What is endometriosis?
The Mayo Clinic defines endometriosis as this: (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus— the endometrium— grows and sheds outside your uterus.
Ever since I got my first period at twelve years old, I've lived with agonizing endometriosis. What started off as manageable period cramps quickly escalated to everyday discomfort and pain. Of which I have tried every over the counter medication, holistic herbs, cold packs, heat packs, yoga; all of which helped fractionally, but not enough to really make a dent.
I've lived with endometriosis now for twelve years. Eleven of those years were spent convincing doctors that my chronicpchronic wasn't imagined, and certainly was not "normal."
Last year (2019) I was able to convince my obgyn to follow through with a laparoscopic surgery; which led them to remove the endometrial tissue that they could find that had spread throughout my abdomen.
However, that is not all they found.
My uterus is also severely retroflexed; meaning that it is positioned in the exact opposite direction and curled in on itself, putting pressure against my rectum and cervix every time I sit down, which greatly affects and inflames my already present IBS.
You see, endometriosis doesn't go away after removing the tissue once. As long as the uterus is in production, the mutated endometrial tissue will once again spread like a weed again and again; elongating my time spent in discomfort and the future of many more surgeries to come.
I can honestly say that these disorders and irregularities have effected my everyday life and what I thought my future would be. In my teens, I was forced to drop out of highschool due to the intolerable pain and ever present discomfort. I have missed so many opportunities throughout the years, instead being ill in bed and attempting to cope with and make the best of my situation.
I do not want to continue living like this anymore.
My insurance does not see this as a medically necessary procedure (cue the misogyny) partially due to the baseless belief that biologically reproducing would magically cure my disorder, despite the lack of medical proof. I do not wish to be a person whose medical worth is hinged upon whether or not I biologically reproduce. It is not fair to me, or anyone else.
Added this to the fact that I am also a nonbinary person who does not identify as female. My medical worth being dictated constantly by my "female" reproductive organs causes me to experience further gender dysphoria and greatly effects my mental health.
Please, if you have anything to give, even a dollar, I will be forever grateful to you for helping me on my journey to a healthier mind, body, and life.
I deserve body autonamy. I deserve to be healthy.
Thank you so much for your time and generosity.
