Nocturnal Wenchy

LIVING WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS – A WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

The difficulty you face with regards to your health issues. How you were diagnosed, the symptoms and how you deal with it.

My name is Chantelle Owens, 25 years old and happily married – and I’m a #EndoWarrior

Living in the limelight, people only see what you choose to show. They feel like they know you but have NO idea what is going on behind the scenes. They have no idea that your smile might be forced, standing there with cameras and flashes all over trying to hold your composure while you are in so much pain. The pain becomes… normal. The pain is sometimes so bad that I pass out from it.

I think what is the most frustrating for women are that other people judge our pain. They don’t understand what we are going through. I remember the first time I had the most excruciating endo pain, went to the ER and the (male) Doctor that was on duty simply said: “Are you sure it’s not just your normal menstrual pain?” I wanted to smack him right there and then… after I insisted on a sonar, that is when they found the cyst on my ovary (this all happened when I was about 17 years old) and so my endo journey began.

Up to date, I’ve had 5 surgeries, seen countless Doctors and was only diagnosed last year after 8 years with endometriosis. Insane!

I find it totally disgraceful that we so often get to do with discrimination especially when it comes to our health. Who gives a Doctor the right to question the way we feel? What gives them the right to assume that our pain is all in our head? I read every day how sisters are being told that they cannot be in so much pain. How will these Doctors know if they do not walk in our shoes…

Especially male Doctors who have never experienced period pain for a day in their lives!

Now you will ask me, what exactly is Endometriosis?
The best way to describe it without medical terms; in the body of a woman with Endometriosis, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) that is shed every month is unable to be shed, so it is reabsorbed by the body. It then sticks to other organs and grows like weeds in a garden wrapping around and over other organs. Endometriosis causes chronic pain, sometimes infertility and bowel malfunctions and chronic fatigue.

There is no known cure.

I have to keep reminding myself that living with a chronic endometriosis, doesn’t make me less of a woman. I let go of the fear of maybe never being able to have kids of my own. I learnt that through all the pain… you find yourself through it. Everything falls into place, and will work out for the good. Never let someone else define you, you are perfect just the way you are.

Join me next year for the Annual Worldwide Endometriosis walk to help raise awareness!
#BeStrong #SpeakOut

Twitter:  @MrsOwensC

—oOo—

Dear friends, family and other interesting creatures,

During the month of August I have contacted a few woman and asked them to share some of their stories  Subject choice is up to the writer and I trust you will enjoy this introduction to the special females on my various platforms. If you want to be part of this series, mail me wenchy@mweb.co.za

Happy Woman’s Month!

I wish you enough,

Wenchy