my right ovary. It needed to be removed as it was 5cm diameter and could cause problems if left to keep growing.

I returned to Australia to have surgery in 2013. I was on the wait-list for free surgery. However the doctor meant to treat me when I went to consult with her didn’t like that I questioned her decisions and she refused to continue with the surgery despite me having waited > 9 months to come off the waiting list. In retrospect I wished I’d reported her for malpractice. She was without a shred of empathy as she dismissed me from her rooms saying: “you’d better get pregnant soon because you have poor fertility and the longer you wait you’ll probably never have kids”. I was 33yrs old in a very early partnership and desperately wanting children and now she had put off my surgery effectively for another 6 month wait because she didn’t like my attitude.

I was desperate. I could feel the tension growing, not to mention the cyst and I didn’t want to lose the possibility of having children. I was under time pressure, medical pressure, I felt completely distraught. I used all the savings I had- $12,000 and booked a private colorectal surgeon to do the laparoscopy. He was brilliant and the surgery went well. His words that ‘everything looks good in there” meant a huge amount to me. The difference in the emotional impact that these two different doctors had on me made it so very clear to me why embracing a bio psychosocial model of disease is so important. Medical professionals don’t fully understand how the way in which they act, the words they say and their emotional state has every importance in how every individual will respond at every level of their mental, physical and emotional health.

Three years later, my partner and I were ready for children, however we tried and tried and no baby. We went to see IVF specialists, all who told us that I would never get pregnant naturally with my history and should go for IVF straight away. Again, with my improved understanding of the power of my own wisdom about my body above those of a relative stranger, I sought advice outside the medical model and opted to go alternative again. This time I went to see a Chinese native-born acupuncturist. This man told me in his broken English straightforward and without faltering that I should give him 3 months of comprehensive treatment to see an effect. I committed 100%, having weekly acupuncture sessions and religiously downing the Chinese herb balls, counted out in groups of 10 every 5 hours. I was focused, I was committed and in 3 months exactly my husband and I conceived naturally!!! It was the happiest time I could have imagined!!! 

Today I have two kids, both naturally conceived with acupuncture and alternative healing. My second daughter, was born in a planned home birth, delivered in our lounge room in a blow up pool after only 4 hours of active labour and a pre-labour during which I went to work and finished my clinical psychology notes in the morning and then did the Bondi to Bronte walk whilst having regular contractions. Both births were amazing, wondrous experiences where I had no intervention, no surgery, no drugs apart from some gas with the first. Today, at 42 yrs old I have zero pelvic pain symptoms, no pain at all on menstruation, a 28 day menstrual cycle that runs like clockwork, and where I bleed rich fresh red blood rather than the rust-like build up I used to get with every period. I believe that certainly while the endometrial scar tissue still exists in my system, it is inactive and I am totally symptom-free. I believe endometriosis, like any disease is my teacher, showing me the things in my body and my life that were out of balance and were calling for my attention and it is my dream that our medical world will embrace a more wholistic bio psychosocial model so knowledge of how this can helps is widespread.

Endometriosis is more than a diagnosis—it’s a journey of pain, resilience, and discovery. For many, it’s a silent struggle, misunderstood and often minimised. But within this journey lies stories of hope, healing, and finding balance, even in the face of uncertainty. In this blog, I share my deeply personal story of living with Stage 3 endometriosis—from the crippling symptoms and dismissive medical encounters to discovering alternative therapies that transformed my life. This is a story of trusting your body’s wisdom, advocating for your health, and embracing a holistic approach to healing.

My Journey Through Endometriosis: Pain, Healing, and Hope

The Nightmare of Early Symptoms

In my early 20s, when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 endometriosis, I had no idea just how much it would shape my life and healing journey. The condition ran in my family, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality. Each month, I endured excruciating pain—like a knife twisting through my abdomen—accompanied by nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and fatigue. My limbs would go numb, my bowels would rebel, and I’d be left curled in the fetal position on bathroom floors or at work, unable to function. Painkillers barely made a dent, and the side effects piled up. My decision to avoid hormonal treatments left me seeking alternatives, though nothing seemed to provide lasting relief. By the time I was 21, I had reached a breaking point and underwent my first laparoscopy. The relief was temporary—just three months before the familiar pain returned.

Turning to Alternative Healing

Frustrated and desperate, I turned to a naturopath on a friend’s recommendation. It wasn’t easy—drinking herbal concoctions multiple times a day tested my resolve—but slowly, I began to feel a shift. The pain lessened, and when my naturopath referred me to a colleague, my healing accelerated. With their guidance, I incorporated dietary changes and continued herbal treatments. But the turning point wasn’t just physical. As a psychologist, I knew the power of the mind-body connection. I began practicing visualization and speaking lovingly to my womb. Slowly but surely, I saw improvement, bringing my pain from an unbearable 10/10 to a more manageable 4/10.

A Setback Abroad

In 2011, while on a humanitarian mission with Médecins Sans Frontières, my symptoms flared. The stress of my work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories led to the discovery of a 5cm endometrial cyst. Two gynecologists confirmed it needed to be removed, but returning to Australia to navigate the public health system was another challenge. After months on the waitlist, a doctor dismissed me during a consultation because I dared to question her. She coldly told me I had poor fertility and should “get pregnant soon”—a statement that shattered me emotionally. Desperate to avoid more delays, I used my savings for private surgery. The experience with my new surgeon was worlds apart: compassionate, respectful, and reassuring. His words, “everything looks good in there,” renewed my hope.

Defying the Odds: Conception and Motherhood

Despite the surgery, when my partner and I began trying for children, conception didn’t come easily. IVF specialists warned me I’d likely never conceive naturally, but I wasn’t ready to give up. I sought help from a Chinese acupuncturist who proposed a rigorous three-month treatment plan. Committed to the process, I had weekly acupuncture sessions and religiously consumed herbal remedies. Exactly three months later, I was pregnant. That joy was doubled when my second pregnancy came naturally as well. Both births were extraordinary, with my second child born in a peaceful home birth—an experience that felt worlds away from my years of pain and fear.

Living Pain-Free: A New Chapter

Today, at 42, I live without endometriosis symptoms. My menstrual cycle is regular, pain-free, and healthy. The transformation is a testament to the importance of holistic healing, combining medical interventions with emotional and psychological care. Though I know the scar tissue remains, I believe it is inactive, no longer controlling my life.

Reflections on Endometriosis as a Teacher

Endometriosis taught me to listen to my body and trust its wisdom. It highlighted the importance of balance—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. My journey isn’t unique, and I hope that by sharing it, others feel empowered to advocate for their health and explore healing beyond conventional medicine. The medical world has an opportunity to embrace a holistic, bio-psychosocial model that considers the whole person—because healing isn’t just about treating symptoms; it’s about understanding the entire story.