It Is Never "All In Your Head."
Hello, my name is Elizabeth. I am a 21-year-old college student who has struggled with severe period pain ever since I have had a period. When the coronavirus caused a worldwide lockdown, I noticed an ache in my pelvis. It radiated down to my thighs and legs, making many of my days miserable. This ache turned into a pain that became so excruciating I began collapsing, blacking out, and waking up hours later. Not to mention, I bled for days and months on end. I always felt tired and had to take many naps to keep myself going. That is when I sought help from my primary care doctor.
My pain wasn't imaginary
My doctor ordered a blood panel which took seven vials of blood. Everything was normal. She said if I was still worried, I could schedule an appointment with her to go over my results and talk about what was next for me. So I did. She explained that my symptoms were all signs of depression and went down a list of gynecological disorders to say that if I had any of these, I would be screaming and curled up with agonizing pain. But I was. And perhaps I wasn't screaming on the outside, but I was on the inside. This appointment made my pain seem imaginary. But I would not take this for an answer.
I kept digging for myself
I visited a gynecologist who advised nothing but birth control. I had a pelvic ultrasound performed to find that everything appeared to be normal.
I just knew that something was not right with my body. So I read articles, bought books, and did everything in my power to find an explanation. And there it was. Endometriosis.
I found the Center for Endo Care for a virtual consultation to discuss my symptoms, family history, and more. One of their doctors, who was very empathetic and understanding, persuaded me to get a laparoscopy to remove any endometriosis in my body. It didn't take long for me to find an excision specialist near me. I scheduled an appointment right away.
I followed my instincts
Fast forward to this month when I received my surgery biopsy results. All the adhesions removed were indeed endometriosis. This leads me to the reason why I am telling my story.
Do not let people tell you that you are wrong about how you feel. Pain is not imaginary. It is never "all in your head." Seek the treatment you need to feel better. You are not alone!
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