#adenomyosis

[theotherhappyplace]

Surgery done and recovering now

Feeling a bit better already

Tmi but who cares I had to have a hysterectomy. So that's the big thing I'm trying to recover from. Thank you to everyone sending me such kind messages I can't respond to everyone individually because I'm very tired. But I read them all thank you thank you

[yrfemmehusband]

Female reproductive health terms you should know!

(terfs not welcome)

Dysmenorrhea: Period pain that isn't normal, i.e. any pain more than Mild cramping.

Dyspareunia: painful intercourse

Oligomenorrhea: lighter, shorter menstrual flow.

Menorrhagia: heavier, longer menstrual flow.

Ovarian cysts: a mass on or in one's ovary, can be resolved on its own, or can remain and cause complications such as a rupture.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: a chronic condition causing cysts to reoccur on the ovaries and enlarging them. Symptoms include:

Irregular periods

hormonal imbalance

facial hair

weight gain

painful periods/ ovulation

infertility

People with PCOS are at higher risk for endometrial cancer, type II diabetes heart problems and high blood pressure.

Endometriosis: A chronic condition in which a tissue similar to, but different than, the endometrial lining grows outside of the uterus instead of inside. During menstruation this tissue sheds and has nowhere to go, thus irritating surrounding organs.

Symptoms include:

Irregular periods

Dysmenorrhea

Widespread pain

Painful ovulation

Vomiting, fainting, chills, sweating, fever and brain fog during menstruation

Infertility

Severe bloating

This also puts people at a higher risk for endometrial and ovarian cancer. There are four stages to Endo as it is a progressive disease, with 3/4 being more severe. The average time it takes to be diagnosed is 7 years.

Adenomyosis: A chronic disease similar and comorbid to endometriosis in which a tissue similar to the endometrial lining grows inside of the uterine wall. Symptoms are nearly identical to endometriosis but more difficult to detect.

Many people are diagnosed post menopause, by fault of the medical system, but it can and does develop much before then.

Ovarian cancer: cancer of the ovary(ies).

Endometrial cancer: cancer of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus.

Endometrial cyst, or chocolate cyst: cystic lesions from endometriosis.

Tilted uterus: the uterus is positioned pointing towards the back or severely to the front of the pelvis instead of a slight tilt towards at the cervix. Can cause painful sex and periods.

Pelvic floor dysfunction: inability to control your pelvic muscles. Comorbid with many things and is highly comorbid with endometriosis. Can cause pain and incontinence.

Vulvodynia: chronic and unexplained pain at the opening of the vagina.

Interstitial cystitis: a chronic condition where cysts form on the inside of the bladder and urinary tract and cause symptoms similar to that of a UTI.

Pre-eclampsia: a condition occurring in pregnancy where the blood supply between the fetus and the pregnant person is affected and can cause irregular blood pressure, swelling, and in more severe cases headache, nausea and vomiting, a burning sensation behind the sternum, shortness of breath and potentially death if untreated.

Endometritis: an infection or irritation of the uterine lining. Is not the same as endometriosis and is treatable but can cause pain, bleeding, swelling, general discomfort and fever, and more.

Pelvic inflammatory disease: an infection of the reproductive organs

Ectopic pregnancy: a pregnancy that is attached to the outside of the uterus. Can be fatal if left untreated.

There are many more I could probably add but if you see something missing, please add it!

[69constellationsinatrenchcoat]

Normalising certain things can be dangerous - especially around mental illness and physical illness. A good example of this is how period pain has been normalised.

People with periods often dismiss their pain on the basis of "everyone gets a little pain", doctors dismiss painful periods, specialists dismiss them too as it's so normalised to have painful periods where it can be a symptom of severe chronic illness; endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, adenomyosis, even kinds of gynecological cancers can present as "a painful period"

Destigmatising painful periods (and honestly, pelvic health for all people) helps to push societal acceptance and awareness of the fact that those issues exist, and allows for conversation when problems arise.

[chonky-goth]

Lidocaine patches are amazing for chronic pain 💕

[deliamount]

A desperate plea from a Welsh neuro spicy bookworm

https://gofund.me/93bbe404

Hi all! It’s been years since I’ve used this platform but I’ve been around the block during my time. Mainly in the phan and Call the Midwife fandoms.

This may gain no traction as I am a dinosaur who has no clue how this platform works any more but I’ve created a go fund me for my endometriosis and adenomyosis surgery

This is not only for a much better quality of life for myself but also to raise awareness of what a truly awful disease this is and the lack of understanding and support around it. Shoutout to any girl who’s ever been told to use a heat pad or just get pregnant!

There are only 2 endo specialists in Wales and I have been rejected from seeing them on the NHS due to a insane postcode lottery so if you can support either with a donation or a share I would be super grateful

Love and cwtches to you all ❤️

[james-p-sullivan]

I really think we need to start talking about the stigma around hysterectomies and their place in the treatment for the symptoms of endometriosis.

Something I see often is the phrase 'hysterectomies don't cure endometriosis', which is very true, but do you know what a hysterectomy can cure?

Pain.

And you know the pain I'm talking about. The gnawing, all encompassing agony that surrounds our entire lives. The one that keeps you from going back to school, or uses up all of your sick days and vacation time from work combined, the one that leaves you dry heaving for hours until you pass out on the bathroom floor. That pain. There's truly no describing what it's like until you're living it.

And I cannot describe to you how free I feel knowing I will never have to suffer through that ever again.

If we continue to talk about our pain journeys we can end the stigma against hysterectomies. It will never be a cure-all, but remember that you are not a baby machine, you are a human being who deserves to live pain free. And I'm telling you, it's possible.

[gaynpc03]

I'm not a "endometriosis warrior"

I'm not fighting endometriosis, she's not fighting me

We're locked in an eternal standoff. She's got her hands around my ovaries and all my vital organs and I've got my middle fingers up telling her to fuck off (and threatening to cut her off myself)

[hypothermiaa]

shout-out to my chronic illnesses for destroying my life in irreparable ways and being incapable of sustaining a foreseeable future

[after-the-line]

And trying to go to work to pay for this body is also impossible lol

[newhologram]

It's wild being told to "get a job, beggar" online when I mention my GFM/Patreon/ko-fi to help me out because my coworkers are used to seeing me at work hunched over with a heating pad, when I should be at home resting.

[blackforrestpunk]

Hello, just a little life sign between the scheduled postings.

Surgery was fine. I am alive.

They ripped out what shouldnt be in me.

But still a bit sleepy.

Next goal, shitting without bleeding 😬😬😬

[lysandrabellargus]

[french below]

Please help me spread the word! I co-created a french speaking support server on discord for people with chronic gynecological conditions (endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, chronic pelvic pain, etc)

Aidez-moi à faire passer le message! J'ai co-créé un serveur discord de soutien pour toutes les personnes atteintes de pathologies gynécologiques chroniques (endométriose, adénomyose, SOPK, douleurs pelviennes chroniques, et autres). C'est un serveur safe LGBT 🌈 et inclusif pour offrir une alternative à tous les groupes de soutien cis-centrés qui existent autour de ces thématiques. Ouvert à tous-tes, avec ou sans diagnostic ! 💗

https://disboard.org/fr/server/1110166893366628452

[lunar-whispers]

This is the thing about chronic illness that I keep trying to wrap my head around; it's chronic.

The horrors persist.

The horrors will continue to persist.

I've run out of medical interventions, I've run out of options. And at the same time I know I can't keep running away from my life. It's an excuse, and a valid one at that, but I'm tired of it derailing my life. But I have no choice.

As this disease perseveres in my body, I will have to persevere with my life in spite of it.

I am strong and resilient, and this is a good thing, but I wish I could be soft too. A soft version of me died many years ago. Years before the inflammation and pain took over my body. I wonder plenty about causation and correlation but I don't believe it's really of any consolidation now. Thinking about it isn't helpful.

I am grateful my condition is periodic. At least I get breaks. Others aren't so lucky with their medical misfortunes.

Although I generally endeavour to keep a zen mindset, a little 'woe is me' is good for the soul, I think. It can be cathartic. I'm allowed to shout out to the universe and to the void that this sucks. Because it does. It fucking sucks.

[69constellationsinatrenchcoat]

we meet another specialist tomorrow

...he's the last option in our region before we've run out of clinicians who will help.

I have one appointment with him, and he made it very clear he doesn't want to see me afterwards because I already have input from a pain specialist...that pain specialist has been close to pointless.

Wish us luck!

[newhologram]

Laparoscopic exploratory surgery pics below the cut!

Wish they'd given me an actual CD with the pictures but pics of the print out is the best I can do for now. Can you spot the problem?

There she is.

It takes up more space than I thought. But it's still wild how something seemingly so small can be disabling. Gotta have a coping game plan going forward, because it's gonna probably take 6+ months until surgery #2 to get this bitch out of me for good. :') Just made a medical binder for all future appointments, still have a lot more to print out and organize.