One Month and 2 days

Within the last week a lot of things have changed.  The best change is that my mood swings are going away very fast! :)  Thank goodness.  The worst part is I keep getting killer headaches :(  I must say that within the last 2 months(since the surgery)  my body has been under tremendous stress.  I am starting to feel like a new person in the sense that my mood changes are no longer as rapid.  It has been only a month and 2 days since my shot but it has been a VERY long journey so far.  I can only see it getting better from here on out.  Well, that is the plan anyways. 

These changes haven't only affected me.  My boyfriend, family, and friends have been the victim of raging hormonal abuse!  I know that they know I am not trying to be mean or rude to them.  It was/is hard to control a surge of hormones in your body that you can't control how fast they release.  I am just very blessed that my boyfriend, family, and friends have been so understanding and supportive through all of this.  I love you guys <3

The next 2 months are supposed to be less stressful and I will be less "crazy".  I could use a little less crazy right now!  I am just happy to say that I am feeling better and that things are looking up.  I will not know what the consequences of getting this shot will be until the shot wears off in 2 months and then recovery time is up to 57 weeks.  I know those weeks while I am waiting to see if my right ovary starts working properly are going to be hard.  All I want is for that ovary to work and one day have children.  I know that may not be the case but either way I can say I am on the road to recovery, educating people on this disease, and living one day at a time almost pain free!! 

I am 1 of millions, I am not alone!

Do you think you are alone in the fight with endometriosis and early menopause?  If your answer is yes, you are very wrong.  Roughly 176 million women and girls around the world are suffering from endometriosis, early menopause or both.  In America and Canada there is said to be 8.5 million endometriosis suffers.  An estimated 5.5 million women and girls are diagnosed with endometriosis every year. 

                                                                                     

I am not alone in this battle with endometriosis and early menopause.  Guess what?  You are not alone either.  I know that this disease does leave us feeling lonely, depressed and very emotional among a huge list of things. 

Just remember you are not alone.  There are millions of us going through this right now, as I am writing this and as you’re reading this blog.  You have a support system in me, other suffers, family, and friends.  Your fellow comrades that are in battle with you understand what you are going through or have been through it.  If you need to have support from a fellow comrade just ask.  I am here for you; I understand what you are going through.

Let's educate those who do not have endometriosis.  Let's support those that do have it.  Let's be there for each other.  Most importantly, let’s march on this battlefield together and beat Endometriosis!  

Week #3 of Lupron

Today, marks 3 weeks since I was given my menopause shot.  There has been so many changes going on since I got the shot.  The next day after getting the shot I boarded a train, and moved to Connecticut to be with my boyfriend.  So, I have been trying to adjust to a new state, a new home, and menopause.  I am adjusting to Connecticut and our new home more so than the menopause.

I've seen women go through menopause and thought WOW that doesn't look to terrible.  I guess they either were blessed to not have a bad experience or they are masking it.  I never thought that at 22 I would ever be going through this type of life change.  I feel like my body is my own enemy.  Every second, minute, and hour it's like I am a different person, or in another mood.  It is so frustrating to go back and forth.  I wish my body would figure itself out.

I have had a few moments of acting like a 5 year old not getting her way.  The crazy thing is that it is usually over nothing and I go from laughing to filled with rage.  I know this is a side effect from all the medications I have in my body and the hormonal change, but it is insane.

I have become insanely emotional!  I cry like someone just killed my dog or something horrible for no reason.  I look like I have waterfalls streaming down my face.  The smallest thing will make me cry.  You can compliment me and I will either say thank you, cry, or try to rip your head off.

I keep telling myself that these extremes should end in about another week or so.  I pray that they do.  I am just very blessed to have such an amazing boyfriend that is holding nothing against me.  He is a great supporter.  He has been wonderful and amazing through this whole thing :)  

Endometriosis to Early Menopause

It has been 2 weeks and 2 days since I got my Lupron shot and started Add Back.  WOW it has been a journey that I did not expect.  I thought when I first started my menstrual cycle was bad, it doesn't compare.  I don't just have symptoms of menopause but side effects from both the Lupron and Add Back as well.  Hot flashes, cold flashes, flushes, insomnia, night sweats, nausea, loss of libido, vaginal dryness, mood swings, depression, random crying, memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, severe headaches, dizziness, loss of balance, incontinence, bloating, irregular heartbeat, irritability, aching sore joints & tendons, digestion problems, indigestion, low blood sugar, and more pelvic pain are the things I have been experiencing for the past 16 days.  This has been the roller coaster I have been referring too.  It has been very difficult to deal with.  I have sudden, unexplained outburst.  Obviously my body is under some serious changes but it is still hard to understand what is going on.

Due to the surge of hormones I have right now my pelvic pain is back.  I hope it subsides with 2 weeks when the surge dies down.  After the surge is over I will only have hormones that are in my 5mg pill I have to take every morning.  I don't know if I will adjust to this cycle of being a hot mess.  My joints and bones are not liking this transition.  I hurt from my head to my toes.  That could also be due to moving recently, and that I started working out again.

I hope that all my side effects, and symptoms will subside soon.  They are  taking their toll on me and everyone around me especially my supportive boyfriend!


I am just very blessed that I have a support system that understands what is going on right now :)

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis  is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones. These endometrial-like cells in areas outside the uterus (endometriosis) are influenced by hormonal changes and respond in a way that is similar to the cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms often worsen with the menstrual cycle.

Endometriosis is typically seen during the reproductive years; it has been estimated that endometriosis occurs in roughly 5–10% of women. Symptoms may depend on the site of active endometriosis. Its main but not universal symptom is pelvic pain in various manifestations.

Endometriosis is one of the most common health problems that women and girls face.  This disease is common in women in their 30’s and 40’s but any female with a menstrual cycle can develop it.  The average age of someone that is diagnosed is 27 years old.  It is estimated that more than $22 billion is spent every year on treatment for Endometriosis.

Most women do not get diagnosed until they have problems becoming pregnant.  30-40% of women with Endometriosis are infertile.  Endometriosis is the third most common cause for infertility. 

Red Endometriosis

White Endometriosis (these are new growths)

Endometriosis on the ovary 

Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis 

Pelvic Pain

• Dysmenorrhea – painful, sometimes disabling cramps during menses; pain may get worse over time (progressive pain), also lower back pains linked to the pelvis
• Chronic Pelvic Pain – typically accompanied by lower back pain or abdominal pain
• Dyspareunia – painful sex
• Dysuria – urinary urgency, frequency, and sometimes painful voiding

Infertility  
Constipation
Chronic Fatigue 

Complications of Endometriosis includes:

• Internal scarring
• Adhesions
• Pelvic cysts
• Chocolate cyst of ovaries
• Ruptured cyst
• Bowel obstruction
• Infertility

Generation of pain

The way endometriosis causes pain is the subject of much research. Because many women with endometriosis feel pain during or around their periods and may spill further menstrual flow into the pelvis with each menstruation, some researchers are trying to reduce menstrual events in patients with endometriosis.
Endometriosis lesions react to hormonal stimulation and may "bleed" at the time of menstruation. The blood accumulates locally, causes swelling, and triggers inflammatory responses with the activation of cytokines. It is thought that this process may cause pain.
Pain can also occur from adhesions (internal scar tissue) binding internal organs to each other, causing organ dislocation. Fallopian tubes, ovaries, the uterus, the bowels, and the bladder can be bound together in ways that are painful on a daily basis, not just during menstrual periods.
Also, endometriotic lesions can develop their own nerve supply, thereby creating a direct and two-way interaction between lesions and the central nervous system, potentially producing a variety of individual differences in pain that can, in some women, become independent of the disease itself.

Localization

Most endometriosis is found on these structures in the pelvic cavity:

• Ovaries (the most common site)
• Fallopian tubes
• The back of the uterus and the posterior cul-de-sac
• The front of the uterus and the anterior cul-de-sac
• Uterine ligaments such as the broad or round ligament of the uterus
• Pelvic and back wall
• Intestines, most commonly the rectosigmoid
• Urinary bladder and ureters

Bowel endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women with endometriosis, and can cause severe pain with bowel movements.
Endometriosis may spread to the cervix and vagina or to sites of a surgical abdominal incision.
Endometriosis may also present with skin lesions in cutaneous endometriosis.
Less commonly lesions can be found on the diaphragm. Diaphragmatic endometriosis is rare, almost always on the right hemidiaphragm, and may inflict cyclic pain of the right shoulder just before and during menses. Rarely, endometriosis can be extraperitoneal and is found in the lungs and CNS.




 

Pelvic Pain to Endometriosis

Around the time I turned 20 in 2009 my menstrual cycle changed for the worse.  I began having severe pelvic pain, heavier flow, severe clotting, and back pain.  I thought this was normal for a short time.  Over the next few months I went through severe mood swings, and headaches on top of everything else.  I would ball up in the floor crying and moaning and groaning in severe pain.  At times I thought I was in labor even though I was not pregnant.

For a few months in 2010 all my pain, heavy bleeding, and clotting subsided.  I thought the worse was over.  I couldn't of been more wrong.

After those few months of "freedom" all the pain, bleeding, and clotting returned.  I was somewhat mortified.  I didn't know what to do.  I knew I needed to go to the doctor, but I was afraid to.  All my symptoms lead to some kind of reproductive disorder or a reproductive cancer. 

Finally, after almost 2 years of dealing with this my boyfriend got me to go to the doctor in early 2011. 

On February 1, 2011 I went to a doctor to get answers and hopefully a cure.  I was told I had Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding, Dysparenuia, Dysmenorrhea, and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.  As you may see these diagnosis were given because the doctor's didn't know what was going on.  After numerous ultrasounds, pap smears, blood work tests, MRIs, CTs, and prescriptions I finally realized I needed another opinion.  I decided to get another gynecologists opinion after my "then" doctors wanted to preform surgery.  I said no to having surgery at the time and decided to try the Depot Provera birth control shot.  The shot was to help relieve my symptoms and make me feel like a new person all around. 

In December 2011, after 2 1/2 years of misery I got the answers I needed.  I found a gynecologist that was 100% honest with me and what was going on.  With all of my symptoms and all non-conclusive ultrasounds he knew I had Endometriosis.  He said I need to have surgery to confirm this diagnosis and see if any lesions needed to be removed.  I told the doctor that I wanted without a doubt my ovary that was causing me so much pain to be removed regardless.  I knew that my chances of having children one day with my ovary taken out were going to be lowered.  However, what happened next lowered my chances of having children regardless if I have all my girl parts. 

On December 13, 2011 I had my surgery.  The surgery was a success!!!!  My doctor confirmed that I had Endometriosis!  However, my left ovary had to be removed do to the endometrial lesions on it.  The doctors also found multiple places of new endometrial growths on the outside of my uterus, fallopian tubes, and other ovary.  The good news is that I woke up from surgery with that pelvic pain that I had minutes before going under the knife.

After the surgery I felt at ease knowing what was going on with my body.  My gynecologist recommended that I stop getting my Depot Provera birth control.  He insisted that I get a shot called Lupron + Add Back which side effects are to be reversible in time after treatment.  Lupron would increase my estrogen levels so high I will never have that high of that level again in my life.  After the surge of estrogen I would be in a state of menopause.  The Add Back pill is to help mood swings and hot flashes.  I got my first Lupron shot on January 16, 2012.  I tell you what it has been a hell of a roller coaster ride since then.  

Menstrual Cycles

Young girls at different ages start their menstrual cycle.  If you understand the mysterious “female parts” you know that once a month an egg is released from one of your ovaries.  If that egg is not fertilized the egg and the lining of the uterus(endometrial tissue) sheds itself.  This my dear is a menstrual cycle.  Something that every single women has to go through in their life time.  Some women have a cycle into their 40's, 50's, and sometimes 60’s when nature takes its course and menopause starts.  Then some women have problems at different stages in their lives with their menstrual cycles.  Some are fortunate enough to have their problems solve themselves or birth control helps them.  Others like me are not as fortunate.  I am one of many women that suffer from Endometriosis that has actually been.  I am dealing with the side effects of the disease.  I will be 23 this April and I am in a medically induced menopausal state to hopefully preserve what is left of my reproductive organs.  I have lost one ovary less than two months ago and I hope that that is the only thing I will lose from this disease!