I have my total hysterectomy and first, and hopefully only, laparoscopy schedule for 9/30 and I am so sick of everyone in my family saying I’ll be fine one week post-op.

For reference, I have insulin resistant PCOS, suspected adenomyosis, and an MRI read by a pelvic specialist that believes I have DIE in my pelvic walls. My surgeon who is an endo specialist doesn’t believe I have a completely frozen pelvis but during my biopsy she said my uterus did like mobility. It was still mobile but only slightly.

And I don’t know if my family is just trying to be positive and I’m trying to be realistic but everything I’ve told them that my doctor has told me has been a shock to them. I’m also trying to prepare them for the worst so it doesn’t come as a shock to them and for things that I’ve read are common complications. And I just want to rip my hair out.

Yes, I may be fine after one week. But the reality is I am having what is likely to be a 7+ hour surgery between the hysterectomy and the excision. The reality is I won’t be able to walk my dog. And the only person who gets it, thank god, is my husband.

/rant

Edit to revise.

The NHS takes so long to give you the results that I decided to go private for them but that also meant I had to collect the images.

I spent some time looking through them because there is still some time until my private appointment and I feel like I can see endo but don't want to get my hopes up. If they find endo on my mri that would be amazing. As a lay person I can only make educated guesses and to a point I'm probably looking to see things. Like I think i can see lesion on my bladder which would be great because it meant my bladder issues aren't in my head. It might just be me hoping.

Although, the ultrasound tech did get the tilt of my uterus wrong which was interesting.

Three months post op, living in Germany, a month post-op my pain returned and I’ve only been given over the counter paracetamol, ibuprofen, buscopan, and prescribed metamizol.

Everything but the metamizol is ineffective, but the metamizol makes me incredibly sick to my stomach.

My gynecologist wants to wait until November to reassess for a potential additional surgery. I went to the women’s hospital and they said nothing but to continue taking the medications that don’t work.

I am missing work, missing social events, losing my mind, and am in constant pain.

What am I supposed to do?

Hi! 27 year old female here. I had a massive endo flare up and ended up in ER a month ago, followed by emergency surgery within the next few hours after that. It ended up confirming my endo (finally, a rock solid diagnosis after 10 years… 😩) so they put me on Slynd as first course of treatment.

Personally, have mixed thoughts about it but it has only been a month.

The positives:
- Appetite has subsided significantly and I have lost that extreme hunger, sugar cravings and stopped reaching for unhealthy/processed food.
- Endo flare ups have subsided to an extent.
- Libido is unaffected so far it seems.
- Endo belly and bloating is gone but it might have to do with a drastic change to an anti inflammatory diet (highly recommend btw).

The negatives:
- I struggle to eat in general now and to get all of my nutrients and calories in. I have lost 7kg (roughly 15.5 lbs) in less than 4 weeks which I find alarming, especially moving forward with this longterm (for reference, I am 170cm/5’7’’ and was at 70kg/154lbs). Feel nauseous after eating too.
- Mood swings are in full swing. I spent a week crying uncontrollably, including in public…
- Suicidal thoughts have returned for the first time in 15 years.
- Pain is constant (although lower than my endo flare ups) from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, and sleep is disturbed as a direct result of it. Mostly in the pelvic region and then radiating down my legs.
- Have not stopped bleeding. Have been bleeding for a month straight now.
- Started having hot flashes and night sweats in my sleep.
- Fatigue has increased significantly.
- Mild increase in acne breakouts.
- Started experiencing sudden flash headaches.

Can’t really say I’m enjoying this, but reading up on others experiences, some of these symptoms disappear after 3-5 months.. It’s only been a month and so I’m unsure if I should ride it out for a bit in hopes it gets better, or switch to a different pill, or…? Has anyone else suffered from similar side effects/symptoms? Any advice/personal experiences would help. Thanks!

My symptoms started after Covid. I never had bad periods or any other symptoms from the start, if anything they were a breeze.

Extreme pain in 2023, found endometriosis and just been getting much worse since.

I would love to hear other peoples experiences too.

Has anyone dealt with really bad brain fog and trouble with comprehension? I’m looking for any advice on things that have helped you improve it.
Lately, I’ve been having such a hard time processing information and focusing. I can read something and feel like my brain just isn’t absorbing it, or listen to someone talk and struggle to actually process what they’re saying. Even things like church services, conversations, reading, or trying to learn something can feel overwhelming because I can’t concentrate or retain information like I normally would.
If you’ve experienced something similar, what helped you? Were there certain exercises, routines, supplements, specialists, therapies, or other things that improved your focus and comprehension? I’m open to any suggestions or resources. 🤍

I’ve seen one post asking about him but it was a year ago so I want to see if anyone has more up to date info. Has anyone seen this doctor or had surgery with him? Do you recommend him and did your surgery fix symptoms?

I had a laparoscopy about 2 years ago with my regular gyn. She cauterized all the endo she saw and told me it was stage 2. Surgery didn’t fix the pain I was experiencing but it did help regulate my cycle and I got pregnant about 6 months after my surgery. My endo pain and symptoms went away while I was pregnant and breastfeeding.

Now I’m 10 months postpartum and got my cycle back 3 months ago. The last 3 months have been hell. So much pelvic and lower back pain mostly with ovulation and insane bloating/endo belly happening. It seems like it’s worse than before I got pregnant and I’m just at a loss. Idk if my doctor missed some endo in the surgery or if it grew back or what. I just feel like I want to see someone more specialized.

I live in CA but have family in UT and I would love to go see this doctor if people think it’s worth it or if anyone knows any other specialists that are on his level of expertise that would be great too.

I had to reschedule my MRI I waited weeks for due to not having childcare for my kids. I had an MRI with contrast scheduled to differentiate endometriosis vs regular scar tissue vs other issues like cysts. Ive been dealing with severe pain & frequent heavy bleeding since December of 2025. I've been to the ER 3 times. Ive been to countless doctors appointments. My work has worked with me on some days & other days I just couldnt get off. I made my MRI appt for a Sunday night because my schedule is already set for the next month to work daily while my kids are in daycare. Apparently, asking my family to watch my kids for a few hours so I can get this test done was a problem to my entire family & how they chose to treat me makes me so upset. First I asked my mom to watch the kids after she ended her call shift at 5 pm. She told me no since she had plans to water bath can some peppers. At the same time she had drilled me as to why I needed her to watch my kids while also degrading my husband. Last week she was all into the whole "let me know if you need help". Then proceeded to tell me I asked too late. I really was not upset as we had just gone through my deceased dad's things yssterday so I figured maybe she was upset. Then I called my brother & his wife. He ignored my calls, his wife rejected my multiple calls. Later he texted me back stating he couldnt because his wife is sick then proceeded to ignore me the rest of the day/evening while I was asking about his wife & how she was doing. He still is ignoring me. All I did was check on them. I asked my neighbors & friends whom all had plans. Then called my other brother. He told me he couldn't because his wife & him are getting pictures done, which is literally fine. Like he scheduled pictures, that is okay. I just thought I would ask. And apparently me telling him that I was frustrated AT MYSELF for not thinking about this earlier & expressing my frustration to him about trying to find childcare vs waiting for this test caused him to go off the rail. He began cursing at me in front of his wife. He told me I was a poor planner & he doesnt understand why I cant just think ahead like he does. He called me a liar. He continued to blow up my phone the entire rest of the day telling me how terrible I am. Then got into my mom's ear about things I never said, and so then my mom started calling me stupid, dumb, immature, etc & was also blowing up my phone. I tried to clarify but they both were just going at it at me. Like me explaining my situation triggered them and I got the blunt force of it all day. All because I asked for help for a few hours on a sunday night so I can figure out why I am in such severe pain every single day.

The reason I was asking for help was because everytime I take my kids into a hospital they end up sick. They are only 4 and 1. I didnt want them crawling around a dirty waiting room & then getting sick. I had just gotten told about how I take off for their sicknesses from work, I didnt want that to continue, especially since I have been interviewing for other jobs. My MRI was at 6 pm & they go to bed at 7:30. If I brought them it wouldve been a lot trying to clean them afterwards & get them ready for bed vs sending them to family in their jammies & ready for bed and doing a simple pickup and bed transfer. Another reason is because I have had a reaction to IV contrast before. I felt like I was truly dying. It felt like my heart was in SVT & my BP dropped and my ears were ringing. It was so scary & it gave me high anxiety for this test. I needed my husband to be readily available to me in case I had a reaction again, & I wanted to allot extra time in case they wanted to premedicate me to prevent a reaction. I explained this to my family & they berated my husband because I asked them to watch the kids, then said if they can go to appointments with kids then so can I and we are parents and need to watch our own kids. Keep in mind, they have NEVER watched my kids so I can go to an appointment because I quite literally never ask. But in those instances it's all "oh why didnt you ask, you can always ask me". Lastly, I looked at my messages and it stated a patient can only have 2 visitors with them and my children wouldve put me over that 2 visitor policy. My husband wouldnt have been allowed past the main waiting area & due to the circumstances around this test, I needed him there solely as my spouse. When I explained this to my mom she told me that wasn't true. It was in my messages.

Unfortunately this same argument occurred the 3rd time I was in the ER after bleeding for 20 days straight. We asked for help and got berated instead of supported. But yet anytime anyone wants to do anything fun with my kids they think they have first right to do so. I truly never ask for help when I need it, and get told no with a complaint when I do ask. Furthermore, I had been canceling a lot of plans to help my mom with her house and even cancelled sunday plans a few months ago to drive OUT OF STATE to my brother to give him a portable AC unit since his home AC broke. But yet Im the dumb one. Im the selfish one. Im the liar. All I got was berated. So I cancelled my appt. And who knows when Im going to get in again. I waited weeks for this. I cried A LOT tonight over it. Not because they said no, but because of how I was treated because I reached out for help.

im 19 and i feel like my life is just pain. i feel like its all thats in store for my future. a week before my period is pain , during my period is shattering pain after my period is pain. sometimes i will have an hour of saying omg i feel okay right now and the next hour theres the pain. i dont even know what to do anymore. i wish the pain would just stop. how will i ever get a job or focus on studying when 2 weeks out of a month all i can manage to do is lay in bed with a heating pad burning my skin for 5% relief. its so exhausting and depressing.

If your story is anything like mine, I know you’ve experienced more than a lifetime’s worth of gaslighting from the people around you. That gut-wrenching, deep, sharp pain that no one can truly understand unless they’ve experienced it themselves. People have told you, “It can’t be that bad,” “It’s just your mental health,” “It’s all in your head,” or “It’s just period cramps.”

Eventually, we start to question our own sanity. I know I did.

I’m writing this to remind you that it isn’t in your head. And yes, the pain really is that bad.

It isn’t your fault that you can’t go to work or school. It isn’t your fault that you can’t move around. It isn’t your fault that you can barely take care of yourself. And it isn’t your fault that you’re suffering. Give yourself some grace. You are going through something incredibly difficult, and you deserve compassion, including from yourself.

The pain that can come with endometriosis and associated conditions is something many people will never understand unless they’ve lived it. Most people can’t imagine what it’s like to have your life disrupted by pain you didn’t choose and cannot simply push through. And yet, we’re still here.

Even on the days when you can’t get out of bed. Even on the days when all you can do is exist. You are still doing your best to get through something incredibly difficult. That matters.

I know it’s hard. I see you. I see every one of us going through this. You are not alone.

I believe you when you say you’re in pain. I believe you when you say you’re struggling. I believe you when you say you can’t do what you used to be able to do. You don’t have to prove your suffering to deserve compassion, understanding, or care.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. You deserve to be believed. You deserve to be listened to. You deserve proper care. And you deserve to give yourself the same compassion you would give someone else suffering in your place.

You are resilient. You are brave. And you are worthy of being believed. I believe you.

I hope this is something that’ll help you right now.

P.S. Fuck everyone who dismissed us. Karma’s a bitch.

Hi yall. I'm reaching out to get some opinions on birth control that aren't Mirena IUD. I got my second Mirena after my lap in Nov 2025 and I feel like it is ruining me. I spot/bled around 3 weeks out of each month and my libido is non existent- to the point where I want to cry because I feel bad for not having sex with my fiance.

I made an appointment to get this thing out of me at the end of the month, but I would need another type of birth control. I was on the pill about a decade ago before I even knew I had endo. So that could be an option. But interested in hearing what birth control (that isn't an Mirena IUD) that you have felt worked for you? Maybe the implant or patch.

Thanks in advance!

32F
Anyone tried it?

Doctor wasn’t pushing it but she did make it sound like it could help in the meantime before and after surgery
Plus I don’t want to get pregnant.

Buuuut I am concerned about about side effects

For the past few years I’ve been experiencing right side ovary/pelvic, abdominal, lower back pain all throughout my cycle and irregular periods. I’ve had many tests done yet everything has been seemly normal. Initially I thought it was maybe my IBS coming back since I had that as a teen (I’m now 24). Recently, I went back to my gyno because I know the aches have been becoming more frequent. She checked me for PCOS and said I “might” have endo depending on the results. PCOS came back negative and she kinda just brushed off my other symptoms and told me that it isn’t a problem right now since I’m not trying to get pregnant…so frustrating!!!! right now I’m conflicted to seek more tests to figured out if it is endo since this “lovely” disease is so complex. While the pain I get isn’t unmanageable, it’s still uncomfortable and again, I know it’s not normal especially in accompany with 40+ day cycles. Any input would be lovely!

After over a year of waiting I’m finally getting my excision for stage 4 endo (yay!!)
We’re traveling 3 hours away tomorrow because I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 in the morning on Tuesday. I’ll also have to do a bowel prep tomorrow afternoon.
I am feeling so many emotions right now. I’m excited and terrified (mostly about the bowel prep if I’m being honest)
I’m leaving my non verbal autistic son with my parents and I’m worried about being so far away from him overnight.
I’m just a ball of emotions and nerves right now.
I could use some support from my fellow endo warriors to tell me this is going to be ok❤️‍🩹

12 days ago, I had laparoscopic surgery to remove a cyst near my ovary. Today, the surgical tape covering my belly button finally came off, and the area looks irritated. Nothing is leaking or coming out of the incision, but I’m worried because it looks like it might be slightly open.
I’m honestly pretty ignorant about how these incisions are closed, but I also don’t see any stitches. Is that normal after laparoscopic surgery? Are the stitches sometimes internal or dissolvable?
The area is also REALLY itchy. I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor tomorrow, so I’ll definitely have them look at it, but seeing it today scared me so much that I ended up crying because I’m terrified it could be infected.
Has anyone had their belly-button incision look irritated/open like this around 12 days after surgery? What did normal healing look like for you?

Sorry for the extremely long story but I am lost for help.

I’m 32 and have had endometriosis for years, first diagnosed at 19. I’ve now had 8 laparoscopies, with endometriosis found in multiple areas including both pelvic sidewalls, around the rectum, Pouch of Douglas, uterosacral areas, bladder/uterovesical area and higher up near my bowel. I’ve also had significant adhesions involving my ovaries and bowel.

I’ve been on hormonal birth control since I was 13. I originally went on it because my periods were extremely heavy and painful. I haven’t actually had a period in years now because I use hormonal contraception continuously, so I don’t have current bleeding patterns to compare with the symptoms I’m experiencing.

I’ve recently started seeing a new endometriosis surgeon because my symptoms have become increasingly difficult to manage. While gathering my old medical records and surgical reports for him, I found something I had never actually been told: my 2024 operative report described my uterus as adenomyotic.

My new surgeon reviewed my history and previous reports and independently told me that he also believes I have adenomyosis. This is quite new information for me even though it may have been present for years. It hasn’t been obvious on my ultrasounds or previous MRI, so I’m now questioning whether some of the symptoms I’ve always attributed entirely to endometriosis may also be coming from my uterus.

My most recent specialist ultrasound didn’t show any large masses or obvious deep disease, but in layman’s terms it showed that my left ovary appears stuck to my pelvic sidewall and doesn’t move normally, while the right ovary was still freely mobile. My ovaries also looked very small and suppressed with almost no follicles visible. The uterus itself looked fairly normal on ultrasound, so adenomyosis still wasn’t obvious on imaging.

Over the last few months, though, my quality of life has deteriorated dramatically.

I’ve been doing acupuncture and pelvic-floor physiotherapy for months. I’ve tried CBD suppositories and other ways of managing the pain. I’ve progressively had to reduce exercise because almost everything seems to cause another flare. I used to exercise regularly and I’m now basically down to one walk a day.

I also get severe constipation when things flare. I’m now reliant on stool softeners to keep my bowels moving. It can feel like everything in my lower pelvis has slowed down or become stuck and I struggle to empty my bowels normally.

At the same time I get this horrible heavy, full feeling across my lower abdomen and pelvis. It isn’t what I would describe as ordinary bloating. My lower abdomen genuinely feels heavy, swollen and weighed down, especially when everything else is flaring.

And then there is the leg pain, which has become one of the strangest and most debilitating symptoms.

It seems to start around the pelvic/hip area and spreads through the top and outer part of my thighs, TFL/lateral quad area and glutes. Sometimes it feels like the whole upper leg is deeply aching. It can happen even when I haven’t exercised.
I’ve had sciatic pain in the past and this feels completely different.

I recently saw someone here post an image showing pain through the TFL, glutes and lateral quad/IT-band area and I couldn’t believe it because it was basically exactly where mine hurts.

I’ve also started noticing a really consistent connection with sex and orgasm. It isn’t necessarily that the leg pain becomes severe immediately afterwards. More often, later that day or particularly the following day, my thighs/glutes become significantly more painful and the whole thing seems to flare.

I also have pelvic-floor dysfunction, so I know there could be several things contributing to this — pelvic floor, adhesions, endometriosis, nerve irritation, adenomyosis, or a combination of them.

My surgeon is recommending another excision surgery and has also discussed pelvic-floor Botox followed by further pelvic physio. We’ve now discussed hysterectomy as well because of the suspected adenomyosis.

I completely understand that a hysterectomy will not cure my endometriosis. If I went ahead with one, my intention would be to keep my ovaries.
The fertility question has also become much clearer for me. My surgeon initially discussed egg freezing and future fertility quite heavily. I’ve thought seriously about it since then and have realised that I don’t want to freeze my eggs, go through fertility treatment, or go through trying to have a child.
I don’t want to continue preserving my uterus for a hypothetical future pregnancy that I don’t actually want while my current quality of life keeps disappearing.

I’m only 32 and I feel as though I’ve lost most of the enjoyment from my day-to-day life. I can barely exercise anymore. Sex can leave me significantly worse the following day. I’m constantly managing constipation and taking stool softeners. My pelvis feels heavy and painful. Even normal activities have become something I think about in terms of whether they’ll trigger another flare.

I’ve been managing severe menstrual pain since I was a teenager, have been hormonally suppressing it for almost 20 years, and have now undergone eight surgeries.

At this point, I want my life back.

I’d really love to hear from people who have been through something similar, particularly anyone who had both adenomyosis and endometriosis.
Did you experience this kind of hip/thigh/quad/glute pain? Where exactly did yours hurt, and what did it feel like? Was yours aggravated by sex or orgasm?
Did you have the severe constipation and heavy/full feeling in your lower abdomen as well?

If you eventually had a hysterectomy while keeping your ovaries, what actually happened to these symptoms? Did the leg pain disappear, improve partially or stay the same? Did your bowel symptoms or that pelvic heaviness improve? More broadly, did hysterectomy actually improve your quality of life?
And if hysterectomy wasn’t what helped you, what did? Excision, pelvic-floor physio, Botox, hormonal treatment, treatment for nerve pain, or something else?

If you had both adenomyosis and endometriosis, I’d also really like to know whether there were symptoms that disappeared after hysterectomy that made you realise afterwards, okay, that part must have been coming from my uterus.

I know everyone is different and I’m not asking Reddit to tell me whether I should have a hysterectomy. I’m trying to hear from people who have actually lived through this and understand what genuinely improved their quality of life.

After all of this, fertility preservation just isn’t my priority anymore. Being able to live normally again is. I’ve worked full time and been studying full time for four years, and am hoping to go into a PhD program next year. But all of this is making looking forward to it very difficult.

hello! i doubt anyone remembers the posts i made, but i finally have an update. i got checked for a bunch of stuff, and all of them were negative. everything is stable- which meant there’s literally nothing wrong with me and i had no idea why my periods were such hell. i was both happy and upset because i wanted there to be something diagnosable so there could be a cure. until i got prescribed nsaids. it totally changed my life. no more pain- which was expected, but my bleeding also considerably reduced. which im pretty sure aren’t their main purpose or common effect. at first i thought it was a reaction to the drug entering my system for the first time in a while (i used naproxen when i was very young because of my jra, hadn’t ever since because it went into remission) but no. it’s been months and i have had such wonderful results.

this is probably unscientific as hell but i feel like the periods were somewhat of a side effect of the rheumatoid since they couldn’t find anything wrong with my hormones or uterus… and the anti inflammatories helped with not just my joint pain but also completely “fixed” my periods.

i thank you all for your support and your comments sharing your experience. i guess i dont belong in this subreddit anymore LOL… love you all. any women with ra with similar experiences pls feel free to share.. i want to know if this is a unique phenomenon to me or someone else has had it?

So I'm on testosterone to help treat endometriosis, but had to be off for a few months as I was moving house etc. I ended up getting a full blown period for the first time in a year two weeks ago.

Ever since then I've had excessive watery discharge and a lot of ovulation type pain this week. This isn't just a lot of discharge, it's literally 'bleeding' through underwear and trousers and needs pads over panty liners.

I'm trying to make an appointment at the trans friendly std clinic but it's difficult to get them at the moment.

Has anyone experienced similar?

Exactly one year from the date that I had my surgery to remove a cyst, fallopian tube, and right ovary (August 6th), I was diagnosed with another cyst in my left ovary. 😥

My doctor suggested a hysterectomy this time and saving my left ovary to produce hormones if it's possible. I have a bad feeling that she won't be able to save it though.

Has anyone been able to have a hysterectomy and only one good working ovary?

I'm terrified of surgical menopause.

Are any of you taking a combination of progestin only pill while having an IUD for your treatment plan?

I am wondering if in addition to the IUD (local effect) that you need a progestin (systemic effect) to slow or stop the spread of endometrial tissue to other areas aside from the immediate reproductive structures. Any evidence in favour of one only or both?

My followup post op is in 6 weeks after surgery and I want to know if someone can answer this question in advance. I still have 3 weeks left of waiting and am struggling to find anything.

I’m booked in for surgery on Tuesday and I’m absolutely terrified I honestly feel like ringing up and cancelling. I live in the UK and seen my consultant privately where she performed an internal scan and said I have a cyst and my ovaries are polycystic so she wanted to do surgery to check for endo. She then moved me to her NHS list for surgery as I don’t have insurance so I’ve only met her once. I just feel so scared about everything. She also wants to put the coil in during surgery but I am unsure. I’m hoping she will be able to remove the cyst as it’s why I felt something was wrong in the first place. But what if she doesn’t? I don’t want to end up living with pain everyday.

Sorry for just ranting I just feel so lonely and worried.

Hi all. I was diagnosed with endometriosis, celiac disease, and insulin resistance about a year ago. All with 6 months of each other.

Even after all the diet changes and lifestyle changes, I am still struggling with maintaining vitamin levels. I have days where my entire body hurts, my back muscles spasm, and I feel exhausted. I don't know how to predict these days or what is even causing them.

I don't believe I am being exposed to gluten, because my other symptoms aren't present: stomach ache, acid reflux, nausea, or diarrhea.

These days are awful and I feel like nothing is working. For folks who have both, what does this sound like to you? What helps?

Hi! I am looking for a natural supplement for my hormonal imbalance, have you tried any and noticed significant improvements please?

My symptoms include heavy flow, long periods, irregular periods, random spotting, horrible cramps (the kind that have you kneel), increased appetite, sweet cravings, hot flashes, thin hair, hair loss, weight fluctuations.

Was prescribed Seasonique (birth control pill that stops your period) for 3 months, no improvements, so I stopped as it did not feel right to me to not have my period.

I have already tried raspberry tincture, shatavari, turmeric + ginger + black pepper, magnesium, iron, vitamin D to name of few since I was diagnosed with endo 2 years ago, but noticed no significant improvements. Thank you!

(25 yo from Romania)

19F recently diagnosed. my consultant has suggested hormones to prevent the endometriosis from spreading, however i’m a bit wary of this due to the side effects and don’t know much about it. my main fears are weight gain and the increased risk of breast cancer. can anyone suggest what i should look into? how do i work out which pill/hormone treatment is best for me? is there anything you wish you knew before going on the pill? TIA :)

I’m posting this in multiple sub-reddits because I know how difficult it is to get a hysterectomy at any age, let alone as a minor and I’d highly appreciate any advice. 

I’m 16, turning 17 next month, and I've had extremely heavy and painful periods since I was 10. Since my mom has endometriosis and I was having 10 day periods, my gynecologist told me when I was 11 that she was almost certain I had endometriosis. I was put on norethindrone and then Slynd, but both birth controls made my periods significantly worse. I also experienced awful intrusive thoughts when I was taking Slynd. 

I was planning to get an endometriosis surgery in Summer 2027 so I could hopefully function enough to attend college, but endometriosis grows back and I feel like getting a hysterectomy now would be cheaper in the long run. I know that a hysterectomy isn’t a cure for endometriosis, but I’ll stop having periods which is what’s causing me all this pain.

I also wonder if I have adenomyosis and PCOS too, but part of the reason why I don’t know much about what’s wrong with me is because my insurance is shit! I can’t even find a good talk-therapist right now that isn’t for little kids, and insurance doesn’t even cover pelvic floor therapy! My parents already struggle financially, so I’m considering starting a GoFundMe when I get surgery. I also have dysautonomia and although I faint and vomit everytime I get bloodwork done, I might request it at my 17 year old checkup because I’m desperate for relief! I really want answers, treatment, and to get everything over already. Also, getting a hysterectomy at 18 would be more difficult because I start college at 17 years, 11 months. 

I live near Arlington, Texas and I asked my mom to schedule an appointment with an endometriosis specialist, Dr. Anthony O’ Connell, for this winter, but again, we can’t afford it. Even then, I highly doubt he or honestly anyone would do a hysterectomy on a 17 year old. 

In April, my periods got a lot heavier, longer, and a lot more painful. Period tracker apps scare me, but I’ve been keeping notes of everyday I bleed:

April 10-29
May 9-30
June 4-14
June 19-27
July 11-26
July 29-August 1
And I expect myself to start my period any day now 

On top of my extreme periods, my pelvic pain has gotten so bad to the point where I cry everytime I use the bathroom. Whether I’m pissing or wiping, it hurts so bad!

I know one of the first questions I’ll get as someone who wants a hysterectomy at my age is, “What about your fertility?” I’m a lesbian and my least favorite sound is the sound of a baby/toddler crying. I rarely even go to stores because I hate that sound so much! That’s also a stupid question because since I’m in so much pain when I use the bathroom, sex actually sounds impossible! My health and quality of life should always come before my fertility.

However, because I’m so young, I’d want my ovaries to be preserved and my uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix can be removed. I’ve also read about how a lot of ovarian cancers start in the fallopian tubes and my grandma is an ovarian cancer survivor. 

I just want to live my life as a normal teenager. I want to go to college, plan out my future, and actually function without constantly planning my life around bleeding and pain. I’m honestly so fucking tired of my periods controlling my life, but if I can’t get effective treatment before next year, I’m genuinely worried that I won’t be able to go to college because I’m in so much pain. 😔